Summary
- Air France is considering opening a lounge at London Heathrow Airport in Terminal 4, reflecting its expansion plans and commitment to providing a luxurious experience for its guests.
- The airline has been steadily improving its lounge offerings, with recent renovations in San Francisco and Munich, showcasing its dedication to providing high-quality amenities and spaces for its customers.
- Air France’s upper-class customers currently have access to the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 4, but the potential opening of a new Air France lounge in London would provide a more exclusive and branded experience for its customers.
Following the success of several recent overseas lounges, Air France is considering opening a lounge at London Heathrow Airport. The upcoming lounge would most likely be in Terminal 4, the home for Air France-KLM operations and Skyteam carriers in London.
Expanding across the Channel.
Air France has five lounges at its hometown airport of Paris Charles De Gaulle and a further 20 across its wider network. The carrier views its lounges as an extension of the Air France experience and a way to give guests the luxurious experience the brand is known for.
The news of a potential London lounge came as Air France celebrates its 90th birthday. Speaking to guests, including Simple Flying, at an event in London to mark the occasion, Air France’s Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, Fabien Pelous, highlighted the carrier’s lounge expansion plans:
“We want to continue because already this lounge experience is a great part of the travel journey.
“We just have revealed the San Francisco lounge, I’m working on a new lounge in Los Angeles, and we are contemplating a project in London as well.”
Photo: Jonathan E. Hendry | Simple Flying
Air France has not had a permanent lounge at Heathrow since it returned to Terminal 4 last year. There was previously a branded SkyTeam lounge, the first of its kind worldwide, but it has not reopened following the pandemic. A spokesperson for the airline alliance previously confirmed that the lease for the facility expired and would not be renewed.
Air France’s upper-class customers are currently allowed access to the Plaza Premium Lounge between Gate 1a and 1b in Terminal Four. In addition to international First or business class ticket holders with the French flag carrier, SkyTeam Elite Plus Frequent Flyers traveling on an international flight are also eligible.
Expanding overseas locations
Air France has been steadily improving its lounge offerings, most recently in the United States. In San Fransisco (SFO), the carrier recently revealed a major overhaul of its lounge at gate A of the international terminal. The area serves La Première, Business, and Flying Blue Elite Plus customers of Air France, KLM, and its Skyteam partner airlines.
Photo: Air France
The lounge reopened its doors in June after a significant renovation to enlarge the space and add amenities. The area now seats slightly fewer people but with extra space for each passenger. Updates include fresh furniture from French designers, a mix of private nooks and coworking spaces, and an exclusive area with a separate restaurant for La Première passengers.
Flying Blue Ultimate customers also have a specially reserved space in the lounge next to the entrance. Other features of the SFO lounge include a full buffet of French cuisine and a bar.
Before its California revamp, the airline unveiled its fully redesigned lounge in Terminal 1 at Munich-Franz Josef Strauss International Airport in Germany last December. The space features traditional lounge amenities and a new coworking area featuring a large table with induction chargers.
Photo: Air France
The Munich lounge update also introduced an area dedicated to its La Première and Flying Blue Ultimate customers, a pattern that could be repeated in London.