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When traveling through San Francisco International Airport, Star Alliance passengers naturally gravitate toward the multiple United Airlines lounges at SFO, since it’s a major hub for the airline. There are a few United Club locations, as well as the impressive United Polaris Lounge. If you have access to the latter, it’s easily the best lounge at SFO.
However, there’s another lounge operated by a Star Alliance member that is one of the better lounges in San Francisco (non-Polaris, of course).
Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO is quiet and has decent food and drinks. More importantly, it has one amenity that no other airport lounge at SFO has: an outdoor terrace.
Who can access the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO?
As of this writing, the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in San Francisco is accessible to passengers who fall into one of these categories:
- Business and First Class Ticket Holders
- Customers travelling in Premium Rouge
- Aeroplan Super Elite, Aeroplan 75K, and Aeroplan 50K Members
- Star Alliance Gold Members
- Aeroplan Business and Corporate Credit Cardholders using One-Time Guest Pass
- Holders of an Aeroplan premium credit card
- Non-Star Alliance Tier Member (Emirates and Virgin Australia)
- Customers who purchase Maple Leaf Lounge access
- Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Members
Be sure to check the latest list of qualifying customers for Maple Leaf Lounges, as these are subject to change. The list also includes up-to-date guest and day pass pricing, when available.
I had access to the lounge since I was flying on Air Canada from San Francisco to Montreal.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge SFO Review & Amenities
The SFO Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is a little bit tough to find if you don’t know where to look for it.
As soon as you pass security in Terminal 2, head to the left. Passing through a gap towards the windows, there is then a sign for the lounge at the entrance of a hallway.
There is then an elevator down the hallway that takes you up to the 4th floor, which is where the Maple Leaf Lounge is located.
Passengers who are in Terminal 3 or the International Terminal G can also find the lounge by following signs toward Terminal 2.
Seating & Layout Review
The San Francisco Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge isn’t huge, but when I’ve visited, available seating was more than adequate. This might change with the current construction in Terminal 3.
As soon as I entered the lounge, I saw a small business area, along with the restrooms. There are also a couple of shower rooms.
There was also a large seating area that ran along the entire windowed wall of the lounge. Some seating is along a counter that looks out the window, while other seats are more suitable for lounging.
Next, there are a couple of TV areas.
The main section of the lounge is the food and beverage area. I’ll discuss the details of that more below.
But first, it’s impossible to talk about the Air Canada lounge at SFO without talking about the star of the show.
This is the only Air Canada lounge in the world that has an outdoor terrace. It’s also the only airport lounge at SFO that has an outdoor terrace (although there are also two other terraces, one pre-security near Terminal 2, and one post-security in International Terminal G).
If you’re heading back to Canada during the wintertime, this outdoor deck might be your last chance of sunshine for a while. Thanks to its position in the terminal, the patio has little to no shade for most of the day. However, there are also heaters for when the weather is cold.
There’s tons of space and comfortable seating.
Of course, there are also great views of planes landing, taking off, and taxiing.
I don’t usually tell people to wear sunscreen at an airport lounge, but this is one of the few places in the world where I recommend it!
Food & Drink Review
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge SFO Food
The food program at the Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO has an emphasis on local flavors such as seafood. I visited during the morning, so I was there for the breakfast service.
There was a hot food bar with a few items, including hash browns and sausages.
The highlights were the spinach and cheese mini omelettes and the banana pancakes with real maple syrup. Of course, the Maple Leaf Lounge would have real maple syrup! I went maple syrup tasting in Montreal later in my trip.
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Another section included fresh fruit.
The lounge also had cereals and oatmeal (with toppings).
There were also breads, including toast, croissants, tea bread, and muffins.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge SFO Drinks
The beverage program at the SFO Air Canada lounge also has a strong local emphasis. Several California wines are available, along with a curated cocktail menu.
However, Air Canada does have one unfortunate rule. None of their lounges serve alcohol before 11 am.
Given the jet lag and potential nervousness of some flyers, this is the one place where I feel Air Canada falls short. My flight was at 11:25 am, so I wasn’t able to try any of the alcoholic drinks. It wasn’t the end of the world for me, but it might be a dealbreaker for some travelers.
In addition to the bar, there are also plenty of non-alcoholic drinks, including juices, soda, and two coffee machines (one of which is a Lavazza).
Review Summary
While not a large lounge, the SFO Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is a nice place to hang out before a flight. The staff keep the area nice and clean, and the food is also frequently replenished as needed. Plus, the outdoor terrace is a unique feature, especially if you love planespotting.
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