Goldorak

ranskis

Not exactly: When you arrive from ZYR, you go land side to the terminal E first class check in zone. In 2009 there was an escort from the train platform, not sure how it is now. Then private security check and passport control processed in the lounge. Not sure if arriving from a Schengen flight and being driven by car requires a security check at the la premiere basement entrance but arriving from ZYR will for sure mandate a security check.

If you arrive in F and continue to ZYR, you cannot use the first class lounge during your transit time as far as I know.

audilux

Hi,

I flew 2 years ago from Strasbourg in La Premičre. Someone was waiting for me at the train station, then I was driven by car to the entrance of the 2E and escorted to the La Premičre lounge.
On the return, I was able to use the La Premičre lounge but we needed to go early at the train station to pick up the train ticket as well as the luggages at 2E luggage desk (they clearly picked the luggages, and put them aside with a note "La Premičre Customer to Strasbourg".

ranskis

Does it mean access to La Premiere lounge is allowed on arrival at CDG now? A few years ago, having a train ticket was considered "Paris arrival" and no Premiere lounge access, just the arrival lounge at 2C was possible. One needed a boarding pass for a flight out of CDG to remain in the transit area, and to access the Premiere lounge, the connecting flight had to be AF/KL and regional subsidiaries.

audilux

No, if your final destination is Paris, then no La Premičre lounge access.
If you have an onward connection, then you get the La Premičre access and Strasbourg, despite being with the TGV, granted me the full service (I was booked Under an AF code for the train segment)

Goldorak

Remember that they have a limo parked outside 2E (at the red La Premičre kiosk) used to drive pax to the Sheraton (or another CDG hotel) and to the TGV station.

olivedel

Klems

Well, I just had another wonderful trip in La Premičre, JFK to CDG to LHR.

Check in at JFK was efficient and friendly, but the escort through T1 security was (as expected) a big fat mess. I really hate this terminal, the lines are always horrible and the poor lady who was escorting me was just pushing and shoving through everyone, it was really uncomfortable and uncomfortable. The lanes are so narrow that it makes it very difficult to skip people without pushing them around. I told the lady that it was really not necessary as she literally pushed a dad with his baby in his arms, but she insisted hah!

Then we made it to the lounge, I didn't realize they had a private area for first class at JFK. It's quite nice, and definitely much nicer than the general area of the lounge. I also got a wonderful facial treatment at the Clarins spa.
This was a 777 flight, and P was full so there was 4 of us in the lounge. We then got escorted to the gate, and as we were about to get on the plane they had a technical issue (smoke detectors going off) and they made everyone get off the plane. They took us back to the lounge and were very apologetic. We were on our way again 10 minutes later.

I was in 1A, and the male flight attendent was PHENOMENAL. Such a genuine, friendly, and poised service - exactly what I expect from Air France and La Premičre.
The food was alright but slightly disappointing departing from JFK (if you guys are interested I can post menu and pictures); the soup was delicious but reheated badly (it had hot and cold spots). I had fish for the main course, and the fish was great but the rice and vegetables were cold, dry and bland. I skipped the salad, and the chocolate cake was OMG delish!
I also loved the bed (never had it done before), although they kept the cabin way too warm for my taste so I wasn't super comfortable. We also hit some extremely rough turbulences, the kind that they ask FAs to sit, so I didn't get much sleep overall - unlike the guy next to me who was snoring like crazy .
But again, the service was incredible, so that was an excellent flight.

Arriving in Paris, they parked at a (really) remote stand so I couldn't be thankful enough to have a car waiting for me instead of a bus! I was picked by an incredible La Premičre agent; she was so charming, and had a great, fun bubbly personality despite the very early hours. I had the Jag to myself, what an amazing ride!! This is for sure the most comfortable car seat I've ever been in hah !

In the lounge, same great service and food as usual. First thing I did when I arrived was to enquire about the famous metal name tag . The lady I asked said she needs to ask her superior and wasn't sure she would be able to get one. 2 hours later, she found me with a beautiful red La Premičre branded gift bag with the name tag in it .
And icing on the cake, I was also able to get a slot for a back rub at the spa.
I gotta say, I'm always so impressed that even an agent that hasn't talked to you before is able to find you and knows who you are. I don't know how they do to recognize and remember everyone, although I'm a bit afraid that they write some characteristics on a file haha ("the fat short balding guy with the green shirt...." ).

Finally, the agent that picked me up took me to my LHR flight. Unfortunately no Jag ride this rime, we walked to the gate as it was nearby.
I got introduced to the purser and flight attendants, who were absolutely amazing as well. I wasn't expecting much, but they were super friendly and we had a great conversation about my trip and Air France in general. I didn't expect such great service on an intra Europe flight.

Looking forward to the way back 2 weeks from now .

Goldorak

Excellent ! I'm glad you had such a good experience. Can't wait for your return report

San Gottardo

I also often wonder how they find people they haven’t met before. And those attributes (“the badly shaved guy with the crumpled chinos and the green pullover”) can’t work either. How many times have I arrived at a lounge from an overnight flight looking like a someone who lives underneath a bridge only to look much smarter after a shower, a shave, wearing a fresh shirt and a suit.

Goldorak

Klems

They could also use other things, such as your luggage (unless you shower and clean and dress your suitcase too ).


That could be a way, but would most likely not for everyone. Especially the P crowd, that can be usually pretty discreet and not all over social media, and also older and not necessarily very tech savvy. The fact that they showed you that sheet with your picture is SO hilarious and bad taste though ! Because it sounded brilliant up to that point, lol.

Honestly the more I think about it, and the more I think they are probably also trained to recognize certain physical and facial features and remember them. Once the P agent walks you to the lounge, then the agents in the lounge know who you are and probably take mental notes of features they can easily remember, regardless of your outfit or "freshness" level. It's the same in some high end hotel, where half the staff seems to know you even after a few hours.

Goldorak

They didn't show it to me. I saw it just looking at the paper he had in hand.

orbitmic

I have had that happen to me several times. Once the country manager for CI in New Zealand came to find me at the gate of my AKL-TPE flights, addressing me by title and name out of the blue (generating more than a few curious looks! He then proceeded to inform me that he had emptied a significant part of the J cabin where I was flying to ensure my privacy and boarded with me to instruct one of the crew to only look after me during the flight and ensure that no one sat in "my" section after take off, both things which she did faithfully during the entire flight! The flight had a technical stop in BNE and a change of crew, but whilst I thought this was the end of it, she then waited for the new crew to arrive to pass on the instruction to them! A very bizarre experience and to this day I do wonder if the guy mistook me for someone else!

Another 'funny' one was last November on an AA flight. I was in F on LAX-JFK (quite frankly, AA service is not usually anything to write home about) and the purser came to ask me if I had come for a specific event (directly related to my job) which I had and asked for my thoughts about it. I don't like talking about my real life on FT but those who know me on this forum will know exactly what I am talking about. I was very surprised and when I asked how she knew she mentioned that she had just spent the weekend with her in laws and her father in law had actually talked about me professionally! She gave me his name which is well known in my profession. I was even more surprised but anyway, she said that when she saw my name on the passengers' manifest she recognised it and googled me to check if it was me and proceeded to comment on me professionally for the best part of an hour. Really weird again!

So I guess over-zealous staff do exist (or bored?) and when you add a bit of chance you can forget all dream of being incognito!

On a very different and creepier way, one of my friends who is extremely pretty received a Facebook message and 'friend' invite from someone she did not know but happened to be an FA on her flight who was saying how lovely he thought she looked and how he'd love to see her again! She was completely freaked out and unimpressed (which, as a man who would never consider approaching a woman in such an 'in your face' way, I can completely sympathise with!)

orbitmic

Of course we are interested!! Please do! ^ And glad you had such a lovely trip!