French domestic, A class: lounge access?
Jul 11, 2014, 4:10 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,804
French domestic, A class: lounge access?
I cannot find clear information on this issue on the Air France web site, or elsewhere.
We have domestic legs within France, booked in A booking code/class.
A class appears to be sold as flexible Economy, but is also referred as Premium Economy.
When looking at lounge access, they say that for flights within Europe, premiun Economy provides lounge access. However, it always appears that the divide France, Europe and Intercontinental, so it is not clear to me whether "within Europe includes "within France..."
We have domestic legs within France, booked in A booking code/class.
A class appears to be sold as flexible Economy, but is also referred as Premium Economy.
When looking at lounge access, they say that for flights within Europe, premiun Economy provides lounge access. However, it always appears that the divide France, Europe and Intercontinental, so it is not clear to me whether "within Europe includes "within France..."
Jul 11, 2014, 5:02 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,540
What's your itinerary?
Normally, you should not get lounge access on a pure domestic itinerary if you do not have status. Note that even Premium Economy within Europe does not give free lounge access except ex-CDG (except terminal 2G) and AMS (and long haul PE never).
Normally, you should not get lounge access on a pure domestic itinerary if you do not have status. Note that even Premium Economy within Europe does not give free lounge access except ex-CDG (except terminal 2G) and AMS (and long haul PE never).
Jul 11, 2014, 5:15 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,804
CDG Terminal 2F, arriving from Canada, continuing to BOD.
Jul 11, 2014, 8:50 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: BOS
Programs: B6/Mosaic/AF/VX/AS Gold Hertz PC HH Dia. AMEX Plat SPG/Marr Gold Nat. EE FPC Plat
Posts: 833
Perhaps, on arrival at CDG, but I would not count on it for BOD. AF is really strict about lounge access for non-elite passengers. IIRC you need to be at least Silver to be able to even buy access.
Jul 12, 2014, 3:04 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Flying Blue (LTPE) All (Gold)
Posts: 1,519
The customers have access regardless the class in which they travel and regardless the fare paid.
- AF: Business Class and Premium Economy Medium-Haul (access to lounges in Paris CDG2, Orly West - Hall 3 and Amsterdam)
- AM: Classe Premier
- AZ: Magnifica and Prima Business Class
- DL: Business Elite
- KE: First Class, Prestige Class
- OK: Business Class
- SU, KL: Business Class Passenger
- CZ: Business Class
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...07_12_11_16_58
Last edited by delanotre; Jul 12, 2014 at 3:35 am
Jul 12, 2014, 3:37 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,540
The rule:
The customers have access regardless the class in which they travel and regardless the fare paid.
- AF: Business Class and Premium Economy Medium-Haul (access to lounges in Paris CDG2, Orly West - Hall 3 and Amsterdam)
- AM: Classe Premier
- AZ: Magnifica and Prima Business Class
- DL: Business Elite
- KE: First Class, Prestige Class
- OK: Business Class
- SU, KL: Business Class Passenger
- CZ: Business Class
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...07_12_11_16_58
The customers have access regardless the class in which they travel and regardless the fare paid.
- AF: Business Class and Premium Economy Medium-Haul (access to lounges in Paris CDG2, Orly West - Hall 3 and Amsterdam)
- AM: Classe Premier
- AZ: Magnifica and Prima Business Class
- DL: Business Elite
- KE: First Class, Prestige Class
- OK: Business Class
- SU, KL: Business Class Passenger
- CZ: Business Class
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...07_12_11_16_58
, ie:- "medium haul" = from France to (non-French) European destinations + Israel, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria
- "short haul" = domestic
Jul 12, 2014, 3:46 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Flying Blue (LTPE) All (Gold)
Posts: 1,519
yes, you are right.
I just search on AF website and I discover, in french (pas sympa pour les non francophones), below the english text:
Premium Economy
You can take advantage of free entry to AIR FRANCE and KLM lounges at Paris-Charles de Gaulle* (except La Première lounge and the lounge located in Terminal 2G) and Amsterdam-Schiphol airports.
Subject to availability, you can also purchase entry to lounges in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart and Zurich. The entry fee for these lounges is €25.
* Sauf si vous êtes en correspondance pour un vol en France métropolitaine.
Nevertheless, I think it is ok for access in Orly
I just search on AF website and I discover, in french (pas sympa pour les non francophones), below the english text:
Premium Economy
You can take advantage of free entry to AIR FRANCE and KLM lounges at Paris-Charles de Gaulle* (except La Première lounge and the lounge located in Terminal 2G) and Amsterdam-Schiphol airports.
Subject to availability, you can also purchase entry to lounges in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart and Zurich. The entry fee for these lounges is €25.
* Sauf si vous êtes en correspondance pour un vol en France métropolitaine.
Nevertheless, I think it is ok for access in Orly
Jul 12, 2014, 5:08 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,540
yes, you are right.
I just search on AF website and I discover, in french (pas sympa pour les non francophones), below the english text:
Premium Economy
You can take advantage of free entry to AIR FRANCE and KLM lounges at Paris-Charles de Gaulle* (except La Première lounge and the lounge located in Terminal 2G) and Amsterdam-Schiphol airports.
Subject to availability, you can also purchase entry to lounges in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart and Zurich. The entry fee for these lounges is €25.
* Sauf si vous êtes en correspondance pour un vol en France métropolitaine.
Nevertheless, I think it is ok for access in Orly
I just search on AF website and I discover, in french (pas sympa pour les non francophones), below the english text:
Premium Economy
You can take advantage of free entry to AIR FRANCE and KLM lounges at Paris-Charles de Gaulle* (except La Première lounge and the lounge located in Terminal 2G) and Amsterdam-Schiphol airports.
Subject to availability, you can also purchase entry to lounges in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart and Zurich. The entry fee for these lounges is €25.
* Sauf si vous êtes en correspondance pour un vol en France métropolitaine.
Nevertheless, I think it is ok for access in Orly
Jul 12, 2014, 1:50 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,804
Jul 13, 2014, 12:19 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,564
It is quite unpleasant to see how difficult it is to interpret AF rules and information posted on their websites, including some discrepancies between the French and English versions.
The thred on interlining is another example. Until July 2014, it was supposed to be well known that AF was interlining on separate PNRs, but their rules seemed to say the opposite.
No wonder that different agents interpret the rules in different ways. Plus, agents semm to have the discretion to bend the rules at will, making exceptions for some pax. I would much prefer to have clear rules that are enforced, rather having bad suprises depending on the mood of the agent and whether he/she likes you.
The thred on interlining is another example. Until July 2014, it was supposed to be well known that AF was interlining on separate PNRs, but their rules seemed to say the opposite.
No wonder that different agents interpret the rules in different ways. Plus, agents semm to have the discretion to bend the rules at will, making exceptions for some pax. I would much prefer to have clear rules that are enforced, rather having bad suprises depending on the mood of the agent and whether he/she likes you.
Jul 13, 2014, 6:06 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,804
Just that the text under the asterisk is also in French in the English web page.
(As quoted by orbitmic in Article no. 6, above.)
Jul 14, 2014, 7:08 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,564
The example you point out is an illustration. Let's for a moment assume that you are Asian flying HKG-CDG-NCE in PE and do not speak French. You see in big letter that you have access to CDG lounge as premium economy pax and some footnote in small letters impossible to understand as it is in French. As far as I know, CDG and NCE are part of Europe, so CDG-NCE is a European flight.
Note that the next footnote on that webpage is in English, but not this one.