[Exclusivity] On Board Air France Boeing 787-9 Ferry Flight (Everett-Paris)!
Dec 4, 2016, 4:10 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: FB Platinum, AS MVP Gold, HH Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 254
[Exclusivity] On Board Air France Boeing 787-9 Ferry Flight (Everett-Paris)!
Dear flyertalk community,
I had the very nice opportunity to be invited by Air France & Boeing for the delivery ceremony and ferry flight of their 1st Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Paine Field Everett, USA all the way to Paris CDG, France.
This is not a typical report (eg: lounge, amenities or catering served) but I still hope you will enjoy the experience and the pictures, especially knowing that revenue service for this aircraft will only start on January 9th.
Click Here for the full Trip Report
Synopsis of the trip report:
December 2nd marked an important event for Air France with the arrival of the very first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the fleet! An exciting event indeed, as the French flag carrier had not taken delivery of a new aircraft type since the introduction of the Airbus A380 back in October of 2009.
The year 2016 has marked important changes in the Air France long-haul fleet with the retirement of the mythical Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747, in January 2016, and now the arrival of the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
The 787 is outfitted with Air France’s latest onboard products, the highly rated “Best & Beyond” cabins, as can also be found on the Boeing 777 fleet.
And here is our beautiful bird, ready for her maiden voyage home to Paris!
Shortly after our walk-around, it’s time for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Present for the cutting are Boeing’s head of sales, a representative from AerCap, and Frédéric Gagey, the former CEO of Air France, recently promoted to CFO of the Air France-KLM group.
Boarding will be through door 1L. As there are only 30 passengers on board this ferry flight, we will only have two flight attendant accompanying us to CDG.
There are 30 seats in Business class, all located between doors 1 and 2.
We take off in typical rainy Seattle weather.
Economy
Premium Economy
Special commemorative menus handed out by the crew. A really nice touch!
The 3D rendering on the AF 787 on the airshow looks great.
Bed time! The seat turns into a fully flat bed, of course.
Beautiful show of colors outside the large windows.
All in all an historic and very emotive flight and once again click Here for the full version of this Trip Report
For those more into video report:
I had the very nice opportunity to be invited by Air France & Boeing for the delivery ceremony and ferry flight of their 1st Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Paine Field Everett, USA all the way to Paris CDG, France.
This is not a typical report (eg: lounge, amenities or catering served) but I still hope you will enjoy the experience and the pictures, especially knowing that revenue service for this aircraft will only start on January 9th.
Click Here for the full Trip Report
Synopsis of the trip report:
December 2nd marked an important event for Air France with the arrival of the very first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the fleet! An exciting event indeed, as the French flag carrier had not taken delivery of a new aircraft type since the introduction of the Airbus A380 back in October of 2009.
The year 2016 has marked important changes in the Air France long-haul fleet with the retirement of the mythical Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747, in January 2016, and now the arrival of the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
The 787 is outfitted with Air France’s latest onboard products, the highly rated “Best & Beyond” cabins, as can also be found on the Boeing 777 fleet.
And here is our beautiful bird, ready for her maiden voyage home to Paris!
Shortly after our walk-around, it’s time for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Present for the cutting are Boeing’s head of sales, a representative from AerCap, and Frédéric Gagey, the former CEO of Air France, recently promoted to CFO of the Air France-KLM group.
Boarding will be through door 1L. As there are only 30 passengers on board this ferry flight, we will only have two flight attendant accompanying us to CDG.
There are 30 seats in Business class, all located between doors 1 and 2.
We take off in typical rainy Seattle weather.
Economy
Premium Economy
Special commemorative menus handed out by the crew. A really nice touch!
The 3D rendering on the AF 787 on the airshow looks great.
Bed time! The seat turns into a fully flat bed, of course.
Beautiful show of colors outside the large windows.
All in all an historic and very emotive flight and once again click Here for the full version of this Trip Report
For those more into video report:
Dec 5, 2016, 2:45 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Posts: 10,130
Great TR! J looks great and I think they really nailed it with PE and come the closest among existing PEs in making yesterday's angle-flat J today's PE (just like yesterday's F is today's J)
Dec 10, 2016, 4:46 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: FB Platinum, AS MVP Gold, HH Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 254
Thank you all for your comments, PE is definitely an improvement over the old cabin that was very uncomfortable for sleeping.
To get on a ferry flight, you need to be invited by the airline
To get on a ferry flight, you need to be invited by the airline
Dec 10, 2016, 5:00 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Wonderful report; thank you for sharing!
Q: How were the J seats? They look exactly like the KLM 787 seats. While I agree with your comments about the 787 in general, I found the KLM seats to be very tight in the leg well given the location and size of the shell for the seat in front of you. Did you feel the J seat was a bit tight?
Q: How were the J seats? They look exactly like the KLM 787 seats. While I agree with your comments about the 787 in general, I found the KLM seats to be very tight in the leg well given the location and size of the shell for the seat in front of you. Did you feel the J seat was a bit tight?
Dec 11, 2016, 1:38 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Rotterdam
Programs: AMEX Platinum, BA Gold, Flying Blue Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,280
Great TR! Although no 'ordinary' report, it's actually more fun to see all the 'backstage' elements so no worries!
so no worries!
Dec 14, 2016, 3:17 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: FB Platinum, AS MVP Gold, HH Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 254
Wonderful report; thank you for sharing!
Q: How were the J seats? They look exactly like the KLM 787 seats. While I agree with your comments about the 787 in general, I found the KLM seats to be very tight in the leg well given the location and size of the shell for the seat in front of you. Did you feel the J seat was a bit tight?
Q: How were the J seats? They look exactly like the KLM 787 seats. While I agree with your comments about the 787 in general, I found the KLM seats to be very tight in the leg well given the location and size of the shell for the seat in front of you. Did you feel the J seat was a bit tight?