After a gross 4:30 AM wake up, we opted for the always-pleasant Aerocar car service to the Vancouver Airport. Our driver picked us up in a spacious Lincoln Towncar, dropping us off at the Vancouver International Transborder Departure within 30 minutes from the house.

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Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, Vancouver Transborder US – PreClearance, Vancouver, Canada – Updated

The blurriness of this first photo is representative of my eyesight and alertness at this hour: 

Checking into Air Canada:

We checked in at the lonely Air Canada podiums, dropped the bags and headed to the deserted Air Canada Maple Leaf Transborder Lounge. I could barely keep up with MrsWT73- now powering through the USA Pre-Clearance area past all the grandpa & grandma kettles and the slow walking families spread out six wide across the concourse. As some of you may know, I used to be on the Air Canada Jazz circuit as an HR Recruiter. With a change in job assignments, came a change in travel habits. MrsWT73 is earning more status miles than me these days on the consulting circuit with frequent trans-border and international trips while I stay at home and have the fortune (or mis-fortune) of tending to her fat cat.  

Locating the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge:

The Vancouver International Airport operates a US Pre-Clearance facility. Travelers clear US Customs and Border Protection (Immigration and Customs) screening prior to landing in the domestic zones of US airports. This is a really handy feature but it requires travellers to allow a little extra time before their flights.

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Transborder is shortly after US Pre-Clearance Customs. It is midway down the departures concourse on the right hand side past the Starbucks and general boutique sized food court area. If you’ve passed the requisite Tim Horton’s Coffee Chain, you’ve gone too far.

Accessing the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge:

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge was accessed today courtesy of MrsWT73’s Aeroplan Star Gold card as our flight out of Vancouver today was on a single class of service economy cabin ticket.

You could also get access through a business class ticket on Air Canada under the Star Alliance Lounge policy, by purchasing an annual membership, or through select USA based credit card memberships.

Inside the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver Transborder:

It remains my favorite lounge to visit in Vancouver as it’s quite spacious, has bright airy windows and has a decent drink selection. On today’s visit, I’d never seen the lounge so empty. 

Dining Area:

There is also a dining area that is also comfortable and easy to access:

Food and Beverage:

There was a small selection of food out for breakfast today, with hardly anyone around in the lounge to enjoy it.

My thoughts on the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver Transborder:

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge remains a favourite location of mine when it comes to Vancouver International Airport Lounges and the overall Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges in their system. It has bright spaces, ample room to sit down and great views over the tarmac. It is much better than the neighbouring Plaza Premium Transborder Lounge in terms of light, space, atmosphere and food offerings. The only negative is that the lounge isn’t always open in the early morning for the very first 6 AM bank of flights that leave the US Transborder Pier.

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