We had a nearly five hour layover at JFK, as we arrived before 12PM from Toronto, and were connecting to Paris on Air France in first class at 4:25PM (in the next installment I’ll share the tickets that I booked). Remember that at this point my dad still had no clue where we were going.
So without telling him our next destination we headed onto the AirTrain to go from Terminal 4 to Terminal 1. During that ride he studied the airline directory posted on the AirTrain, in hopes of getting some clues.
Dad trying to figure out where we’re going
Air France is known for their spectacular first class ground service, so even though we had boarding passes, I still stopped by the La Premiere check-in desk. This is located at the very right of the Terminal 1 check-in area when facing the security checkpoint.
JFK Airport Terminal 1
Unfortunately the check-in area was still closed, and I was told it would open at 1PM. No big deal, it just meant that there would be no escort for us through security.
Air France La Premiere check-in JFK
Security was quick, at least by Terminal 1 standards, though it was still incredibly disorganized. At this point my dad looked at the departure board right above the security checkpoint. Funny enough it didn’t list our flight to Paris, so at this point his theory was that we were flying to Casablanca.
JFK Terminal 1 departures board
Once through security we headed to the far end of the terminal, by Gate 1, where the Air France lounge is located.
JFK Airport Terminal 1
I’ve reviewed the Air France Lounge before (it’s open to Priority Pass members over select hours), so there are a couple of things I’ll be focusing on:
- I had never been in the lounge’s La Premiere (first class) section
- They recently renovated the business class section of the lounge, and also introduced a new spa, so I was looking forward to checking those things out
Air France Lounge JFK
Air France La Premiere Lounge New York JFK Review
Upon arrival at the lounge we presented our boarding passes to the attendant, and she was clearly caught off guard by the fact that three La Premiere passengers had arrived so early. Upon verifying our passports, she explained several things to us:
- We’d have access to the private La Premiere lounge
- We’d be escorted to the plane, and asked if we wanted to board first or last
- She asked if we wanted spa treatments, as the lounge has a new La Prairie spa; the spa opens at 2:45PM, so we booked the first two appointments
Air France Lounge JFK entrance
The agent took us in the elevator right across from the reception desk, and once we exited she unlocked a room that said “Private Lounge.”
Air France Private Lounge JFK
Air France tries to keep La Premiere pretty understated in some ways. So even though they have a separate lounge for first class passengers, it doesn’t have any branding, but rather is just labeled as a private lounge.
The lounge was a cool space, with the primary feature being how private and secluded it was.
Air France La Premiere Lounge JFK
Air France La Premiere Lounge JFK
On one side of the lounge you had a bunch of seating, including a couch and a handful of leather chairs.
Air France La Premiere Lounge New York
Air France La Premiere Lounge New York
The other side of the lounge had four dining tables, along with two chairs near the windows.
Air France La Premiere Lounge dining area
Air France La Premiere Lounge dining area
Air France La Premiere Lounge New York
The first class section of the lounge had awesome views of the apron, and this is also a pretty exciting part of the terminal, with lots of international airlines. I loved the plane spotting opportunities.
La Premiere Lounge JFK views
La Premiere Lounge JFK views
The lounge had an impressive drink selection, and a modest self serve food selection. Snacks included packaged chips and cookies, as well as La Fermiere yogurt.
Air France First Class Lounge JFK snacks & drinks
Air France First Class Lounge JFK snacks
Air France First Class Lounge JFK yogurt
In the fridge underneath the snacks was some bottled water, beer, soda, and juice.
Air France First Class Lounge JFK drinks
Then the other side of that same display had a variety of wine.
Air France First Class Lounge JFK drinks
There was also quite a liquor display on one end of the lounge.
Air France First Class Lounge JFK drinks
Air France First Class Lounge JFK drinks
Then there was a champagne display, including Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle and Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose. That’s a very respectable selection for a lounge.
Air France First Class Lounge JFK drinks
There were also some newspapers.
Air France First Class Lounge JFK newspapers & magazines
The first class lounge didn’t have a dedicated bathroom, but rather the bathroom was just outside the first class section of the lounge, and was shared with business class.
Air France Lounge bathrooms
We were the only three people in first class on our flight, so for almost the entire time we were there we had the lounge to ourselves. It’s an awesome private space. Towards the end of our time there another passenger showed up who was on the later Air France flight to Paris.
This lounge is an awesome space if you’re alone, though probably less awesome if it’s just nine strangers.
One thing I’d note is that I think the lounge could use some ambient music, especially when you’re not alone in there. The space is otherwise so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, so I think some relaxing and quiet music would make it feel less awkward when there are other passengers.
We ended up revealing to my dad that we were headed to Paris about halfway through our stay in the lounge. He was elated, because he hadn’t been in nearly 20 years.
Air France First Class Lounge New York JFK Food & Service
As you may have expected, there’s more to this first class lounge. 😉
For one, there are attendants constantly checking on you, but in a non-obtrusive way. I think they intentionally don’t have a dedicated attendant for this section of the lounge, since it would feel awkward if someone just stood there. However, we were constantly checked on, both by the servers and the lounge manager, who was an awesome French guy.
The lounge has an extensive a la carte dining menu, and the pre-flight dining becomes available around 2PM. The menu read as follows:
The wine list read as follows:
We hadn’t properly eaten, so we all sat down for a meal. They pushed two tables together for us so we could eat together.
Dad & me in Air France Lounge JFK
First they brought out some bread and butter.
Air France Lounge lunch
We wanted to eat something, but didn’t want to totally spoil our appetites for onboard. We split a bottle of the Grand Siecle champagne to get the festivities off to a good start.
I ordered the herb incrusted Chilean seabass served with saffron jasmine rice, baby grilled zucchini, poached baby carrots, finished with a red wine beurre blanc.
Air France Lounge lunch
Ford ordered the slow roasted French cut chicken breast served with a leek infused potato gratin, sautéed haricot vert, and finished with a morel mushroom sauce.
Air France Lounge lunch
My dad had the goose liver pate en croute and foie gras.
Air France Lounge lunch
Air France Lounge lunch
Across the board the food was excellent and restaurant quality. The service was to notch as well. We were mostly being served directly by the lounge manager, who had tons of hospitality experience (we talked to him and he had previously worked at hotels for decades, before managing this lounge).
We decided to order one cheese plate to share for dessert, and the lounge manager did the most French thing ever, and I totally live for it.
“Since you are flying Air France you aren’t allowed to have champagne with cheese. I just can’t allow it. Let me pair it for you with at least a little bit of red wine.” Usually in customer service I don’t like being told “no” or what to do, but the exception is French hospitality — please just tell me what to do!
Air France Lounge lunch
Air France Lounge lunch
Air France Business Class Lounge JFK
Air France recently completed a huge renovation on their business class lounge at JFK. Not only did they redesign the space, but they introduced a la carte dining for those traveling on their late night flights to Paris.
This obviously wasn’t a late night flight so they didn’t have the full setup, but I still checked out the space. They did a spectacular job with the upper level of the lounge, and I liked how it was furnished. There were dozens of tables, some just with chairs, and others with benches. There was also some high-top seating.
Air France Business Lounge JFK
Air France Business Lounge JFK
Air France Business Lounge JFK
Air France Business Lounge JFK
Air France Business Lounge JFK
Air France Business Lounge JFK
This space looks out over the rest of the lounge, which is open to passengers traveling on partner airlines, elite members, and Priority Pass members over select hours.
Air France Business Lounge JFK
There was a buffet set up for business class passengers, and it was alright, though nothing special. If you really want to enjoy the business class lounge as much as possible, you’ll want to visit before one of the late night flights.
They had set up a sandwich bar, salad bar, and bread buffet, as they described it.
Air France Business Lounge New York buffet
Air France Business Lounge New York buffet
Air France Business Lounge New York buffet
Air France Business Lounge New York buffet
Air France Business Lounge New York buffet
There were also two types of soup.
Air France Business Lounge New York buffet
There was a basic selection of self serve liquor, wine, Laurent-Perrier champagne, ice cream, and a Nespresso machine.
Air France Business Lounge New York drinks
Air France Business Lounge New York coffee machine
Air France Business Lounge New York ice cream
Air France Lounge JFK La Prairie Spa & Shower
Air France recently opened the La Prairie Spa at their JFK lounge, which is the first-ever La Prairie Spa at an airport. The spa is located right next to the reception desk on the first floor, and appointments are available day of departure on a first come first served basis.
30 minute treatments are available to first class passengers, while 20 minute treatments are available to business class passengers.
They did a beautiful job with this space, especially when you consider this is an airport lounge. I showed up shortly before my 2:45PM treatment, and was greeted by my therapist.
Air France Lounge La Prairie Spa
She explained a little bit about the lounge, about La Prairie as a brand, and then explained what my treatment would consist of. I was getting the “Art of Indulgence” treatment.
Air France Lounge La Prairie Spa
The treatment rooms here are gorgeous, among the nicest I’ve seen in any airport lounge. I was asked to take off my shoes, put on some comfortable slippers, and then got comfortable while face-up, as she put a blanket over me.
Air France Lounge La Prairie Spa
The treatment lasted about 30 minutes, and wasn’t anything too intensive. She applied several creams and serums, and would spend several minutes rubbing each in with circular motions. It was relaxing, and I’m not someone who usually finds facials to be relaxing.
I should also mention that earlier during the layover I took a shower. The lounge has one shower as far as I know. It’s basic and the water temperature fluctuates significantly, though I at least appreciate that it has a sink and toilet as well (I don’t like when shower rooms don’t also have toilets or sinks).
Air France Lounge JFK shower room
Air France Lounge JFK shower room
Air France First Class Escort To Plane
One of the other things that Air France does incredibly well is that they escort La Premiere passengers to the plane at all destinations. They ask you whether you want to board first or last, and they take your preference damn seriously.
Our boarding pass indicated that the flight was scheduled to board at 3:40PM, though they don’t usually board as early as stated. We were picked up by an Air France representative at 3:50PM, and were escorted to the gate.
Sure enough as we arrived at the gate there must have been 200 people lined up in several different queues. But we whisked past everyone, and then they started boarding the second we got onboard.
Air France Lounge JFK Bottom Line
JFK’s Terminal 1 is pretty awful, though Air France offers an exceptional outstation ground experience. They do an amazing job making the experience seamless, have a cozy first class lounge, also have a great spa, and manage to make the experience oh-so-French by telling you what wines you can and can’t drink with something.
I would note, however, that we lucked out with having the lounge to ourselves for most of the time we were there. We were on a 777 with just four first class seats, while the A380 has nine first class seats, so if I were traveling alone and that lounge were full, I imagine it would be a different experience.
Lastly, Air France has really upped their business class ground experience with pre-flight dining at JFK for the late night flights, so for those flights the difference in terms of comfort and food may not be that significant (though the first class ground experience is more seamless, and comes with much better alcohol).
We couldn’t wait for what was to come onboard!
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