Our week in Ireland via Air France La Première
Aug 26, 2016, 11:34 am
#92
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Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,600
I am not sure whether that is a good thing having First so open as your pics suggest or not when compared to Emirates and their suites. I liked the amount of light the cabin got and it seemed so very open and not cramped which Emirates looks like in comparison.
Enjoying your trip report so far.
Enjoying your trip report so far.
Agree that is one lame looking F bar; granted my only comparison is the EK F bar. As much as I like the concept of an F bar, my experience on dozens of EK flights, is that it is rarely if ever used by any of the F passengers. I usually find the other F passengers back at the Biz bar. In F, I appreciate the attentive (not obtrusive) bar service provided by the attendants on CX, LH etc.
Your trip reports of La Premiere make me want to fly it - I just can't bring myself to spend the money on a flight that will not net me anything other than the experience. Hello my name is MikeFly and I'm an addict...
Your trip reports of La Premiere make me want to fly it - I just can't bring myself to spend the money on a flight that will not net me anything other than the experience. Hello my name is MikeFly and I'm an addict...
Looks like a pretty solid La Prem flight, though I'd have to agree that the A380 cabin leaves a lot to be desired when compared with that 77W cabin. Hopefully AF can get these A380s brought up to that standard quickly because as an aircraft I certainly prefer the A380, but that 77W F product is clearly better. I must say I'm a big fan of the AF china and glassware. It all looks very clean, elegant, yet modern and attractive. Especially like those dinner plates with the winged-seahorse logo. Very classy. ^
We were in Premium Voyageur on the A380 a couple years ago (which is on the upper deck) and husband's ambien apparently wasn't working as he was up chatting with the FAs in the middle of the night and they gave him a tour -including the "art gallery". He would agree it was a waste of space - but he's still happy he got to check it out
Totally agree. The seat looks more like a business class seat on Qatar's A350, A380 and B787. The AF's F cabin is simply way too open! Having read so many of your reports and enjoyed reading them, I get used to your sense of humor, sarcasm, direct remarks and fun photos. I think that is your trade-mark here in FT trip report forum. If you ever changed your style, I might go read something else. 
Great TR as always SFO777. I look forward to reading the "on the ground" parts of your report. My wife, 1-year-old son and I went to Ireland in June...flew into DUB, rented a car and spent 10 days touring Northern Ireland and Donegal. We slummed it in EI and DL Y class, however. 
I will be curious to read your experience with "Platinum Services" if you choose to use it for your return out of DUB. I called last week to inquire about using them on an upcoming Ireland trip with my father (who is 90 and can't walk long distances), and they quoted a very reasonable €240 for two passengers. Not sure if this will help much with the US CBP lines, though.
As for Mrs. SFO and her disdain for United Express... she's got it good in SNA with all 2-class aircraft. Here in RIC almost all the "United" flights are still on 50-seat RJs which I avoid with a passion!
I will be curious to read your experience with "Platinum Services" if you choose to use it for your return out of DUB. I called last week to inquire about using them on an upcoming Ireland trip with my father (who is 90 and can't walk long distances), and they quoted a very reasonable €240 for two passengers. Not sure if this will help much with the US CBP lines, though.
As for Mrs. SFO and her disdain for United Express... she's got it good in SNA with all 2-class aircraft. Here in RIC almost all the "United" flights are still on 50-seat RJs which I avoid with a passion!
And a big shout-out to pacenotes for suggesting the service and PMing about the security and CBP process at that hour of the day.The hard product is so vastly different from the incredible 77W cabin that I would agree about avoiding the A380.
Unfortunately, Belmond cancelled the first 3 weeks of the Hibernian including our week 3 trip.
I would have investigated this mistery deeper.
Out of cognitive curiocity
And with the hope to hear the following explanation:
FA: Excuzes-moi. No duck. It's beacause of our Sunday Rule.
SFO777: Sunday rule?
FA: Yes, on Sundays we load 2 ducks but are permitted to serve one only.
Out of cognitive curiocity
And with the hope to hear the following explanation:
FA: Excuzes-moi. No duck. It's beacause of our Sunday Rule.
SFO777: Sunday rule?
FA: Yes, on Sundays we load 2 ducks but are permitted to serve one only.
So who knows what the deal was. Mrs. SFO777 said she thought it was probably because I seemed the most approachable.
In the end, the chicken was excellent. Still strange though.
But this makes even more sense.
Thanks very much FlyingDoctorWu. We just got to Ashford Castle and, while an imposing facility, the level of service here is not even close to the extraordinary level we experienced at Ballyfin. That and the fact that our lunch was virtually inedible makes it not a good start at Ashford.
Aug 26, 2016, 11:48 am
#93
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
The real benefit to buying a reverse itinerary (in addition to price, obviously) is that you always have that open-ended ticket to Europe just hanging out there. Can't waste that, might as well book another one, right?
Unfortunately the fare I'm finding is difficult to book. Found on Google Flights, but Air France's website won't price it. If I figure it out, I'll share.
Unfortunately the fare I'm finding is difficult to book. Found on Google Flights, but Air France's website won't price it. If I figure it out, I'll share.
Aug 26, 2016, 12:02 pm
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,600
The real benefit to buying a reverse itinerary (in addition to price, obviously) is that you always have that open-ended ticket to Europe just hanging out there. Can't waste that, might as well book another one, right? Unfortunately the fare I'm finding is difficult to book. Found on Google Flights, but Air France's website won't price it. If I figure it out, I'll share.
The fare we bought include no fee changes so we were able to change dates on the return when we knew our plans. Also, changes the return from ex-BOS to ex-SFO by paying a $300 or so price differential.
You can probably do a one way in the low $2,000 range by buying a cheap throwaway Y ticket on the return.
Aug 26, 2016, 12:10 pm
#95
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
Did you try an OTA? AF.com has a lot of quirks.
The fare we bought include no fee changes so we were able to change dates on the return when we knew our plans. Also, changes the return from ex-BOS to ex-SFO by paying a $300 or so price differential.
You can probably do a one way in the low $2,000 range by buying a cheap throwaway Y ticket on the return.
The fare we bought include no fee changes so we were able to change dates on the return when we knew our plans. Also, changes the return from ex-BOS to ex-SFO by paying a $300 or so price differential.
You can probably do a one way in the low $2,000 range by buying a cheap throwaway Y ticket on the return.
Aug 26, 2016, 2:03 pm
#98
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Join Date: Apr 2001
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My Goodness! Seems like every time I check in at the Trip Reports Forum, you and Mrs. 777 are gallivanting off to somewhere new and exciting - in a style that many can only dream of. Thank you once again for a very nicely presented look at First Class travel at its finest. ^^
Aug 26, 2016, 2:37 pm
#99
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: AF Plat, DL Gold
Posts: 366
Did you try an OTA? AF.com has a lot of quirks.
The fare we bought include no fee changes so we were able to change dates on the return when we knew our plans. Also, changes the return from ex-BOS to ex-SFO by paying a $300 or so price differential.
You can probably do a one way in the low $2,000 range by buying a cheap throwaway Y ticket on the return.
The fare we bought include no fee changes so we were able to change dates on the return when we knew our plans. Also, changes the return from ex-BOS to ex-SFO by paying a $300 or so price differential.
You can probably do a one way in the low $2,000 range by buying a cheap throwaway Y ticket on the return.
Aug 27, 2016, 10:26 am
#103
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
Excellent trip report as always. Definitely ruffled some feathers at the outset.
Ballyfin looks amazing and has been placed on my bucket list.
Ballyfin looks amazing and has been placed on my bucket list.
Aug 27, 2016, 3:50 pm
#105
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Programs: AA, BA, AF, Marriott, Radisson, Priority Club (Gold), HHonors
Posts: 388
Loving the report & looking forward to reading your opinions on our lovely country. In stitches at the Outraged of Oregon and the other moral majority who really should get over themselves, bless.
We're well used to crossing live runways at DUB Terminal 1 as most of the aircraft don't land at an airbridge. At least it wasn't raining...
We're well used to crossing live runways at DUB Terminal 1 as most of the aircraft don't land at an airbridge. At least it wasn't raining...