Air France is set to open a new flagship lounge at London Heathrow (LHR), and rival British Airways’ elite members may be inspired to jump ship.
The airline has confirmed it will have Premium Class up and running at LHR Terminal 4 in spring 2026, providing a dedicated area for Premium Class passengers and elite members at the UK’s largest airport.
RELATED: Air France expands its La Premiere network to Atlanta, Boston and Houston
What’s new about Air France’s new Heathrow lounge?
Located airside in Terminal 4, home to Air France, KLM and many SkyTeam partner airlines (notably Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic operating from Terminal 3), the new lounge occupies approximately 8,000 square feet and can accommodate approximately 150 passengers. Designed in-house by Air France in collaboration with agency SGK Brandimage, the lounge continues the aesthetic of Air France’s newest lounges at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Boston Logan International (BOS) and Chicago O’Hare International (ORD). It will include:
- Enjoy fine French cuisine in a dedicated restaurant-style area
- Full-service bar with a selection of French wines and champagne
- Spa and relaxation areas, as well as quiet corners ideal for working between flights
- La Premiere First Class passengers, Business Class (excluding Business Class Light) passengers on SkyTeam airlines, SkyTeam Elite members on SkyTeam airlines on Flying Blue departing from Terminal 4, and passengers in partner programs such as Delta SkyMiles (Merallion and above) and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
This lounge is probably one of the best in Terminal 4.
Related: Video of Air France’s new first-class first flight
Heathrow is an important stop on Air France’s short-haul network, with up to seven flights a day between LHR and CDG this winter. Air France will also add two daily flights between Charles de Gaulle and London Gatwick (LGW) from 29 March 2026, giving British passengers more options to connect to the airline’s global network.
Part of wider Air France lounge project
The LHR announcement is the latest part of a wider lounge improvement program by Air France, which has been investing heavily in its premium cabins and ground experience to target affluent leisure and business travelers.
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In 2025 alone, the airline will:
- Redesigned and expanded the flagship lounge in Terminal 2E of Charles de Gaulle Airport, distributing the space over three levels and increasing capacity to 638 seats
- BOS’s lounge reopens on August 20 with over 5,000 square feet and 126 seats
- On October 17, ORD opened its new lounge, located in Terminal 5, offering approximately 5,000 square feet of space and 105 seats
RELATED: Chic new Air France lounge opens at LAX with spa, exclusive first-class area
What’s the new temptation for frustrated British Airways elite members?
LHR’s largest airline, British Airways, recently moved to a revenue-based system of earning tier points, setting new tough thresholds for Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers.
Under the new structure, travelers who previously relied on clever tier points runs or discounted long-haul business class fares from BA or partner airlines will now find it harder (and more expensive) to renew their status. This has prompted some frequent flyers to consider crediting flight points to other programs within or outside Oneworld.
Rival European airlines understandably jumped at the opportunity, offering status matches to British Air Club elite members in an attempt to attract them and their travel spend. A major drawback for London members considering Flying Blue is that when choosing to fly Air France or KLM from Terminal 4, there are very few lounges available, apart from the poor service in the Plaza Premium Lounge currently used by the airline.
This is especially true when comparing the numerous airport lounge options available when flying with British Airways or one of its Oneworld alliance partners from Terminal 3, 4 or 5.
However, the news that an airline known for opening impressive airport lounges is opening a new lounge in Terminal 4 may be enough to sway disgruntled BA elite members to switch loyalties to Flying Blue or other SkyTeam loyalty programs.
bottom line
This is an exciting development for passengers departing from LHR Terminal 4 in the spring. While there’s no shortage of lounges in the sprawling airport complex, there’s a distinct lack of quality options for premium passengers and elite members on Air France, KLM and other select SkyTeam airlines.
Delta will continue to fly from Terminal 3 (business class passengers can continue to enjoy the excellent Virgin Clubhouse), but this provides a huge incentive to book SkyTeam flights from Terminal 4.
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