Programs: AA Gold, DL Silver (FO), UA Premier Silver, BW Platinum, HH Gold, Amtrak Select
Posts: 12,328
Excellent report thanks for posting!
Btw, only two entree selections in F on JFK-CDG is a little off-putting to me. Even though you can eat in the lounge, you'd think they'd have at least three.
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He said "it's still the greatest story" I said man I'd love to stay. But I'm bound for glory...I'm on my way. My ride's here.
Excellent report. Flying SIN-CDG-JFK in a few months and upgraded to La Premiere even on the cheap RGN ticket. Really looking forward to the 20+ hours now on the 380. I have almost 7 hrs connection in CDG. (I wanted the 380 CDG-JFK) Do they have sleeping rooms in the lounge at CDG?
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 23,077
Thanks Dag. I posted my most recent La Premiere experience earlier this year in the AF forum but without all the great pictures you took. I agree it is, for the most part, the best F experience in Europe. I fly BA F often and have done LH F many times, but I haven't tried Swiss in recent years.
A nice report! What opened my eyes was the limited selection on an F menu! Quite surprised, but then it makes sense with what the AF budget is.
Connecting flights terrible as always. Thank goodness the FA on the OSL-CDG asked about the transfer, you'd think it would be done automatically or by OSL station.
But how do you like the amenity kit and pajama? Are they offered on the daytime flights too?
Carfield
I'm not that into amenity kits, but I guess they were ok. Kits and PJ's on flights in both directions, I'll put in pictures in the next post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hilltopper
The CDG lounge decor looks very impressive - looks also very empty?
As mentioned by others the inflight product is subpar is many respects. Even the breakfast tray with packaged items looks rather poor in terms of presentation.
Lounge was busy from 9:30 to 10:15, then almost empty.
The inflight product might look subpar, but compared to Lufthansa (which so many have flown and seem to like, it is slightly better)
The presentation was not the best, but I tend to care more for the taste.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GreatDane
But a question: Was the wine selection really much better on the A380 than the B777 service? it seems far better - or did you abbreviate the report (perfectly understandable )? The B777 selection actually rather inferior and with suboptimal vintages.
Selection was the same, but the 380 menu contained all the La Premiere wines, not just the one for actual flight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by geo1005
REALLY!?!? AF boards the economy cabin on the A380 through the First Class cabin? Wow!
Kind of wierd, and something AF should improve. Could be just this flight, or could be standard procedure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CMK10
Btw, only two entree selections in F on JFK-CDG is a little off-putting to me. Even though you can eat in the lounge, you'd think they'd have at least three.
Could have been 3, or a dine-in-the-lounge option. But it looked like the other 8 in the F cabin were more into sleeping than eating a full meal.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yerffej201
Questions:
Was there an amenity kit and do you have pictures? (I see Lanvin but I thought they also had Clarins)
Was this a rev/award ticket?
Yes, pictures will follow in the next post.
It was an award. Paying for F to NYC, I'd go with Swiss or Singapore, since Air France is probably the most expensive option out there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MileTex
I have almost 7 hrs connection in CDG. (I wanted the 380 CDG-JFK) Do they have sleeping rooms in the lounge at CDG?
Not separate rooms, but relaxing area and couches which I think they can make a bed on. Just ask the assistant.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pansted00
Obviously the lounge experience far surpasses the in-flight experience. Pretty much sums up why AF is a doomed airline .
It is not that the inflight product is so bad, it is the ground experience that is so good, far better than Swiss / Thai and even Lufthansa.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hugolover
Connecting flights terrible as always. Thank goodness the FA on the OSL-CDG asked about the transfer, you'd think it would be done automatically or by OSL station.
The pick up at 2G was arranged automaticly, but the FA offered to get the pilot to confirm it via ACARS on her own intiative. Very good service. I've not had Lufthansa or Thai do the same without asking.
Anyway, it's kind of funny to see how hostile people on this board are to Air France.
Programs: SAS Gold, FB Gold, LH SEN, BA Silver, AY Gold
Posts: 3,123
Thanks for the nice report and lovely photos!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dag
Anyway, it's kind of funny to see how hostile people on this board are to Air France.
I agree. I tried Air France La Première earlier this week on Paris-Tokyo and found the whole first class experience better than many airlines frequently featured here (and I have tried about a dozen airlines in F). I don't think AF is a perfect airline but they don't deserve all the bashing.
The ground experience in CDG is truly wonderful, I'll rank it above LH FCT in FRA and probably above all other ground services I have tried (hard choice with the SQ Private Room in SIN which is pretty good too). The actual transfer works better than FCT and includes limo transfer also on arrival. The food in CDG beats FCT hands down, no competition. The drinks selection is obviously wider in the FCT but the drinks selection in CDG was still rather good and the staff knew what they serving and could give advice. The service was very elegant in CDG and I personally found it very attentive. My personal assistant was a lovely woman who made her outmost to make me feel comfortable.
I found the inflight experience to be excellent but obviously this depends on the crew. I fully enjoyed the food service and would rank the food pretty high compared to competitors. The drinks selection had a very French touch, as the food I guess. Lots of interesting liqueurs for example but for me who enjoys a whisky after a nice meal I would have prefered to see something else (JW Blue surely missing).
The seat is perfectly OK although not the most modern, they could have opted for something more modern when they launched the A380. I slept well in the seat and loved the very comfortable duvet offered as well as the pyjamas which wasn't too warm (which I have found a problem on some other airlines).
All-in-all I wouldn't hesitate a second to do it again.
Programs: AA Gold, DL Silver (FO), UA Premier Silver, BW Platinum, HH Gold, Amtrak Select
Posts: 12,328
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dag
Anyway, it's kind of funny to see how hostile people on this board are to Air France.
I WANT to like Air France and sometimes it's easy. Their trans-Atlantic J product is quite good in my opinion. But when this is your meal on a 1hr35 minute flight (VIE-CDG) and then the crew disappears for the rest of the flight you find yourself thinking "wow, had I been flying AA First on a similar length leg it would probably be better, more comfortable too". And don't get me started on the overcrowded CDG J lounges with no hot food
__________________
He said "it's still the greatest story" I said man I'd love to stay. But I'm bound for glory...I'm on my way. My ride's here.
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 23,077
Quote:
Originally Posted by CMK10
But when this is your meal on a 1hr35 minute flight (VIE-CDG) and then the crew disappears for the rest of the flight you find yourself thinking "wow, had I been flying AA First on a similar length leg it would probably be better, more comfortable too". And don't get me started on the overcrowded CDG J lounges with no hot food
All Euro airlines are bad on Euro legs nowadays. And the CDG T2E S4 lounge now has hot food.
