In 2020, Canada’s WestJet opened its first and so far only airport lounge, the WestJet Elevation Lounge at Calgary Airport. Visiting the lounge was one of the things I was really looking forward to on my recent trip to Yellowknife. Having now visited it, I can say that the lounge did not disappoint – it was one of the nicest lounges I entered using Priority Pass.
Continue reading this review to see what the WestJet Elevation Lounge was like.
Location & Opening Hours
The WestJet Elevation Lounge at Calgary Airport is located airside, just past security checkpoint B. If this is the security checkpoint you use, you should be able to see the lounge right in front of you once you pass through security.
In case you are transferring at Calgary Airport or coming from one of the other concourses for some other reason like I was, follow signs toward B gates. Once you get near the B concourse shuttle stop, you will have to cross its road and the lounge will be on your right. As the way to the lounge was not signposted well, it took me a bit to find it.
The WestJet Elevation Lounge is, as of the time of writing this article, open daily from 5AM to 10:15PM. For the latest opening hours, check WestJet’s website.
Entry Requirements
Unlike with most other airline lounges, there are plenty of ways to access the Elevation Lounge at Calgary Airport regardless of whether you are flying with WestJet or some other airline.
The following passengers traveling in business class get complimentary access:
- WestJet business class passengers traveling on the 787 (i.e. on long-haul flights) or connecting to/from such flight.
- Delta One passengers that are departing from or transiting through Calgary as part of the itinerary which includes the Delta One flight.
Additionally, the following frequent flyer status holders get complimentary access:
- WestJet Rewards Platinum, Gold, and Silver members traveling on a WestJet flight. Interestingly, Gold and Platinum members can enter the lounge with up to five immediate family members (i.e. spouse and children) flying on the same flight. All WestJet status holders also get one-time vouchers to use for guesting non-family members.
- Delta Sky Miles Diamon, Platinum, and Gold Medallion members traveling on an itinerary that includes a Canada-US segment operated by Delta or WestJet.
The WestJet Elevation Lounge is also a member of a variety of lounge networks including Priority Pass and DragonPass. Depending on the type of membership, these provide complimentary access to the lounge regardless of the airline you are flying with. In my case, I used my Priority Pass membership to get in before my domestic WestJet flight.
Lastly, those not eligible for access otherwise can pay for entry at the reception. While the rates for non-WestJet passengers are slightly higher, they still can use the lounge. Currently, the fees are as follows (you can confirm the latest rates here):
- Adult: 59 CAD + tax (traveling on WestJet) / 65 CAD + tax (traveling on any other airline)
- Child (2-17 years old): 30 CAD + tax (traveling on WestJet) / 33 CAD + tax (traveling on any other airline)
- Child (under 2 years old): free of charge
Lounge Tour
Going past the WestJet Elevation Lounge reception through a hallway lined by a wall on one side and a wooden partition on the other led to the lounge’s “buffet” area. Buffet in quotation marks since while the food was prepared here, it wasn’t self-serve but had to be ordered. More on that later, though.
The rest of the lounge was separated into several different seating areas.
Behind the wooden partition, along the windows that faced the terminal were a couple of rows of daybeds. Next to each of the daybeds was a small round coffee table with a couple of power outlets.
Further down along the windows were benches with small tables.
The windows overlooked a walkway that connected the concourses. With the walkway having an exterior-facing window, though, the lounge’s windows also brought in some natural light and offered some aircraft views.
The benches facing the windows also served as a partition between that seating area and another seating area that was surrounded by benches. While some were in the same configuration as those facing the terminal – i.e. lined with small tables – others also had a seat in addition to a table.
This area was home to a counter with drinks. There was also some more seating in the middle in the form of a large counter with more than a dozen seats.
Adjacent to this area was also a small nook with a couple of tables for two.
Next to that was a staffed bar with two large TVs (showing ice hockey, of course) above the counter. Along the semi-circular bar counter were a few bar chairs. Behind those was a fireplace that presumably works in the winter.
On the other side of the fireplace were two large brown leather sofa chairs and a magazine rack.
There were also half a dozen or so black sofa chairs lined along a partition on the other side of which were a counter and a small seating area with pairs of sofa chairs facing each other.
On the right side of the bar counter was a hallway leading to the lounge’s restrooms and showers.
The hallway was decorated with a nice large painting.
Behind the area with the pairs of sofa chairs mentioned above was one more seating area. Because of a floor-to-ceiling wooden partition separating it from the rest of the lounge, this area was relatively dark and quiet.
There were a dozen or so large sofa chairs with high privacy partitions from all three sides and a built-in table. Additionally, there was a counter with five seats along one of the walls in this area that seemed good for those that wanted to get some work done in a quiet place.
The last “public” space in the lounge was behind the fireplace area.
That space was equipped with the same daybeds as the area near the lounge’s entrance. It was tucked away in the corner of the lounge and not facing the terminal, though, so it was quieter and offered more privacy.
In front of the space above was a reception desk. As it was not staffed at the time of my visit, I am not exactly sure what purpose it served, but it might have been that during busier times, the daybeds in that space need to be reserved. It might also have been a reception for reserving access to one of the meeting rooms, family rooms, or focus spaces that the lounge offered.
All of those offered a private, closed-off space for individual guests (in the case of focus spaces) or groups of guests to enjoy/work in.
Food and Drinks
One could get drinks in the lounge from three places – the self-serve drink counter, the bar, and through an online ordering system accessible by scanning a QR code on a smartphone. Rather than overlapping, each of those options offered different drinks.
Food in the WestJet Elevation Lounge was available only through the ordering system – there were no self-serve options.
Orange, apple, and tomato juices, as well as regular milk and almond milk, could be found in the self-serve area.
While I am not a coffee drinker, there appeared to be a good selection of coffee too. Not only were there two coffee machines offering a variety of options but there were also two additional dispensers with two more coffee blends.
More to my liking, there was a nice selection of good-quality tea bags. I enjoyed a cup of mint tea during my visit.
A few different beers on tap were available at the bar. There was also what looked like an above-average selection of wine and liquor.
Going back to soft drinks, there was no soda at the self-serve counter. Possibly it could be had from the bartender.
Lastly, two drinks were available via the online ordering system:
- Baileys and coffee
- Mimosa
In terms of food, I visited in the morning and so a selection of breakfast items was available. Namely, the following items were available for order:
- Strawberry cream cheese Danish
- Fruit bowl
- Yogurt smoothie bowl
- Breakfast egg wrap with bacon and potatoes
- Pancakes
As I ate breakfast at my hotel prior to coming to the airport, I skipped the more substantial items on the menu. Instead, I had a fruit bowl and a yogurt smoothie bowl. When ordering the latter, I had the option of choosing whether I wanted granola and/or sunflower seeds (I opted for both toppings).
WestJet Elevation Lounge Calgary Summary
The WestJet Elevation Lounge in Calgary seemed like a really good lounge if looking at it from the point of view of a long-haul WestJet business class passenger. The only downside, in that case, is the lounge’s distance from the international concourse. From the point of view of someone entering using Priority Pass, the lounge was excellent.
I really liked the layout which separated the lounge into multiple smaller areas. There were plenty of different seating options including daybeds for those looking to squeeze a quick nap in before getting on a flight. The breakfast selection was decent and the items that I ordered were of good quality. Additionally, the staffed bar elevated the lounge (no pun intended) above other similar lounges.
