The Air France – KLM Lounge at Washington Dulles recently joined the Priority Pass network, offering an alternative to the British Airways Galleries Lounge at IAD and and arguably a better lounge option. I spent several hours in the lounge yesterday and offer this review.
- Location: Concourse A, opposite Gate A22
- Hours: 10:30a – 10:00p, daily
- Food: sandwiches, soups, pizza, fruits, yogurt, bread
- Alcohol: complimentary
- Showers: yes
- Access: SkyTeam Elite Plus, Business Class, Priority Pass, Lounge Club
For years I’ve used the British Airways Galleries lounge, open daily from 7:30a – 2:00p, in the same concourse but this Air France – KLM lounge was added last month as a Priorty Pass lounge after PP lost its lounge contract with United Airlines.
The lounge is spacious and in Air France’s red color. The food spread is significantly better than the BA lounge, which offers just potato chips, cookies, fruit, yogurt, packaged cheese, and beverages. This lounge offers a wide variety of sandwiches, pizza, soup, cheeses, fruits and vegetables, as well as snacks like peanuts and potato chips. Liquor and soft drinks are also available and per Commonwealth of Virginia regulation, administered by a bartender.
There is no business center and wi-fi is poor — the BA lounge has far superior internet speeds and you are better off using the free Washington Dulles network than the protected AF Lounge network.
Bathrooms are clean and the single shower room is spacious. If for no other reason, avail yourself to the shower suite for a nifty Air France amenity kit.
I spent the entire afternoon and evening in the lounge yesterday and it filled and emptied according to the Air France, KLM, Korean Air and Aerflot departures. The lounge never reached full capacity.
Air France – KLM Washington Dulles Lounge Seating Area
Air France – KLM Washington Dulles Lounge Food and Drink
Air France – KLM Washington Dulles Lounge Bathroom and Shower Room
I’ll still use the BA lounge when I am IAD in the morning because I have come to know the lounge manager and like the cappuccino there machine slightly better, but there is no question the Air France lounge at Washington Dulles is a valuable addition to Priority Pass and a better lounge overall. The Lufthansa Senator Lounge, it must be noted, is located between the BA and AF lounges and beats both of them.
Looks great! Now that I am no longer able to access the LH lounge, and with the BA lounge restricting PP after certain hours, this looks like a good choice for the few times I now find myself at IAD. Have been using DCA much more often, thanks to the US Express, nonstop, MCI-DCA. Lots of connection options at DCA, basically mirroring what UA offered at IAD (IMO).
I’m very happy for this addition. Only once have we arrived at Dulles in time for the BA lounge. But on a few flights we qualified for the AF lounge and we enjoyed it each time. The small sandwiches and nuts are a step above domestic lounges and the bubbly is drinkable. I do worry that it will get very crowded now, when we used it we felt it filled up prior to departure and were happy we arrived early and had good seats looking at the tarmac. Its also a very clean looking lounge as your photos show with minimal bright furniture.
I like the AF IAD lounge quite a bit. The sandwiches and champagne are very good, and better than what you are likely to get in the LH lounge. It can get crowded before the A380s depart, but the LH Business and Senator lounges can get pretty crowded at times, too. It isn’t convenient if you are flying out of C/D (where the United flights are), though, unless you have a lot of time to get over to A/B and back on the train. (You also will not be able to use it on arrival at IAD from international without connecting, since that requires you go through passport control.)
This is not the best AF/KLM/SkyTeam lounge but … quite pleasant and close the boarding gates, clean, very airy… Reception and bar staff can be a bit “tight” with visitors, could be friendlier… Good spread: food, fruits, snacks, deserts,…I even like the perpetual (for the last 4 years, if not more) Nicholas Feuillate champagne that I traditionally do not buy in stores, but then maybe I am being too snubby. Of course, it can get crowded, what lounge does not at some point…. I think ANA also uses it for their mid morning flight (used to be in the past on the west side of the concourse) but maybe they have switched to the LH lounge… …
Excellent report, Matthew! I’ve walked by this lounge many times, but since I’m always on Star Alliance carriers, I never had the opportunity to visit it. I’m glad you enjoyed it…and thanks for the great report and photos to give us a taste of it!
The IAD Air France – KLM Lounge now mentions limited hours for PP.
“Opening Hours
07:00 – 16.00 & 18:00 – 22.30 daily. Cardholders will not be admitted into the lounge outside these hours until 30SEP16.” There is also a 3 hour limit.
So apparently no admittance for 2 hours between 16:00 and 18:00.
Has anyone been recently, and could you comment:
– If you are already admitted before the 16:00 close time (say 15:00) can you still stay in the lounge for 3 hours (through the 16:00 – 18:00 close time)?
– Is the lounge still good as reported above, such as still a decent variety of light foods?
What a nice surprise this lounge was for me.They even manage to serve crispy baguette.
Following up. I was through the lounge on two occasions. Both visits were comfortable, and the food variety was good enough to substitute for a meal. The staff were very nice.
The P.P. access limit for 16:00 – 18:00 was politely enforced on the first time through (P.P. members had to check out), since large aircraft were expected. On the second visit, the limit wasn’t mentioned. There seemed to be no surge in guests that day.
On both occasions, the 3 hour limit was not mentioned.
Was turned away twice from this lounge…Priority Pass obviously is not as Priority as I expected with Air France.Whilst busy the lounge did have space and at 6:15 PM was about to clear for the next departure however the reception insisted we not be admitted until the lounge had emptied.Why advertise PP access from 6PM if they are not going to honor the agreement.Very disappointed.
Had a good experience at the AF / KLM lounge this morning. Good sandwiches and cheese, along with good coffee. The one disappointment was their “Bloody Mary”, which was made with good quality vodka (Absolut) but apparently just with tomato juice from a can. Was the worst I’ve ever had. Next time will stick to champagne or wine, which looked like good selections. Lots of available seating space mid-morning on a weekday and everything was very clean.
Did they change the hours again for PP? now only til 15:00??