In late October I wrote about how Air France’s JFK lounge was being closed for a period of several weeks. This was being done so that Air France could refurbish the lounge to enhance the pre-flight dining area.
Continue reading: Now Open: Air France’s New JFK Pre-Flight Dining
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I know this exact area of the lounge as my husband and I sat there prior to our business class flight in late August.
This sounds great and I would love to see it on other AF CDG bound flights (ours was earlier) and I would have taken an Ambien to get more sleep than I did.
The only negative... or maybe it's a question.. during the time that AF is not serving dinner there, is it still available for use by business class passengers.
I love planespotting from this area and would hate to see that disappear.
Enjoy,
BJ
I wonder why not also making this available for AF7, the 6:30pm departure. Anyone with a good Ambien prescription will still try to use that to get some sleep despite the early-ish departure.
Are priority pass users who happen to be on those flights but in Economy eligible to the preflight dinner as well or is this a cordoned off area?
@adi_t
It's for Business class passengers only. They're not giving Skyteam elite plus access, so def not for priority pass.
I'd be interested to see a comparison of the major trans-atlantic business class ground services from NY. How do Lufthansa, Air France, BA, Swiss, United, Delta, Virgin and American compare on these business-traveler heavy routes on the ground? I haven't tried all of these, but have been disappointed by the Lufthansa and Swiss lounges at JFK, even though these are flagship routes. So, I would be keen to hear your thoughts and comparative analysis.
Used this service in September 2016- at least then, the meal was the exact same as what was available on-board. This is a positive change, as the dining area before was in a more institutional looking part of the lounge away from the windows, this is much nicer.
The service is great- for the 9:30 flight, get to the airport around 7:00, eat/relax in the lounge from 7:30-8:30, go on board around 8:45, settle in (change, brush teeth), and when the plane is in the air and you can put your seat down it's around 10 PM. Pretty great timing for close to a full night's sleep.
The earlier flights don't make a lot of sense for this service- even the 6:40 flight means you are probably in the air and able to recline around 7:30- not many people are able to fall asleep that early, and for most it's prime time for dinner- or later if you are French!
I took advantage of this service this past March when flying on the 10:30pm flight to CDG. The lounge staff offers you the invitation to the dining area after they check you in and check your credentials. Presumably if you aren't travelling business class on the 2 AF flights eligible, you won't be offered entrance. There is also a podium in front of the escalator going up to the mezzanine level restricting access. (I also recall having my name checked off a list on the business class manifest indicating that I had already eaten, indicating that I wouldn't be offered dinner on the plane, but I was still offered dinner on board)
In addition to the dining menu available (which I recall is the same as the on board menu) there is a salad/dessert/snack buffet set up, so there are additional options available. The plating and silverware were also the same as offered on-board. Not sure if that has changed, but the meal and presentation were almost the same as on board. The service was more restaurant style, and it is of course more comfortable to eat at a real table with lots of space.
I really enjoyed the service. I was happily fed before boarding the flight, so I was able to pop my half ambien and and get a good 6+ hours of sleep off to Paris!
It's a great service. They check you off on the manifest but you can still eat on the plane (AF specifically mentioned this for those with more 'robust' appetites ;))
“In total, the area is equipped with close to 34 tables for 2”
So...33 tables for 2?
Dining in said lounge at the moment. I’m on the 4:30 from JFK to CDG and have to say although the lounge renovations are nice, the “hot” food options up here are absolutely dreadful. You can choose from three entrées. The chicken medallion dish that I just ordered is essentially leather. Inedible. Very disappointing for AF and their fancy new Business Class lounge. (I’ve done the pre-flight meal before and much enjoyed that service offering and the meal was fantastic.) Tempted to just go downstairs and see what’s on the buffet there. Alas. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing, but be forewarned.
I am traveling in Business on AF 011, but my husband will be on the same flight in economy. Does anyone know if they will let us both up for dinner?