Vancouver Airport Welcomes Brand-New Plaza Premium Lounge, Including ‘First’ Area

Third-party airport lounge operator Plaza Premium has opened an all-new lounge at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

The opening of the new lounge is great news for travelers passing through the airport, which serves as a major connecting point for many flights to and from Asia.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about this new space.

A New Plaza Premium Lounge Opens in Vancouver

The opening of the new Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver introduces a new concept to its North American network: a “First” component that is more exclusive than a typical Plaza Premium lounge.

In Vancouver, the larger lounge is divided into 2 parts: the “regular” section and the First section.

One Mile at a Time reports that the facility has a maximum capacity of 251 guests and covers approximately 10,500 square feet. The lounge is located in the international departures area on Level 4, between gates D67 and D68.

First, we’ll explore the regular section of the lounge. It’s on the smaller side, with a maximum capacity of 136 travelers. However, it packs a punch, with plenty of amenities modern travelers expect including numerous comfortable seating options, charging stations, free Wi-Fi, a dedicated room for families, and showers (available at an additional charge).

Food is a focus here, with a live cooking station that will feature different options, a fresh salad bar, and a selection of artisanal cheeses. There’s also a self-service bar area with soft drinks, fresh juices, draught beers, and local wines.

The Plaza Premium First component takes things up a notch and features à la carte dining options, a full-service bar with premium beverages, complimentary shower access, and plenty of comfortable seating.

This is the first example of the Plaza Premium First concept in North America, though it joins other locations worldwide in Hong Kong, Macau, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur.

The Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver (the regular portion) is open now, while the First section should open on December 2, 2024.

How To Access

The Plaza Premium Lounge in Vancouver has the same entry requirements as other lounges in its network. This means anyone can purchase access. Prices start at CA$65 (~$46) for 2 hours without shower access. If you want to utilize the showers, you can purchase a 30-minute time block for an additional CA$26 (~$18).

However, those who have a Priority Pass membership (a complimentary benefit of several travel rewards cards) can access the lounge for no charge. Further, access to the Plaza Premium network is an outright benefit of several American Express and Capital One credit card products.

It stands to reason that certain airlines will utilize this lounge for their premium passengers, who would also be granted complimentary access.

Finally, not much is known at this point regarding how to access the “First” portion, though it costs about $120 to access the Plaza Premium First Lounge in Hong Kong for 3 hours, with prices increasing from there as you purchase more time.

The new Vancouver lounge is open from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Sunday to Friday and from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. The First space will have the same hours when it opens, according to Plaza Premium’s website.

Final Thoughts

Plaza Premium has opened a new lounge in Vancouver, including a new-for-North America First portion slated to open in just a few days.

This news should be very welcome for flyers passing through the airport, and we hope to see the First concept expanded to more North American airports in the not-too-distant future!