Charles De Gualle airport lounges

Posted by Helen (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) on 02/10/09 04:50 PM

I hope you all can help me. We are flying business class and are both Qantas platinum or One World emerald frequent flyers.

We are flying Melbourne - Hong Kong and then into Charles de Gualle airport which arrives at 550am. We are then taking a connecting flight with Air France to Genoa departing at 10.40am. What I would like to know is -

is there a lounge we can use when we arrive or are we going to be too early?
if there is a lounge where is it situated?
if no lounge can anyone suggest the best place to 'park' until our connection?
will we have to collect our bags on arrival and recheck for the flight to Genoa?

Thanks

Posted by Jed

Seattle, WA, US

02/10/09 06:26 PM

519 posts

When I look at the One World site it says that you have to be departing on a One World flight to use their lounges. Since Air France isn't a One World partner, you can't use their lounges at CDG...at least that's how I read it. However...

If you are flying business class on Air France you should be able to use one of their lounges at CDG. See below from the Air France site.

Acces conditions

You can use Air France's and SkyTeam's lounges if you fly on an Air France, KLM or SkyTeam flight and if :

* you fly in L'Espace Première (First) or L'Espace Affaires (Business),
* you are a Flying Blue Gold or Platinum, SkyTeam Elite Plus, or Club 2000 member

I'm not sure if you have to fly in business or first AND be a member of one of those plans, or if you just have to satisfy one of the conditions.

I'm sure others can correct me if I'm wrong. You can also go to www.flyertalk.com and access their Qantas message board to ask your question. They will definitely be able to give you a better answer than me!

Happy travels!

Jed

Posted by Norma

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

02/11/09 11:51 AM

8293 posts

If all else fails, maybe you could book a "day room" at the Ibis hotel. There are a couple of them at CDG. You could at least have a shower and a nap after your long-haul flight, and maybe a quick trip into Paris.

Posted by carl

dallas, tx, usa

02/12/09 10:53 AM

1358 posts

If you don't get adequate answers here, read "sleeping in airports". Request Paris or Charles de Gualle and read where to go to sleep. You will also find out if it is safe to sleep there.

Posted by carl

dallas, tx, usa

02/12/09 10:57 AM

1358 posts

The correct address in "sleeping in airports.com". When you search for a place to lie down, find a sofa WITHOUT arm rests.

Posted by Helen OP

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

02/12/09 05:25 PM

705 posts

Thank you all. Jed I did go to the website you suggested and received a few replies. None what I wanted to hear but at least I now know that there aren't lounges in the terminals I will be in and can plan accordingly.

Posted by Helen OP

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

02/12/09 05:31 PM

705 posts

Carl I looked at that website and saw that CDG was voted worst airport in the world!!! Now I'm really starting to worry but at least I know it probably hasn't changed since I was there 20 odd years ago.

Posted by Jed

Seattle, WA, US

02/12/09 07:44 PM

519 posts

Helen,

That's too bad! So, did they say that you can't use the Air France lounges because you don't have status on their airline?

The way I read the Qantas/One World site was you can't use their lounges in CDG when you arrive, which is too bad. I don't travel in lounges much at all, but I think on long haul with BA you can use their arrivals lounges in Heathrow, even if connecting with a different plane. We didn't have to test that as we were booked all the way through with them in business class, so we got to go in the lounges. Might be worth a 2nd check with One World? I did see they have lounges at CDG.

I used flyertalk quite a bit before our trip to learn all about the ins/outs of business class on BA as we've never flown that way before. Was great to read about it all and help maximize the experience! Hope things work out!