CDG advice
 

It's been a while since I've flown from CDG and my first time since CO joined *A. I'm flying on the 10am flight to EWR in BF. Anyway- what is the *A lounge like? How would it compare to the lounge at LHR? Also- how does CDG compare to LHR in terms of security/customs hassle? I assume they must have a line for biz class passengers. I personally find LHR a breeze.

I can't speak to the lounge, but I found security and passport control pretty easy when I was there last week. 2 warnings: if you're checking bags, you must be at the counter no later than 8:45am for the 10am flight. Any later, and they close the counter (we had to beg to have them re-open it). Second, the gates in T1 are a loooooooonnnnngggg way from the check in counter, so leave a few extra minutes to make the hike down to the gate area.

*A lounge at CDG is OK, not fabulous. Decor is sort of euro 90's, with seating clustered around low tables and a bar height area with stools. WiFi is free. Food and beverage are self serve, including alcohol. Food options change with time of day, hot food at lunch/diner time. Coffee from automatic machine, including espresso/cappuccino. Bar is basic but has pretty much what you need to throw together a drink, including champagne. Getting to the lounge area requires walking down some stairs (did see an elevator for handicap access) and there is an outdoor smoking area. Overall, OK.

IIRC, the *A lounge is outside passport control and security, so allow extra time to go through two checkpoints, with a somewhat long walk in between passport control and the security checkpoint closer to the gate. IIRC, there's no special line for biz class passengers at passport control or security. I was flying BF and didn't notice any signage for such.

... and if by chance you are taking the AF bus from Paris, T1 is the LAST stop.

I was just there on Saturday for the 10 AM flight to Newark. The lounge is after passport control, but before security. As we left the lounge there was a massive line, but fortunately it was for arriving passengers, not departing passengers. After fighting our way past this blockage, we were able to head to the Continental gates which were quite a hike from the lounge (5+ minutes walking fast). Security took another 10 minutes or so.

I thought the lounge was pretty poor. For breakfast, there were two types of cereal, a few pastries, whole fruit, and a coffee machine. The free WiFi was so slow it was not usable to me.... and there were only about five other people in the lounge at the time. I have iPass on my work computer and ended up going to the gate area to use it instead. The iPass connection was much better.

If I had it to do again, I would not bother to stop by the lounge.

Dumb question- do you have to fly AF to take the AF bus?

Dumb answer
 

Nope.