The first segment of my trip was on Air France’s brand new A350-900 from Toronto to Paris. While the flight was only departing at 6:45PM, I ended up getting to Toronto Pearson Airport before 12PM, as I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss my connection, and also because there were limited nonstop options from Miami.
As a result I spent plenty of time in the Air France-KLM Lounge.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto Location
The Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto is located in Terminal 3. It’s by the C gates, so once you clear security just keep walking and walking and walking and walking. You’ll get there eventually.
Toronto Pearson Terminal 3
Toronto Pearson Terminal 3
This was my first time in this part of Pearson Airport, and I have to say they’ve done a great job with the terminal (even though the design is clearly based around monetization).
Toronto Pearson Terminal 3
There’s an elevator near gate C33 leading up to both the Air France-KLM Lounge and the Plaza Premium Lounge.
Elevators to Toronto Terminal 3 Lounges
The entrance to the Air France & KLM Lounge is there immediately once you exit the elevator.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto exterior
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto Hours
The Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto is currently open daily from 8AM until 12AM, though times may change seasonally. While Air France and KLM each have a flight in the evening, it’s open all day because the lounge is also used by other airlines.
How To Access The Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto
For one, the Air France-KLM lounge is open to Air France and KLM business class passengers, as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus members.
On top of that, those flying other SkyTeam airlines (like China Eastern and Korean Air) can use this lounge. They also contract out the lounge to other airlines. For example, for much of the time I was in the lounge, the other passengers were mostly traveling on the Pakistan International Airlines flight to Lahore.
Lastly, the lounge is also open to Priority Pass members, and those guests can stay for at most three hours.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto Review
We weren’t off to a very good start with my visit. As I walked in there was no one at the front desk. I waited for a couple of minutes, and then went to the Plaza Premium Lounge across the way so I could review that. I returned 10 minutes later and there still wasn’t anyone there.
So then I started walking around the lounge and saying more loudly “hello?” Eventually someone showed up and admitted me.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto reception desk
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto Seating
Physically this lounge is perfectly alright. Just inside the entrance is a roped off area that’s marked as being reserved. I’m not sure if that’s for top tier Flying Blue elites or what, since Air France doesn’t offer first class to Toronto.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto reserved area
Then along the left side of the lounge are all kinds of siting areas. They do a good job of using partitions so that each feels a bit private. There was one area with a TV.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Then there was another area with a couple dozen chairs.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Across from that was the dining area, which had dining tables and high top seating. This is also where the buffet was.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Deeper into the lounge by the windows was a lot more seating, including several chairs with ottomans, and a couch.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Then there were some communal tables, some more chairs with ottomans, and then one more sitting area.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto seating
The highlight of the lounge no doubt were the incredible views of the apron, as all kinds of heavy planes taxied by. I started my morning in Miami, where it was 80 degrees, so I enjoyed the benefit of how beautiful the snow looked, but was happy not to be outside.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto view
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto view
There was even a great view of the Air France A350 as it arrived.
Air France A350 Toronto
Air France A350 Toronto
The bathrooms were in the back right of the lounge, and were decent enough.
While the lounge was mostly alright, I do have a couple of thoughts:
- The lounge doesn’t have showers, and I could have really used a shower
- The lounge had a lack of outlets in many of the sitting areas; the outlets that did exist were largely so loose that the plugs kept falling out
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto Food & Drinks
This is where the lounge really disappointed. When I arrived I found the food selection to be underwhelming, so my guess was that they’d bring out the better food later, a couple of hours before departure.
That’s pretty normal for airlines that are also open to Priority Pass members — they put out the good stuff when their own passengers are using the lounge.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto buffet
Well, the selection here was in line with what you’d expect from a Priority Pass lounge, and nothing more. That was true even as the Air France and KLM departure times approached.
There were whole fruit, some pastries, muffins, bread, and a couple of types of soup.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto buffet
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto buffet
Then where was an area with what was easily one of the most random selections I’ve seen — it included cold cuts, hummus, shredded lettuce (yes, I believe it was shaved lettuce and not shaved brussel sprouts), pickles, hardboiled eggs, and a fruit salad. There was no pita or anything with which to eat the hummus.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto buffet
Then there were four hot dishes, though they didn’t look particularly appealing.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto buffet
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto buffet
Most disappointing was the drink selection. Air France is an airline that prides themselves in serving champagne in all cabins (even economy!), yet they serve Martini prosecco in their lounge?!
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto wine
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto wine
There was also a selection of self serve liquor.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto hard liquor
Then there was a coffee machine, soft drinks, water, and juice
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto coffee machine
More Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto Musings
I don’t know if the lounge’s dishwasher is broken or what, but the fresh glasses were filthy, with all kinds of marks (I’m not sure the picture fully does justice to that — at the bottom of the glass that’s not a reflection, but rather a stain). This was the case on more than one glass that I got.
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto dirty glass
Then they randomly started doing loud maintenance and replacing parts all around me. No one came up to those of us sitting in this area and told us what was going on, how long it would take, encouraged us to move, etc.
Relaxing lounge ambiance
And while it’s certainly not the lounge’s fault, I think what really rounded out the ambiance of the lounge was listening to the lady across from me tell her husband in painstaking detail about how she had diarrhea for the past two days.
Anyway the flight was scheduled to board from gate C31, which was just a short walk from the lounge. Boarding was scheduled for 5:55PM, so I got to the gate at around 5:30PM. They had set up three boarding zones.
Air France departure gate Toronto
Boarding ended up starting at 6:30PM (yes, way behind schedule). First those in wheelchairs boarded (which took quite a while), and then business class passengers were invited to board.
Air France departure gate Toronto
Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto Bottom Line
Obviously there’s huge variance in quality for the lounges of any airline. This was definitely the worst Air France Lounge I’ve been to, and I found it to be quite disappointing. The decor was alright and the views were great, but everything else left something to be desired.
The food selection was bad, the fact that they serve Martini prosecco is sad for a French airline, they don’t have a shower in the lounge, etc.
Fortunately the airline is investing in their lounges. They’ve renovated lounges in New York JFK and Washington Dulles, and they now offer pre-flight dining at those airports for their late night flights (and even the other flights get much better food and drinks than this).
It’s a good reminder of how much an experience can differ based on where your flight originates. You can also contrast this to the experience that Air Canada business class passengers would have had flying to Paris, with the incredible Signature Suite Toronto. In fairness, that’s only available to paid business class passengers.
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