Review: Air France La Premiere First Class Arrivals Lounge Paris Airport (CDG)

Do you have access to the normal La Premier Inn lounge on arrival or is that purely for departure?

That's only for departure or connecting because it's on the secure/airside side of the terminal. This arrivals area is on the landside part of the terminal, that's why you enter once they complete your passport check, and why you can just walk into the check-in area.

My husband and I experienced this last November and it is as amazing as you describe! We weren’t as wowed by the La Premiere flight experience, but the ground service made up for it! We actually were heading to Airelles Chateau de Versailles as well so we are looking forward to your review.

Hey Ben, this sentence can't be right: "If you’re departing, then the process is exactly the opposite of the arrivals experience — after checking in, you walk through the arrivals lounge and to one of the cars, as you’ll be driven to the lounge (where passport control happens), and then to the plane."

So when does security happen?

Ben, story tip: US couple currently being held in Mexican jail for weeks for disputing resort charges on their Amex card. Resort now demanding $250k and NDA to drop charges. Don't know which resort.

So you’re driven to landslide no matter what? It’s not like Lufthansa where you can go use the FCLs like an arrivals lounge?

@ E39 -- Correct, you're driven to the land side if you're not connecting.

@ david -- Forgot to mention the part about the private security channel. Updated the post now to add that, thanks!

I was a flight patron bringing dogs from an Asian country. I upgraded to LA Première because of the length of time I was in the air. 50 hours in economy just wasn't going to cut it. Well I was quite worried about my charges and the attendants were nothing but exceptional. They were there every step of the way, ensuring the dogs were on board and as comfortable as dogs in a crate can be. When we landed at the final destination (not France), I still received the A+ service in getting the dogs where they needed to be once off the plane. My only complaint is that they didn't have La Première on the first half of the journey from the Asian country to France.

Wow looks great.

Quick question about the immigration facilities - customers stay in the car whilst these are processed?

Most countries I have entered want to compare the person standing in front of them with the picture in the passport/bio chip.

@ Duck Ling -- Indeed, you stay in the car. And I wondered about what you mention as well, since you have no contact with the immigration officer.

@ Jack -- Thanks for the heads up, just published a post about it!

You have a dope life, Ben.

La Premiere is my fav lounge of all!!

I have used Hertz DriveU a number of times for airport transfers in France and Italy. Their rates always seem competitive and the drivers have been consistently good.

Looks beautiful. What an experience. You've probably covered this before, but I'm always curious. Are any of these people: driver, waiter etc.. tipped. Or expect it?

I remember when American Airlines had an arrivals lounge at CDG (in 2002). It was hidden away in the lower reaches of the terminal, but at least it included a Continental Breakfast and showers. It disappeared. Now even the Admiral's Club at CDG is gone (there's a shared/outsourced facility only). How times have changed.

IME, tipping in even lower-end places in Paris gets you laughed at or scoffed at. With varying degrees of politeness. Mostly bars but a few brasseries before I got the hint.

I do not tip in airport lounges and do not tip anywhere in Continental Europe. I tip 25-40%, depending on service, in America at restaurants and bars.

Many years ago we used the American Airlines arrivals lounge at Heathrow. Don't know if it's still there, but it was a nice place to hang out for about 4 hours until our connecting flight. Light eats, a quiet room with recliners for napping, individual shower rooms, and luggage storage. No where near as nice as the la Premiere arrivals lounge, but we were only flying biz across the Atlantic so no complaints.

AA Arrivals lounge is still there. LHR is just that important of a market. UA, VS, BA, and AA all have their own respective arrivals lounges.

Air France used to have a CDG arrivals lounge as well, but that's since been closed, with no signs of coming back. Even UA used to have one at SFO, seems like they are slowly disappearing.

Cathay is looking at bringing back their HKG lounge however.

Santos, I was with you until the "I tip 25%-45% in the US".

My tip range is more reasonable - about half that.

Maybe I missed it but I saw no mention of there being wine or other alcoholic beverages.

I know many arrivals lounges do not serve alcohol, although the BA one at LHR T5 serves champagne with breakfast which is a nice touch.

And this is France!

the new suites are also joined onto this part of the terminal where you can rent a full suite with bedroom for 3 hours for like 600Euro ?

Any idea how long you can stay at the arrivals lounge for?

I’m planning a first class flight from lax to cdg on Air France with a 6 hour connecting to an Air France business class flight to Malaga. Am I correct that I would not qualify to use the Air France first class departure lounge but would be relegated to a business class departure lounge, though assume that the better option would be to just use the arrival lounge until going to the gate for my connecting flight. Right?

@ Stuart Falk — You absolutely can use the La Premiere departure lounge in your situation. Have a great trip!

I assume it is exclusive to Air France passengers, not partner airlines such as JAL?