A luxury airport perk at Paris Charles de Gaulle has been removed after passengers were reportedly caught using an Air France lounge sauna for behaviour that went far beyond relaxing before a flight. The sauna at the Air France Lounge in Terminal 2E, Hall L, has been permanently closed, with a lounge manager reportedly linking the decision to inappropriate passenger activity.
The claim was first reported by travel writer Matthew Klint of Live and Let's Fly after he visited the lounge and found the sauna locked behind a 'Staff Only' sign. Air France's own website confirms that the Hall L lounge has offered wellness facilities including showers and a sauna. However, its current Hall L page now lists showers and other services without mentioning the sauna.
Air France Sauna Shut Down After Passenger Behaviour
Klint said he asked a lounge manager whether the closure was temporary. According to his account, the manager said passengers had been 'doing things in there that they should not have', leading Air France to shut the sauna for good.
The manager did not publicly spell out what those acts were. However, Klint said the response and the context made him believe the sauna had been used for sexual activity, which is why the space has since been described online as a possible 'sex den'.
That detail is important because Air France has not independently confirmed the sex claim. The reported explanation comes from Klint's conversation with the lounge manager, while Air France's public lounge information does not explain the sauna's closure.
The Sauna Was Once a Luxury Travel Perk
The Hall L sauna was not a basic airport shower room. Earlier reviews described it as a private sauna space inside the lounge's wellness area, giving premium passengers a chance to relax before a flight.
Klint previously reviewed the facility in 2020 and said the sauna could be booked for a set period. The space also included a large shower and changing area, making it feel more like a small private spa than a normal airport washroom.
Other travel reviews also praised the unusual feature. A 2020 review described two sauna cabins at the Hall L lounge, while another review from 2023 still listed a sauna among the lounge's facilities.
Why The 'Sex Den' Claim Has Sparked Debate
The reported closure has caused a strong reaction among frequent flyers because airport lounges are expected to offer quiet and private spaces without turning those areas into places for sexual activity. The story has also spread on Reddit, where travellers have debated whether passenger behaviour was really the reason the sauna disappeared.
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Some travellers have questioned whether the closure could have been linked to cleaning, running costs or other problems instead. One long-running FlyerTalk discussion from September 2025 also mentioned staff saying the sauna would close permanently, although the staff member cited problems with guests staying too long rather than confirming sexual activity.
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That makes the exact reason harder to prove from public information alone. What is clear is that the sauna was already facing questions about its future before the latest report, while the more shocking 'sex den' explanation remains based on the lounge manager's reported comments rather than a formal Air France statement.
Air France Still Offers Other Luxury Lounge Services
The loss of the sauna does not mean Air France has removed all wellness services from its Paris lounges. The airline says its lounges provide services such as showers, spa treatments and relaxation areas for eligible passengers.
At the Terminal 2E Hall L lounge, Air France currently lists a Clarins treatment and relaxation area, showers, food, drinks, Wi-Fi and other passenger services. The sauna is notably missing from the current list of facilities.
Air France has also continued to invest in its premium airport experience. In July 2026, the airline unveiled a redesigned La Première lounge at Charles de Gaulle, with more than 1,000 square metres dedicated to dining, rest, wellness and work.
A Strange End to an Unusual Airport Perk
The Hall L sauna stood out because airport lounges rarely offer this kind of private wellness feature. For travellers facing a long connection, the chance to shower and use a sauna before continuing a journey was a rare luxury.
Now, passengers visiting the lounge will have to make do with the remaining wellness services. The sauna area has effectively gone from a premium perk to a locked staff-only space, according to Klint's latest report.
For now, the biggest question is whether inappropriate behaviour really caused the shutdown. Air France has not publicly confirmed that explanation, but the reported comments from lounge staff have turned the disappearance of a quiet airport sauna into an unexpectedly salacious travel story.
