SFO777

Thanks Longboater. We will definitely be looking to fly La Première as much as possible, especially since Lufthansa pulled First Class from DEN-FRA forcing us to make a connection anyway. But the problem at this time is Air France's limited refurbished 77W service to the US.

Without being too specific, LH/LX/BA and AF all offer discounted advance (50 days) roundtrip purchase First Class fares. For whatever reason, certain cities are most discounted than others. Let's just say that Norway was not on our radar until OSL became a low fare First Class departure city. MAD and TUN are others. Google Flights is your friend, as well as the FT Premium Fare Deals forum. Best to purchase these via a good travel agent.

Agree. Thanks eminere.

Thanks very much JohnRain. I agree that most pax are going to buying tickets to fly on this one right now given the ridiculous mileage prices and limited service.
But I'll keep cheerleading if it helps.

Thank you cmd320 for your comments and analysis. Great airlines understand that there is a market when you offer an outstanding product that differentiates itself.

Thanks SAtraveller. If was traveling solo, I would probably spend all day there.

Thank you yakito. I would say that AF has succeeded.

Thanks kevinflyaway. I assume you mean DXB. Enjoy your flight!

Thank you louislitt. One of these days we'll get to Garuda.

LOL, yes indeed. But that didn't stop her. Just haven't got that part in the other TR. Welcome to my world.

jlemon

Yet another absolutely terrific TR from SFO777! Wow! ^

Several questions here.....

The AF website states that some of the flights between CDG and JFK are offering this new La Premiere config on the B777-300. Any suggestions concerning how one might make sure that this would indeed be the reconfigured equipment we would be flying on? And any idea concerning if and when this new config might be introduced between ATL and CDG as well as between IAH and CDG?

Also, if we were connecting to Mahe Island in the Seychelles via CDG on an AF codeshare flight operated by Air Seychelles with travel in the front cabin CDG-SEZ following a fairly lengthy layover at CDG (about 1/2 day), would we still be allowed to use the La Premiere lounge at CDG prior to departing to the Seychelles?

Many thanks in advance!

LifeontheBeach

Great report and excellent pictures!

Thank you.

Goldorak

Thank you SFO777 for this great trip report. I'm glad you enjoyed this fantastic product and that everything worked well with you. The ground service has always been exceptional but now, with the new P, the in-flight product has become top-notch as well. As another poster said, I have become addicted to AF P product .
Fortunately, my next trip is coming soon...

Zembla

Excellent report! Great photography too. Thanks!

Depends on how you look at it. The way things look AF's new first class can't be equaled in style and clasyness. I prefer style and clasyness over in your face luxury. Nobody is the same tho.

hamburglar

Excellent flight! Lucky you got to experience it.

angeloedades

The cabin fit out looks spectacular! Awesome TR as per usual SFO777.

/AE

tuchop

Amazing report SFO777!! It looks like an amazing product overall (both soft and hard). To me, the hard product looks the same as QR's a380 new F class.
Too bad we couldn't see the Alain Ducasse plates at the lounge .

LukasVIE

AMAZING Trip Report SFO777 The dessert selection looks truly divine -- I probably would have gotten at least two

GDOCA

Wow! Simply astonishing. After reading a raft of BA F reports this is clearly in another league. Thanks for sharing.

SeamasterLux

@SFO777

Did Mrs. SFO end up finding a nice hat at Hermès?

af fp

The only first class I have flown is AF's, and the last time I flew it, in January this year, I was just amazed. If money is not an issue it has become a great product. AF did an excellent job there.

FallenPlat

Wow, first class sure has come a long way. My last experience in Air France's first class was during the early days of the 747, when the upper deck was given over entirely to an in-flight bar. Other than that, we got lounge chairs; the ground "experience" was non-existent. But that bar sure was something.

Great report, though, as always, and great pictures. Real Sauternes!

fly747first

Indeed, Etihad can be very, very inconsistent, but the A380 F hard product is second-to-none.

I have never been impressed with NH's F... while nice, there is nothing exceptional about it in my book.

However, I find that GA has a significantly stronger overall F product than AF with amazing attention to detail (e.g., the cabin crew even prepares a little mat to help you change into the slippers, there is a dedicated onboard chef in F, soft beverages are served from a real carafe and placed at each seat's table, etc.). Also, EK A380 F on a good day beats AF F out of the water, especially if you take full advantage of the layover options--complimentary Le Meridien hotel room with meals and chauffeur ride, excellent lounge at DXB, and again, on a good day, you can get fantastic EK cabin crews and cleaning staff that will keep the F spa showers spotless throughout the flight.

Among European carriers, I do fully agree that AF has the best F product, though LH is close behind in 2nd place.

s0ssos

Thanks for sharing your excitement-it really came through!

I was wondering if you had any good conversations with the flight attendants on the plane. Maybe it is different, because you were travelling with a companion, but I felt that CX really set itself apart for me because the flight attendants would talk to you and then remember something, and say goodbye when you are disembarking with a reference to what you had talked about earlier. A nice touch, like how at the lounge someone came to say the other guy apologizes for not being there.