This lounge remains one of the best at San Francisco International with a beautiful heated outdoor terrace, elegant decor, lovely bar, showers and a substantial buffet.
The summary
Located the upper level of Terminal 2, by the D gates, Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO far outshines the neighboring United Clubs in nearby Terminal 3. I can’t think of a reason why United Club members with Star Alliance Gold status would not visit this lounge. It’s worth the 10 minute walk.
After ascending to the lounge via an elevator, near the entrance to the D gates, travelers will scan their boarding passes to gain entry. Lounge staff man reception desks in case their are questions or difficulties. The entry is marked by a familiar wood slated wall with the Maple Leaf logo – a familiar MLL feature. Take a left after entry, and you arrive at the large main seating area, with large windows to the left. A mural of San Francisco marks the end of this room. In fact, interest paintings hang throughout the lounge.
On the right hand side are two additional attractive semi-large rooms with TVs that can accommodate several people each. There are also three private small offices that are perfect for phone calls and virtual meetings.
Past this area is the small hallway that leads to the washrooms and the two shower suites. The shower suites are a welcome surprise as none of the United Clubs (other than the Polaris Lounge) have showers. The showers are nicely appointed, if not the most luxurious I have seen.
Lounge guests next come across the extensive dining area. Eggs, biscuits, fruit, sausages are among the items on offer. The highlight has to be the french toast.
Breads and a toaster are across from the buffet and can be found next to the beverage station. The beverage area offers coffees, teas and soft drinks.
The bar itself is lovely, backed by a glass wall. There are no charges for alcoholic beverages. There is also an attractive wine wall, which acts as a divider between the dining area and another seating area and the beautiful outdoor terrace.
This terrace has heaters and an outdoor fire pit – perfect for the cooler Bay Area climate. There is a fantastic mural on one side of the terrace. Most of the terrace has amazing tarmac views.
Internet access was quick, outlets were everywhere, and the staff was wonderful throughout. This lounge is the nicest MLL I have visited in North America (both in the US and Canada).
The wrap:
…The details. Date – June 23 2025. Rating: Outstanding Access: Star Alliance Gold (could have used Chase sapphire reserve)
…What I like: The terrace, the food, the bar.
…What I don’t like: Maybe crowded with Star Alliance Gold travelers at certain hours.
Avid traveler/lounge aficionado, who looks to maximize the fun while traveling. The journey can be as fun as the destination!
Also on BoardingArea
Eye of the Flyer
Giant Wave Swept Away Cruise Passengers, Cruise Excursion Catamaran Sinks, Air Traffic Controllers Resigning, Delta Wins Against USDOT and more Cruise and Travel News
Here are this week’s travel and cruise headlines and news from around the web and interweb: Cruise Passenger Among Victims Swept Away by Giant Wave in Tenerife (video) Excursion Catamaran Carrying Cruise Passengers Sinks Off Samana Bay Air Traffic Controllers Resigning in Droves as Government Shutdown Sparks Burnout US court...
One Mile at a Time
Wait, Some Guests Strip Their Hotel Beds Before Checking Out?!
Funny enough, I was just doing some research on public opinion on another hotel etiquette topic, when I came across an interesting online discussion that caught me off guard.
Live and Let’s Fly
EU Pushes Airlines To Clean Up Their Green Marketing
Airlines love to talk about being green, but the EU is cracking down on vague claims and forcing carriers to be clear, honest, and transparent. Scrutiny Over EU Airlines’ Green Claims Airlines have never been shy about promoting their green credentials. Browse any carrier’s website and you will see buzzwords...
One Mile at a Time
Where Do You Keep Your Passport When Traveling? The Two Viewpoints…
When you travel internationally, where do you keep your passport? Do you keep it on you at all times, or do you leave it in your hotel (or wherever you’re staying) when you’re out and about? I figured I’d share my take here, and then I’m curious to hear what...
You Are Travel
Southwest Adds Philippine Airlines As Connecting Partner
tl;dr – Southwest Airlines adds another international partner. A few weeks back, Southwest Airlines announced a new partnership…
The post Southwest Adds Philippine Airlines As Connecting Partner appeared first on You Are Travel.
Economy Class & Beyond
Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond (15th/16th November)
We’ve reached another end of the week, with storms, airline closures and even a trip report starting to sneak out. It must be time for Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond. Snapshots and Trip Reports We’re combining them into one section. It seemed like a good idea at the time....
Frequent Miler
Last Chance Deals: Increased Virgin transfer bonus, BA Avios transfer bonus, AA award sale, & more
Welcome to our weekly list of what’s ending this week as well as a collection of some other deals that are due to end soon. It’s another busy week for deals about to expire, with more than a dozen ending soon. That includes an increased transfer bonus from Chase to Virgin...
Points With a Crew
The Easiest Way To Get Your Free $50 From Rakuten
If you're not sure how to take advantage of the easy $50 welcome bonus from Rakuten, here is in my opinion the best way to get some easy money. Simply ...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
What Is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 327
During the last days of the most recent shutdown of the federal government of the United States, the current secretary of transportation of the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States ordered a directive for a reduction of flights by up to ten percent at 40 major airports throughout the...
The Bulkhead Seat
2025 Weekly Review: November 15th
Greetings from Tampa! I’m home this weekend after being in Toronto and Chicago this…
The post 2025 Weekly Review: November 15th appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
The Bulkhead Seat
United Scales Back Some European Routes for Summer 2026
Maybe the airlines have oversaturated the transatlantic market. Delta has cited some sluggishness and…
The post United Scales Back Some European Routes for Summer 2026 appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Frequent Miler
Add your Passport to your Apple Wallet, possible solution for Chase point transfer issues, the quiet side of India and more (Saturday Selection)
Throughout the week, our team shares articles they’ve stumbled upon that may interest our readers, even if they might not otherwise merit a full post. Here are some of the posts we found interesting this week: Add your Passport to your Apple Wallet, a possible solution for Chase point transfer...
Your Mileage May Vary
Flying Already Sucks. Here’s How Not to Make It Worse
As so many people have said in recent years, flying is generally not a pleasant experience for Chris Q. Public nowadays. Airlines have figured out how to get every penny…
View from the Wing
The Venetian Wants $45 Just to Use an ATM—Vegas Isn’t Even Pretending You’re a Guest Anymore [Roundup]
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Continue reading The Venetian Wants $45 Just to Use an ATM—Vegas Isn’t Even Pretending You’re a Guest Anymore [Roundup]...
One Mile at a Time
Weekly Review: November 15, 2025
I hope everyone is having a nice weekend so far! I’m enjoying spending time with family, before heading off on my review trip soon, which I’m looking forward to as well! On the points & travel front, this week Alaska’s new Rome flight went on sale, some TSA agents got...
Points With a Crew
Should You Buy Hyatt Points With a 20% Discount?
Hyatt is offering a discount if you buy points during the current promotion. But there are only a few times that it makes sense to purchase Hyatt points, like ....
One Mile at a Time
How To Earn Amex Points With Rakuten Shopping Portal, And Is It Worth It?
Link: Sign-up for a Rakuten account with a best-ever $50 bonus
Economy Class & Beyond
Air China selects the Airbus A350F for its Cargo division
The Airbus A350F continues to gain traction, with Air China Cargo signing a purchase agreement with Airbus. The carrier has signed a purchase agreement for six A350F, becoming the first customer to order the all-new A350F in the Chinese mainland. Since June 2025, the airline has been operating all cargo...
Your Mileage May Vary
Should You Sign Up For A Credit Card During Your Flight?
You know the drill if you’ve flown in the past few years. Toward the end of the flight—right when you’re thinking about gathering your things—the flight attendant picks up the…
Miles To Memories
Checking In & Out: Reevaluating My Hotel Loyalty Program Elite Strategy
I value hotel loyalty program elite status, but my preference can vary based on my current goals. Here's what I'm thinking now.
The post Checking In & Out: Reevaluating My Hotel Loyalty Program Elite Strategy appeared first on Miles to Memories.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
What Ingredients Are In Shampoo and Body Wash?
One result of the conversion from single use plastic toiletry and amenity bottles to bulk dispensers at hotel and resort properties is that the bulk dispensers have plenty of room to list the ingredients of the products that are within them — but what ingredients are in shampoo and body...
View from the Wing
LAX Is Spending $1.5 Billion on a New Road Into the Airport — That’s Not Normal
Los Angeles World Airports has approved $1.5 billion for a new 4.4-mile road into LAX — a per-mile price tag that’s several times higher than what similar highway or airport projects typically cost. The comparison with other U.S. airports makes one thing clear: this isn’t remotely normal.
Continue reading LAX Is...
The Bulkhead Seat
Permits Issued: Construction Can Begin on New Concourse D at Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) has reached a pivotal milestone in its largest terminal…
The post Permits Issued: Construction Can Begin on New Concourse D at Chicago O’Hare International Airport appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Economy Class & Beyond
Blue Islands suspends flights and operations
Blue Islands, a regional airline based in Jersey, has suspended operations. According to the Channel Islands operator, the airline has suspended trading as of the 14th November 2025. All future flights operated by Blue Islands have been cancelled. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport unless they have made...
A slightly off-center look at travel, points, miles, ways to save, funny stories & more, from a husband & wife team where he collects miles & points & she enjoys the fruits of his hobby.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo is a leading aviation news website. It has an active worldwide readership and is focused on rigorously researched articles that are fair and accurate.
“My Soul is in the Sky”. Aviation and Travel is my life. I simply love flying and love sharing that experience from riding cargo hold in remote Siberia to flying Ultra luxury Private Jet, everything in between with you!
