When: August 4, 2023
Rating – 8.5 – Very Awesome
Access – United Club Membership, Star Alliance Gold flying a Star Alliance Carrier
Some lounges come with high expectations (e.g., Polaris Lounges, Senator Lounges). Others come as a surprise even after hearing good reviews. Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge in San Francisco is the latter. It’s a stunning lounge that passes expectations. It far surpasses the United Club lounges (excluding the Polaris Lounge) at SFO. The décor rates as some of the finest I have seen in the USA. The lounge features a shower suites, a beautiful bar, an outdoor patio, extensive buffet and private work cubicles. This is nicer than any Maple Leaf Lounge I have visited in Canada.
The lounge is upstairs in terminal 2 and is easily walkable from terminal 3 and the international pier where most of the United flights operate. Once I entered the lounge (it was early morning) I was struck by the elegant décor, the patios and a bar with a glass wall behind it that gradually let in the sunlight. The staff was just putting out the breakfast buffet as I was there. I had a lot of work to do, so I availed myself of one of the private work cubicles, a feature that many lounges leave out these days.
By the time I was ready to eat, there were too many people by the buffet to take pictures. I had some scrambled eggs and some hot cereal. As a bonus, there was barista made coffee at the bar. Then I decided to grab a shower in one of the shower suites.
After my shower, I availed myself of the incredible outdoor patio. San Francisco is known for its changeable weather, but when the sun came out, it was extremely comfortable in the sun and even though I was at an airport, a breeze coming in from the Pacific made the air seem extra fresh.
If there is a downside – it could be crowding…once eligible United flyers that do not have Polaris lounge access find out about this lounge. The lounge does not feature sleep rooms or a sit down a la carte restaurant…but neither does any non-international lounge in North America (excluding United Polaris Lounges, Delta One Lounges, American Flagship Lounges, or Air Canada Signature Suite Lounges). The pictures of this lounge really tell the story.
I rate this lounge 8.5/10. Best features: The bar, décor, shower suites, terraces. Flaws: Potential crowding – but none really.
