PHOTO TOUR: Etihad's swish new Paris business/first class lounge

Virgin Australia partner Etihad's new lounge at Paris is sure to impress business travellers passing through Charles de Gaulle airport's Terminal 2A.

After rolling up in your Etihad business/first class limousine, you'll be able to relax in the 620 square metre lounge, which is a big improvement over the previous contract lounge belonging to American Airlines.

You can catch up with work at the business centre, have a bite of breakfast prior to the 11am flight or a spot of dinner in advance of the 9.40pm service, or have a good soak in the shower before departure.

Design inspiration is taken from Etihad's newest business and first class lounges in Abu Dhabi — a sign of what's to come for the joint Virgin Australia-Etihad international lounge in Sydney, perhaps?

Etihad is particularly spruiking its "five-star international buffet and à la carte dining", as well as the wine selection talents of lounge manager — and qualified sommelier — Marie-Pierre Zanusso.

Rounding out the Parisian theme is "a prestigious collection of original artworks including exquisite glass vases, bottles and fish sculptures by world famous French glass blower Jean-Claude Novaro, three-dimensional plexigraphies of butterflies and skylines by well-established French artist Jean-Francois Larrieu, and original Arabic artworks by Iraqi calligrapher Hassan Massoudy."

Happily, there's also a separate family room for children, so the sprogs shouldn't be underfoot. And you'll also be able to make use of the wifi and business centre within the lounge, which includes large-screen iMacs.

The lounge is open to passengers in business and first class, as well as frequent flyers:

• Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum cardholders 
• Etihad's own Silver, Gold and Gold Elite travellers
• Etihad's other partner airline frequent flyers — check with your airline

Aubrey Tiedt, the airline's VP of Guest Services, hopes that the lounge will persuade you to fly Etihad: "Knowing that lounges are a fundamental part of today’s travel experience, we have invested a great deal of time ensuring our lounges are distinctive and embrace the warmth and generosity of Etihad premium hospitality."

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John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.