Air France Frequence Plus - Question about 2F-2E transfer and showers in lounge

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I'll be connecting from 2F ( intercontinental flight) to 2E (to the UK) tomorrow very early in the morning. Transfer time between flights is large, 1h 45 minutes.

Couple of questions: is it faster to take the airside transfer bus from 2F to 2E or to walk from 2F to 2E? Immigration is not a consideration, I can use PARAFES, but time for bus wait and for passing security at 2E is. Is that security control when connecting from the airside bus crowded at 6am in the morning? Is there an Acces No. 1 fast lane?

Then I want to take a shower before taking my onward connection. Which lounge in 2E is best for that? Are there showers in all 2E lounges? Very busy in the morning or am I likely to not have to wait a long time?

Thanks

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I'll be connecting from 2F ( intercontinental flight) to 2E (to the UK) tomorrow very early in the morning. Transfer time between flights is large, 1h 45 minutes.

(...)
Then I want to take a shower before taking my onward connection. Which lounge in 2E is best for that? Are there showers in all 2E lounges? Very busy in the morning or am I likely to not have to wait a long time?

Thanks

There are showers in all 2E lounges, but you can only access the lounge in the boarding pier used by your flight to the UK, which will be, in my personal experience (100%), the main pier. I haven't seen them crowded in early morning, but I fly most of the time in the afternoon or the evening.

Thank you JOUY31 ^

I actually arrived this morning, I took the airside bus which takes quite some time to go from 2F (where there is a wait) to 2E main pier (K gates) because the bus first goes to the M and L gates. But a pleasant ride. Upon arrival at 2E one has to know or at least suspect that there is an Acces No. 1 at the far end of the hall, behind all the snakes of waiting people.

There are showers in the 2E lounge, actually quite a large number. I snatched one when I got into the lounge at around 06h45, but when I left there were at least 5 people waiting.

Overall an uventful transfer, although I found 50 minutes between arriving at the gate and arriving at the AF lounge pretty long.

Thank you JOUY31 ^

I actually arrived this morning, I took the airside bus which takes quite some time to go from 2F (where there is a wait) to 2E main pier (K gates) because the bus first goes to the M and L gates. But a pleasant ride. Upon arrival at 2E one has to know or at least suspect that there is an Acces No. 1 at the far end of the hall, behind all the snakes of waiting people.

There are showers in the 2E lounge, actually quite a large number. I snatched one when I got into the lounge at around 06h45, but when I left there were at least 5 people waiting.

Overall an uventful transfer, although I found 50 minutes between arriving at the gate and arriving at the AF lounge pretty long.

Thanks for the update :). Knowing now that it takes 50mn, I would be tempted to go landside and go through immigration twice. On the other hand, your scenario will change at the beginning of the IATA winter season, when all non-Schengen AF flights will be in 2E.

BTW, I am flying LH C tomorrow morning to TXL. As it's my first flight with LH for quite some time, is there anything this unabashed AF flyer should be aware of? (wardrobe, NEK, catering ...).

No wardrobe, terrible seat and catering heavy on the sweet side (IMO). So similar to AF then. The seat and wardrobe are facts though! Little value for €800 or whatever LH charge these days.

No wardrobe, terrible seat and catering heavy on the sweet side (IMO). So similar to AF then. The seat and wardrobe are facts though! Little value for €800 or whatever LH charge these days.

And don't forget the immense pleasure to be in CDG1 :D

And don't forget the immense pleasure to be in CDG1 :D

Of course, I'd rather be in AF's La Premiere lounge in good company ;). Enjoy your time there!

No wardrobe, terrible seat and catering heavy on the sweet side (IMO). So similar to AF then. The seat and wardrobe are facts though!

Thanks for the update :(

Of course, I'd rather be in AF's La Premiere lounge in good company ;). Enjoy your time there!

thank you Jouy31 :)
Enjoy TXL !

Thanks for the update :). Knowing now that it takes 50mn, I would be tempted to go landside and go through immigration twice. On the other hand, your scenario will change at the beginning of the IATA winter season, when all non-Schengen AF flights will be in 2E.

BTW, I am flying LH C tomorrow morning to TXL. As it's my first flight with LH for quite some time, is there anything this unabashed AF flyer should be aware of? (wardrobe, NEK, catering ...).

You'll be on a B737 with NEK seats.

NEK is not great and not something to look forward to. Slightly better than NEO because seat is a little better ergonomically, it has leather upholstery, you can recline your seat back, a decently sized table (you can fit a PC *and* a drink) and you have more space around the knees because the magazine rack is behind the table. No more wardrobe, but hooks to hang your jacket on every seat - so just use the middle seat to hang your stuff.

Catering has *seriously* deteriorated since the beginning days of NEK. Better presentation that AF (glassware, silverware, etc at least during meal times), slightly more sophisticated in its ambition but not better quality food. Seriously try to avoid it. You'll understand why Lufthansa's new CEO (C. Franz) is a German incarnation of PHG ;)

T1: make sure you use the Acces No1. automated gate where you scan your BP and access security directly. The SEN lounge is slightly better in terms of offering and design than the average AF lounge, but it's depressive because windowless and underground.

TXL is both terrible (crowded, somewhat ageing now) but has a great advantage which is that the distance from taxi to plane is something like 10 meters. So you can arrive quite late. Still, the Berliners better get their act together and open that new airport!!

PS: was that fair and objective? ;)

You'll be on a B737 with NEK seats.

NEK is not great and not something to look forward to. Slightly better than NEO because seat is a little better ergonomically, it has leather upholstery, you can recline your seat back, a decently sized table (you can fit a PC *and* a drink) and you have more space around the knees because the magazine rack is behind the table. No more wardrobe, but hooks to hang your jacket on every seat - so just use the middle seat to hang your stuff.

Catering has *seriously* deteriorated since the beginning days of NEK. Better presentation that AF (glassware, silverware, etc at least during meal times), slightly more sophisticated in its ambition but not better quality food. Seriously try to avoid it. You'll understand why Lufthansa's new CEO (C. Franz) is a German incarnation of PHG ;)

T1: make sure you use the Acces No1. automated gate where you scan your BP and access security directly. The SEN lounge is slightly better in terms of offering and design than the average AF lounge, but it's depressive because windowless and underground.

TXL is both terrible (crowded, somewhat ageing now) but has a great advantage which is that the distance from taxi to plane is something like 10 meters. So you can arrive quite late. Still, the Berliners better get their act together and open that new airport!!

PS: was that fair and objective? ;)

I think so :) I would however add that the difference in catering is probably bigger on morning flights than the rest of the day.

You'll be on a B737 with NEK seats.
Well, it was an A320. No nice 2D seat, though ;).

NEK is not great and not something to look forward to. Slightly better than NEO because seat is a little better ergonomically, it has leather upholstery, you can recline your seat back, a decently sized table (you can fit a PC *and* a drink) and you have more space around the knees because the magazine rack is behind the table. No more wardrobe, but hooks to hang your jacket on every seat - so just use the middle seat to hang your stuff.
Yes, the seats are not great, but definitely better than NEO, not as good as the standard seats on AF. So, no table instead of the middle seat. A German-speaking gentleman seemed to be quite upset with the wardrobe issue.

Catering has *seriously* deteriorated since the beginning days of NEK. Better presentation that AF (glassware, silverware, etc at least during meal times), slightly more sophisticated in its ambition but not better quality food. Seriously try to avoid it. You'll understand why Lufthansa's new CEO (C. Franz) is a German incarnation of PHG ;)
Big box, with silverware and glassware, which is a nice touch. The content is indeed to be avoided: a slice of cold cuts, dry cheese, a muffin and something else creamy and sweet. Tea, with no individual bag, was absolutely tasteless. I hope they pay royalties to PHG, although it may not be compatible with his non-compete clause :D.

T1: make sure you use the Acces No1. automated gate where you scan your BP and access security directly. The SEN lounge is slightly better in terms of offering and design than the average AF lounge, but it's depressive because windowless and underground.
Check-in was a bit of a zoo, there were many *Gold or business class passengers with a lot of suitcases. For those who did not have their boarding pass, there was also a queue to reach the kiosks. The Economy queue was very, very long. For security, when the line from the Accès n°1 and the standard lines merge (an interesting, innovative and frustrating concept) , people from the standard line tend to call you out for what they believe is cheating.:td:

The SEN lounge is indeed better than the business part, with much more newspapers and magazines. On the other hand, food was quite limited, no fruit yogurt (plain only), just croissants, pains au chocolat, fruit salad, and some cold cuts. Some thing that was nice, though, was the bottle of Jacquart Brut Mosaïque. :)

Boarding was an interesting experience. Everyone was queuing in the priority lane with no one to check their credentials, until the boarding agent got upset and shouted quite strongly something like "Business class on the left side, others on the right side". Still no check of boarding passes or gentle, individual redirection to the right lane, though ...

TXL is both terrible (crowded, somewhat ageing now) but has a great advantage which is that the distance from taxi to plane is something like 10 meters. So you can arrive quite late. Still, the Berliners better get their act together and open that new airport!!
We had a bus upon arrival and our baggage arrived at the lower level annex. Not specific to LH, but I do hate these airports where you need a coin to get a trolley (VIE, NCE come to mind ;)). But I get to my meeting place so much faster than if I were coming from SXF, so that's great. I'll be going on to Kassel on Monday and will probably fly back from FRA.

Your comments and hugolover's executive summary were spot on. There's no reason to choose one of the two airlines over the other in C on this route.
PS: was that fair and objective? ;)
Indeed it was, thanks. What about my comments ;)?

There's no reason to choose one of the two airlines over the other in C on this route.

Indeed. None of the two offer a flight experience that one would be looking forward to (I can think of some other non-longhaul flights that I *am* looking forward to). The only things I can think of that my drive one's choice, albeit very marginal:


If you have a bad back, choose Lufthansa for the reclineable seatback (this is my case)
Given that food on board is terrible on both airlines, the lounge food options - especially in Berlin - are somewhat better with LH when compared to the T2D (Paris)/AF Lounge (TXL) combo for AF flights
Your frequent flyer points may get you SEN (which you have) or keep SEN, which has some better perks than FB Gold or Platinum


Indeed it was, thanks. What about my comments ;)? Of course they were! But that's not a surprise. You are the Dalai Lama of this forum who would only dare to voice the shadow of a well-balanced criticism after it has been established as the general trend, whereas I tend to be caustic, less apologetic ("an explanation is not an excuse") and tell things as they are, plus I have - wrongly - achieved the status of an AF basher.

Of course they were! But that's not a surprise. You are the Dalai Lama of this forum who would only dare to voice the shadow of a well-balanced criticism after it has been established as the general trend, whereas I tend to be caustic, less apologetic ("an explanation is not an excuse") and tell things as they are, plus I have - wrongly - achieved the status of an AF basher.

L'esquisse de l'ébauche d'un début ... Additionally, any opinion (by definition, misguided) should pass the muster of the Conseil d'Etat, garant de l'intérêt général ;). L'imagination, cette maîtresse d'erreur et de fausseté ...

Check-in was a bit of a zoo, there were many *Gold or business class passengers with a lot of suitcases. For those who did not have their boarding pass, there was also a queue to reach the kiosks. The Economy queue was very, very long. For security, when the line from the Accès n°1 and the standard lines merge (an interesting, innovative and frustrating concept) , people from the standard line tend to call you out for what they believe is cheating.:td:

What a shame. This terminal has always been a complete zoo and nightmare; although it has slightly improved with its renovation. Personally, I avoid it at all cost.