Air France Expands, Lounge Deals, & Chelsea Suites Unveiled

Air France is significantly expanding its London operations by introducing new double-daily flights to London Gatwick (LGW) starting March 29, 2026. These additional services will complement existing flights to Heathrow, increasing Air France's total London-Paris routes to eight daily, alongside its UK network serving Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Newcastle. The new flights, operated by the comfortable Airbus A220 featuring a 2-3 seating arrangement and large windows, include morning departures (AF1704 from Paris at 9:15 am, AF1705 from Gatwick at 10:25 am) and afternoon services (AF1706 from Paris at 3:35 pm, AF1707 from Gatwick at 5:10 pm). As a SkyTeam member, these flights are also bookable using Virgin Points. Additionally, Air France will operate 12 special Cardiff-Paris services between February 13-16 to accommodate Six Nations rugby supporters, potentially offering cheap return deals for non-fans.

Separately, Priority Pass holders can enjoy a special December offer to upgrade to a premium Clubrooms lounge for just £10, a reduction from the usual £15 surcharge. This deal is available for walk-up visits at Birmingham, Gatwick North, Gatwick South, and Heathrow Terminal 3. Clubrooms lounges offer a superior experience with table service dining and high-end beverages. The main drawback is that this discounted rate applies only to walk-up entry, meaning access isn't guaranteed if the lounge is full, unlike pre-booked visits which still incur the £15 fee.

Finally, Ascott, the official hotel partner of Chelsea Football Club, has unveiled two Chelsea FC-themed suites in Jakarta, Indonesia – one at Ascott Sudirman Jakarta and another at Citadines Sudirman Jakarta. This initiative highlights the strong appeal of English football in Asia, as evidenced by a launch event attracting 400 Ascott Star Rewards members, featuring a Chelsea v Arsenal watch party and a Q&A session with former player Gary Cahill. Ascott is also renovating the hotels at Stamford Bridge, set to relaunch as a single lyf-branded property in Q2 2026.

(Source: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/12/05/new-air-france-flight-to-gatwick/)