Tuesday, July 28, 2020

July 28 Update: Best Western Hotels makes face coverings mandatory, SCENE will donate to Boys & Girls Club for every point earned or redeemed and more!


Another follow up to our post last week detailing the move that most major hotel chains made requiring mandatory face coverings. Now Best Western is also making face coverings mandatory in indoor public places as of today at all their locations in Canada and the U.S. Find out more here.
Image via Best Western




A great move from SCENE for this month and next - they will make a donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Canada for every SCENE point that is earned or redeemed at Cineplex theatres, RECIPE Unlimited restaurants, The Rec Room, or Playdium. This move runs until August 27 and the donation from SCENE will be capped up to a maximum donation value of $210,000 ($50,000 and 16,000,000 SCENE points). Learn more here.
Image via SCENE 

As of late last week you can now earn and redeem PC Optimum points on purchases made at the Real Canadian Liquor store. Learn more here.
Image via Real Canadian Superstore

AIR MILES reached out to me to clarify entries into their Summer Stay-Cay Giveaway are doubled if you choose to subscribe to emails even if you were already subscribed before. You'll recall in my post last week I got an email saying I already subscribe so no to the 25 bonus miles but no mention of entries. AIR MILES let me know that if you are already an email subscriber you automatically receive double entries and if you are not a subscriber when you do choose to do so via the contest you'll get the double entries and the 25 bonus AIR MILES.
Image via AIR MILES


Airline Schedule Updates
A summary Canadian operations based on data from RoutesOnline and other sources. Remember that many of these route plans are subject to change and right now they are changing frequently!

ANA All Nippon Airways will be flying three flights per week between Vancouver and Tokyo Haneda for the month of August. (Source RoutesOnline)

China Eastern Airlines will be running 1 flight per week between Nanjing and Toronto during the month of August as well as one flight per week between Shanghai and Toronto. (Source RoutesOnline)


Remember to visit and bookmark our COVID-19 resource page where we are keeping you up to date with all the latest airline, hotel, lounges and loyalty program news, policies, closures and more.

Posts since our last update:

Deals:

Hilton Whislter Lodge has a deal via Travelzoo where you can stay for as little as $149 per night including parking and resort fee. Find out more here.

If you aren't using the Ampli Cash Back app yet you can get $5 when you download the app and join today with promo code AMPLI5 Find out more here

Enterprise: Enjoy a free rental upgrade on rentals until August 28, 2020 Find out more here.

Fairmont Hotels Stay Close - Buy Night 1 Get 1 Night free at select hotels in Canada, U.S. and Mexico. Find out more here

SkipTheDishes - Sign up with this link to get $5 off your first order over $15. Find out more here

WealthSimple Trade:  Receive $5 when you deposit and trade at least $100 worth of stock with WealthSimple Trade. Find out more here (We will also receive $5 when you receive $5)
Rewards Canada receives a small commission when you use any of the above offers. You don't have to chose to use our links but we thank you in advance if you do.


Canadian Bonus Offers

N/A

Other Bonus Offers

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
- Receive up to 50% Bonus Mileage Plan Miles when you buy or gift miles. More... Until Aug 26, 20

Bangkok Airways FlyerBonus
- 3x FlyerBonus Points for stays at Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas Worldwide. More... Until Mar 31, 21

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- 1,000 Bonus Asia Miles when you spend US$300 or more in a single transaction shopping online via the Asia Miles iShop shopping portal. More... Until Aug 10, 20

Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 50% Bonus GarudaMiles when you buy GarudaMiles. More... Until Jul 31, 20

Kaligo
- 50% Bonus Miles/Points in the program of your choice on all hotel bookings made via Kaligo. More... Book by Jul 31 for stays until Dec 31, 20



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Up to a 100% bonus when you buy Air France KLM Flying Blue Miles


If I’m not mistaken this is the best ever bonus for buying Flying Blue Miles from Air France KLM. Previous offers have seen 60 to 75% bonuses but never 100%. At least that’s the case from going through our archive of posts. When you buy at the 100% level each Flying Blue will cost you 1.375 Euro Cents or about 2.15 C$ cents each.


This is a pretty good deal for these miles but can be potentially a even bigger deal if and I mean if and when Flying Blue brings back their monthly Promo Rewards promotion that offer up to 50% off award tickets. Combining a 100% bonus on buying miles and then receiving 50% off business class tickets between Canada and Europe is huge! However I'm only dreaming right now as the Promo Rewards have been paused and its entirely possibly they won't return until next year when the buy miles bonus is over. Good thing is this buy miles bonus is not a short term promotion like most other buy miles promos - this one actually runs until December 31 so you have a long time to decide on buying miles.

Offer details:
Up to a 100% bonus when you buy Air France KLM Flying Blue Miles. Buy miles here.  Until Dec 31, 20
– 50% bonus when you buy 2,000 to 10,000 miles
– 75% bonus when you buy 12,000 to 28,000 miles
– 100% when you buy 30,000 or more miles.
Elite members can buy up to 100,000 miles annually, all other members can buy 75,000 miles annually.
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Monday, July 27, 2020

Earn rate changes coming to the no fee BMO AIR MILES Mastercard this November


Back in May BMO announced changes to their no fee BMO CashBack Mastercard and now they have announced similar changes to their no fee BMO AIR MILES Mastercard. There is quite a bit of advance notice for these changes as they won't take place until November 2020. These changes do only affect the no fee version of BMO's AIR MILES Mastercard as the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard will remain unchanged.


The only changes happening to the card are on the everyday earn rates and they actually get better for shopping at AIR MILES partners and slightly worse everywhere else.

These are the current earn rates for the card that will be in place until November:
- Get 2x the Miles for every $20 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners
- Get 1 Mile for every $20 spent everywhere else


The new earn rates that will kick in in November and be reflected on your December statement are as follows:
- Get 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners
- Get 1 Mile for every $25 spent everywhere else

As you can see the new earn rates are 3x miles for every $25 at participating AIR MILES partners and this is something to note. It is not all AIR MILES partners that you get this earn rates it is strictly those listed on the AIR MILES site as those participating. The partners at the time of posting are as follows:

Then all your spending outside of the above listed partners will earn 1 miles for every $25 spent.

So how does this compare to the card's current rates? Well the 3 miles for $25 at participating partners is a boost to your earning but to get that boost you have to now spend $25 instead of $20. The old earn rates of 2 miles for $20 essentially gave you 0.1 miles per dollar spent and the new rate is 0.12 miles per dollar so that is effectively a 20% boost in earning but I do stress that you now have to spend $25 but that is cumulative. So if you have two Shell purchases of $12.50 in one month you'll earn the 3 miles however anything less and you won't earn the 3x miles. For all other spending the math is quite simple here, you only earn 1 mile for every $25 spent instead of the current $20 which translates to a 20% devaluation. That's a pretty big drop considering most spending on this card probably doesn't happen at the 13 partners listed above.

Overall I would have to consider this a devaluation to the no fee BMO AIR MILES Mastercard. Sure the 20% boost at the participating partners is great but not everyone needs office supplies or home reno items on a regular basis nor do some people have pets so that drops four partners off the list - and car rentals - not much of that happening now and even for the foreseeable future so really the boost is good for 6 partners in total. Which leaves most spending on this card not being at partners with the 3x accelerator and that spending will net you 20% less miles come this November.

Learn more about and apply for the BMO AIR MILES Mastercard here.

Below is the most current offer for the card. It may not reflect the discussion above.

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Stay 2 nights for the price of 1 at the Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Palliser and Fairmont Waterfront


Since our last Fairmont Stay Close update there have been a few hotels who have dropped off the list as their window for booking has passed but there have been a few new hotels in the U.S. and Canada added including the Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver, the Fairmont Palliser Calgary and the return of the Fairmont Banff Springs! This promotion if you are unfamiliar with it provides every 2nd night or 2nd room free for stays at select hotels in Canada, the United States and Mexico!

Here is our previous coverage of the offers:
In the latest update we see 7 more hotels added and those are the :
Stays must be completed by December 31, 2020 except for the Fairmont Palliser which is available until April 30, 2021.

Here’s a quick look at the rates for the Fairmont Palliser (August 19-21):



Just like all the other hotels this deal is exactly 50% off the daily rate and is also significantly cheaper than other special rates. The rates must be prepaid in advance however they are fully refundable as long as you cancel in advance. Some hotels show a cancellation policy of only 24 hours before so there is lots of flexibility while others have a  7 day cancellation policy which is still pretty good!

Black out dates:
Fairmont Banff Springs: December 23-31
Fairmont Waterfront: December 31, 2020
Fairmont Palliser: Not specified
Fairmont Pittsburgh: July 27 – 29; August 18 – 23; September 1 – 6, 8-9 , 17-24, 27 ; October 17; December 31, 2020
Fairmont Dallas: October 3, 15-16, 24; November 5-6, 13-14, 2020
Fairmont Grand Del Mar: Not specified
Fairmont Copley Plaza: Not specified

Remember that Fairmont Hotels is now part of the ALL Accor Live Limitless program so stays at Fairmont Hotels will rack up points in that program.

For more details or to book this offer you can do so via these links:
Here are the terms & conditions of the offer:
Buy one night and receive a complimentary second night during the same stay. A 1 night prepaid fully-refundable deposit is required. This promotion is subject to availability and may not be combined with any other offers, promotions or packages. For stays through December 31, 2020. Blackout dates may apply.

*You may also use your complimentary night as a second room on the same night. Should you wish to do so, please book a two night stay and then you must call the hotel directly to amend the reservation. The reservation will be amended to have two rooms in the same room category for the price of one for one night.

ALL Rewards points may not be redeemed to cover the cost of any charges associated with stays booked on the “Stay Close” offer either at time of booking or during the stay. This includes, but is not limited to charges for room rate/restaurant/in-room dining/spa/golf. Members who book through the “Stay Close” offer will receive the on-property benefits associated with their tier level at time of stay. Members will earn points at standard earn rates for room charges and all eligible spend that is charged to their room during the stay.
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Friday, July 24, 2020

July 24 Update: Get $5 when you download and join Ampli, Hilton's face covering policy will not cover Canada, 20x PC Optimum Points for online shopping this weekend

If you aren't using the Ampli Cash Back app yet you can get $5 when you download the app and join today with promo code AMPLI5. Plus they are running a contest until the end of the month to celebrate their first anniversary where you can win 1 of 25 prizes of $500. Find out more here

Yesterday we posted about most major hotel chain implementing mandatory face coverings in public spaces at their hotels in the U.S. and Canada however we weren't 100% sure on what Hilton was planning. We now have confirmation from our contact at Hilton that their policy will be in effect as of July 28 but only for U.S. locations. Canada is not part of the policy at this time.

Once again PC Optimum is offering 20x the points when you spend $75 or more when shopping for beauty product online with Shoppers Drug Mart. This offer is good until July 26. Find out more here.

If you are needing to rent a car and are willing to go with Hertz who are currently in bankruptcy protection you can earn 2x Gold Plus Rewards points on those rentals for an indefinate period of time. Find out more here.

Just a reminder that we are looking for feedback from our readers on the airline refund (or lack thereof) situation in Canada for an upcoming Rewards Canada podcast episode. There have already been several experiences provided and some good discussions between our readers. Let's hear your voice added to it as well! You can read the article and comment on it here.

 

Airline Schedule Updates
A summary Canadian operations based on data from RoutesOnline and other sources. Remember that many of these route plans are subject to change and right now they are changing frequently!

Flair Airlines is expanding their route network in Canada in late August with flights operating to Fort McMurray, Prince George, Regina, Saskatoon and Victoria (Source RoutesOnline)
Edmonton – Prince George eff 23AUG20 2 weekly
Toronto – Fort McMurray eff 26AUG20 2 weekly
Toronto – Regina eff 24AUG20 2 weekly
Toronto – Saskatoon eff 27AUG20 2 weekly
Vancouver – Fort McMurray eff 26AUG20 2 weekly
Vancouver – Prince George eff 23AUG20 2 weekly
Vancouver – Regina eff 24AUG20 2 weekly
Vancouver – Saskatoon eff 27AUG20 2 weekly
Vancouver – Victoria eff 23AUG20 6 weekly


Remember to visit and bookmark our COVID-19 resource page where we are keeping you up to date with all the latest airline, hotel, lounges and loyalty program news, policies, closures and more.

 

Posts since our last update:

Deals:

Hilton Whislter Lodge has a deal via Travelzoo where you can stay for as little as $149 per night including parking and resort fee. Find out more here.

If you aren't using the Ampli Cash Back app yet you can get $5 when you download the app and join today with promo code AMPLI5 Find out more here

Fairmont Hotels Stay Close - Buy Night 1 Get 1 Night free at select hotels in Canada, U.S. and Mexico. Find out more here

Instacart: Get $10 when you place your first order with Instacart! Register here.

SkipTheDishes - Sign up with this link to get $5 off your first order over $15. Find out more here

WealthSimple Trade:  Receive $5 when you deposit and trade at least $100 worth of stock with WealthSimple Trade. Find out more here (We will also receive $5 when you receive $5)

Rewards Canada receives a small commission when you use any of the above offers. You don't have to chose to use our links but we thank you in advance if you do.


Canadian Bonus Offers

N/A

Other Bonus Offers

ALL Accor Live Limitless
- OFFER UPDATED Double ALL Rewards Points for stays at participating Accor Hotels in the Middle East and Africa. when you pay with a Visa Card. More... Book by Sep 30 for stays until Dec 31, 20
- OFFER UPDATED 500 Bonus ALL Rewards Points for stays at participating hotels in Germany, Austria and Switzerland More... Book by Aug 31 for stays until Oct 1, 20

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
- Double Gold Plus Rewards Points on all Hertz rentals that are booked online with Hertz. More... Offer valid to residents of North America only. Unknown end date

Marriott Bonvoy
- 1,000 Bonus Bonvoy Points PER NIGHT for stays at the Delta Hotels Baltimore Hunt Valley. More... Until Aug 24, 20
- 1,000 Bonus Bonvoy Points for stays at the Element Spring Valley More... Aug 3 - Oct 19, 20
- 2,000 Bonus Bonvoy Points for stays at the SpringHill Suites Portland Vancouver More... Until Sep 17, 20

Turkish Miles&Smiles
- 4x Miles&Smiles Miles when you stay 2 or more nights at Rixos Hotels in Turkey, Unites Arab Emirates and Egypt. More... Until Dec 31, 20



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Up to a 50% bonus when you buy or gift Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles


Alaska Airlines has launched a new buy miles offer that runs from today all the way through to August 26. The bonus ranges from 40% to 50% depending on how many miles you buy. Ideally you want to buy so you get that 50% bonus which means you’d have to buy 30,000 or more miles. And when you do that – there is a special added bonus to this buy miles offer. If you buy 30,000 or more miles they’ll offer you a 60% bonus if you buy miles later in the year between October 5 and 31. We’ve seen a 50% bonus a few times from Alaska and even 60% as part of a targeted mystery bonus over the past few months. There has never been any bonus higher than 60% for Alaska miles and rightfully so as they are very valuable currency especially now that there is confirmation of Alaska Airlines joining oneworld by the end of the year instead of summer of 2021.

With the 50% bonus you are buying Mileage Plan miles for 1.83 US cents each.

Offer details:
Receive up to 50% Bonus Mileage Plan Miles when you buy or gift  miles. Buy Alaska Miles Here Until Aug 26, 20
Buy 3,000 – 29,000 miles, get a 40% bonus
Buy 30,000 – 100,000 miles, get a 50% bonus
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Two Plaza Premium lounges have reopened at Vancouver International Airport


Yesterday we brought you the news that Air Canada will be re-opening one of their Maple Leaf lounges today in Toronto and others by Labour Day. They aren't alone in opening up, earlier this week Plaza Premium reopened two lounges in Vancouver.


We gave you th news on Twitter on Monday with our tweet detailing the July 20th update of our COVID-19 Resources pages but feel that this news warrants its own post.

It was actually this past Monday that Plaza Premium starting re-opening some lounges in their network of lounges around the world - well all of the ones that have opened are in Asia except for the two that opened in Vancouver! It appears that their lounge in Helsinki will open up on August 1. 

The two YVR lounges that are now open are the International Departure Lounge at Pier D which is only open Sundays from 10:30 to 2:30pm and the domestic lounge at Level 3, Domestic Departures, Pier C, near Gate C29. The domestic lounge is open daily from 7:00am to 3:00pm.



As you can see the hours are quite limited right now which makes sense given the volume of traffic that is being seen in airports at this time.



Plaza Premium has also implemented safety measures much like Air Canada is doing with their Maple Leaf lounges from social distancing, removal of reading materials to frequent sanitizing and now providing pre-portioned food instead of a self service buffets.


You can access the Plaza Premium lounges in Vancouver via a variety of methods including Priority Pass, credit card lounge access (Amex, Mastercard etc.) or you can book and pay for a visit online with Plaza Premium.

Recommended reading: Rewards Canada's Guide to Business Class Lounge Access


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Thursday, July 23, 2020

July 23 Update: Share your airline refund or lack thereof stories, OWG reveals initial flight schedule, hotel occupancy rates in Canada increasing


Just a reminder that we are looking for feedback from our readers on the airline refund (or lack thereof) situation in Canada for an upcoming Rewards Canada podcast episode. There have already been several experiences provided and some good discussions between our readers. Let's hear your voice added to it as well! You can read the article and comment on it here.



Also I've been meaning to cover this for a couple of weeks now but it kept getting shoved to the side. A few weeks ago Canadian charter airline Nolinor announced they are launching a new scheduled leisure airline called OWG which will offer flights to sun destinations out of Montreal and Toronto. The airline will be flying older Boeing 737-400 aircraft and I love how they state on their website - this is not a MAX ;-)


Yesterday they loaded their first flights into the GDS' which will see the airline start service this November. The initial schedule per RoutesOnline will be as follows:

Montreal – Cayo Coco eff 01NOV20 1 weekly
N5740 YUL1100 – 1500CCC 734 7
N5741 CCC1700 – 2050YUL 734 7

Montreal – Holguin eff 05NOV20 1 weekly
N5710 YUL1100 – 1520HOG 734 4
N5711 HOG1700 – 2110YUL 734 4

Montreal – Santa Clara eff 06NOV20 1 weekly
N5730 YUL1100 – 1500SNU 734 5
N5731 SNU1700 – 2050YUL 734 5

Montreal – Varadero eff 07NOV20 1 weekly
N5720 YUL1100 – 1500VRA 734 6
N5721 VRA1700 – 2050YUL 734 6

Toronto – Cayo Coco eff 01NOV20 1 weekly
N5840 YYZ0930 – 1315CCC 734 7
N5841 CCC1505 – 1840YYZ 734 7

Toronto – Holguin eff 05NOV20 1 weekly
N5810 YYZ1200 – 1605HOG 734 4
N5811 HOG1745 – 2130YYZ 734 4

Toronto – Santa Clara eff 06NOV20 1 weekly
N5830 YYZ0930 – 1315SNU 734 7
N5831 SNU1502 – 1840YYZ 734 7

Toronto – Varadero eff 07NOV20 1 weekly
N5820 YYZ1015 – 1400VRA 734 6
N5821 VRA1555 – 1930YYZ 734 6

There is no word of a frequent flyer program from the airline just yet (chances are they won't be one for several years if it is even in the cards) however these are flights that are perfect for your proprietary credit card programs that allow you to book flights how you want and the redeem points against the charge. (Read more here: Why proprietary credit card reward programsare the best option for most Canadians) 

You can learn more about OWG here.

Image via OWG


It has been a few weeks since we provided some hotel occupancy numbers and the numbers in Canada are still slowly increasing. For the week of July 14 to 20 hotel occupancy in Canada was 33.3% - this is 10% higher than when we last reported the numbers. Still this is a 57% decrease from the same time last year. (Source HNN)


Airline Schedule Updates
A summary Canadian operations based on data from RoutesOnline and other sources. Remember that many of these route plans are subject to change and right now they are changing frequently!

Japan Airlines will only be flying two flights per week between Vancouver and Tokyo Narita for the months of August and September. (Source RoutesOnline)


Remember to visit and bookmark our COVID-19 resource page where we are keeping you up to date with all the latest airline, hotel, lounges and loyalty program news, policies, closures and more.

Posts since our last update:

Deals:


Hilton Whislter Lodge has a deal via Travelzoo where you can stay for as little as $149 per night including parking and resort fee. Find out more here.

Fairmont Hotels Stay Close - Buy Night 1 Get 1 Night free at select hotels in Canada, U.S. and Mexico. Find out more here

Instacart: Get $10 when you place your first order with Instacart! Register here.

SkipTheDishes - Sign up with this link to get $5 off your first order over $15. Find out more here

WealthSimple Trade:  Receive $5 when you deposit and trade at least $100 worth of stock with WealthSimple Trade. Find out more here (We will also receive $5 when you receive $5)

Rewards Canada receives a small commission when you use any of the above offers. You don't have to chose to use our links but we thank you in advance if you do.


Canadian Bonus Offers

Air Canada Aeroplan
- Earn up to 150% Bonus Aeroplan Miles when you fly on any eligible Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or Air Canada Express flight. More... Register & book by Aug 4 for travel until Sep 30, 20 Air Canada
- Receive up to a 40% Aeroplan Miles rebate when you redeem miles for an Aeroplan flight award on any eligible Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or Air Canada Express flight. More... Register & book by Aug 4 for travel until Sep 30, 20

Wyndham Rewards
- Earn 7,500 Bonus Wyndham Rewards Points when you complete two separate stays at participating Wyndham Rewards Hotels in Canada and Worldwide. More... . Register by Sep 8 for stays until Sep 10, 20

Other Bonus Offers

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
- Earn up to 1,500 Bonus Mileage Plan miles when you shop online via the Mileage Plan online shopping portal. More... Until Aug 9, 20

United MileagePlus
- Earn up to 2,500 Bonus MileagePlus miles when you shop online via the MileagePlus online shopping portal. More... Until Aug 16, 20




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Face coverings to be mandatory at Hilton, Hyatt, IHG & Marriott Hotels in Canada and the U.S. as of next week

As many more cities, regions, businesses and such make face coverings mandatory we are now seeing major hotel chains join that movement. Marriott was the first out of the gate with news on Monday July 20th that they are making face coverings mandatory as of July 27 at all their U.S. and Canadian locations.


This announcement came on the heels of American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) making this recommendation the week prior. Masks do not have to be worn in your hotel room but for the most part are required in all indoor public places like lobbies, restaurants, bars, meeting spaces and so forth.

Image courtesy of Hyatt Hotels

Hyatt soon followed suit with their own announcement on Tuesday essentially mirroring what Marriott was doing by also making face coverings mandatory as of July 27 at all their locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Then it was IHG adding themselves to the list as of yesterday making face coverings mandatory also at their locations in the U.S. and Canada as of July 27.  There isn't any formal news from IHG about this however LoyaltyLobby appears to have confirmed it with IHG.

And finally today several sites are reporting that Hilton has also jumped into the fray that as of July 28th they will require face coverings at their U.S. locations only. I have reached out to our Hilton contact for confirmation and also posed the question if their Canadian locations will also have the requirement.

I did a quick check of some other chains like Accor, Best Western, Coast Hotels, Choice Hotels, Fairmont and Sandman Inn but none of these chains have revealed any news yet as to whether they will also put in place mandatory face covering requirements.
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Air Canada to begin re-opening Maple Leaf Lounges with new biosafety measures


Hot off the wire is this latest news from Air Canada that they will begin to re-open some of their Maple Leaf lounges this week. The first to open will be the Maple Leaf Lounge at Toronto Pearson D Gates on July 24:
"We are pleased to welcome eligible customers again to one of our Maple Leaf Lounges at our primary Toronto Pearson hub. The Maple Leaf Lounge experience has been completely re-thought with a range of industry-leading biosafety measures in place for the safety of customers and employees alike. We are introducing electrostatic spraying in our Lounges as part of our significantly enhanced cleaning procedures for additional peace of mind, and launching new touchless processes, such as the ability to order pre-packaged food directly to your seat from your smartphone. When the Air Canada Café reopens later this year, customers will also benefit from touchless self-entry, a process which we are looking to implement at other lounges. We will progressively re-open other Maple Leaf Lounges throughout our network starting with Montreal Trudeau Airport and Vancouver International Airport by early fall in time for the expected resumption of more business travel," said Andrew Yiu, Vice President, Product, at Air Canada"

Air Canada CleanCare+: Maple Leaf Lounges Re-Open With New Biosecurity Measures from Air Canada on Vimeo.

Based on the video the Maple Leaf Lounge experience will be very different than what we were all accustomed to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gone are the buffets and self service bar. Gone are the magazines and newspapers. Now food service will be provided as pre-packaged options that you'll order via the Air Canada app and have it brought to your seat. The same goes for the beverage service as it will be assisted now and no longer self service.

This is how Air Canada describes the Food and beverage service:
In the lounge, meals can be ordered and delivered straight to your table through the new Maple Leaf Lounge @ la table service simply by scanning an NFC or QR code found at the table.
In addition, customers can select from two cold meal options, pre-packaged and sealed in our convenient meal snack bag. During select times, hot options and a kid’s menu are also available. A shrimp roll offering will also be available in the evenings from our culinary partner, chef Antonio Park.
Meal options are adjusted based on time of day, and an antiseptic wipe and a disposable cutlerly roll will be provided with each meal.
There will also be assisted bar service with our full bar offering.
 Air Canada will provide digital options for magazines and other reading materials. Essentially most high traffic touch points have been eliminated. They will be cleaning all seats and tables after each use and will have dedicated washroom attendants who will be making sure washrooms are properly sanitized. Check in counters will have plexiglass shields in place and all customers and employees will be required to have face coverings.

The Toronto lounge that is opening will be the only one to operate for just over a month as Air Canada then plans to open lounges in Montreal and Vancouver by Labour Day. The video mentions Calgary and Ottawa will follow suit sometime in the future and possibly some overseas locations as well.

You can learn more about Air Canada's Service Offerings Changes here.

Recommended reading: Rewards Canada's Guide to Business Class Lounge Access

Image via Air Canada 
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