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

Ben Schlappig
February 29, 2024
16

Air France Lounge New York JFK location

The Air France Lounge New York JFK is located in Terminal 1, right next to gate one. After clearing security (hopefully by using the VIP ONE Lounge experience), follow the signage in that direction.

Then when you get to the very end of the concourse, you’ll see the entrance to the Air France Lounge right there — you can’t miss it!

Air France Lounge New York JFK hours

What are the hours of the Air France Lounge JFK? That’s a great question. According to Priority Pass, the lounge is open from 10AM until 11:45PM. According to Air France, the lounge is open from 10AM until 11PM. However, when I showed up at the lounge at 10AM, I found that it had already been open for quite some time.

So yeah, I’m not sure what exactly the hours are, but it’s open for most of the day.

Air France Lounge New York JFK entry requirements

The Air France Lounge New York JFK is intended largely for premium Air France passengers, given that the airline operates multiple daily flights to the airport. However, that’s not the only way to access the lounge:

The lounge is open to Priority Pass members, with usage allowed for up to three hours (at times there may be capacity constraints); there are many premium credit cards offering Priority Pass memberships
In line with SkyTeam lounge access policies, you can use this lounge if you’re a SkyTeam Elite Plus member, or are departing in SkyTeam first or business class

Air France Lounge New York JFK seating & layout

The Air France Lounge New York JFK is roughly 10,000 square feet, and is spread across two levels. The lounge feels quite spacious and bright, thanks to the entire lounge having high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Only the first floor of the lounge is open in the mornings and early afternoons, and then the second floor opens up later in the day (typically around 2PM), as it’s primarily intended as a dining facility for premium passengers on Air France.

Anyway, past the reception desk on the first floor you’ll see some seating along a narrow hall, right by the stairs and escalator leading up to the second floor.

When you walk deeper into the lounge, you’ll find several cafe style tables, each of which seats two people. This is near the first floor buffet.

Beyond those tables and closer to the windows, you’ll find seats arranged in rows facing one another, as well as some chairs in clusters.

That’s the extent of the first floor. Then when you go up to the second floor, you’re find that the area is almost entirely dedicated to the dining facility, with a bunch of dining tables that seat anywhere from two to four (or so) people. This includes dining tables with chairs, as well as some booths.

There’s even an area roped off for Flying Blue Ultimate members, which is the carrier’s top-tier status. Air France tends to have such a space in many of its lounges.

The second floor also has the private Air France La Premiere Lounge, for first class passengers, which I’ve reviewed in the past.

Air France Lounge New York JFK food & drinks

The food selection in the Air France Lounge New York JFK changes throughout the day. Throughout the day there’s an extensive hot and cold buffet, though it seems that the selection gets better later in the day, when the lounge is primarily intended for Air France premium passengers.

Now, here’s something to be aware of. Back in 2018, Air France introduced a pre-flight dining facility for those traveling in business class on the late night New York to Paris flights. The idea was that you could order off the same menu that you’d get onboard.

Unfortunately this has been cut as of 2023, and is no longer offered. Instead, the airline now exclusively offers a buffet. In fairness, it’s an excellent buffet, one of the best buffets I’ve seen at any outstation business class lounge in the United States.

To start, let’s look at the buffet on the first floor in the mornings. The buffet contained several types of salads (with quite a few customization options), cold cuts and cheese, yogurt, fruit, smoothies, cereal, madeleines, pancakes, scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, hash browns, and turkey bacon. Not bad for a contract lounge or Priority Pass lounge, eh?

As far as drinks go, there was an espresso machine, tea, soft drinks, juice, and a selection of wine and liquor. There was even a respectable champagne option, as you’d hope for, from a French airline.

Now let’s take a look at the buffet on the second floor of the lounge, which is only set up in the afternoons around 2PM, prior to the first Air France departure. This is essentially intended as a pre-flight dining facility, so that people can maximize their rest onboard.

While the buffet isn’t huge, the quality is very good. There was the same salad selection as earlier in the day on the first floor.

On top of that, there was a selection of hot dishes, including spinach quiche, quiche lorraine, gratin dauphinois, basmati rice, beef bourguignon, and chicken basquaise.

There was also a selection of cold cuts, as well as a variety of desserts, including two kinds of cakes, plus some tasty tarts and pastries.

Then there was a self-serve drink selection, similar to what you’ll find on the first floor.

So it’s sad that Air France cut its a la carte dining for business class passengers, but I’d still say this is one of the better outstation lounges when it comes to dining options.

Air France Lounge New York JFK Clarins Spa

There aren’t many airport lounges with spas nowadays, but this is an area where Air France continues to invest. The Air France Lounge New York JFK has a Clarins Spa, which is open daily from 2PM until 10PM. It’s located just inside the entrance to the lounge, and to the right. The 30 square meter (~323 square foot) spa is available to Air France first and business class passengers, as well as Flying Blue Elite Plus members, on a first come, first served basis.

Treatments last for 15 minutes, and you can choose from the “Jet-lag relief,” “Detox time,” or “Eye must” treatment.

Air France Lounge New York JFK Clarins Spa treatments

To make an appointment, just go to the iPad located right by the lounge’s reception desk, where you can reserve any available spot.

Air France Lounge New York JFK Clarins Spa appointments

I ended up selecting the “Jet-lag relief” treatment, which was a pleasant retreat from a day otherwise spent in the terminal.

It’s nice how consistently Air France offers spas in its lounges, as several of the carrier’s Paris lounges have similar facility.

Air France Lounge New York JFK bathrooms & showers

The Air France Lounge New York JFK has a set of bathrooms and showers inside the entrance to the lounge and to the left. The men’s room had two sinks, a urinal, and two stalls. That seemed a bit small, given the size of this lounge, but then again, there’s another set of bathrooms on the second floor.

On top of that, the lounge also has a couple of shower suites, which are functional, but not particularly luxurious. These have a sink, a toilet, and a walk-in shower, with Clarins products in wall-mounted containers.

Air France Lounge New York JFK shower room

Air France Lounge New York JFK shower room toiletries

Bottom line

The Air France Lounge New York JFK is the best lounge in Terminal 1. The lounge has lots of natural light, two full floors, a solid selection of food and drinks, and complimentary spa treatments. This is one of the best outstation lounges you’ll find in the United States, in my opinion. 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.

What do you make of the Air France Lounge New York JFK?

Conversations (16)

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kevin Guest
March 1, 2024, 10:49 am

awesome looking lounge

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AD Diamond
February 29, 2024, 6:51 pm

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.

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Julia Guest
February 29, 2024, 2:32 pm

"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.

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ConcordeBoy Diamond
February 29, 2024, 2:03 pm

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

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1. MKLDH Gold
  February 29, 2024, 9:45 pm
  
  There is no airside connection whatsoever between any JFK terminals.
  
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Icarus Guest
February 29, 2024, 12:48 pm

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.

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Alexandre Guest
February 29, 2024, 10:51 am

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...
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.

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Jerry Diamond
February 29, 2024, 9:59 am

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!

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view Guest
February 29, 2024, 8:21 am

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

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1. Icarus Guest
  February 29, 2024, 12:45 pm
  
  15 years ago. Omg.
  
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2. red_robbo Gold
  March 1, 2024, 5:34 am
  
  Well, don't worry too much about it - those birds are probably dead by now.
  
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shoeguy Guest
February 29, 2024, 7:27 am

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...
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.

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1. red_robbo Gold
  March 1, 2024, 5:36 am
  
  "the author clearly hasn't spent time in too many"
  Seriously? Are you new here?
  
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2. Chris_ Gold
  March 10, 2024, 5:31 am
  
  I'm genuinely curious which outstation lounges in the United States you think are better. Maybe QF in LAX.
  
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Lee Guest
February 29, 2024, 7:23 am

"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.

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1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT
  February 29, 2024, 7:32 am
  
  @ 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.
  
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