Lounge Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – New York LaGuardia (LGA)

…A welcoming place to chill out before a flight….

When: September 17, 2024

Rating: 6.5/10 – Enjoyable

Access: Star Alliance Gold – limited to 3 hours before departure.

The Maple Leaf Lounge at New York’s LaGuardia Airport reflects how important NYC is to Air Canada, with numerous flights throughout the day to Toronto and Montreal. It remains puzzling to me how I seem to like the Maple Leaf lounges in the US -as opposed to those I have been to in Canada.  This lounge is highlighted by its vastly improved buffet and a welcoming design enhanced by its use of wood dividers, quiet nooks, and splashes of red. The staff is also very pleasant and hard working. 

The lounge is in LaGuardia’s beautiful Terminal B, above the gates in the eastern concourse, which houses United, Frontier, Air Canada, Jetblue and Southwest. After walking over the skybridge, entry to the lounge is on the left– just before the escalator takes you down to the gates – and just across from the United Club, which is to the right.

Customers will immediately notice the buffet: several hot items and a substantial salad bar. The buffet is greatly improved from previous visits – they even added one of my favorites: turkey meatloaf. Across from the buffet is the 3-part self-serve beverage station: coffee/espresso drinks, beer and liquor, and soft drinks.

There is a variety of both table and lounge style seating, including high-top tables, red maple chairs, sofas, individual seats with tables, etc. In the back of the lounge this is a printer and the washrooms. I like that Canadian artwork that adorns the lounge.

In front, just past reception to the right is a small nook area with sofas and wood footrests that look like tree stumps. This is my favorite part of the lounge and is very peaceful. Air Canada inventively uses wood in many of its lounges – creating a warm comfortable place. Electrical outlets are everywhere.

I rate this lounge 6.5/10. Best features: The décor with its signature red maple and wood. Flaws. Some travelers may prefer a tended bar.