Air France La Premiere Lounge JFK
Feb 8, 2018, 3:33 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
By the way (=the reason why I came back to this AF at JFK thread), do FB Platinums have access to the new VIP security channel at JFK T1? I went through there when the LH ground agent escorted me, but I didn’t enquire about whether this was only for pax that were accompanied by an airline rep or whether certain status pax (at least ULTIs, maybe also Plats) could use this without the escort. Anyone has tried? The setup is fairly recent. It didn‘t exist just before Xmas, but was in place when I left last week on Jan 30, so maybe not too many experience reports yet.
Feb 8, 2018, 4:17 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,927
Actually, the Premiere space is not upstairs, it‘s behind the reception desk. A bit underwhelming though, it gets much better once you‘re on board (although the flight is too short to fully benefit from the meal service and get enough sleep, which is the whole point of having the nice bed-seats).
By the way (=the reason why I came back to this AF at JFK thread), do FB Platinums have access to the new VIP security channel at JFK T1? I went through there when the LH ground agent escorted me, but I didn’t enquire about whether this was only for pax that were accompanied by an airline rep or whether certain status pax (at least ULTIs, maybe also Plats) could use this without the escort. Anyone has tried? The setup is fairly recent. It didn‘t exist just before Xmas, but was in place when I left last week on Jan 30, so maybe not too many experience reports yet.
Another new thing. Where is that new area ? It was not there the last time I departed from JFK (october). Is that very close to extreme right side of T1 where AF counters are and leading to AF lounge entrance ? If yes, this was the priority lane which was almost exclusively used by AF until 9/11. That was super cool because you were going airside in 5 minutes but this section remained closed since 9/11.
Good to know that there is such a channel. Whether Plat and Ulti have access to it is another story. The 2 times I have departed from JFK1 since I am Ulti, the AF staff ground was in lazy and "do-not-care attitude" and refused to escort me through security to the lounge.
Feb 8, 2018, 7:09 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 453
I'm surprised too, I was there at the very end of December and it was also a reserved room upstairs. Did it change since?
Feb 8, 2018, 10:45 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
The VIP security control area is to the left of the "normal" lanes. It is behind a white glass wall, and there is a NYC airport staff there checking access eligibility. That access then leads straight to a TSA agent doing BP scan, and then straight to the beginning of the belt of the far left Xray, cutting in front of the people that get there through the "normal" fast lane. BTW, there still isn't a dedicated TSA Pre lane, pax with Pre show their BP to staff and get to pass through an old-style metal detector and can keep certain things on/in their bags (I forgot which).
Re: the lounge. I departed JFK in AF P only twice in the past 8 or so months. The first time I got there quite late and they brought me straight to the gate where boarding had already started. The second time they brought me to the lounge and at the entrance told me "you can use the area right here" and pointed to what was behind the reception desk. I took a couple of steps, found it windowless and quite dark, and turned around to take a seat at one of the windows on the ground floor - having a view on the tarmac was more important to me than (what at least I thought) was the Premiere area to the right of the reception. So I wonder when there is a dedicated dining area upstairs, why wasn't I led there?
Re: the lounge. I departed JFK in AF P only twice in the past 8 or so months. The first time I got there quite late and they brought me straight to the gate where boarding had already started. The second time they brought me to the lounge and at the entrance told me "you can use the area right here" and pointed to what was behind the reception desk. I took a couple of steps, found it windowless and quite dark, and turned around to take a seat at one of the windows on the ground floor - having a view on the tarmac was more important to me than (what at least I thought) was the Premiere area to the right of the reception. So I wonder when there is a dedicated dining area upstairs, why wasn't I led there?
Feb 9, 2018, 12:13 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,927
Re: the lounge. I departed JFK in AF P only twice in the past 8 or so months. The first time I got there quite late and they brought me straight to the gate where boarding had already started. The second time they brought me to the lounge and at the entrance told me "you can use the area right here" and pointed to what was behind the reception desk. I took a couple of steps, found it windowless and quite dark, and turned around to take a seat at one of the windows on the ground floor - having a view on the tarmac was more important to me than (what at least I thought) was the Premiere area to the right of the reception. So I wonder when there is a dedicated dining area upstairs, why wasn't I led there?
Reading you, I have the feeling that you interacted with the same bad lounge staff as me.
Feb 9, 2018, 8:33 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 453
Re: the lounge. I departed JFK in AF P only twice in the past 8 or so months. The first time I got there quite late and they brought me straight to the gate where boarding had already started. The second time they brought me to the lounge and at the entrance told me "you can use the area right here" and pointed to what was behind the reception desk. I took a couple of steps, found it windowless and quite dark, and turned around to take a seat at one of the windows on the ground floor - having a view on the tarmac was more important to me than (what at least I thought) was the Premiere area to the right of the reception. So I wonder when there is a dedicated dining area upstairs, why wasn't I led there?
I never noticed that there was an area behind the reception desk, except for the spa waiting room. That's not what you're referring to, right?
I also wonder if it's because they maybe had a VIP in the room upstairs. If that's the case, they might be blocking it (although it's quite big) and use the reception area as a backup for P passengers? I don't know...
They are very hit or miss indeed...