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In June 2023, a brand new concept lounge called Aspire Air Canada Café opened in Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport.
Initially, I didn’t think much of it since there are only a handful of flight routes from/to Billy Bishop Airport, and chances are, I’ll fly from Toronto Pearson Airport anyway.
However, after hearing lots of good reviews about the Aspire Lounge, I decided to fly from Billy Bishop Airport instead of Pearson for my recent trip to Ottawa.
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Entrance
The entrance to the Aspire Air Canada Café at Toronto Billy Bishop Airport is easily visible.
Since the airport is so small, it’s near impossible not to be able to find it.
After going down the elevator, just turn right and you’ll spot the entrance immediately.
Access
There are many ways to access the Aspire Lounge.
- Elite members: Aeroplan 50K, 75K, Super Elite status, and Star Alliance Gold members have complimentary access with one guest.
- Premium Credit Card Holders: American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card, American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card, and CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card.
- Lounge Passes: Priority Pass, DragonPass, Visa Airport Companion.
The entry requirements are already quite generous, but it doesn’t stop there.
Passengers with a connecting Air Canada business class ticket also receive complimentary access.
This is because no aircraft with business cabins operates from Billy Bishop airport.
If you don’t fall into any of these categories, there is an option to pay $56.50 CAD to get in.
However, given decent dining and seating options available in the gate area, it’s worth questioning whether paying for entry is worthwhile.
Seating & Atmosphere
Stepping into the lounge, a visually appealing bar comes into sight, and the overall vibe is very modern and elegant.
Although the airport was quite busy, the lounge remained quiet, providing a peaceful and calm experience.
In addition to the bar setting, there was a variety of other seating options, including individual dining tables and family-style restaurant tables.
There are also armchairs with coffee tables for relaxing.
There’s also a large table with power outlets for those who need to get some work done.
There is also a small room labelled as “Work Space” offering a great spot if you need to hop into a quick call.
There is a larger meeting room on the other side of the lounge, suitable for guests who need to hop on a quick meeting during work travel.
Food & Drinks
During my visit (around 10:40am), breakfast was being served.
However, lots of dishes were quite empty, making it visually not appealing at all.
My guess is that they weren’t replenishing them as it was getting closer to lunch time, but I personally think 10:40am was a bit too early to make that decision.
Overall, it was pretty much a continental breakfast with slightly more bakery and pastry options.
While I think it was better than a typical domestic Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, it didn’t offer anything spectacular.
Coffee, tea, and soft drinks were complimentary, but alcoholic beverages were extra cost.
There was also a grab-and-go section for guests who are in a rush.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at the Aspire Air Canada Café.
It wasn’t too crowded, the food options were decent, and there were a handful of ways to access the lounge.
The lounge alone makes me want to fly from Billy Bishop instead of Pearson, and I probably will for destinations that are available from Billy Bishop Airport.
What do you guys think?
Would you fly from Billy Bishop to enjoy this awesome lounge?
Let me know in the comments below!
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