The recently-completed Air France Lounge in Terminal 2F at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is truly a delight to visit.
Air France Lounge 2F Paris (CDG) Review
I paid for business class on my trip to Tunis more so to access this lounge than to actually fly business class. After greatly enjoying the Air France Lounge in terminal 2E Hall L (which even has a sauna), I had high expectations for this lounge…and I was not disappointed.
Let me underscore, as the pictures below will demonstrate, that this is a HUGE lounge. At 32,000 square feet (3,000 square meters) comfortably spread out over two levels, there is seating for nearly 600 passengers.
But the beauty of this lounge is not in its size or number of seats, but its architectural details. The space was designed by the Jouin Manku agency, composed of Canadian architect Sanjit Manku and French designer Patrick Jouin. They also selected and customized the furniture.
Let’s take a look.
Hours + Location + Access Requirements
The lounge is open daily from 5:30AM to 10:00PM just past security in Terminal 2F, near the Lacoste shop.
You can use this lounge under if traveling in a premium cabin or holding SkyTeam elite status:
- La Première (but do visit the La Premiere Lounge instead)
- Business Class
- Flying Blue Gold status
- Flying Blue Platinum status
- SkyTeam Elite Plus status
A guest is permitted unless you are traveling in business class without SkyTeam Elite Plus status.
Automated gates are used to gain access to the lounge – simply scan your boarding pass and if you are eligible for access, the gate will open. You can also register your guests so that they can use the automated machine.
Seating
The lounge is divided over two levels with ample seating on both floors.
When you look at the rounded designs and convex windows, you cannot help but be reminded of the TWA Terminal (now hotel) at New York JFK, designed by Eero Saarinen. The curves are beautiful and though reminiscent of the 1960’s, timeless.
As you enter, you can turn left into a dining area with tables and chairs or turn right into a general seating area.
That seating area stretches around the corner to detox area, followed by a quiet area. Throughout the lounge, you will notice Air France’s iconic hippocampe ailé (winged seahorse).
Upstairs is a lot more seating, including a combination of couches, chairs, and tables. The style and color scheme really blends well and it was immediately apparent that the furniture and finishes were built to last.
Food + Drink
You won’t go hungry in this lounge – croissants, yogurt, fruit, and other baked goods were available when the lounge opened, with hot food added by 6:00AM, including scrambled eggs, bacon, baked beans, and mushrooms.
Crepes made-to-order are available in the afternoon and a daily special in the Le Comptoir bar area is available.
Champagne service starts at 11:00AM, though I heart that once the daily supply is exhausted (often before evening), it is not replenished.
A “detox” area on the ground floor offers herbal tea and other soft drinks.
Beverage stations are positioned around the lounge on both floors.
There’s even a candy area near the front entrance.
Restrooms + Showers
Restrooms are located on both floors with shower suites available on the upper level. These self-serve suites require you to simply scan your boarding pass to gain access (a green light indicates the shower is available while a red light indicates the shower is in use or must be cleaned). If all showers are occupied, you can join a waiting list near the shower entrance.
Clarins Spa
I arrived in the lounge at opening time, 5:30AM, and unfortunately had to leave before the spa opened. Bookings open same-day at 7:20AM, with advance reservations not available. Passengers can book a complimentary 20-minute treatment (facial or massage) using a tablet at the spa. The spa is closed on Wednesdays.
Relaxation Area
Also on the upper floor, a relaxation area offers a quiet, semi-private place to rest (curtains can be drawn). The lounge does not have any formal sleeping rooms. There is a diaper changing area near the relaxation zone.
Luggage Stowage
As you enter the lounge, make a hard left if you wish to store your baggage; lockers are available.
CONCLUSION
While I love the 2E Hall L lounge, this one is even more beautiful (I still prefer 2E, Hall L because it has a sauna). Well done Air France for designing a lounge that is beautiful and functional.
Airport taxes in Europe are much more than in the US. Given that, CDG is still a shitshow of an airport. The politicians must be skimming all the taxes through corruption just as liberal politicians here do in the US.
Would you kindly keep politics off of this forum sir.
Debit is a troll who searches for any reason to own some libs no matter where s/he is.
That bacon looks disgusting. Who eats undercooked soggy bacon?
Best Skyteam lounge I’ve been in. Too bad it’s in CDG (from US-based flyers perspective I’d rather connect in AMS, all day long)
Really? Why? Granted, I’ve never been through AMS, but at the same time I’ve never had a problem connecting in CDG either. Still better then international connecting in JFK
On upcoming AF reservations, I note that it now shows the lounges you have access to. However, it numbers them, rather than using the terminal and hall. For example, for CDG-IAD my reservations says “Lounge04”. For CDG-AMS, it says “Lounge05”. I’m assuming it is 2F for Schengen, but one of the 2E lounges for Nonschengen (M, L or K), and I will figure out which one to use when I get there.
I have been unable to find a list of CDG lounges by number online. Anyone have one?
Have a look on that:
https://blog.flight-report.com/infographie-3-classement-des-salons-de-premiere-et-de-classe-affaires-a-paris-charles-de-gaulle-2/
This is from 2015, so maybe a little not updated but it is a good start to see where the lounges are.
Once you have been through the border officers in the terminals K, L, M (in fact they are in terminal K) I believe you are authorised to go to any of the AF lounges in the terminal K, L or M.
You will have to clear only the security lines in any of the 3 terminals.
I hope this helps you a bit.
Thanks. I also use Loungebuddy and its newer (and somewhat better) competitor Loungereview.com, and have been through CDG multiple times (including Terminal 1, which is a weird mess – but did you know it was designed by the same architect who later did 2E and F?) I am definitely someone who researches the lounges I have access to as I fly, and like to at least have visited them at least once. My question was really more why the AF app calls the 2F lounge “Lounge05”, and which of the 2E lounges is “Lounge04”. And what are lounges 01, 02 and 03? I’ve never heard the AF CDG lounges called by their numbers. I note that the AF app shows the KLM lounges at AMS by the numbers they are actually called.
Yes that numbering in the app is strange.
The guy in the IT app design must not know what it is.
🙂
To complicate matters further, 2F/-LOUNGE05 used to be two lounges. So in the beforetimes, there were six AF lounges (well, seven if you count la première) that would correspond to those two numbers: 2E K,L, and M, one in each of the 2F lobes, and the arrivals lounge (RIP).
The same architect did all of CDG (except the 2F polyp that is the new AF lounge), and the place is a testament to the failure of 20th-century monumental French architecture. Next time you shuttle between 2E and F, remember that you used to have to go through the train station.
AF lounge food isn’t that bad, but it’s not great either. Well, the desserts are pretty good. The rest is alright. The fun is assembling a proper French meal, with apéro, entree, plat, salade,fromage, dessert, cafe, digestif, and orange juice. The wines are pretty good too.
I’d pick CDG over AMS for the lounge any day.
Terminal 1 belonged in a Jacque Tati movie. Comically bad, from the roads leading in, confusing check in, the slanting moving walkways everywhere, the border control lines, the moving walkways again to the gates, security at the end of each of those, and the lounges. At least they did not repeat it for 2. And as bad as 2E and 2F are for getting in and out of the airport (other than by train), I think it is fine for connections and like all the AF lounges. By the way, I used to find that the bread and cheeses were dependably good, as they should be.
Had the pleasure of using this lounge back in November. Giant step up over the previous F ones! Sadly my LAX-CDG inbound was late (as usual) so I only had about 20 minutes here before my connecting flight to Italy.
I don’t think the food is great in these AF lounges, but I just love the ambiance and style.
When we connect at CDG, the lounge was down below the gate level and it was always super crowded, not to mention old. I forgot where – but I thought it was on 2F. So this one replace that lounge? If yes, this looks like a massive improvement from ambiance and space alone.
Yes, the old one in this space was terrible!
Yes, huge improvement compared with the 3 predecessors in term of space, ambience, brightness… (at least re Schengen area), and I always did prefer CDG over AMS (carrier, lounge…), but in terms of hygiene… I grew so sceptical after noticing (right in front of my eyes) incidents…, the most disgusting one was > lettuce that has fallen beneath the bowl during refilling was grabbed by the service lady (term?) with her BARE HANDS and PUT IN THE BOWL!!! I addressed her right away, but she just gave me a weird look… I lost any hunger or appetite and went down to ask to speak to the manager on duty. In this conversation I sensed that my complaint was given attention, but the fact that this happened in the first place … – still leaves me speechless, (and I would have expected an offer getting back to me as a follow-up,) and this has NOTHING to do with COVID-19 panic!
The understanding of requirements serving food in such an environment seems to be “a bit” too much of a challenge for some, e.g. when you happen to observe that with the same rags seats are wiped down and THEN AFTERWARDS tables…
When I lived/ worked in Algeria, the AF lounges at CDG were a godsend after a few months in country. Clean water and showers, good food… and despite that, my favorite thing, as cheesy as it is, are the great flavors of Schweppes that are hard to find in the USA.
Hope to be seeing this new one within the the next few weeks.
I’ll fly business my first time this July, on AF from AMS to MSP with several hours layover in CDG. Do I only have access to 2E lounges or can I get into 2F as well? The Schengen/non-Schengen situation, is that only for the upcoming segment and not the one just flown? Any other advice is appreciated as I’m totally new to flying premium cabins. I’ll try to book a Clarins treatment for sure. 🙂 Matthew, I enjoyed your hour long YouTube chat with Stefan Krasowski. Thanks!
In this 2F lounge now. No hot food at 6pm. Super full and just not relaxing at all. Glasses not properly washed clean so even drink is an adventure.
On the plus side views of aircraft movements and evening sun are good.
Was so looking forward to seeing this place.
Overall: Poor.
Sorry to hear about your bad experience.
I HATE CDG airport. It is unfriendly, harsh, disorganized, rambling, arrogant and overwhelming after a long haul flight. This lounge looks great. These photos paint a lovely, refreshing calm oasis…it is not. I found it VERY busy, far to hot and stuffy (come on turn on the AC a little!!) However, it is miles ahead of the rest of this stinking, overcrowded, brash airport. I was glad to be in the lounge, but it was far from comfortable and agreeable.
This is why I wear shorts when I travel through CDG no matter what season it is! It’s always 80F
My only complaint about AF Salon at CDG is that they keep the temperature too hot.
It seems like Air France is doing well in the regular business of things.
I am not normally accustomed to the AF (or any) lounges but because of a strange train connection to CDG in early June I am going to be all day waiting for my flight. My economy ticket apparently allows me to purchase access to one of the lounges for €60 and I am wondering if the reviewer knows which lounge/s I would have access to. Thanks.
You could use that lounge – and I would recommend it if your waiting time is longer than three hours.
They’ve updated their terms. If you’re buying access, you can not access earlier than 3 hours before departure.
Does Air France offer a lounge pass purchase option in one’s reservation or at the time of online check-in? We’ve got a summer booking (economy) but I’d like to pay to add this for our party of 4.
Thanks for the helpful review! Did you access this lounge en route to Tunis or on your return? I will be flying to Tunis in AF Business this month; flying into 2E from BHX and departing from 2F. 2F is marketed as a Schengen lounge and when I asked AF customer service to confirm we had access even though TUN is not a Schengen destination they couldn’t answer and advised asking on the day, so I’m curious if access is given based on departure from the terminal and regardless of the Schengen status of the onward destination. Thank you!
En route to Tunis. Just allow yourself time:
https://liveandletsfly.com/air-france-a330-200-business-class-review/
(details here)
The hot ambient temperature on af planes and salons are crazy. So hot. Sweating profusely with my husband. Why is that? Is it a Euro thing?