Air France Just Unveiled a Chic New Lounge at LAX — With Free Facials, Classic French Food, and Runway Views

24.06.2024 - 20:20 / travelandleisure.com / Paris Olympics / Paris De-Gaulle

A touch of French elegance has landed at Los Angeles International Airport — and it’s here just in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Air France revealed its new 11,840-square-foot lounge, the airline’s first at LAX and sixth overall in the U.S. 

It’s part of the airline’s wider, global investment in lounges. According to Air France executives, Los Angeles is one of the most important markets for the carrier. «The reason for opening a lounge at LAX was very simple,» said Zoran Jelkic, the senior vice president for Air France-KLM long-haul operations. «Together with KLM, Air France has seven flights per day out of LAX.”

Air France’s dedicated pre-departure space is located on the sixth floor of Tom Bradley International Terminal’s (TBIT) West Concourse. For context, LAX is in the midst of a multi-billion dollar transformation, and this specific concourse is also on the newer side, having only opened about a year ago. It’s a much-needed dose of modernity for an aging airport. 

Courtesy of Air France

However, one downside of the West Concourse is accessibility. To reach it, passengers must use an underground passageway — adding at least 10 to 15 minutes of additional walking time from the main part of TBIT. Air France is the first lounge tenant in the concourse and while it’s a trek, thankfully, it’s located near the airline’s gates (and joint venture partner KLM).

Once inside the lounge, however, you may forget about all the walking you just did. The gorgeous 172-seat enclave features expansive tarmac views — a rarity for a lounge in TBIT — along with signature shades of blue, luminous whites, and touches of red for a sleek and chic aesthetic. 

At the heart of the lounge is a brasserie-style dining area offering a broad variety of tasty French classics from Monkfish Provencale and Beef Bourguignon to Salade Nicoise and fresh breads and cheeses. An open kitchen concept also allows guests to order items on demand, such as pan-fried prawns or cassoulet with duck confit. 

Courtesy of Air France

There’s also a dedicated full-service bar here, unlike some of Air France’s other U.S. lounges. Passengers can order a variety of wines, champagnes, cocktails, and mocktails from comfortable bar seats or more private areas with booths and armchairs.

This September, Air France will add a Clarins spa and wellness area. Once open, passengers have a choice of three complimentary mini-facial treatments: „anti-jetlag,“ „instant detox,“ and „illuminating eye care.“ It’s certainly a welcome pre-flight rest and relaxation ritual; Air France and Clarins have a 20-year-long partnership with spa services at both its New York-JFK and Paris-Charles de Gaulle lounge locations. 

Passengers flying in La Première (first class) can