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THE ALVIATOR'S VERDICT
Air Canada operates some solid outstation lounges, and their Frankfurt lounge is no exception. While the food selection is limited, the lounge has good WiFi, showers, and IMO a better atmosphere than any of Lufthansa's lounges. |
4.0
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While Lufthansa has a wealth of lounges at Frankfurt Airport, Air Canada also operates a lounge in Frankfurt Airport’s Terminal 1. The lounge exists mainly to accommodate passengers flying on Air Canada flights to Montreal, Toronto and Calgary, though all Star Alliance business class passengers can use the lounge, including Lufthansa.
Air Canada’s outstation lounges are fairly strong, and this lounge, located by the B gates in Frankfurt Airport’s Terminal 1, is no exception. I just reviewed Lufthansa’s lounge in the same concourse, and actually think I prefer this lounge, due to the fact that it’s quieter and has better tarmac views.
This review of the lounge features its access, location, atmosphere and seating, food and beverages, and other facilities, such as private cubicles and a business center.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Access and Opening Hours
Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge in Frankfurt is open from 6 AM to 4:45 PM daily.
The following passengers are welcome to access the lounge:
- Air Canada or Star Alliance business class passengers
- Altitude Super Elite members
- Aeroplan 75K and 50K members
- Star Alliance Gold members
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Club members
- Aeroplan Business/Corporate Credit cardholders on a one-time guest pass
All passengers listed above can bring an additional guest on a Star Alliance/Lufthansa flight in for €25. You can’t purchase access to this lounge otherwise at the moment.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Location
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt is located one level up from the main departures hall, near gate B43. There’s clear signage pointing up an escalator to access the lounge (in fact, I didn’t even know the lounge existed until I was walking to my gate – clearly I hadn’t done my research).
Signage to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt
Once I got up the escalator to the Maple Leaf lounge, I saw the lounge’s understated wooden entrance to my left, and made my way into the lounge.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Entrance
I was sure not to miss the massive Air Canada 787 model by the entrance, painted in the airline’s attractive new livery!
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt 787 Model
A friendly lounge agent scanned me in, and before I knew it I was inside the lounge.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Seating and Atmosphere
The Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge is one large room, with a partitioned-off centerpiece for a more exclusive feel. As a result, the lounge is broken up into separate sections, each of which feels fairly intimate.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt
Near the entrance was some high-top seating surrounding a couple of large tables.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Seating
Upon turning left from the lounge entrance, there was some more comfortable restaurant-style seating, featuring bench and table seats.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Bench Seating
The centerpiece of the lounge itself was more of a “coffee” area, as it had lower stump-like tables, as well as chairs and benches. I loved the fire piece in the middle of the room, and generally thought that the aesthetics of the lounge as a whole were really attractive.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Interior Seating and Fire Fixture
On the far side were some armchairs with great views of the tarmac.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Tarmac-Side Seating and Views
The lounge was very quiet, and mostly empty during my quick visit. I visited approximately 90 minutes before an Air Canada 787 departure to Toronto, so I’d imagine the lounge fills up more in the mornings, as Air Canada has two flights to Toronto and Montreal departing 20 minutes apart from each other.
The entire lounge featured a variety of Type F and Type A (Canadian) plugs, which was quite appropriate for an Air Canada outstation lounge in Frankfurt (although I’ll continue to question why all airports don’t just get universal power ports).
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Private Cubicles
By one end of the lounge was a selection of private cubicles. Unfortunately these were all full so I couldn’t have a closer look, though they featured a daybed, a table, and a TV each.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Privacy Cubicles
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Food and Beverages
After being slightly taken aback by the “photos not allowed” policy at the Lufthansa lounge, I was quite conservative with taking photos of the food spread, especially since I wasn’t in the lounge for long. The lounge featured a couple of hot food items as well as a small selection of cold food – as far as I’m aware, this is a cutback from the spread that the lounge used to have, based on what I’ve read in the past.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Food Selection
You’ll also find a coffee machine, as well as a selection of wines, including champagne.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Drinks Selection
This isn’t a massive selection by any means, and even the airline’s website describes the lounge’s food selection as “light snacks and beverages”. However, the food quality looked fairly good, and I’d say the variety wasn’t much more than what Lufthansa was featuring at their lounges (sans German beer and pretzel bread, which could be a deal breaker for some).
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt WiFi
While I didn’t do a speed test in this lounge, the lounge features fast, free WiFi that is easy to connect to.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Business Center
By the entrance there’s a short hallway that leads to the lounge’s bathrooms, as well as a well-appointed business center, pictured below. I appreciated how well-lit it was, and loved the wooden panel motif throughout the lounge.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Business Center
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Bathrooms and Showers
This lounge also features bathrooms and showers. Unfortunately I couldn’t visit a shower room this time around (as I was tight on time and was caught off guard that the lounge existed prior to my visit) – check out Matthew’s review from Live and Let’s Fly to see the shower rooms, which look gorgeous and feature a rainforest showerhead.
The bathrooms themselves carry on the lounge’s marble and wood design, and were clean.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Bathroom
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Service
I didn’t interact with many staff at this lounge, though the few ladies manning the reception desk were friendly and charming. After seeing the airport code on my boarding pass (LCY) they were trying to figure out where I was going, since they didn’t have all of the airport codes in the world memorised off by heart (unlike some people…ahem). They asked me upon my departure from the lounge, I let them know I was flying to London City Airport, and they wished me safe onward travels.
Conclusion: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt
Air Canada operates a really cool outstation lounge at Frankfurt which features all of the basics you’d need prior to a flight. As far as I’ve read in past, this lounge is indicative of the quality of outstation lounges that Air Canada operates around the world, and I feel the lounge is a good ambassador of the airline’s onboard product. I’d call the food selection quite limited, though I’m a bit more forgiving here, since this is an outstation lounge.
Based purely on the traffic in the lounge during my visit, as well as the tarmac views the lounge’s location affords, I’d choose to spend time in the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Frankfurt Airport over the Lufthansa lounges, especially if departing from a B gate. I do wonder how much more the lounge fills up in the mornings, though.
Read more from this trip:
Are you a fan of Air Canada lounges? Which one is your favourite?
Hi, I used the lounge three times in the last 10 weeks, always on my way to Calgary.
I really like the lounge a lot better than all the Lufthansa business lounges at Frankfurt airport; the amount of food is acceptable and it tastes good. The amount of space is good but most of all, it it very quiet; for me a really good way to spend time waiting for your next flight
I agree the AC lounge is more relaxing than the crowded Lufthansa lounges. I have enjoyed it many times. It can get busy in the mornings and early afternoon.
As an FYI Aeroplan 35k do NOT have access – it is only 50k and above which equates to Star Alliance Gold (35 k members are silver).