Lounge access on arrival
Nov 13, 2025 | 3:10 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2025
Programs: AFKL - Gold
Posts: 15
Lounge access on arrival
Hello,
I’m flying LHR → CDG in the morning and back to LHR the same evening. I land at CDG around 11:15 and leave in the evening at 21:00. I have a single meeting in Paris in the afternoon.
As a Gold member, I now get lounge access. My question:
Can I access the lounge on arrival, using my return flight boarding pass, grab lunch, leave the lounge for my meeting, and then come back later in the evening to use the lounge again for dinner before my flight back?
Has anyone done this successfully?
Thanks!
I’m flying LHR → CDG in the morning and back to LHR the same evening. I land at CDG around 11:15 and leave in the evening at 21:00. I have a single meeting in Paris in the afternoon.
As a Gold member, I now get lounge access. My question:
Can I access the lounge on arrival, using my return flight boarding pass, grab lunch, leave the lounge for my meeting, and then come back later in the evening to use the lounge again for dinner before my flight back?
Has anyone done this successfully?
Thanks!
Nov 13, 2025 | 3:23 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: AFKL Gold, SAS EBG (STE+), TK Elite (*G), Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,229
This used to be possible until recently, but SkyTeam went cheap and introduced 3-hrs limit on lounge usage from 1 April. Therefore you won't be able to access the lounge at 11:15 for a flight at 21:00.
Nov 13, 2025 | 3:25 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2025
Programs: AFKL - Gold
Posts: 15
Thanks this is interesting. A month ago, I was flying business class and was able to access lounge 7 hour before my flight. Is this because business class is different to FB gold? (I'll be economy on this flight)
Nov 13, 2025 | 6:58 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: AMS
Programs: AF Platinum, UA 1K, LH SEN, Radisson VIP, HH Gold, MB Gold, Melia Gold
Posts: 380
I recently landed at CDG from AMS at 16:00 and had a separately booked (domestic) award ticket with departure at 21:55. I was able to enter the 2F lounge around 16:15, well before the 3-hour limit.
Could this 'early access' be linked to Platinum status, AF/KL award ticket or just (very) late implementation of the new limit?
Could this 'early access' be linked to Platinum status, AF/KL award ticket or just (very) late implementation of the new limit?
Nov 13, 2025 | 7:18 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: BRE
Programs: Flying Blue Ultimate, LATAM Black, Accor/IHG Platinum, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,996
Flying Blue Gold, Platinum and Ultimate members can still access AF and KL lounges without the 3hr limit, even if you're not on a connection.
Some info here: https://loyaltylobby.com/2025/05/11/...-access-rules/
The lounge access info on the FB page also mentions this: https://www.flyingblue.us/en/program.../tier-benefits
Some info here: https://loyaltylobby.com/2025/05/11/...-access-rules/
The lounge access info on the FB page also mentions this: https://www.flyingblue.us/en/program.../tier-benefits
Nov 13, 2025 | 7:54 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: AMS
Programs: AF Platinum, UA 1K, LH SEN, Radisson VIP, HH Gold, MB Gold, Melia Gold
Posts: 380
Flying Blue Gold, Platinum and Ultimate members can still access AF and KL lounges without the 3hr limit, even if you're not on a connection.
Some info here: https://loyaltylobby.com/2025/05/11/...-access-rules/
The lounge access info on the FB page also mentions this: https://www.flyingblue.us/en/program.../tier-benefits
Some info here: https://loyaltylobby.com/2025/05/11/...-access-rules/
The lounge access info on the FB page also mentions this: https://www.flyingblue.us/en/program.../tier-benefits
Nov 13, 2025 | 4:17 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: France
Programs: FB Plat for Life, UAMP, BAEC, Accor ALL Platinum, Marriott silver, Hilton, Meliá silver.
Posts: 3,607
Any other valid BP (or access bought in advance) will allow you to enter the lounge.
That was the case end of September at 2F.
Nov 13, 2025 | 10:39 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: AFKL Gold, SAS EBG (STE+), TK Elite (*G), Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,229
As someone correctly pointed out above, there's an exception for FB members. But there have been cases of people being denied entry early, I think it was STE+ from other programs.
Nov 14, 2025 | 5:03 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: France
Programs: FB Plat for Life, UAMP, BAEC, Accor ALL Platinum, Marriott silver, Hilton, Meliá silver.
Posts: 3,607
Nov 14, 2025 | 7:03 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: BRE
Programs: Flying Blue Ultimate, LATAM Black, Accor/IHG Platinum, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,996
I've seen reports of STE+ being denied entry >3hrs before departure at AMS lounge at least. Can't seem to find it right now, but it definitely popped up.
Nov 14, 2025 | 11:11 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Ultimate/Platinum for life/Club2000, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 24,956
Nov 15, 2025 | 1:59 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇨🇦 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,772
Maybe that's because I am not a big fan of lounges. For me they are obviously nice to have, although I prefer to arrive last minute at the airport and head straight to the gate / aircraft. Most of the time I spend less than 10 minutes in a departure lounge... unless they have open views on the tarmac!
Thus, I find the arrival lounge in 2C was serving perfectly its purpose. Hence for me being the "nicest". I probably should have written us "useful" instead. My mistake.
It was often crowded though.
Anyway, AF should bring an arrival lounge back.