Favorable winds are blowing for Air France, the airline that is giving the most air news so far this year, and what a year. Since the arrival of new Airbus A220 to its fleet, which also now we know that will fly to Spain from CDG, to its newly opened VIP lounge . And if we already talked about the first a few weeks ago, we are giving a good account of the second after the long-awaited inauguration.
Straddling the two wings of the terminal 2F at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport is the new lounge designed to further enhance the travel experience of the passengers in the Schengen area , or what is almost the same, a new haven of tranquility and good taste for short and medium haul travelers.
Built by Groupe ADP (Aéroports de Paris) At the request of Air France after much longer negotiations than everyone would have liked, the new and long-awaited premises occupies 3,000 m2 and accommodates 570 seats spread over two levels, that is, more than 2,500 people pass through here every day. Some figures of vertigo that although a priori may alarm, on a day-to-day basis they are not even noticeable.
During our stay in the salon, even at rush hour, we attest to the feeling of calm and serenity that dominates in this space entirely imagined by the Jouin Manku agency , founded by Canadian architect Sanjit Manku and French designer Patrick Jouin.
A tandem that has been showered with recognition lately and that just won two awards at the MEA AHEAD Awards , an award for the most beautiful hotel, restaurant and bar projects, for its remodeling of various spaces in La Mamounia.
FLY IN THE AIR, LEVITATE ON FIRM GROUND
The creators of the new room have given an important place to the idea of levitation. A curious concept in theory but in practice it works perfectly. Everything here seems ethereal, subtle, elevated. To achieve this, Jouin Manku has maximized the height of the ceiling and has particularly favored light thanks to a colossal curved glass ceiling with views of planes and runways.
Materials such as terrazzo, lava stone or wood, along with leather and fabrics, have been chosen for their beauty, but also to last over time. A complete declaration of intentions in which they are not alone: together with them too the furniture, solid and functional, has a design at the service of comfort and durability.
And although white prevails in the room, you don't have to be a lynx to realize the chromatic corporatism , in which you can see the distinctive colors of Air France in shades of blue and a touch of red in some beautiful seats.
Building customer loyalty through a unique travel experience remains one of the spearheads of Air France's strategy. and although its products on board both in Business class and in La Première border on perfection , it is true that the arrival at the old T2F room threw away all the satisfaction achieved in flight.
Narrowness, inconvenience and lack of space and almost even light have given way to this peninsula in the heart of airport activity where, depending on the time available before boarding, you can rest, cool off, eat or work and even get a facial.
GROUND FLOOR: FLOW AND CONNECTIVITY
It is not even nine in the morning when we cross the walkway designed as if it were a transition door between heaven and earth, between haste and serenity. There is a small, perhaps too small, access desk to the room where Air France team members scan the boarding pass , although also, and for greater fluidity, there are machines where to do it and access directly.
And, although this room is intended for the business traveler, anyone, even traveling as a tourist, can access it by paying €50 that include everything: gastronomy, showers, rest, etc., until the time of the flight. Also champagne to gogo . This is France.
Laurence Garnier-Plat , is the product manager for Air France's Business and La Première VIP lounges and our cicerone in this guided tour . Garnier-Plat has been working at the airline for half her life and has been present throughout the creation process of this new product, so she knows everything and tells 'almost' everything.
As soon as we enter, she proudly shows us the monumental sculpture that unites the reception area and the room , “a work inspired by the wings of an airplane that symbolizes lightness, technology and avant-garde , something that reinforces the ‘nest’ spirit that characterizes the room”, she confirms.
Wi-Fi is free and there are many power suppliers to charge electrical devices, including numerous tables where it can be done "without cable", Laurence tells me proudly.
Technology aside, if there is something important in a room, that is, in addition to a comfortable space, the gastronomy . Air France, standard-bearer of French gastronomy in the air , but also within his domains on the mainland, he was clear about this point from the foreground.
“We wanted to have food counters everywhere in the room. There is no main buffet, but different stations where you can go snacking ”. With regard to restoration, the design is at the service of practicality, thus avoiding the crowds that usually form in a main buffet at rush hour.
The culinary offer evolves throughout the day but all of it is based on a concept of bistronomy Garnier-Plat tells us. For a quick bite to eat bakery-style, there are mini sandwiches, salads and quiches available at all times and, depending on the time of day, hot and cold dishes. The cheeses and desserts They complete the menu designed in the French bistro style with a large percentage of regional and seasonal products.
In order to limit the consumption of plastic, the room has water sources where to fill the glass , which is glass, of course. The winery, selected by Paolo Basso, best sommelier in the world in 2013, offers a wide selection of wines and champagnes that begin to be served from eleven in the morning when an unmistakable sound of uncorking monopolizes everything. Finally, a wide space detox Located in one of the wings of the room, it combines a more 'zen' and relaxed atmosphere with a variety of infusions and natural juices.
ON THE UPPER FLOOR: THE NIRVANA
And if the ground floor of the room is more executive and hectic, the upper one is calm and enjoy . They are connected by a fabulous staircase that forms the backbone of the room, more like a fashion catwalk than a set of steps, and the space above is designed, in short, for the traveler with more time .
For this reason, in this upper part you can find, in addition to numerous armchairs with exceptional views, a rest area with comfortable loungers and soft lighting to relax in a cozy atmosphere. Here are also the ten huge showers available in the room and the area of treatments that the signature Clarins offers customers in its new concept "Traveller Spa".
There isn't much on their menu, but everything you need is there: facial care of 20 minutes tailored to the passenger to prepare serenely for the trip and, in addition, free. All you have to do is get on the waiting list. through a tablet that is available at the entrance of this space and choose the treatment that will make our skin almost as happy as we are after having passed through here.
A place of calm and serenity, of curves and versatility where each passenger finds his place. Whatever it is, it's sure to be tremendously comfortable.