Harry IAH

The VIP room in the Houston lounge is a roped-off 12'x12' room at the back if the small lounge - farthest away from the champagne & nibbles. "No pictures please."

orbitmic

It's all about the branding!

irishguy28

Given the buzz around the US-originating La Première sale, I noted what seems to be a change in the T&Cs for the paid ground service option - it can now be requested on the day of departure (though of course it cannot be guaranteed to be available if you take your chances this way)

Goldorak

I think it was already reported as a possibility some months ago in the dedicated thread. But I am not 100% sure.

wfiring12

Apologies in advance if my question is basic, but I'm a regular LH flyer being enticed to book a AF P flight for the first time because of what I've read about the exceptional ground service. AMS-JNB RT.

My question: Do I need to fly on AF metal from AMS to be greeted at the plane on arrival at CDG or can I book one of the code shares on KLM metal for this segment and receive the same service?

I ask because the timing of the flight on KLM metal is a better timing for me. And I'm booking this trip on AF primarily to maximize the ground service.

Anything else for a newbie from LH to consider other than the difference of the seats, which I'm aware of and willing to deal with! :-)

Thanks!

San Gottardo

You can also fly to CDG on one of the KLM flights. You will be picked up, ground service is the same as when flying on AF metal.

Differences:

• the transfer service is obviously better on AF, plane to lounge to plane, LH doesn't do it all the way (pickup from plane when open stand but then walk in the terminal, drive from lounge to plane only when not leaving from a jetway in Terminal B - however, this is ridiculously short anyway.
• Seats: I slightly prefer the Lufthansa seats and their leather upholstery. However, I don't like that "de-structured" mounting of the TV screen on the mounts, makes it less private. Ultimately AF has more privacy, although being surrounded by a curtain as if you were in a 19th century hospital bed is not to everyone's liking. In the end, both are great. If you're on the A380 flight to JNB that is still the old Premiere product, less impressive, *much* less privacy. But still good enough to sleep.
• Food: Lufthansa has more choice (esp. more choice of wines), quality is excellent on both
• Service: Lufthansa slightly more attentive, for instance you would not have an empty glass or an empty plate by your seat for a longer period of time as might happen on AF. But again, both are top notch.
• IFE: I personally prefer the Air France IFE, both have big screens.
• Ground service on arrival: not sure about JNB, but in general Lufthansa does not provide escort service to First Class passengers but for HONCircle members (irrespective of cabin of travel). I think Air France does it for Premiere passengers (again, not sure about JNB)

You'll like your flight on AF and you won't miss Lufthansa unless there are small particularities that you care about (and it would be the same the other way around). Both these products are top notch and among the best in the market.

Goldorak

No difference for the transfer service in CDG if you are booked on the KL metal vs on the AF metal.
To benefit from the ground experience in AMS on departure, make sure that your ticket is booked all on AF code and with NL as point of sale, as this is a condition.

AF does provide escort service on the ground in JNB.
On arrival, you are greeted in the jetway and bypass most of the queue at immigration. They wait with you for your bags at baggage claim, and if you are connecting in JNB on another airline (even on a separate ticket - personal experience here), they bring you to the check-in counter of the connecting airline ^
Same on the return, if you arrive from another airport and connect in JNB, they come to pick you up in the jetway of the incoming flight - again even if separate tickets - and escort you to AF counters, then through immigration, security and to the excellent SLOW lounge.
You will find a review of this lounge, including the area reserved for P pax (you have a butler wearing a smoking at your service) in the lounge thread :
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27797803-post353.html

Then, as usual, you are escorted from the lounge to the plane when it's time for boarding.
In summary, great service on the ground in JNB. ^

wfiring12

Thanks. I believe the AF JNB flight switches to A388 for the winter so I'll have the old seat. As I'm very familiar with the LH seat, I realize there will be a noticeable gap. That said, it' a late flight and I won't utilize the IFE and really just want to comfortable bed and a breakfast when I wake. And I actually like it open (much like LH) rather than curtains or dividers. So I suspect I be good with the A388 seat. Unless you think I'm missing something there!

wfiring12

Good to know, I'll make sure I book this trip on the NL AF website. Also, the JNB ground service still seems to be a step above LH & LX F. I'm quite familiar with JNB so skipping some of the que at immigration alone may be a nice help! I'm looking forward to giving AF P a try!

NickB

Excellent information as always from Goldorak. ^
If I may take this opportunity to point out a linguistic oddity, the term 'smoking' as an item of garment seems to be used widely in many European languages... except, ironically, English-speaking ones, where the terms "dinner jacket" (British English, often abbreviated colloquially to "DJ") or "tuxedo" (US English) are more commonly used.

San Gottardo

For First Class passenger without other status that gives access to escort service: yes, absolutely! Lufthansa and Swiss have this - in my mind quite silly - policy of providing escort services only to HONCircle and their companions, but not to First Class passengers. That clearly devaluates their product. I've flown to JNB in First on LX and the escort service there was the same as described by goldorak for AF - but it had nothing to do with me flying in F. I could have been in the last row of Economy. On the return from CPT we also had an escort service on departure, despite the plane not even offering First Class. Odd.

So yes, for First Class pax, AF is a step ahead of LH/LX ^

Goldorak

Thanks NickB