I hope so for Gwilly too because I have just been on the NEV4-fitted plane that replaced my expected NEW1 outbound, and it reminded me quite harshly how it really does not make the cut compared to much of the competition (to make things worse, the week before I was travelling on QR A380 J which is particularly good).

"Mostly" but not quite fully flat seats, no privacy (thank goodness on the outbound I was travelling with someone, on the return I will be on my own and not looking forward to a stranger next to me, and I was looking people in the middle seat with some sympathy), miniature screen, very dated entertainment (I sort of enjoy watching French film, but anyone who doesn't gets bored pretty quickly).

To make things worse, on this particular flight, the food was worse than average. The starter was ok, but the Japanese main was an insult to that country's culinary tradition (confirmed by the Japanese young lady across the aisle who was trying to remain smiling and polite), the Michelin star chef fish looked like it had just survived a Molotov cocktail attack, dessert (which are usually good) were not this time. For breakfast, the waffle was soggy and came with odd sides (mushy rhubarb and an improbable "coffee sauce" which effectively seemed like under-diluted nescafe) and the cold plate is the processed cheese and pastrami/ham they get in economy served on china.

I have often said that AF is saved by great crew and some of the members were very nice, but then the Japanese lady in charge of us actually first refused to give me a menu saying that as we were travelling together (just to clarify, both paid tickets, platinum for life and gold respectively), we could share a menu! I had never heard that one before and am still unclear why on earth she would suggest that. At the end of her distribution, she came back and gave me a menu muttering: "I thought you were travelling together". Weird and uncomfortable. She then started to answer any passenger's request (espresso, magazines, water, etc) with a sigh or a "I don't have time now" complaint (although delivering later) which I think made everyone feel very uncomfortable. She also kept trying to give me Perrier when I kept asking for Badoit and when I insisted looked at me in disbelief saying: "I don't think it is very different".

The short haul LHR-CDG, what can I say? Food was probably the worst I have had on a short haul flight (and I am not saying that jokingly). a black loaf bread "sandwich" with a slice of processed cheese (the squared plastic wrapped one people used to buy for hamburgers in the 1980s if you see what I mean!) and bits of peppers. Actually, when I tried opening the top slice to check the filling, the whole sandwich crumbled into mushy wetness and was rendered unedible except with a spoon. It had two sides in tiny bowls. I pride myself on being an adventurous eater - I have already partaken of such foods as guinea pig, cockroaches, jellyfish, monkey head and more, but even I did not have the heart to try that yellow slug type thing nor the other caca d'oie paste. Mini desserts were better thank goodness but that leaves you with three mini-bites in total. To make things worse, my tablet was broken and an artistic exercise in trying to hold something with layer after layer of duct tape. Hilarious. In fairness, Chef de Cabine was very apologetic about it and told me the flight was full. Still, when the "meals" were handed and drink orders taken, my partner just asked if she could have an additional glass of water and the same Chef de Cabine just pointed out to the mini Thonon bottle on the tray and said she already had some and moved on to the next row! Again, paid business class and she did not even ask for anything else to drink, just that extra glass of water. Pathetic.

Anyway, I did not mean to move OT, but at least the new seat could provide decent hardware if the rest continues to disappoint in such an amateurish way.