Review: Air France Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)

"However, it is worth acknowledging that Air France has cut its a la carte pre-flight dining facility, which was a feature that set this lounge apart." Acknowledging that it is an out-station lounge, but there's no distinguishing lounge experience for first class passengers. So noted.

Hardly one of the best outstation lounges in the United States (the author clearly hasn't spent time in too many), but the AF lounge at JFK is the best of what's available in Terminal 1. The pros are ample food (a lot of which is quite good, unsurprisingly), and despite the fact that it gets overcrowded at peak times, the airy, open feel of it helps to compensate for that. Overall, if feels like a nice cafeteria and most of the seating is tables and chairs, but if you can get in, you'll have a better experience here food and service wise than at any of T1's other miserable lounges.

@ Lee -- Sorry, I'm not sure I follow? As I mentioned in the post, there is a separate first class section to the lounge, and I've reviewed it in the past.

Last time I was in here in 2009, there were birds flying indoors in the lounge ceiling area.

I've been looking forward to this review for a while! It was a pleasure meeting you at JFK that day. My partner and I still talk about what a kick we got out of it. Keep up the great work!

Thank you for this detailed review.

Though I don't share your enthusiasm since this lounge is considered by AF as a great Flagship one -- With allegedly CDG standards.

I don't "forgive" :
- The full- à la carte dinner service cost-cutting delete; that I enjoyed in 2016 and 2017 (de Juniac Consultants' team idea) which was a great plus ;
- The absence of a real First class section (and not only a small room with a poorly F&B improved offer) considering the stratospheric fares AF are currently applying in La Première.
- "Noble" products like good smoke salmon and foie gras have faded away for upstairs J clients since 4-5 years
- The Joseph Perrier Champagne is just "OK" (a second Rosé or a more Premium Brut could be a plus) ; yet the wine selection remains very cheap considering what is offered in CDG in comparison.
- The "Ultimate spaces" seem a bit ludicrous and put in the middle of no where. I believe these 3000/4000 best AF clients deserve to access La Première Lounges/Dedicated Areas everywhere it's existing.
- The Spa Area is a great touch, albeit it would have definitely been better to offer real 20mn back/shoulders/reflexology massages and not only facial ones.

15 years ago. Omg.

I’m looking forward to the new AF Lounge which will open at LAX this summer. I’m sure it will be one of the better ones considering it’s completely new.
The one in San Francisco was refurbished last year and is pretty good.

Haven't had to go through T1 in a while. Is there still no airside connection between it, and DL's hub at T4?

"the lounge also has a couple of shower suites"

That sink stand is looking pretty scruffed...

The lounge is nice but for all the complaints about how beige and boring the sofas in the Turkish and Lufthansa lounges are, they are more comfortable than the chairs Air France uses here.

The spa aside, I prefer the AF lounge in IAD. It is nicer visually and better variety of seating.

This looks much more spacious than the lounge at IAD with very similar food. The IAD lounge has some of the best lounge food in the US, but is tiny and always packed to the gills. I wish this one was at IAD instead, as one of my goals in life is staying out of NY airports.

There is no airside connection whatsoever between any JFK terminals.

Well, don't worry too much about it - those birds are probably dead by now.

"the author clearly hasn't spent time in too many"
Seriously? Are you new here?

awesome looking lounge

I'm genuinely curious which outstation lounges in the United States you think are better. Maybe QF in LAX.

Assuming one has earned entry into the lounge, is the food and drink complimentary?

Yes, it is all complementary.

I have Sky Team Elite Plus status through Delta. Unfortunately, Delta changed their policy for access to the Sky Club on a same day international flight, meaning I cannot access the Sky Club unless I am flying higher cabin or certain credit cards, which I don't have.

Having said that, would I be able to access the Air France lounge if I am traveling on a Delta flight from JFK to AMS? Air France is in Terminal 1 and Delta is in Terminal 4. I will have an 8 hour layover, and it would be nice to be in the lounge where I can shower, sleep, eat and drink while waiting for my flight to AMS.

Also, is there a time limit since I would be flying into JFK from HNL? I read where there may be a 3 hour time limit, but this may not apply to those are stopping at JFK during their route.

Thanks.

So that means need to catch the AirTrain in order to go from terminal to terminal, going through TSA again?

No - while most terminals allow admission with any terminal's boarding pass, JFK Terminal 1 only allows passengers through security if they are actually departing from Terminal 1. Accordingly, you won't be able to clear security for the AF lounge with a Terminal 4 boarding pass.

Yes