To get free lounge access at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (ORY) in 2026, the most reliable methods are through airline status, ticket class, or premium credit cards. If you are flying in Business or First Class on Air France, KLM, or a SkyTeam partner, access to the Air France lounges is included in your ticket. Frequent flyers with SkyTeam Elite Plus, Flying Blue Gold, or Platinum status also get complimentary access for themselves and one guest, regardless of their cabin class. If you do not have elite status, the best "hack" is using a credit card that provides a Priority Pass or DragonPass membership, such as the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve; these cards offer access to several non-airline lounges in CDG's Terminals 1 and 2. For those on a budget, look for "Guest Access" if you are traveling with a friend who has status, as many programs allow one free companion. Finally, some French bank premium cards (like those from Fortuneo or Boursorama) sometimes offer lounge passes as a yearly perk for their high-tier account holders.