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Air France has announced the reopening of its Business Class lounge in Hall “L” in Terminal 2 of Paris Charles De Gaulle airport. The lounge has been completely redesigned and is considerably larger than the facility it has replaced.
The new Business Class lounge boasts an open kitchen, private saunas and even something Air France is calling a “detox bar” all fitted in to the expanded 3,200 square metre (34,400 square feet) area.
Approximately two-thirds of the lounge opened its doors yesterday (25 January 2018) and Air France says that the remaining third will be unveiled in July this year…and we’re told to expect “surprises”.
Image courtesy of Air France
Air France has set aside 550 sq. m. of the lounge to an area it’s calling a “well-being area”. According to the airline the area offers a “refined setting” and “everything has been designed to immerse the customer in a cocoon where time seems to stand still”.
So what does that mean in practice?
Well, this is what guests can expect:
- An “Instant Relaxation” area to relax comfortably on loungers or in mini-suites for optimal rest;
- A detox bar to relax, with a selection of fine teas;
- An area dedicated to facial treatments with two private cabins where customers can benefit from the expertise of Clarins beauticians;
- Two private saunas to freshen up between flights;
- Large luxury showers.
There’s no mention of any fees in the press release so it’s not clear if the treatments are complimentary (unlikely) or, if guest are required to pay, how much they’ll cost.
Image courtesy of Air France
Unsurprisingly the lounge will offer a “French dining experience” which, according to Air France, will include:
- A “La Table Gourmet” dining area, designed in the spirit of a Parisian brasserie, with an open kitchen where a Chef prepares tasty hot dishes by putting the final touch on the dish in front of customers;
- A self-service offer which invites customers to discover seasonal flavours for all tastes, with simmered casseroles, salads and pastries;
- A selection of wines and Champagnes chosen by Paolo Basso, world’s best sommelier in 2013
Below is the image Air France has provided to illustrate what the dining area looks like and, while it looks perfectly ok, I wouldn’t say that it embodies the spirit or a Parisian brasserie (I think the PR guys may have overstretched the truth a bit!).
Image courtesy of Air France
Air France has attempted to incorporate different areas into its new lounge to, hopefully, “meet the needs of all customers” so these are the spaces the airline has come up with:
- “Le Club”, a private area, to spend time alone or with others in a warm atmosphere;
- “Le Petit Salon” to take time out in a place where all is quiet and smartphones are silent;
Le Petit Salon – Image courtesy of Air France
- An “At Your Service” area, to be assisted by Air France staff in the lounge to reserve showers and saunas, change seats or flights, etc.
- “Air France Shopping” showcases to discover and purchase a selection of unique Air France-branded objects;
Coming In July
The Air France press release doesn’t mention anything about what else we can expect when the final third of the lounge opens in July…but Business Traveller seems to have got some information from somewhere.
Expect:
- A VIP Room
- A bar by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur which will offer free cocktails during “happy hours”
- A kids area (hopefully soundproofed!)
Thoughts
This may be just me but I’ seeing a disconnect between the descriptions Air France has provided and the images that we’ve been given. The words and the descriptions of the new facility sound great while the images show the lobby of a very large and modernised Holiday Inn.
Still, these are only images so I shouldn’t judge this lounge until I’ve seen it and, as I’m passing through CDG in March, I’ll make sure I drop by and see what it’s like in real life.
