Originally Posted by
SkaterJasp
Another reason to fly out of LAX on AF is you'll be able to purchase from the "A La Carte" menu ahead of time. It's basically an upgraded menu that ranges from $16 to $25 that you can have instead of what they're offering that day for the first meal. The main is a much larger portion and super tasty.
Do you know how close to departure the a la carte option can be selected? That looks worth it!
For the OP, last year I flew AF PE on the A380 out of SFO. Upstairs cabin. I was with a party of six. Not one seat was fully functional. Mine had faulty foot and leg rests and the seat has lost all its cushioning. These seats aren't that great for sleeping compared to lie-flats, but mine, without a working leg rest, was near useless. Other pax in the same cabin also complained about their seats. Possibly because the cabin was pretty shoddy, the flight crew was...let's say terse and generally unavailable. It was a lousy flight.
On the return, we flew in the small (3/4 rows) PE cabin on the 777. Equipment, crew, total experience was excellent.
I was traveling with two kids in their first long haul. After the outbound, they thought international travel was a terrible idea. "Our school bus is more comfortable!" The return flight, which they loved, saved the experience for them
That A380 was really tired.
To me, it felt like AF has made a business decision to just fly the A380 until it's done, with refurbishment only if absolutely necessary. I just avoid A380 flights now.
As an aside, catering out of SFO was pretty bad. Catering out of CDG was pretty good. Daily meals both ways.
Not sure if any of this pertains out of PDX or LAX. Just a data point.