Passengers can choose from three treatments, including Jet Lag Relief, a “pampering treatment” using “skin-reviving pressure,” according to the descriptors on the menu; Detox Time, using the brand’s “anti-pollution method” with moringa extract to refresh the skin; and Eye Must, a service to brighten eyes and create a luminous sheen. Of course all treatments feature products from the brand’s renown plant extract formulas.
All three services are available to travelers of all genders, and take place in two treatment rooms, which look like they’ve been ripped out of any high-end city spa. La Première first class passengers also have special spa privileges: They can choose a 30-minute session called “Relax and Rest,” and can reserve any session ahead of time by calling their dedicated phone line, while others need to book a slot via the tablet when they arrive.
The magic of the spa is in the fact that it’s just steps away from the airport bustle, yet the sound decibel instantly drops once you cross into the lobby area—things are particularly zen when you walk to the back into the relaxation area. Despite there only being four cushiony gray chairs, Air France’s Torres says it’s rarely full.
While the spa is normally open from 2 to 10 p.m. daily with two estheticians on site, the day we were flying through services were completely shut down, since staffing issues had led to only one therapist on site, who was out sick. (Air France is in the process of bringing on more staffers to avoid closures.)
Those who can’t snag an appointment have another way of freshening up, with showers in the lounges. Accessible from the same vestibule as the restrooms, the amenities do, however, tend to reflect the more outdated JFK vibe.
The good news: Because Clarins has enjoyed a nearly 17 year relationship with Air France, there are also spas in the lounges at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport in terminals 2E (halls K, L, and M) and 2F, and the business-class amenity kits include its Hydra-Essentiel Cooling Gel and a Hand and Nail Treatment Cream.
Who can access the Air France Lounge?
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., the lounge is free for those who are in the La Première cabin or have status of Flying Blue Platinum or Gold, or SkyTeam Elite Plus for both themselves and a guest, while those in business get access for themselves.
Priority Pass members can access the space, pending availability. Admittedly, though this was the first time I had entered the lounge as an Air France customer—but as soon as the doors opened, I realized I had been here with my Priority Pass about five years ago, when I remember it being so packed that I had to fight for a chair, and others were sitting on the floor. That pre-pandemic and pre-refurbishment memory quickly faded as the new look was far easier on the eyes, and the mid-afternoon visit from about 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. had a pleasant pace, with plenty of seating on both floors.
The verdict
With Terminal 1 feeling outdated in 2023 (there are even a row of pay phones across from Gate 1!), almost anything is a step up from having to spend extended time waiting by the gates. If your Air France ticket already comes with lounge access, it’s definitely worth popping in to get hyped for your vacation with some French food. And if you can snag one of the complimentary spa appointments (insiders say it’s not too difficult most days), then it really is worth your while.
But the Air France Lounge is also a victim of its own surroundings, being located in a terminal that has an end date in sight, so manage expectations for what that means. While the lounge bathroom makes a hearty attempt at feeling luxe, with lighted mirrors and Clarins products, its white floor tiling is a particularly symbolic relic of times gone by that even the fanciest of decorations can’t disguise.