Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
★3.5(569 reviews)YOW
Ottawa's Air Canada lounge — for Star Alliance Gold and premium-cabin passengers, between gates 19 and 21.
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier's airline lounge, set airside in the domestic/international departures area between gates 19 and 21. It's the branded option at YOW, welcoming premium Air Canada customers and eligible Star Alliance Gold members. Access here is by ticket or status rather than payment: you'll need a qualifying premium-cabin Air Canada or Star Alliance fare, or Star Alliance Gold tier, on a same-day departure. Inside, the lounge offers complimentary snacks and finger food alongside a bar pouring house wine, beer, liquor and soft drinks, making it a comfortable place to relax before boarding. As a Maple Leaf Lounge in a regional airport, it focuses on the essentials — a calmer seating area away from the gate, refreshments and a drink before your flight. Because it's airside, you'll clear security before reaching it, and it sits close to the other YOW lounge near the gate 18-21 cluster.
Crowding · moderate
A quiet, comfortable place to sit and answer a few emails before a flight. As a regional airline lounge it's more about relaxation than dedicated work facilities, so plan around the essentials.
As a regional Maple Leaf Lounge, the food offering keeps to the essentials: complimentary snacks and finger food rather than a full hot buffet. The bar is the highlight, pouring complimentary house wine, beer and liquor alongside soft drinks — enough for a drink and a bite before an Air Canada or Star Alliance departure.
Dietary: Vegetarian options
Airside in the domestic/international departures area, between gates 19 and 21. Clear security, then follow the departures concourse toward gates 19-21.
- 01Check in and clear security
- 02Follow signs to the domestic/international departures concourse
- 03Head toward gates 19 to 21
- 04The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is between gates 19 and 21
Landmarks: Gate 19 · Gate 21 · Domestic/international departures
ℹ Macdonald Cartier (YOW)
Star Alliance GoldIncluded: Complimentary snacks · Complimentary finger food · Complimentary soft drinks · Complimentary house wine and beer · Complimentary liquor
Star Alliance Gold Status or Business Class Ticket
Flying from YOW without status? These lounges sell day passes:
See bookable lounges at YOWMake the most of it.
Access is by status or premium cabin only — there's no walk-in day pass for this lounge.
Star Alliance Gold on an eligible same-day flight, or a premium Air Canada cabin, gets you in.
It's airside between gates 19 and 21 — clear security first.
If you don't have status, the Aspire Lounge nearby is the pay-per-visit alternative at YOW.
The food offering is snacks and finger food rather than a full hot buffet — manage your expectations for a regional lounge.
Quick answers.
It welcomes premium Air Canada customers and eligible Star Alliance Gold members on a same-day Star Alliance departure. Access is by status or ticket, not a paid day pass.
No — this lounge is status and premium-cabin access only. If you want a pay-per-visit option at Ottawa, the Aspire Lounge sells a day pass and takes DragonPass.
It's airside in the domestic/international departures area, between gates 19 and 21. Clear security first, then follow the concourse toward those gates.
Complimentary snacks and finger food, plus a bar serving complimentary house wine, beer and liquor alongside soft drinks.
