While the various domestic Maple Leaf lounges - at YVR, YUL, YYZ and even at YYT (St John's Newfoundland) are nothing special, the Signature Lounge in the international section of the YVR terminal was excellent.
Even though there are limited flights from YYT each day, mainly to Toronto, Halifax and Montreal, the lounge opens at 0400 and had a very satisfactory breakfast available, and even espresso coffee (from a machine). Around lunchtime the YYZ lounge was very busy and noisy but better than the Qantas Club lounges, in my opinion, especially in the selection of food available. A surprising number of people were having a discussion at the entrance about why they were being refused entry.
The YVR Signature Lounge is for paid J pax only so I did not any Aeroplan members there and looked to be exclusively table service. There was a seperate entrance after entering the main Maple Leaf Lounge and up another level. You could have returned to the main Lounge if you had work to do. I did not notice any showers, but did notice that Moet was their champagne of choice and the menu, while limited, was excellent, as was the service - we had eaten already so limited ourselves to Dim Sum and Ice Cream. There was also a quite extensive buffet if you preferred something not on the menu.
As noted above, the lounge looked like it was only for the SYD and BNE departures in the late evening although there was one HKG flight at 0130. A few Aussies were well into the spirits when I arrived and looked quite worse for wear on a VA domestic flight some 18 hours later.
It also has a good view over the International apron.
