Part 9: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
AF1641 - Airbus A319 - Seat 1A
STD 13:50pm - STA 15:10pm
It was a short 15 minute walk from the Crown Lounge to the departure gate, a pleasant surprise for Amsterdam Airport as at times walking distances can seem endless. Unfortunately, the gate area was on a very narrow pier with literally dozens of gate lice hemmed in between the windows and the moving walkway. Priority boarding was however strictly enforced and the gate lice quickly dispersed on orders of the Schiphol crew.
Gate lice at the boarding gate
The A319 which would take me to Paris CDG
There were two rows of business class and a light load of only 3 passengers. Economy on the other hand, seemed to be completely full and the boarding process was madness as it looked like people were struggling to fit all their hand luggage. I was seated in 1A, with only one passenger in the row behind me and another opposite me in 1F - a weird person (couldn't really figure if it was a guy or a woman) who hid the entire journey in his/her hoodie and who just seemed a bit out of the world. Maybe the effect of some magic mushrooms?
Seats were of course the usual eurobusiness crap. There are however a few subtle differences between Air France and KLM, and I quickly started to get a preference for the Frenchies. Firstly, the seats in business class had tiny red pillows which was a nice touch. The crew even distributed refreshing towels (although packaged) and even offered PDBs. KLM take note!
Refreshing towel
Shockingly, I forgot to make a picture of my PDB champagne! It tasted however quite good, so no complaints there. When the crew finally managed to help all passengers in economy get their hand luggage stored, it was time for departure. As a big international airport, AMS always is fun plane spotting territory.
An Icelandair plane which was using the gate next to us.
Another AF plane at AMS with traffic control in the distance
Flybe and British Airways
An Easyjet plane which just arrived at AMS
A KLM 747 - which the airline is phasing out entirely
Take off from AMS
As most of the 1 hour, 20 minutes flight time is taxiing time at AMS and CDG - the actual flight time in the air is only 40 minutes. The AF crew immediately came into action once at cruising altitude, handing out menus and offering me a refill of champagne.
The menu on board the AF flight
The meal
The meal was nicely presented on a tray. And see that KLM? On a 2-hour intra-European flight you only serve a sandwich while Air France can come up with hot food! The meal was very tasty, especially the onion sauce which was great.
When I finished my meal we were already starting or descend into CDG. The friendly, but a bit reserved crew, took away the plates and we were all set for landing. Some good views of a bit snow-covered France on approach.
Taxiing at CDG took forever, but at least it gave cool sights like this Concorde
Some Air France planes at CDG
A Joon plane at Terminal 2F - it really has to be the most stupid name ever for an airline..
Arrival was at terminal 2F, from where I had the honour to experience the delights (ahum) of transitting at CDG. More on that to follow..!
In short: It was my first flight on Air France in business class and it pleasantly surprised me. Sure, seats are the same eurobusiness crap as most other European airlines. But there were some nice small touches such as the pillows. The crew was a bit reserved but friendly and efficient. And most of all, the meal was very tasty - the French know how to do good food. You can't really complain with such a service on a flight of only 40 minutes in the air!
Next up: The horrors of transiting CDG and the "Salon Paris" lounge at Terminal 2C