YYZ – Terminal 1 – Plaza Premium Lounge at E77 – Airline Lounge Review

Terminal 1, Toronto Pearson Airport Canada

Introduction

This is my review of the Plaza Premium Lounge located in Terminal 1 of Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

This was a quick visit for me, as I was already pushed for time due to Air Canada being very late for a flight! My flight back to the UK was going from E76, and literally opposite this gate is the Plaza Premium Lounge and the Air Canada Signature Lounge.

Plaza Premium Lounges are not always lounges I encounter that much – but in YYZ across all the terminals there are no less then 6 lounges!

Visited

September 2022 at 18:00

Opening Hours

The lounge is open daily from 05:30 to 22:00.

Entry Conditions

In my case, I was gained entry through my American Express Platinum.

I’m not sure what other schemes offer entry, but cash entry is priced at around $60CAD per person. I was given a cost of $89.10CAD when I put in a dummy visit!!

How to Get There

I won’t pretend to understand how Pearson Airport is laid out – and on my journey I’d come from Washington, so was transiting from the US. It was rather hectic and confusing in the airport to say the least!

But, if once you’re through Security you can find Gate E77, opposite there you will see lounges clearly signposted.

It’s through a corridor, up some elevators, and you’ll see the lounge in front of you.

Layout

The best way to describe this lounge is as having two ‘areas’; from a decor standpoint, it’s actually a pretty nice lounge.

The area to the left has a large amount of casual seating overlooking the terminal.

The area to the right is a large dining hall with dining seating.

And that’s pretty much it! I didn’t find any business centre or anywhere to work.

Food and Drink

Drinks

On the drinks side there are essentially two lists; one included and the other not! This is similar to Heathrow’s Plaza Premium Lounge. The menu for the ‘included’ drinks was fairly expansive list, and I guess the prices are OK…….if you want to pay more than the price you’ve paid to get in…..

The included drinks were far less of a variety. One red, one white, one beer, no sparkling and a small handful of spirits.  Not great, but seemingly of the standard Plaza Premium Lounges are becoming!

Hot drinks and soft drinks are self-service from machines.

Food

The food, in my view wasn’t too good either! On the one side, there was some strange salad and cuscus looking stuff.

Next to that was some sweetcorn, pasta, pork and mashed potato.

Otherwise, there were a couple of soup options.

I didn’t see any snacks, crisps, nuts, or sweet items – so unless I am mistaken, they are not served in this lounge! Boring!

Wifi

I briefly used the Wifi and it seemed reliable.

Showers

There are some showers here, but I am not sure if they are (a) included or you need to pay; and (b) open, as Canada are still a little more on the serious side of Covid, still.

Conclusion

This is an OK lounge.

But as I said recently in my rant about Priority Pass lounges, access to lounges (for example via a Platinum American Express or Priority Pass) people pay for one way or another. To lump a load of costs for ‘premium’ drinks on is taking a liberty in my view.

The same can be said for the food. The Plaza Premium Lounge in Heathrow’s T2 probably has the edge over this – but why provide poor food?

All in all, if I paid $90CAD for access, I’d be disappointed! It’s just not worth it, when you can spend the same going to a nice restaurant in the terminal, and probably pay less.

As an American Express Platinum Card holder, I’m also disappointed!