Air France is definitely on all fronts: after unveiling the details of its winter programme, and speaking with one voice with Lufthansa to blame the EU's inaction, the airline is taking care of its premium showcase. A new lounge has opened at a leading business hub, Chicago, to which the carrier operates up to seven flights a week from Paris-CDG. Windy City recently climbed to 7ᵉ place in the mega-hubs ranking revealed by OAG.
The inauguration of this first Air France lounge at O'Hare took place on 17 October in terminal 5, thanks to a partnership with Global Lounge Network and the SGK Brandimage agency. With a surface area of 470 sq. m., it has 105 seats with an unrestricted view of the airport's runways.
In keeping with the French touch, the Air France lounge places special emphasis on the dining area (40 seats), which features a large table d'hôte, and the bar, whose atmosphere is inspired by the grand hotels of Paris, according to the airline. It sums up: "Designed to offer moments of relaxation and serenity, this lounge offers a host of services that sublimate the art of French hospitality".
Business travellers can also take advantage of a quiet, functional workspace and a soundproof cabin for making calls without disturbing other travellers. In addition, a VIP area (4 seats) is reserved for Flying Blue Ultimate customers.
TV screens, free Wi-Fi connection, power sockets and USB ports near the seats: all the essentials are there too, of course.
The Air France lounge in Chicago is accessible every day from 5am to 11.30pm for Business and Flying Blue Elite Plus passengers, as well as eligible KLM passengers.
