Last week I got to explore Charles de Gaulle airport in depth with Air France. You’d think that touring an airport would be a bit dull, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. First of all, getting fast-tracked though security was absolutely incredible. Second of all, I got an insider’s peek into the SkyTeam lounge (the 1st class and business class lounge) in both Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle. The opulence! The luxury! So this is how the other half flies! (Plus Blondie was at CDG going into the airport at the same time I was which was pretty exciting.)
Here’s a confession dear readers: I love traveling to different places. I do not tend to love the act of traveling itself; the waiting, the queueing, the packed seats. But getting to experience how business and first class fly put flight into a whole other perspective. It was so glamorous. It reminded me of footage of flights in the 50s, when everyone dressed to the 9s to board planes and smoked on board.
One brilliant thing that I really want to congratulate CDG on is their incredible staff. Everyone we interacted with was absolutely lovely. That and the free wifi. Free wifi in an airport especially when you are on a layover during a long-haul flight is a godsend.
For it being one of the busiest airport in Europe, I have to admit that the newly remodelled terminal was designed with comfort and peace of the passengers in mind. We were told that the design tried to incorporate a lot of air and light to help symbolise light. Plus the steel inside the building is from the famous Eiffel Company. The airport has also been redesigned with Schengen Area passengers in mind, passengers on flights going to and fro to different countries in the area no longer have to go through security again. Everyone benefits from this really because it cuts down on security line wait times for everyone!
The obvious sign that you’ve landed in Paris.
Tracks to and from terminals.
An airbus pulling in.
A museum within CDG.
Luxury goods and Christmas? Don’t mind if I do!
I loved this dress in a display window!
This bubble wall displayed different pictures made up of the bubbles. It can be programmed to display pretty much anything. I saw Christmas trees and snowflakes while I was there.
Of course, I had to take a photo of the Laduree. Long time readers will know I have a macaron obsession.
One of the multiple living walls.
Airport cow. As you do.
How comfy do these seats look?
We all donned these lovely vests before going out onto the runway.
Up close and personal with an Airbus engine.
Flying in style inside the Airbus. As a disclaimer, this photo was taken immediately after a flight before the crew had a chance to clean up from that flight.
On the runway at CDG.
In the SkyTeam Lounge at CDG.
And back home to London!
I attended the behind the scenes tour of Charles de Gaulle airport as a guest of Air France UK, who’s central hub resides within the CDG airport. Whilst I received complementary flights, Air France UK flies 16 times a day from London Heathrow to Charles de Gaulle, with return flights starting from £89 and £53 for a single. All comments and opinions are, as ever, my own!
