Constructive Criticism of La Premiere
Sep 12, 2017, 10:59 am
#211
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: New York, NY USA
Posts: 631
My arrival was 8:05 a.m. and, as I mentioned in a prior post, it was too early to clear immigration in the lounge. On my return the connecting flight from GOA arrived at 2:00 p.m. and I was able to clear immigration for my return flight to JFK in the lounge
Sep 12, 2017, 11:05 am
#212
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Million Miler, Mosaic, Delta Platinum
Posts: 1,561
I feel like I encountered this once before as well, but they may have taken my passport and returned it later. I didn't need to go to general immigration/customs.
Sep 12, 2017, 10:33 pm
#214
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: Flying Blue, Accor Le Club, Hilton HHonors, Hertz Gold Plus, Avis Preferred
Posts: 476
This is indeed the case. Last time I was connecting in P, the La Premiere ground staff told me that I was lucky to leave after the dedicated police start their shift and hence we could directly go to the lounge. Otherwise, we would have had to go through the regular immigration desks.
Sep 13, 2017, 5:48 am
#215
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: New York, NY USA
Posts: 631
This is indeed the case. Last time I was connecting in P, the La Premiere ground staff told me that I was lucky to leave after the dedicated police start their shift and hence we could directly go to the lounge. Otherwise, we would have had to go through the regular immigration desks.
Sep 13, 2017, 6:39 am
#216
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: 30,528
A couple of updates on the lounge. During my last two visits, the champagne bar was empty.. maybe it is there just for display ? Food great and staff super friendly (although they forgot to pick me up upon arrival on my last visit). However, the lounge is looking a bit worn out. I know many do not consider Al Safwa to be at the same level, but IMHO I think La Premiere lounge is losing the race.
Sep 17, 2017, 1:53 am
#217
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: FB LTPE, BAEC GGL, EK Blue, SK Gold, Marriott Amb+LTT, IHG Diamond Amb, Accorhotels Silver
Posts: 1,954
Everyone to their own. I'll be even a bit more radical than San Gottardo, whilst I can see a few better things in some of the other lounges he mentions, I genuinely cannot think of a thing I like better at Al Safwa bar the Arabic coffee and orange juice! (grapefruit was absent my last three visits despite being on the menu): food is a massive notch below, sleeping rooms are hard to get and family rooms are just awkward, drinks quality has reduced a lot and the place feels far less private. I'd choose the P lounge any day.
Sep 17, 2017, 4:21 am
#218
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,556
Everyone to their own. I'll be even a bit more radical than San Gottardo, whilst I can see a few better things in some of the other lounges he mentions, I genuinely cannot think of a thing I like better at Al Safwa bar the Arabic coffee and orange juice! (grapefruit was absent my last three visits despite being on the menu): food is a massive notch below, sleeping rooms are hard to get and family rooms are just awkward, drinks quality has reduced a lot and the place feels far less private. I'd choose the P lounge any day.
But to be fair, QR has F on only 8 of its 100+ longhaul aricraft.
The lounge is/was mostly used by the regional F pax (basically QR sells regional business class as F and gives access to Al Safwa). In the recent past, it has been quite empty.
Sep 17, 2017, 12:30 pm
#220
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,922
Sep 17, 2017, 1:00 pm
#221
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Sep 18, 2017, 9:00 am
#223
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,233
You can also fall asleep during your massage! 
Similar "issue" with the JFK arrival service. There was an attendant for me and one of the other pax who both had checked bags, but the two of them were just chit-chatting in French and it really didn't make sense to me what she was supposed to help with, especially since I had Global Entry. It seemed kind of pointless to me.
Of course in CDG was another story.
Similar "issue" with the JFK arrival service. There was an attendant for me and one of the other pax who both had checked bags, but the two of them were just chit-chatting in French and it really didn't make sense to me what she was supposed to help with, especially since I had Global Entry. It seemed kind of pointless to me.
Of course in CDG was another story.
Sep 18, 2017, 10:06 am
#224
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: MAN
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 500
I get offered 'assistance' at MAN but I always turn it down as I know where the lounge is and there's no quick way through security that I know of. There's always an escort from the gate to the plane but while this is "nice" it's not necessary, especially as all that's said upon arrival at the door is "there you are Mr Rosensfole". No intro to FAs even.
Different story on return. Absolutely nowt... fend for yourself mate.
Now - I wonder if AF have sorted out access to the 1903 lounge yet for P customers...
Different story on return. Absolutely nowt... fend for yourself mate.
Now - I wonder if AF have sorted out access to the 1903 lounge yet for P customers...
Sep 18, 2017, 11:09 am
#225
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 453
Similar "issue" with the JFK arrival service. There was an attendant for me and one of the other pax who both had checked bags, but the two of them were just chit-chatting in French and it really didn't make sense to me what she was supposed to help with, especially since I had Global Entry. It seemed kind of pointless to me.
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