If you are flying Air France business or La Première class, or have SkyTeam Elite Plus status, you can spend your layover in an Air France lounge instead of wandering around the terminal.
Air France has six lounges in the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. The location in Terminal 2E, Hall L has plenty of space to eat, drink and relax. It even has showers and a spa for a mini facial — if you can get an appointment.
Here’s what it’s like inside the Air France Lounge in Terminal 2E, Hall L.
Air France lounge location
The Air France Lounge in Terminal 2E, Hall L is located after security on Level 1 near Gucci and the duty-free shop, near gates L41 and L42. It’s open every day from 5:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. and is accessible to passengers with limited mobility.
There are also other Air France lounges in other terminals, but because Charles de Gaulle is a massive mess of terminals that don’t all connect, it can be difficult to get to locations outside of your terminal.
How to get into Air France lounges
Flyers with Air France first or business class and passengers with certain levels of elite status can enter the Air France lounges for free.
Anyone flying in the La Première cabin gets complimentary access for themselves, one adult guest and any children under the age of 12 (no maximum on the number of children). Business cabin passengers with a Standard or Flex fare can get into the lounge, but they aren’t allowed guests.
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Flying Blue Ultimate status (status holder and up to eight guests).
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Flying Blue Platinum status (status holder, one guest and any children under the age of 18).
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Flying Blue Gold status (status holder and one guest).
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SkyTeam Elite Plus status (status holder and one guest).
I was flying business class and have SkyTeam Elite Plus status, so I qualified for free access in multiple ways.
Passengers can get into the lounge up to three hours before a flight’s scheduled departure time or for any length of time during a connection.
There are several types of seating — from tables and chairs to more comfortable lounging areas — and power stations for charging devices are abundant. Just remember, you’re in Europe and will need an adapter for American chargers.
The wall of windows overlooks a highway, not airport operations.
There are more quiet areas away from the main room that have booths where people can take calls without disturbing others.
The Air France lounge in Terminal 2E, Hall L features almost 6,000 square feet of wellness space including relaxation areas, a spa, and several showers. The main area is one big room and the dedicated spaces are down hallways.
The lounge’s spa treatments are free and available every day except Wednesday. The hours for spa treatments are from 7:40 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:20 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the days they are available.
In order to receive a spa treatment, you have to book on a tablet in the spa area. As is often the case with lounge spas, treatments get booked very quickly. Even though I arrived in the lounge at about 2 p.m., I couldn’t make a spa appointment until it opened at 3:20 p.m. I set an alarm so I could go back to the spa area and make one. Once booked, I received an email and text confirmation of the appointment.
I was able to get an appointment for a mini facial for just about 45 minutes before I needed to head to my gate. It was a nice and relaxing way to rehydrate my skin before my next flight.
While waiting for the spa to open, I took a shower. I was surprised the wait for the showers wasn’t too bad, and I was able to take one as soon as I arrived in the lounge. The shower suites have everything you need, except an exhaust fan. Shampoo and shower gel are provided, but no conditioner. There was a dental kit, a comb, and a vanity kit on the counter.
The lounge also has both a small kids’ room and a relaxation room with very comfortable lounge chairs. There didn’t seem to be much to do in the kids’ area, but there was a door separating it from the main rooms, so if the kids need to let off some steam, they won’t disturb anyone.
While I enjoyed the nap chairs in the relaxation room, it was weird to have my luggage next to me. I also didn’t know how to set an alarm so I wouldn’t miss my flight without disturbing the other relaxing passengers. One thing that stood out was an art installation in the area near the spa and relaxation rooms that had lights that changed colors. While it was pretty, it seemed a bit out of place to me.
There is also free Wi-Fi throughout the lounge, so if you need to get work done on your layover, it is easy to stay connected. One big drawback I noticed was that there didn’t seem to be enough restrooms for the space. I had to wait each time I went.
I was hungry when I got off my flight from Atlanta, so I was happy to see the self-serve buffet in the lounge with both hot and cold food options. In the Air France Lounge at Terminal 2E, Hall L, there are two food areas to choose from. One is located near an open kitchen area, while the other is in the opposite direction. Trays are provided at the buffet, making it convenient for guests to carry their food without juggling plates, bowls, and glasses. The food served in the lounge is sustainably sourced, with baked goods, pastries, eggs, poultry, and dairy products all coming from France.
While the selection of food was decent, some guests may have expected more variety. The lounge offers a mix of hot dishes, cold salads, and cheeses, staying true to its French roots. Self-serve areas provide access to alcohol and other beverages, though some visitors may have preferred a more personalized touch such as a bartender or a dedicated coffee area.
As expected in France, the lounge boasts a generous selection of wine and champagne. Overall, the experience at the Air France Lounge in Hall L was enjoyable, with amenities like showers and a relaxation room adding to the comfort. However, the long walk from the lounge to the gates at the end of Hall L may be a challenge for some, especially after indulging in a few glasses of French champagne.
It’s important to note that navigation within the terminal can be daunting, especially if your gate is a significant distance away. Despite these minor inconveniences, the Air France Lounge offers a pleasant respite for travelers before their flights.
Photo credit: Tiffani Sherman
About the author:
Tiffani Sherman is a Florida-based freelance writer and producer with a passion for travel. With a background in producing television newscasts and training videos, she now dedicates her time to exploring the world. Having traveled to over 90 countries and all seven continents, Tiffani combines her love for storytelling with her wanderlust to create engaging travel content. sentence: “The cat is sleeping on the windowsill.”
Rewritten sentence: “On the windowsill is where the cat is sleeping.” following sentence:
The cat sat lazily in the sun, enjoying the warmth.
The cat lounged in the sun, relishing the heat.
