Originally Posted by
kthomas
Having flown CDG-TLV in the past few days, I have to add my singular disappointment for what an AF agent describe as (admittedly, a status-based upgrade) an "open suite."
Yes, there's more seat pitch. The armrests actually scoot in, to give the aisle/window passengers more available space-- but-- there were actually passengers in most of the center seats! Food and service were hit&miss in the mixed cabin configuration, as described here and other threads.
Offboarding was a mess, at particularly those moments in which the advantages of being an elite can matter (1 min faster off can easily translate to 15 minutes less in line and not missing the airport train-- in this case, I missed the last train that stopped at HaHagana by about 15 minutes, meaning I had to go to Tel Aviv central and wait for a cab to backtrack, so about 45 minutes more...).
Disappointing.
I am really confused by your post:
1) CDG-TLV is considered a European flight by AF so there is no such thing as an open suite on that. The open suite is on long haul F on the newly refurbished ("BEST") aircrafts. CDG-TLV is simply the standard European C meaning normal Y seat with middle seat blocked. Incidentally, you would get the same to TLV on the likes of LH, OS, AZ, SN, etc. I believe that currently, only LX, BA, and IB use either specific or long haul type aircrafts on the route;
2) On the other hand, the European C is most definitely middle seat blocked so if you saw people sat in middle seats then they were not in C. There used to be a premium economy cabin just behind C (and not separated by a curtain) which had the same service as C but no middle seat blocked but that was discontinued in April.
3) Offloading - not much AF can do about that - they have to subcontract locally. Usually Israeli immigration on arrival is fast and straightforward (security upon leaving can take longer) but if several flights arrive at the same time, then you can have queues as it is ultimately high season in a relatively small airport.