YUL Air Canada Transborder Maple Leaf Lounge

US 3703
YUL-PHL
3:50pm-5:23pm (sked)
4:30pm-6:05pm (actual)
March 16, 2011
CRJ-65
Economy Class
Seats 8A and 8B

Today, it's back on schedule and off to Philly for a dinner meeting. Arrived at a deserted YUL US departures terminal roughly two hours before my scheduled departure and was in the MLL no more than 15 minutes later. Kiosk check-in took a couple of minutes, using the all-airline kiosk system. Passport scan worked, and the US system recognized my *A status and let me switch to an exit row on the one class CRJ-65. Used the priority security lane to jump the queue ahead of the four other pax waiting in line. Quick and easy thru CATSA today in the metal detector lane. Used Nexus to jump the queue at CBP and the agent called me up right away, checked docs and waved my thru.

The trans-border MLL is available to all *A Gold members flying a *A carrier. Much nicer than the YUL domestic MLL, this is an attractive lounge with lots of window space and great views of numerous gates in both the trans-border and international concourses. Comfortable seating areas. Free wi-fi for Elites and Super Elites.

And a small business centre area, again with excellent views...

Good selection of liquors and snacks, especially during lunch, when salad and soup are offered.

But the cleaning crew seems to have taken the day off...

At T-30, I headed out for Gate 80. I lucked out again today with my seat selection as I had both exit row seats to myself. Pleasant and comfortable flight with our attractive FA Megan providing excellent beverage service for the short 60 minute trip.

If there is a worse airport in the US than PHL, I have yet to visit it. The seemingly perpetual renovations have bypassed Terminal F. The US Airways Express terminal is a dump, with ridiculously long walk to the poorly marked taxi stand, via the skywalk to and thru the parking garage. Once in the taxi, it was a quick 15 minute ride to Center Cty, where I had found a very reasonable $129 deal at Club Quarters... very cool business-oriented hotel on Chestnut.