Introduction

I recently had the privilege of visiting the Air Canada Signature Suite lounge at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Designed by Montreal architect Heekyung Duquette, this is one of the best (if not the best) lounges on offer for travelers in North America. My layover lasted most of the day and even after spending a few hours exploring Toronto, I found myself with enough time to spend several hours in the lounge.

Similar to other lounges of this caliber such as the United Polaris lounges, the Signature Suite is exclusive with tighter entry restrictions than the Maple Leaf Lounge. Despite that, it was certainly busy and at times there was limited seating. Other bloggers have mentioned they felt there was a lack of space but during my visit it felt adequate to meet the number of guests.

Access

The lounge is located in the international terminal which serves non-United States bound international flights. If you want to visit the lounge and have access, be sure to visit on your *outbound* flight as you will not be able to access it returning through Toronto unless you’re connecting to another international flight *not* the US. Simply follow the signs and take the elevator up one level.

Speaking of lounge access, it’s incredibly strict. According to Air Canada:

Air Canada Signature Class customers travelling on an Air Canada-operated flight (to Europe, Asia and South America) originally booked and ticketed in the following booking classes will be eligible for access to the Air Canada Signature Suite: J, C, D, Z, P. Only Aeroplan flight rewards booked as a Business Class Flexible Reward or a First Class Flexible Reward in J, C, D, Z, P, I booking classes are eligible for access. All bookings in R class (including, but not limited to, eUpgrades, Last-Minute Upgrades, and AC Bid Upgrades), Aeroplan flight rewards booked as a Business Class Lowest Reward or a First Class Lowest Reward, Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, Business Class flight rewards booked and ticketed by partner airlines,  and I (including Star Alliance Upgrade Awards), as well as bookings made during irregular operations where the customer was not originally booked and confirmed in one of the eligible booking classes, will be excluded. Eligible customers may not invite guests. Access to the Air Canada Signature Suite is not available to customers travelling on promotional tickets or employees.

That’s it. You cannot get an entry through elite status, purchasing day pass, holding priority pass, or a credit card. In my opinion this is a great requirement as it keeps crowding to a minimum which is so important as airlines get back on their feet after the pandemic. As you can see, the Plaza Premium lounge which shares the entry had a line out the door while I was able to walk right into the lounge.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that if you connect from a domestic flight, Signature Suite guests can connect directly to the lounge via the Air Canada chauffeur service which uses Porsche vehicles to whisk you from your incoming flight to the lounge. This is unique among airlines as this is open to *all* business class passengers who are connecting and have access to the lounge – other airlines like Delta only make this available to their most loyal passengers.

Cocktail Lounge Space

Upon entering the lounge, I was greeted by a staff member who asked if I had a preference for when I’d like to visit the suite’s complimentary restaurant. I decided to spend time at the full-service bar as it was a bit early for dinner. They took my luggage and stored it since the lounge is on the smaller side and they want to maintain a non-cluttered, relaxed atmosphere.

This area contained a large seating area, a buffet, and the bar itself as well as some attractive original Canadian art. The menu was quite extensive with fine wines and premium Champagnes – certainly some of the best I’ve seen as part of any North American airline. I opted to go for the Signature cocktail because…why not!?

I also couldn’t pass up grabbing a glass of their Laurent-Perrier champagne as well. I looked for Moët & Chandon champagne which was advertised on Air Canada’s website but didn’t see any offered.

Service was over the top and I was constantly checked on to make sure that I was enjoying my time at the lounge.

Full-Service Restaurant

After savoring the drinks at the bar, I opted for dinner around 6:00 PM and had no problem getting a table in the dining area. Overall I would estimate that the restaurant portion of the lounge was about 75% full. Air Canada has done a great job at keeping the guest/staff ratio optimal. Speaking of the staff, they advised that you need to budget an hour for dinner since it’s a three-course menu.

The private dining room is essentially full service restaurant with an à la carte menu designed by renowned Canadian chef David Hawksworth. Just like in the bar, there is a robust wine list as well as the Laurent-Perrier champagne.

Overall the three courses were top-notch restaurant quality that you would see in any major city.

Rest of the Lounge

The restaurant and bar area takes up the majority of the lounge. Off to the side of the bar is a small seating area where staff served drinks while guests relaxed.

The restrooms were also quite nice though required a bit of a wait when I stopped by. Each stall was an individual room with actual towels to dry off – a nice touch and reflects the premium quality of the lounge!

Final Thoughts

Air Canada has really set the bar for how good a lounge could be. International business class customers are treated to a luxury experience unparalleled across most global carriers. Keeping access limited makes the experience truly special for those travelers who are able to visit. This is especially important since most lounges feel very crowded these days (ahem, Delta JFK lounge!). The Signature Suite lounge is an exclusive space though I can see it getting crowded during peak departure hours. It would also be nice to have had more amenities like a shower since my travel day was quite long.