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Air Canada Signature Suite Vancouver YVR
On a flight to Bali, I booked my original business flex flights via Aeroplan, using points earned through Aeroplan’s growing list of partners. My schedule changed, so Air Canada changed my routing to YYZ-YVR-SIN-DPS. Since my YVR-SIN flight was on an AC Business flexible ticket, I had access to the Air Canada Signature Suite lounge in Vancouver (YVR) due to the rescheduling.
Having already been to the one in Toronto YYZ, this lounge has been on my bucket list for some time, so I was looking forward to my almost 3-hour layover and the few times I hoped for a delay so I could spend more time there.
Located near Gate D52 and across from security, it wasn’t too far from Gate D53, where my AC flight departed, but it was actually a 5-minute walk through the duty-free shop.
Entrance to Signature Suite YVR via Maple Leaf Lounge
Air Canada Signature Suite Vancouver – Layout
The lounge is in the same space as the AC Maple Leaf Lounge (MLL), but upstairs. After scanning your boarding pass at the Maple Leaf Lounge reception desk, you need to scan it one more time at the Signature Suite reception desk. From there, either take a flight of stairs or an elevator.
Signature Suite Entrance
When I arrived, there was a short line of less than 5 minutes at the concierge desk, where the desk asked me for my departure details before taking me to my seat. Before the concierge desk, an elegant glass ball lighting display set the level of refined elegance the lounge wanted to convey to its guests.
Reception Desk
As I passed the concierge desk, the buffet station was to my right, and seating with a wonderful view of planes at the gate was to my left. I had a departure close to midnight, so I am sure the views would have been better during the day. To the left-hand side is the main bar of the lounge. Past that, to the left, is a small enclosed private room before you reach another dining room.
View from dining room
Signature Suite Bar
Private Dining Room
Light music played throughout the lounge. The lounge was about 50% full during my visit, yet not too noisy. A screen displayed Air Canada Departure information, though no departure announcements were made.
Seating consisted mostly of tables for two. The tables had white granite countertops with either brown or black leather chairs; each table had a simple gray placemat, a drink and food menu, and cutlery. When seated, I was asked whether I wanted still or sparkling water.
Signature Suite Vancouver YVR – Seating
The space is intended to be small and intimate, not to serve the masses as an MLL lounge, but rather a quiet fine-dining experience set aside for those with an AC “revenue ticket” in business class looking for a true oasis in YVR before boarding their flight.
Signature Suite Vancouver YVR – Dining Seat
Food and Drinks
Similar to my visit at the Toronto Signature Suite, the lounge offers both an à la carte option and a buffet. Since I had a little over 2 hours, I went with the à la carte menu as there were some delicious items to choose from.
Dining Room
Buffet Area
Hot foods at the buffet during my visit consisted of black pepper beef ,cajun chicken sliders, vegetarian pakoras and a rice pilaf. Desserts included vanilla panna cotta and a Chocolate orange tart. Cold salads were also available.
Hot food options – Buffet
My Cocktail to start was the West Coast Trail, made with honeyed whiskey, mezcal and rosemary. Served in a classic rock glass, it had 4 giant cubes of ice, which was a bit excessive; smaller cubes or just 2 would have been ideal. (Yes, I spilled a little after the first sip 🤭) Or I’d suggest requesting a straw. A great sweet cocktail to start the meal.
Signature Suite Vancouver YVR – Bar
Cocktail – West Coast Trail
For my appetizer, I went with the house-made lobster-and-scallops stuffed pasta served in a savoury yellow broth of basil, fennel, and saffron. The dish had three pasta shells, but the highlight was the delicious broth. Don’t forget to ask for a spoon!!
Lobster and Scallop Stuffed Pasta
For my main, I went with the Grilled British Columbia venison loin (cooked medium rare), served on a bed of creamed spinach, potatoes in red wine sauce with pearl onions and mushrooms, and topped with crispy straw potatoes. The crunchy potatoes blended perfectly with the tender venison and semi-sweet red wine sauce.
Grilled British Columbia Venison
Lastly, for dessert, I went with the Pistachio Opera Cake topped with chocolate sauce. I paired dessert with the Capilano Whisper, made with Irish whiskey, Lillet, and Cointreau. Again, sweet and strong, it went well with dessert. A bit too much ice again, so I asked for a straw this time.
Pistachio Opera Cake
The coffee/espresso machine is behind the bar, so if you needed a little caffeine before your flight, you could order it at the bar or have it brought to your table. The bar was also well stocked with a good selection of fine spirits and wines. Definitely a step up from what the Maple Leaf Lounge offers.
Reflection of My Experience
Overall, I enjoyed my visit, and if I had a longer layover, I would have ordered a few more items off the à la carte menu. Since entrance to the Signature Suite is restricted to people with paid business class flights or a business flexible redemption flight, I appreciate the slower-paced, fine, elevated dining experience the lounge offers versus the Maple Leaf Lounge.
Service was a little slow, in my opinion. I had to ask more than once to get my glass of water refilled, and they take away your napkin before dessert and don’t bring you a new one with dessert, which I didn’t understand why.
Compared to the Signature Suite in YYZ, the view at the Vancouver Signature Suites Lounge really stands out, as the one in Toronto did not have runway views.
A strong 8/10 !! Definitely worth a revisit if I fly through the West Coast on an international AC flight.
Bon Voyage ✈️
