Air France opened the doors to its new lounge in JFK last month, and as one of the first visitors, I decided to give the lounge a run for its money during a six-hour layover, while waiting for a connecting flight on to Paris.
After heading through security, through the fairly small terminal, heading right, brings you to the lounge, situated next to Gate 1. Beyond a fairly unassuming doorway lies Air France’s business and first class lounge.
At just under 10,000 square feet, this fairly large lounge is split over two floors, with a mezzanine offering excellent airport apron views and even a glimmering view of the New York skyline in the distance.
Designed by BrandImage, the lounge is open from noon until the last flight leaves, and offers a wealth of amenities, from showers and buffet dining and excellent drinks through to showers, super-fast Wi-Fi and even a Clarins treatment room, perfect for giving passengers who’d like a little pampering before their flight.
Treatments are available free of charge to passengers who book at reception.
The lounge is super-stylised, with a charcoal grey wall, where an Air France logo graphic pattern brings a touch of Parisienne chic.
Passing the stylised red reception desk, passengers are welcomed into the L-shaped lounge. Ahead of you a grand staircase can take you upstairs.
On the ground floor is a wealth of seating, in a variety of seating configurations, from solo seats through to clusters of chairs, some with window views, and others hidden away for more privacy. Also on the ground floor is a shower suite, which while not complete, was still functional, and had a powerful shower.
There was also a fantastic buffet bar, which had a range of food types both hot and cold, including delicious fresh salads and desserts. Opposite the dining options was an extensive self-service premium bar.
All in all, this is a perfectly formed lounge, and a vast improvement on what was on offer before. It is the perfect start to a long journey with the carrier.
q&a space, comfort and privacy
Up in the air, Air France has equipped its Boeing 777 with new cabins. The first route to adopt this was Paris-Charles de Gaulle to New York in June. Jonny Clark explains the details.
So, more comfortable?
Absolutely, Air France’s cabins have historically offered seven seats across business class on its wide-body planes, meaning an unappealing middle seat was on offer. This new cabin offers all-aisle access and a lot more space for each passenger. The angled seats offer privacy, while the fully flat beds mean greater sleep comfort.
Rollout plans?
Only to roll these new premium business class seats on 44 of the 777s Air France currently fly. The cabins are scheduled to become available on flights to Singapore, Jakarta, Tokyo-Haneda, Houston, Shanghai, Douala, Dubai and Sao Paulo early this year.
And the rest of the fleet?
Very little has actually been released, but both the A330 and A380 will undergo upgrades, which will be complete by 2017, as part of a €500 million (Dh2.12 billion) programme.
Let’s hear from the CEO.
“On our legendary New York-Paris route, our passengers are already enjoying our latest long-haul cabin classes … Today’s inauguration of this beautiful new lounge completes our offer for our premium customers and is part of our strategy to upgrade all our products and service, both on the ground and on board,” says Frédéric Gagey.
business@thenational.ae
Follow The National's Business section on Twitter
