Air France Lounge at New York JFK Airport [Detailed Review]

I recently found myself lounge-hopping at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City during a particularly long layover. My last stop before catching a flight to Paris was the Air France Lounge in Terminal 1.

There are numerous lounges in Terminal 1 at JFK, all of varying quality. Of the few I visited on this day, the Air France Lounge was the best by far. It was big and bright, with a delicious buffet, lots of seating, a spa, and views of the New York City skyline.

How To Access the Air France Lounge at JFK

Priority Pass

If you have a Priority Pass membership, you have lots of options in Terminal 1 at JFK Airport, one of which is the Air France Lounge.

You can easily get a Priority Pass membership through your credit card, including ones like these:

• The Platinum Card^® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Business Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A Priority Pass allows you to access lounges regardless of elite status, airline, or class of service.

Air France Passengers

Select Air France passengers also get access to the Air France Lounge:

• La Première (first class) passengers (plus 1 guest)
• Air France business class passengers

Flying Blue or SkyTeam Elite Status

Flying Blue Platinum and Gold and SkyTeam Elite Plus members plus 1 guest can access the Air France Lounge. Passengers and guests must have a boarding pass for a same-day international Air France, KLM, or SkyTeam flight.

Day Pass

Some travelers can purchase a day pass at the airport to access the Air France Lounge:

• Flying Blue Silver: $30 to $50
• Air France Premium Economy Passengers: $30 to $50 or 2,500 to 5,000 miles
• Additional passengers may be able to purchase a day pass up to 3 hours before their flights. Rates may vary.

Bottom Line:

The easiest way to gain entry to the Air France Lounge is to use a Priority Pass membership.

Location of the Air France Lounge at JFK

The Air France Lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport is in Terminal 1 at the very end, near gate 1. This is the international terminal, so you can only access it with an international boarding pass.

It’s open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

First Impressions

The Air France Lounge was the last stop on my JFK lounge-hopping day (I was making the most of an 11-hour layover). I was able to enter because I was flying Air France business class to Paris, although I could have used my Priority Pass membership.

As soon as I walked in, I was excited to see a bright, airy space with high ceilings and a glass roof (a welcome change from the Primeclass Lounge I had just visited).

There was cool artwork, along with information on the artist, on the walls near the entrance.

Additional artwork, as well as plenty of seating, was scattered throughout the lounge.

Seating

The Air France Lounge was big, and it had lots of seating.

As soon as I entered, I took the escalator up to the second level.

I grabbed a table overlooking the first level of the lounge. This was a great spot to get a little work done before my flight.

The high ceilings and large windows gave the lounge a very bright and light feel. Unfortunately, the view was mostly of the highway.

However, you could see the New York City skyline in the distance, which is a pretty unique feature for an airport lounge. Watching the sunset over the city from the Air France Lounge was really nice.

Food and Beverages

There are 2 levels in this lounge, and both had the same food and beverage options, but the area on the first floor was a bit bigger.

Buffet

Food was served across 2 self-service buffets, 1 on each level of the lounge. There wasn’t any table service.

There were a few different premade salad options, plus ingredients to make your own.

There were different types of meats and cheeses.

Of course, there was delicious bread.

Hot entrées included French favorites like quiche Lorraine and croque monsieur, as well as staples like pasta and chicken.

My dinner was delicious! I especially loved the quiche.

Dessert options included a couple of varieties of cake, fruit smoothies, chocolate mousse, panna cotta, cheesecake, and fresh fruit.

But wait, there’s more! Around the corner of the buffet, there were more desserts: brownies, madeleines, and palmiers.

I couldn’t decide what I wanted, so I tasted a few of them (for research purposes only, of course).

Beverages

Each floor of the lounge had a self-serve drink station.

There was a coffee machine plus still, sparkling, and flavored water.

Drinks included juices, milk, Heineken beer, White Claw, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and ginger ale.

Wines and spirits were also self-serve.

Some bar snacks were available right by the self-serve bar.

Bottom Line:

The Air France Lounge at JFK offers a full buffet and a self-serve drink station (including alcohol).

Amenities

Clarins Spa

There was a Clarins Spa at the Air France Lounge at JFK. It was just to the left of the entrance to the lounge (before the check-in desk).

Lounge guests could make an appointment for a complimentary 15-minute treatment. Options include jet-lag relief, detox time, and eye treatments. Unfortunately, I didn’t see the spa until we were leaving, so I didn’t get to try one.

The Clarins Spa at the JFK Air France Lounge was open daily from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Bathrooms

The bathroom was small and rather basic for the size of the lounge, but it was clean. There were also showers. (They were in use when I was there, so I couldn’t get a picture.)

Final Thoughts

The Air France Lounge is a fantastic option if you’re flying from JFK’s Terminal 1. I can see why it made our list of the best Priority Pass lounges in the U.S.

With lots of natural light, this 2-level lounge offers an extensive buffet, comfortable seating, and distant views of the Manhattan skyline. Before you leave for your flight, remember to make an appointment for your complimentary 15-minute treatment at the Clarins Spa.