Air France 2E Business Class Paris CDG Lounge L gates
This is the main flagship lounge at Paris CDG for Air France, and as such it is a brand new, large business class lounge.
There are some novel features, from the in lounge sauna, to the quiet room.
However it is the central cocktail lounge which gets most of the attention.
Paris CDG Air France 2E Business Class lounge L gates review
When you first step into this lounge the contrast between this and the older AF lounges in halls M and K is striking, the splashes of bright blue and yellow bring the lounge to life in a very tasteful yet playful way. The occasional neon red seats in particular is very chic. The lounge is sort of designed to have a residential feel, however it can get bust in the day, to the stage where you wonder if you are in a dentist waiting room with lots of long, communal, seating.
However, it is a confusing lounge to find, and very hard (but not impossible) to access unless your flight leaves from the L gates - details are below. It is immediately left of security, and the entry to the lounge appears to indicate it is a one way exit from the airport - it is not.
As soon as you enter the lounge, it is clear you are in a very different lounge to the 2E - K gates, and indeed the other 2E lounge at M hall.
The lounge is mostly in one, vast, room, with a central wooden area that on close inspection appears to be the cocktail bar. The other self serve bar is on the right, as is the main dining, while at the far end on the left is the games room, while inland is a strange corridor that meanders between a quiet room, nap room, doors opening into bathrooms and the saunas, before there is a vast light installation at the entrance to the spa.
Alas, there isn't really a view so to speak over the airport. Instead the room has windows that overlook the main airport access road, which is a mesmerising effect - part motorway service station, and part connecting you to the frantic world of the Paris suburbs, even if you are only in transit.
There are so many sitting options here - and yet, most of them are pretty much the same. Large, comfy chairs, or hard upright dining chairs are pretty much the only options. And that's about it.
The real novelty is the light resembling a warp core at the far end of the corridor, opposite the Clarins Spa. Get here early if you want a full treatment; it can get booked up really early. Next along the corridor is a relaxation zone referred to as Zero G. IT's quite odd, as the main sleeping area has daybeds in a central circle, which is not relaxing at all. There are private curtained booths but these tend to be occupied by youths either yelling into their phones, on speakers, or listening to loud rap music, which isn't exactly conducive to sleep.
At the far end of the lounge you come to the Detox bar, which is basically just a place to grab a bottle of water or a glass of Tropicana from a garish machine. Next to this is the Petit Salon, a quiet space where mobiles phones are prohibited.
Food
There is a good, decent, buffet at one end of the lounge, but it may not be the high quality buffet with French food you expect. It is on the left and right at the far end of the lounge by the bar.
There is on the left the hot food, which consists of one large bowl of soup, and hot rolls. Next to this are three or four hot dishes. These can include half burgers, cut in two, and occasionally if you are lucky, a quiche. There are also a couple of large tourines with a hot curry and rice or pasta. It is all remarkably average.
There is also a pleasant salad bar, with a dozen or so bowls of green, Greek and bean salad, plus chickpeas and other salad dressings.
Don't miss the cheese and dessert section: the desserts are the best, with lots of different sweet deserts, sponge, and cream cake.
Nibbles also consists of mini sandwiches, nuts and crisps.
Half way through the lounge is a mini refectory area, with a subset of the food and drinks. There are cold cuts and a small salad bar here too, plus some of the sweet desserts, and a smaller bucket of wine.
Bar
There is a large wine selection - with French wines, naturally, to the fore. However, they really aren't presented very well, with just a bucket on the self serve bar, with all the white wines, and reds just on the worktop.Laurent Perrier champagne is served, but again it is just in the bucket, along with the vodka. There are also several spirits on the worktop.
However, if you in the Air France 2E Business Class Paris CDG Lounge, don't miss the 'Le Balcon' which is an impressive looking cocktail bar with a cocktail menu curated by Hotel Lancaster in Paris. It is in the centre of the lounge, and wait staff will bring you a cocktail and nibble list. However, it is closed from early evening, which rather defeats the purpose.
Bathrooms
Massages available until 4PM local time, showers available, but keys must be requested at reception.There are also two gender separated saunas that require no reservations; not that these areas are often filled with people in various states of undress.
Business Facilities
There are no longer any computers available to work on, however there are lots of places to sit down and plug in.There is of course free wifi.
Don't miss the kids games room at the end of the lounge.
Almost all the seats have power sockets, of the French round pin 240 volt style, and USB sockets. These appear to be missing in the vast circular benches, but can actually be found at the top of the seat backs.
Access
There is access to the Air France Business Class Paris Lounge if you have an Air France Business Class ticket, or you are traveling in the La Première cabin (in which case you can bring a guest).
You also have access with Flying Blue Platinum or Gold status, or if you have SkyTeam Elite Plus status.
The Air France staff will try very hard to stop you from accessing the lounge unless your flight not only leaves from the same terminal, but the same sub-terminal (2E) and the right hall and gates (L hall gates). However (in French, if possible) you can argue your way in if your flight also leaves from the K or M gates at terminal 2E, as these are also after passport control. However you will need to give yourself enough time to leave the L gates, and then take the train to the K or M gates, and go through security again. Do not attempt to leave the passport controlled area.
Video: Air France Lounge 2E L gates
Central cocktail lounge
Small kids games room
Very confusing to find