Review: Air France Business Class Lounge – Paris Charles De Gaulle Terminal 2E Hall L
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On a recent flight from Paris to Montreal, I had the opportunity to visit the Air France business class lounge in Terminal 2E Hall L before boarding. Here is my review of this very pleasant and relaxing space.
Location
The lounge can be accessed in terminal 2E near the L gates just past security and customs/immigration. Note that you will not be able to access this lounge if your flight departs from other areas of terminal 2, or even other halls of terminal 2E such as the M or K gates.
Those who have visited CDG before know that you can’t simply walk to your next gate if it’s in a different section of the airport, even if it’s a relatively short distance away. Transportation is strictly controlled by the use of trains and busses, so make sure you plan ahead and leave enough time to get to the correct area of the airport.
Access
The lounge can be accessed by passengers holding a same-day boarding pass in business class on Air France or a SkyTeam partner. Alternatively, it can be accessed while flying in economy class if you hold Flying Blue Gold or SkyTeam Elite Plus status or higher.
Unlike the Air France lounge in Montreal, this location is not available through other methods such as Priority Pass or Plaza Premium programs, or by holding a specific credit card like The Platinum Card®.
Entry and lounge seating
Upon entry, you’ll be greeted by Air France staff who will welcome you, check your boarding pass, and direct you inside.
Upon entry, there’s a main seating/buffet area to the right. To the left is an overflow area which opens when the lounge becomes busier.
The seating is one of the lounge’s strongest features.
Firstly, the main area is one large room, which gives a sweeping feeling of spaciousness, something that can sometimes be difficult to find in airport business lounges.
In addition to this, there’s a huge amount of natural light which spills in through the windows all along the side which gives the whole area a warm, bright feeling.
The only downside is that the view overlooks a highway through a grating instead of having a view of the tarmac.
There’s a large variety of styles of seating, so if you’re travelling solo or in a group will be able to find something that meets your needs and that you should find comfortable. Power ports are readily available everywhere.
In the hallway heading towards the spa area there is a small “Detox Bar” with a hightop table, seating, and some fridges featuring Heineken beer and Perrier water.
The centerpiece of the main area is a stylish dining/bar area called “Le Balcon”. It features velvet-covered booth-style seating along with brass accents and a gold mirrored ceiling. If travelling in a group this would be a chic place to enjoy some food and a glass of champagne together!
One thing missing is a dedicated business space with cubicles for working. However there is such ample seating with power port availability that it shouldn’t be hard to get some work done despite this.
Food and drinks
The self-serve buffet area featured snacks, entrées including cheese, paté, and salads, a bread and croissant area, some deserts, as well as a few hot dishes including soup, rice, and breaded strips of cod.
The food was of good quality. I wouldn’t consider what was on offer sufficient to be considered a full satisfying meal, however the time of my visit was mid-afternoon between regular meal times which might explain the slightly reduced offerings. I’ve heard from others that in busier times there is a larger hot buffet including a chef’s station and a bartender present to mix cocktails.
The bar area featured a selection of white and red wines, champagne, mid-tiered spirits such as Bombay Sapphire gin and Jack Daniel’s whiskey, a coffee station, and cold drinks.
Spa & other facilities
The lounge features a spa offering free Clarins facial treatments. This must be booked upon arrival on a space-available basis. I was there on a Tuesday and was informed that it is closed that day.
So if you have some flexibility in your travel arrangements and would like to take advantage of this, it would be preferable to travel on a different day.
There is also a sauna which was likewise unfortunately closed.
There is a rest area with a group of lounge chairs set in a circle, as well as private ones behind a set of curtains which would be the best place to get some sleep.
There’s a small kids play area which is great for families. It too, however, was closed. I’m not sure if this was due to the fact that it was Tuesday, or more likely simply because there weren’t any children in the lounge at that time.
In addition to restrooms, there are also shower rooms available. The water pressure was incredible making for a very relaxing shower.
The room is reasonably well-appointed, however considering the large focus on the Clarins skincare products featured in the spa, I was surprised that there weren’t more of them available in the vanity area.
The restroom area also features a nursery room for families with babies.
The exit of the lounge is down an elevator which takes you to the gates L41-L53.
The walk to the gates passes by the high-end shopping that CDG is known for including Gucci, Dior, and Chanel.
You can also get an Instagram-worthy photo next to the giant sculpture of a reclining cat, CDG’s version of Doha’s lamp bear!
Conclusion
The Air France Terminal 2E Hall L business class lounge is a great option when flying with the airline or a SkyTeam partner.
Whether you are looking for a stylish place to enjoy some champagne with friends, or a place to have a shower and rest between long intercontinental flights, you will find what you are looking for here.
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