A recent 3-hour layover at LAX gave me a good excuse to check out Air France’s business-class lounge — and it quickly became one of the most impressive outstation lounges I’ve experienced.
Airlines typically offer outstation lounges only on high-value or important routes. With up to 4 Air France flights a day from LAX to Paris (CDG), and up to 2 daily flights to Amsterdam (AMS) offered by its SkyTeam partner KLM, LAX fits the bill for a lounge.
With my Flying Blue Platinum status, I was eligible to visit. Here’s my experience, from getting there to amenities and service.
Location of the Air France Lounge
If you’re taking an Air France or KLM flight, then the Air France Lounge is exactly where you need it to be: the new West Gates in LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal near gates 200 to 225, where Air France and KLM flights depart.
If you land as a domestic Delta passenger at Terminal 3, as I did, getting to the Air France Lounge is a bit of a trek. Now that the terminals are linked, I could make the entire journey without exiting the secure area. It was fun to take the free golf cart-style shuttle through the tunnel between Tom Bradley International Terminal’s main and west gates.
An Air France Lounge sign is visible as soon as you reach the west gates.
The lounge is in a peculiarly deserted part of the terminal.
There’s no mistaking where you are.
Getting Access to the Air France Lounge
The lounge is open daily from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Passengers flying in La Première or in business class with a Standard or Flex fare are eligible for entry.
Additionally, Flying Blue Ultimate, Platinum, and Gold elite members, as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus status holders, can use the lounge provided they have an Air France or SkyTeam-operated flight departing the same day. This meant that when I scanned the barcode on my Aeromexico economy boarding pass, a green tick welcomed me in.
Day passes may also be purchased for $95 or 19,000 Flying Blue miles.
Amenities and Facilities
The lounge was far larger than I’d imagined.
Turning left at reception led to the main bar area, which had some comfy hotel lobby-style seating.
Next was the large main lounge area. It’s broken up into 2 primary sections: a spacious seating area for relaxing or working, and a dining area.
If you turn right at the entrance, there’s another, quieter seating area away from the main lounge.
At the end of the walkway, there’s a Clarins spa. Treatments are complimentary for all guests. I was blown away by this, as most airlines don’t even offer this at their flagship lounges. Bien joué, Air France.
From 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. every day, guests can choose from 3 types of facials: Anti Jetlag, Instant Detox, and Focus Regard. La Première passengers can opt for an exclusive “Destination Détente” treatment.
The tan-colored door next to the Clarins spa rooms was the entrance to a private room exclusively for passengers traveling in Air France’s most luxurious cabin from LAX.
Next door to the La Première Private Room was a quiet lounge for catching up on sleep. It had comfy armchairs with footrests and chaise longues that were as close as you can get to a bed without actually being a bed.
There were also individual nongender restrooms and 2 shower units at the end of the lounge.
As for those all-important apron and runway views, below was the view looking west from the dining area. I saw the odd plane pass by, but you don’t get anywhere near the same level of AvGeek action as you do from the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 3.
To maximize the sense of space and light, Air France added internal windows that look out from the bar area into the concourse beyond.
Food and Beverage
France holds itself in high regard for its gastronomy, and, in my experience, Air France carries that torch for its country.
I tried each of the 3 hot dishes: roasted salmon, Basque chicken, and tagliatelle. Honestly, this was French brasserie standard fare.
It wouldn’t be French without indulgent cheese and charcuterie boards.
The cherry on top of this très French spread was the patisserie section, which included profiteroles and, of course, macarons.
It gets even better. To get you in the most Parisian state of mind possible, there’s a live crêpe cooking station. Of the savory and sweet options, the chocolate one screamed my name the loudest.
In the fridge full of the usual selection of help-yourself soft drinks, this was the first time I’d ever seen anything like these Reign Storm energy drinks in an airline lounge.
All top-shelf liquor at the tended bar was complimentary.
Air France serves Jacquart in the lounge. Lounge guests can help themselves to a well-stocked fridge in the main lounge or ask for a glass at the bar. (Don’t ask the barman how to pronounce it, though.)
This translation of “gougère” made me chuckle. It’s a type of choux pastry filled with cheese, similar to Brazil’s pão de queijo.
Additionally, there were a couple of snack and drink stations dotted around the lounge. This is where guests can access water taps and bean-to-cup coffee machines.
Chic, Classic Air France Design
Design elements caught my eye, exuding French elegance and class the second you step through the door.
I also loved the destination posters and pictures of Air France and KLM’s yesteryear.
Only Air France would have the lounge windows engraved with its accent, which then reflects onto the wall. I am pretty certain this was a conscious decision.
For context, the same accent is found on features such as pillows and amenity kits.
Final Thoughts
What can I say, other than I wish I’d had longer to enjoy this lounge?
I’ll jump at the chance to pass through LAX again if it means I get to visit this truly outstanding space. Everything about the lounge, from the design to the spa treatments and delectable gastronomy, brings it high up in my rankings … maybe even in my top 10 of the more than 100 lounges that I’ve visited.
What’s most impressive is that Air France has invested so much in an outstation lounge. Candidly speaking, and this is by no means to say Air France’s lounges in Paris are terrible, but this LAX location is far superior to some of its lounges at its Charles-de-Gaulle hub. There, I said it.
I just hope Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers appreciate just how great this lounge is and that the time and money invested weren’t in vain.