Air France has just formally announced plans to open a new lounge in New York. We’ve kind of known this was coming, though it’s now official. This will be absolutely massive for an outstation lounge, and I can’t wait to see more pictures of what it’ll look like.
In this post:
New Air France Lounge JFK Terminal One details
New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) is currently undergoing a major redevelopment. As part of this, we’re going to see the opening of the new Terminal One and Terminal 6 (I know the inconsistent branding is strange, but it’s called “Terminal One” to differentiate it from the existing Terminal 1, which is undergoing a redevelopment, while there’s not currently a Terminal 6).
In 2027, Air France will be moving all of its operations from the old Terminal 1 to the new Terminal One, and as part of that, the airline will be opening a new lounge. It’s expected to span more than 2,700 square meters (29,000 square feet), making it the carrier’s largest lounge outside of France.
The new Air France facility is expected to span two levels, and seat more than 400 guests. The lounge will feature a large dining area and bar, and will also have dedicated areas for beauty treatments, relaxation, and work.
Air France puts a ton of effort into its La Premiere (first class) ground experience, and the airline is promising a more seamless experience at Terminal One. That includes access to an exclusive area of the lounge, featuring a special a la carte dining offer. There will also separately be a dedicated area for Flying Blue’s top-tier Ultimate members.
You can expect the new Air France Lounge to follow standard SkyTeam lounge access requirements, and be open to SkyTeam business class passengers as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus members. Those are all the details we have as of now. So far, only the below rendering of the lounge has been provided.
Full list of JFK Terminal One airlines & lounges
For context on JFK Terminal One, when it opens, it’s expected to be home to around two dozen airlines that span the alliances. So far, airlines that have been announced for the new JFK Terminal One include Air China, Air Europa, Air France, Air New Zealand, Air Serbia, Azores Airlines, China Airlines, China Eastern, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, EVA Air, Gulf Air, LOT Polish Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Neos, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, SAS, Saudia, Turkish Airlines, and Viva Aerobus.
The terminal is expected to have a total of six lounges, including four lounges operated by airlines and representing all three major alliances, plus two independent lounges. So, which lounges does that include?
- When it comes to non-airline lounges, there will be two Plaza Premium Lounges, including a standard Plaza Premium Lounge, plus a Plaza Premium First Lounge
- When it comes to airline lounges, there will be facilities operated by Air France, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines
Bottom line
Air France has officially announced plans to open a lounge at JFK Terminal One, once the airline moves operations in 2027. The lounge will be huge, as it’ll cover nearly 30,000 square feet, and will be able to accommodate up to 400 passengers.
Air France does a great job with its lounges, and I’m sure this will be a lovely facility, and a great improvement over the current reality of operating out of the old Terminal 1.
What do you make of the plans for a new Air France Lounge at JFK Terminal One?
I hope they offer full pre-flight dining for all departures including the early evening and late late ones....not just the weird middle band of evening departures.
Terminal One is the private company that manages T1 at JFK, the old and the new. The different branding to manage confusion is simply not correct.
I have been to the present Term 1 area at JFK and it needs to be knocked down and re-build what a total chaos.. and with 90 degree temps poor or no Air condition.....A mess and will try to bypass whenever possible-even the AF and LUF lounges need a turne-up for sure.
That's exactly what they are doing. Not sure how you didn't notice the construction for the past 1+ year.
Nate, let's face it... dee's nuts!
I am going to like this lounge, even if only for the free flowing Champagne.
So T-One is not going to be the same as T1 and both are going to coexist and there will be a T6 (so T-One, T1, T2, [...], T6), am I getting it right?
@hbilbao The new JFK T1 is being built in phases. The first phase (east side and main terminal) are nearly finished (now supposed to open early 2027, expect delays); the second phase will require demolishing the old T1, and building the west side of new T1.
The new JFK T6 is being built where the old T6 was, connects to the current T5, and also will expand onto where the current T7 is (like...
@hbilbao The new JFK T1 is being built in phases. The first phase (east side and main terminal) are nearly finished (now supposed to open early 2027, expect delays); the second phase will require demolishing the old T1, and building the west side of new T1.
The new JFK T6 is being built where the old T6 was, connects to the current T5, and also will expand onto where the current T7 is (like T1, built in phases, etc.)
The Port Authority website explains all this. Expect ongoing construction through 2030. When it's all done, there will basically be four mega-terminals. (Wonder if they'll rename them.)
https://www.portauthoritybuilds.com/redevelopment/us/en/jfk/planned-projects/terminal-1.html
Ty!
This sounds impressive. Now they need to fix the lounges at a certain airport going by the name of Charles De Gaulle.
Which ones??? all are fairly recent, although in the newest one (the schengen one) furniture is aging fast...
Schedules are better for me to fly to CDG through other hubs. So, I haven't been in JFK for a decade. But, this got me curious. AF and KL will continue their code share flights from 1, while DL flies out of 4, and the new 1 will still require you arrive at 4 on DL, exit security, and go to 1 on the way to CDG (AMS) if you're flying AF (KL) metal?
iirc there is a bus to transfer you airside during most of the day
Just thinking about La Premiere in particular, I wonder what the check-in to lounge experience will be like.
I understand the first class lounge will likely be better, but I was very underwhelmed with the CDG AF Hall K Business Lounge. I've seen a Hampton Inn with better food options in the morning.
It's a nice space but the showpiece powdered eggs didn't really sell premium. I hope they try to do better vs other Business lounges at JFK where no one is serving powdered eggs
You wanna see a ‘sad’ lounge at CDG? Try Terminal 2C Salon Paris… C'est pas ouf…
Yep, I called out that the food will still be generic buffet slop, but everyone still wants to gloss over it.
It's like lipstick on a pig. All show and no substance
I can't wait for this, and more generally I can't wait for the current terminal 1 to be retired!
I imagine this new Air France Lounge will no longer be accessible through Priority Pass, like the current Air France Lounge at JFK Terminal 1 is?
Au contraire, with the enlargement it sounds like they're looking to accommodate more guests, not fewer
The capacity increase may be to accommodate three KL flights moving from T4 to T-one
Now, THIS is an *enlargement* we can all get behind!
Just like with some of the lounges at the new Terminal 6, it's likely that you can board directly from the lounge!
I can't get excited about this knowing it'll continue to be reheated buffet slop, even for business class passengers.
Lounges are uninteresting to me now unless they serve proper sit down food and beverage (and no I don't just mean overpriced alcohol).
Delta will continue to offer the best ground experience overall for business class passengers at JFK. AA's new Flagship Dining push and changes to transcon have left NY based flyers with a downgraded experience.
Oof. Cheer up. Not very 'you-only-live-once' of you. The new T1 already looks glorious from the outside; it's a brand new terminal; it's going to be way nicer than you're suggesting. Fine, AA is devaluing some of its lounge access at T8, but that's not really at issue in T1 or with AF. And, yeah, most lounge food is not going to make the Michelin guide. Sacré bleu...
I don't need to cheer up, I'm already perfectly fine, it's called being cognizant of what's actually happening and calling it out for what it is.
Air France should have invested in a better ground experience food-wise, given how short JFK to CDG flights are, most business class travelers will prefer to eat before and maximize sleep.
What's actually happening... is that our three area airports in NYC are getting major, like, 'generational,' upgrades, specifically, LGA Terminals B & C (now complete), JFK Terminals 1 and 6 (replacing 6/7), EWR Terminal A (later B & C, but that'll be well into the 2030s).
As for AF, this looks like they are doing what you are asking them to (...a better ground experience). We won't know if the food is 'better' or 'same'...
What's actually happening... is that our three area airports in NYC are getting major, like, 'generational,' upgrades, specifically, LGA Terminals B & C (now complete), JFK Terminals 1 and 6 (replacing 6/7), EWR Terminal A (later B & C, but that'll be well into the 2030s).
As for AF, this looks like they are doing what you are asking them to (...a better ground experience). We won't know if the food is 'better' or 'same' until this opens and someone tries it. The existing two-level (with an escalator!) lounge at the old T2 is 'just fine,' but, yeah, not 'stunning' in terms of food or otherwise. The hard product should be a categorical upgrade; soft product can easily be changed if there's enough complaining. I'm hopeful.
How do you know since it’s not been built yet ?? They are investing in a new lounge plus all the bells and whistles.
Don't you think a company would be incentivized to say upfront that they are upgrading the dining experience?
Clearly they are not, otherwise it would most definitely be part of the PR. Keep enjoying your reheated buffet slop though.
Delta may have the best ground experience as far lounges at JFK goes, but it’s also not the best airline to fly out of JFK.
Zut alors! Can't wait for this! C'mon new T1, let's get it going! Chop-chop!