After my night at the Courtyard Marriott Paris CDG, I arrive at Terminal 1 for my check-in to Chicago via Copenhagen on SAS.
Prior to this stay, SAS had modified my outbound flight one day before, due to the cancellation of the CPH-ORD. I took the opportunity to place a bid to upgrade from Premium Economy to Business, which was accepted 48 hours before the flight.
Check-in
SAS departs from Terminal 1 at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, and its check-in counters are located near those of Lufthansa.
The reception is rather cold, but everything is done in a professional way. My two bags are checked directly to Chicago.
On the other hand, I am told that the lounge only opens at 9:30 am… Sic ! It’s 8:15 and I have more than an hour to kill before I can get there. I find this a bit flippant for an airline that operates nearly 10 flights a day at Paris CDG.
Terminal and security
SAS operates in Paris from Terminal 1 of Paris Charles-de-Gaulle. In view of its architecture, the boarding areas each have their own security with about ten associated boarding gates, which does not allow the lounges to be shared, at least not airside.
There are landside lounges, but they are located in a non-Schengen zone, so you have to go through a passport control to access them, and then again in the other direction to get to the boarding gates, which can generate a lot of stress. Let’s bet that the junction donut of the different satellites will allow to palliate this problem.
The security controls are passed in one minute, and I find myself in the boarding room, still without access to the lounge.
So I take a coffee and a bottle of water at the Brioche Dorée, and work on my computer while waiting.
Reception
At the opening time of the lounge, I head towards it and am welcomed by the female dragon. I ask about the late opening time of the lounge. Not an apology, just a shrug. A mixture of Scandinavian “I don’t care” and Gallic nonchalance.
Lounge design
The design of the lounge is… Scandinavian, of course! On the other hand, it is tiny, barely bigger than my lounge (without exaggerating).
A small area is available for eating, and the rest for relaxing in a huddle. Really not for more than an hour!
Catering
The catering is minimalist, to say the least! Very frugal breakfast offering. The coffee machine works, that’s the main thing.
And soft drinks are available in the fridge.
Lounge facilities
What to say, you have seen everything on the previous pictures, there is nothing more… No toilets, no showers, no spa of course. It’s very small.
Bottom line
I leave the lounge very disappointed by this beginning of experience, while the boarding begins, and I leave without a greeting of the female dragon, nor even an answer to mine or a glance…
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