Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Los Angeles, CA (LAX)

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Los Angeles Airport Terminal 2 serves Air Canada’s premium and elite passengers departing for Canada, Avianca’s Star Alliance Gold passengers, as well as members of popular lounge access programs such as Priority Pass. While most Star Alliance airlines depart from the Tom Bradley International Terminal – where passengers benefit from the sumptuous Star Alliance Lounge – Avianca, Air Canada, and United stand as exceptions and use domestic terminals. The latter two airlines operate their own lounges.

Terminal 2 was recently renovated and boasts a bold, modern, and dynamic new design. Climb the swanky grand staircase to the mezzanine level, and you’ll find the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge to the left, across the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. Ring the bell to enter – press hard! – and the automatic door will open.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge LAX design

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Los Angeles Airport is surprisingly spacious, for a club primarily serving flights to Canada. The luminous L shaped lounge boasts two long window walls that reveal exciting views of the tarmac. Seating is plentiful, and the club is unlikely to be crowded, even at peak times.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Los Angeles, CA (LAX)

The club was recently refurbished, and the space feels stylish and fresh, although the design has the hallmark of simplicity and tradition. Earth tones dominate the ensemble, with light wood panels and marble surfaces. Red chairs, fresh flowers and a dark carpet enhance the color palette by adding a hint of contrast.

The open space layout does away with partitions, allowing light to flow throughout. The furniture arrangement naturally delineates the different areas of the lounge, while preserving ample space to circulate. The focal point of the design is the buffet, which stands at the center of the first room. It is flanked by two high communal tables which function both as work and dining spaces.

Most of the space is dedicated to open seating, in a traditional arrangement. All seats come with a side table, and many offer direct views over the tarmac.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Los Angeles, CA (LAX)

While recently renovated, the Maple Leaf Lounge isn’t without its quirks. The seating area close to the reception desk is designated as a no-cell phone zone – but it happens to be located in the vicinity of a TV and a high traffic area, shattering the concept of a quiet zone. In the back is a “business area” – but the seating is substantially the same as throughout the lounge. The climate and light settings are also a bit off – the lounge tends to be too hot on sweltering LA days, and a bit too dark at night.

And then, there’s our main pet peeve: power outlets are sorely missing overall. They can be found along the walls as well as at the central communal tables, but not in the main seating areas.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge LAX amenities

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Los Angeles Airport Terminal 2 offers a pretty expansive food and beverage selection, for a club primarily dedicated to travel to Canada. Around lunch time, the spread includes a variety of snacks, sandwiches/sliders, cookies and sweets, as well as healthier fare including tasty salads. The selection varies, though, and tends to be substantially lighter in the afternoon (chips, olives and brownies) – so your mileage may vary.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Los Angeles, CA (LAX)

Patrons will also find an espresso machine, coolers with juices and cans of soda, as well as an array of self-service alcoholic beverages including no less than four beers on tap, red and white wines, and a small selection of middle-shelf liquor and spirits.

The Maple Leaf Lounge features a few shower suites, available upon request. The rooms are spacious and well appointed, with plenty of room to change and convenient shelves. Towels are provided, as well as generic bath products in wall-mounted dispensers.

We commend Air Canada for offering showers, although the airline may want to do a bit of maintenance work: the shower suite that we used had an inoperative light bulb, a wobbly shower fixture, and the sink didn’t drain well. Along the same lines, we found the bathrooms to be dirty, even outside peak times.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Los Angeles, CA (LAX)

Complimentary Wi-Fi is naturally available. There are also a few shared computers, a printer, as well as one cramped, but private work cubicle.

Other amenities include a selection of newspapers and magazines. There is also a secure device charging station – a fixture of Air Canada Lounges: plug in your device, choose a code, close the tray, and your device will charge away from prying eyes.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge LAX bottom line

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Los Angeles Airport is a solid lounge in many regards. The recently refurbished club features a quiet space, ample seating, exciting views, plenty of daylight, a substantial food and beverage selection (although availability varies) and shower suites – just for relatively short flights to Canada and South America. The Maple Leaf Lounge is also an excellent option for Priority Pass members.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Los Angeles, CA (LAX)

It’s unfortunate that Terminal 2 is standalone (not connected airside to any other terminal.) That means that Air Canada passengers may not walk over to the superior Star Alliance Lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal without going through security twice. Vice versa, Priority Pass members will find access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge of limited value, unless they happen to depart from Terminal 2.

For information on other lounges at LAX, possible alternatives, and connections between terminals, check out our Definitive Guide to the LAX Lounge Scene.