I was very pleasantly surprised by the Air France Business Class Lounge in Terminal 2E, Hall M. My six-hour stay quickly flew by.
My original goal was to visit the newly renovated lounge in Hall L, but I was not allowed through because my flight was departing from Hall M. While I generally like Paris CDG, Terminal 2 is divided into several satellite terminals that are not connected on the secure side. So much for lounge hopping…
While dejected that I could not visit the new lounge, I figured at least I could be productive in the Hall M lounge. Turns out I very much underestimated the quality of the lounge.
Once you clear security, head upstairs and you’ll find the lounge across a large atrium nestled between high-end designer brand stores.
Proceed down the hall to the reception desk, where your boarding pass will be scanned to verify whether you are entitled entrance. The lounge is open to business class passengers as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus travelers traveling in any class. Hours of operation are 5:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. daily.
Air France Business Class Lounge Paris Seating
I arrived around 6:30 A.M. and the lounge was practically empty. It is a very large lounge with room for at least 400 passengers. The lounge did fill up a bit by 10:00 A.M. but never felt crowded.
On the far side of the lounge (turn right as you enter) there is a rest area with already-recliend seats. Mobile phones are forbidden in this area.
There is also a roped off VIP space that remained empty during my stay (I happened to be sitting nearby):
Newspapers and magazines were available throughout the lounge:
Air France Business Class Lounge Paris Dining
The lounge includes two buffets, one large one and one small one. The smaller buffet contains the cold items available in the larger buffet, but no hot food. The breakfast spread at the smaller buffet included fruit, bread, yogurt, cheese, cold cuts, and cereals.
I love French butter!
You can see the main buffet has a similar spread but also eggs and bacon:
Food is served cafeteria-style. You start with a Air France-branded gray tray, then add items as you see fit.
I enjoyed some eggs and bacon with bread and fresh fruit for breakfast. The peaches and plums tasted like they were fresh off a tree.
Coffee was horrible. Not just mediocre or unmemorable, but horribly weak and rancid. My one strike against the lounge…
The main buffet also offers a self-service bar with a larger assortment of wines, beer, and spirits. And of course, Champagne (Taittinger).
About 11:00 A.M. the breakfast buffet was transitioned to lunch. The spread still included cheese, bread, and cold cuts but additional items were added including mahi-mahi fish and beef bourguignon, quiche, and a couple salads.
Desserts too:
Air France Business Class Lounge Paris Service
The ladies at reception were very kind, smiling and welcoming passengers into the lounge. Next to the reception is a bank of upgrade machines.
I wrote about them here, but essentially you scan your boarding pass and will receive an offer to buy up to the next cabin of service.
> Read More: Why I Turned Down An Upgrade To First Class On Air France
A large service desk in the lounge remained empty for the duration of my stay:
Inside the lounge, the staff was quick to clear away used dishes and cups and as I’ll describe below, service shined in the spa.
Air France Business Class Lounge Paris Clarins Spa
One of my favorite perks of this lounge is that guests can sign up for complimentary 15-mintue facial treatments. Air France partners with Clarins and the lounge offers free facials on a first-come, first-served basis.
When you get to the lounge, head to the spa where you can sign up for a treatment time using a tablet device affixed to the front desk. You’ll choose an available time, choose treatment type, enter personal details, and receive confirmation.
Lounge staff speak excellent English and the woman who provided my facial was very professional.
Unlike many airport lounge spas, longer treatments are not available: only complimentary treatments are offered. After my treatment, I was offered complimentary skin cream:
Sadly, this lounge does have any saunas like the lounge in Terminal 2E / Hall L.
> Read More: Impressive New Air France Business Class Lounge at CDG
Air France Business Class Lounge Restrooms + Showers
Large restrooms are available in two parts of the lounge. The shower area is located near the spa. Shower suites include a toilet.
CONCLUSION
Not only did this lounge exceed my expectations, it was an objectively excellent lounge. I’d actually arrive early to enjoy a facial prior to my flight. Next up: a flight to Dubai on Air France. Would the onboard experience be as good as the lounge experience?
The “upgrade machines” that you are referring to are not actually upgrade machines — they are there to allow self service check in for the lounge and alleviate crowding and lines at the entrance. You walk up, scan your boarding pass, indicate any guests with you, and then the kiosk will direct you into the lounge and turn green, or to see an agent and turn red.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been through CDG. Are there any Skyteam arrival lounges?
Excellent review, great photos. Thanks for the detailed info.
I know what you mean about the French butter. I have been known to throw a couple of those in my bag to be sure I had enough on the subsequent flight.
The lounge closes at 2pm??
Yes. That satellite terminal is definitely under-utilized.
Great review Matt, guessing Priority Pass doesn’t get you access to the AF lounges at CDG?
Correct. No Priority Pass access.
You found this at an uncrowded moment; that dining area can be a complete zoo at peak times.
That butter is very good but not the best, IMO. A better one is wrapped in paper rather than foil. I can’t remember the brand name but many hotels serve it. It’s quite sublime.
Of course the one in your pic is more than adequate, delicious in fact. The French are very food at butter but don’t seem to export much of it: that’s left to Denmark ( and it’s only just*OK*).
I must be thinking of the wrong lounge if this one closes at 2.00pm
While it does look like they upgraded the lounge nicely, a few more French hot options would probably make it even better. Like, why not have a made-to-order crepe station, for example?
Agree. A crepe would have been wonderful.
The AF lounges throughout Terminal 2 are very good, with L and M being the standouts, in my opinion. AF also has the only arrivals lounge at CDG, which is really useful since I am usually arriving very early and can never seem to check in before 3. Additional reasons I don’t agree with all the complaining about CDG.
i was able to go to different halls. my flight was leaving from L hall/gates and was allowed to go to the M hall/gates lounge. u just have to tell the security screening people that u want to go use the lounge.
I did and they denied me. Oh well, I’ll check out the L lounge next time.
must be YMMV.
I love the M hall/gates lounge.
too bad it closes so early in the afternoon.
the L hall lounge is the newest, new concept look. Hope to check it out soon.
the K hall lounge is the oldest now, but its still not too bad.
enjoyed reading your reviews. thanks for sharing. I also agree w u regarding AF and CDG.
I will first admit to not being very intelligent. However, I do have one question. The Lounge is open from 5:30 am to 2:00 pm is a passenger allowed to go to the other lounge mentioned in the article if they arrive after 2:00
thank you
For sure. This satellite terminal closes at 2PM – essentially all the flights go out in the morning and early afternoon, then it sits empty until the next morning. At least that is my understanding of how it works.
You should be able to visit other terminals/halls within terminal 2 by using the “blue shuttle” (Navette Bleue) airside. There was no boarding pass check to get on the bus when I did this in 2016.
Now I feel really foolish.
Now you have a reason to go back!
Some pictures are missing
Which ones?