A quick shower and final pack and outside the hotel for the 12:50 pickup back to Ben Gurion airport, around 1h15 or 100km away. An uneventful ride down the coast on the highway, this driver didn't say a word to me through the whole journey. At one point i did think of looking out for several (recently released) Seditious Scribes....
A Coast from A Taxi
As you arrive at the outer perimeter of the airport there's an ID check. While my passport was in the back, my french residence permit which i had prepared in advance provided sufficient ID and we were through, about 5-10 mins before we arrived at the VIP service meeting point - we also get the VIP service for the departure as well, which is normally much more of a benefit. The driver though navigating his way through 3 lanes of cars in the arrival lane and not departures, they being parked or abandoned to collect other passengers with no kind of control - an exercise by him in slow speed control, hard turns, and surprisingly a little patience. We arrived at 14:10 where the VIP service was waiting for us by entrance 01 and we were inside the terminal within seconds. Then a queue for the baggage security check - a special security check zone for "VIP" customers. The VIP agent, a friendly young lady, who's only been in the job 2 months having spent the previous 4 years as an officer in the IDF much prefers to assist non-Israeli fliers and much prefers foreigners as they're more friendly. After she inquired in a friendly way about my travel and family she proudly told me that at 23 years old she was far too young to get married and have a family nor even a boyfriend. It passed a few minutes...
After about 15 minutes a quick interview to explain, no, i've not received any goods, no-one has given me anything to carry or hold for them, yes i do know the reason you're asking etc, i get the security label on my bag and passport label and then up to checkin on the 3rd floor. It's a big hall for most airlines all together and mostly empty being Friday - no queues. We take the priority line and duck under the tensa barriers while the agent is looking for the AF checkin desks. Again while i was offered on the app and by email the possibility to checkin in advance, it's not possible for me but i'm not surprised; although i was able to select a seat. In the sole exception in our travel policy though, for the return flight from Israel we have a fully flexible business ticket, unlike the journey to Israel. I've therefore spotted well in advance the AF SkyPriority desk and make a beeline for it. Before we arrive a checkin agent beckons us across and opens a new one just for me due to the large family group occupying the 2m radius around the original sole SP desk and the regular checkin desk the other side of it. The VIP agent had been looking for "Business class" titled desk, it was good to explain she'd need to look for SkyPriority for us AFKL/Skyteam customers.
Next the fast lane for security. I'd forgotten to empty my water bottle (i remember hearing that liquid are not an issue like in the EU) in my laptop bag but left it inside, but both my work and personal laptops came out, as well did my camera which stayed in its case. Passport control next and straight through the biometric machines, the VIP agent had to walk to the far end of the all with her security badge. Then through into the corridor to the departures concourse where the agent would leave me, the whole process having taken just 30 mins or so. The gates seem to be arranged in a hub-and-spoke type layout, the central hub with, i think 5 separate halls A-E. My flight would leave from Gate C7 which was conveniently close the the Dan Lounge just down from the central hub in spoke C.
Transit corridor down to the central departure hub, the opposite direction from a few days ago.
Central departures hub
Dan Lounge entrance
There's no specific AF or skyteam lounge at TLV but a contract lounge for multiple different airlines.Ffrom memory it's not as welcoming as the Dan King David Lounge i used previously when flying ElAl. it's long and slim, with a bar at one end with the long side exposed to the apron. Fortunately nothing was at gate C4, meaning a reasonably unhindered view of the apron. The lounge was quite busy with initially limited seating and limited power sockets available, but handily after 15 mins the seat with a socket near to me became clear and i moved to get a quick charge so i could work a little while waiting. There's a water fountain and coffee machines, small snacks, soup and a salade bar, but none of it looked especially appetizing although i wasn't too hungry having eaten not long ago. Alcohol is limited to a choice of White or Red wine, nothing petillante and it's not self service; after a few mins a lady arrived to serve a glass of red in a tumbler, a quick glance at the label showed it was an Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon, although it um, didn't entirely agree with my palette. Much as i dislike waste, after a few sips i decided to leave the rest lest i inflame my acid re-flux problem, and carried on with regular water. The wifi was quite poor, i guess due to the number of users there. Regular teams and Outlook messages took an age to send, to the extent i thought of tethering to my phone. Though for the short time i would be there, i just carried on.
Lounge food was uninspiring
View of the apron with the gate empty
not especially busy waiting area - an empty flight approaches.
Boarding was due at 1545 so made my way down to the gate at that time; as i walked out the board in the lounge showed "now boarding". At checkin i heard the flight was almost empty, so no rush. The crew boarded at 4pm and boarding starting for us at 1615, time for a quick call with The Boss back home. Clear we would be leaving a little later than scheduled.
Rarely do i get to "turn left" and it was over in a flash. It's not my first AF business flight, but they're rare enough for me that i'm no expert on the different seating arrangements. I chose seat 8A as all the others were blocked at seat selection time, i'm sure it'll be fine - for those that know or care, it's just in front of the engines. At the seat i put the blanket, pillow and hanger up top; i rarely use them. My last business class was back from JFK pre-covid on a 787 i think; i seem to remember then the footwell was offset from the seat and the seat was angled towards it; this time on the A350 the seats are inline and staggered, mine being directly next to the window and my feet directly in front of me; as it was plenty of space for my EU45 merrell shod feet. The screen is fixed directly in front, wired headphones in the cupboard to my right with a bottle of water that didn't last long, and a small document pocket by my right hip. Surprised to see a car style 3 point safety belt, rather than a normal lap belt. The amenity kit duly arrived, sealed by a small seahorse tag which i thought was a nice touch, although the kit it contained the usual suspects.
Front A350 Business class cabin
My seat, 8A
plenty of leg room at the time
seat side closet - i never used it.
Amenity kit with neat seahorse security tag.
the usual suspects - nothing to see here, move right along please...
By 1630 boarding was completed and the forward business cabin was perhaps 20% full. From then the service started and seemed like they were offering something every 5 minutes. First champagne, then a few minutes later hot towels, and then again the menu, and finally for my choice of main dish. Taxing took 15 mins, and we took off towards the sea at 1715, with the cabin lighting taking on a pleasant red/(white)/blue lighting scheme.
Ben Gurion and Tel Aviv
Neat ambient lighting - red, white and blue
Take off directly across the med.
Service began about 15 mins later with an aperitif; i took a glass of bordeaux, a 2017 Paulliac, but it was a little too chilled for me still, i'll leave it a few mins before i continue. Also served were a little box of cheese biscuits and an amuse buche, what appears to be a courgette roll filled with soft cheese and rolled in... well, something. The little box of cheese biscuits were lovely - light, crips and crumbly and cheesy. A suitable time later and dinner was served. The starter was houmus with a chicken terrine. While i was offered a different wine with the meal i stayed with the Paulliac. For the main course i chose the chicken Supreme with safron rice, although for some reason i elected to not take a sauce. Consequently it was a little dry, but my fault.
starter
Chicken supreme with safron rice, sans sauce
By this time i was starting to get quite full; i was starting to think even the light lunch i'd had 6 hours earlier was not a good idea. After the main course dish was cleared though, the food still kept coming - next up a selection of cheeses, and then the desserts. The desserts though were just too much, and i could only eat the macaron, the rest unfortunately going to waste. The whole time i was offered constant top-ups of the Paulliac to the point where the steward offered to leave the bottle - jokingly i think. Although i got through more of the little evian water bottles than i did the wine.
Cheese selection
Desserts
After the dessert was cleared i had a freshly made expresso, but declined the digestif. i've read it elsewhere that the AF food in business is superb and it really was. it was all really tasty, well presented and a pleasure to eat. I would have enjoyed that meal on the ground at a normal restaurant - everyone should try it at least once. When the meal service had finsihed, the lights were dimmed and the window blinds were automatically closed all at once. The A350 windows each seem to have 2 blinds. One closer to the passenger that reduces the light coming in that the passenger can control by a small button above, and another further to the outside that can be controlled by the crew which cuts out almost all light. These aren't electrically dimming shades like the 787, but physical blinds which move up and down; i thought they were quite interesting, at least for the first time i saw them. As the cabin was now dark and with about 2.5 hours before we landed in Paris i thought i'd get a little rest. The seat reclines into a fully flat bed, and still i had plenty of room.
interesting window blinds
We'd started our descent and the window blinds started to open causing me to wake from my doze. I didn't realise how tired i must have been as i was fast asleep, but the bed was comfortable enough for a couple of hours at least. I woke though a little startled and almost immediately started feeling quite crappy. I finished the last bottle of water the steward had given me, but it didn't help; i guess i'd entered REM sleep and my body didn't like to be woken from it. Disappointing that an otherwise good experience should end that way.
As we approached Paris the sun had already probably set on the ground. We landed about 40 mins late in Terminal 2K which at least meant no transit train between terminals was required. Then down into the concourse for the 5min walk to immigration. As a Skypriority passenger i was able to take the priority line and skip much of the queue for non-EU arrivals - that probably saved 20 or 30 minutes. I only had to wait 5 mins or so from the point i joined; a positive seeing as i'm still feeling not at all good by that point.
Sunset over france on the approach to Paris
Empty arrivals concourse on the ay to immigration
Immigration hall - sky priority passengers in the middle
down to the baggage hall to get my bag
After clearing immigration i went to the baggage hall; the board was showing another 19 mins to wait for the bags to be delivered. As a business passenger i should have a yellow priority tag on my bag to get my bag sooner, but that doesn't work and it comes in the middle of the delivery. Finally, out into the arrivals area and the long walk the length of the 2E terminal to take the escalator up.
the walk to the escalator can seem quite long....
I'm staying back at the Novotel in the RER station that i used to start this trip. I'm again glad that i chose this hotel for its convenience, and that my employee gives me a free hotel choice, within reason. So again back around the top of the station, down onto the CDGvaltransit train as before and back to the CDG1 stop. In the reception area the ALL elite desk is open and empty so quickly check in.
I felt as good as this picture looks, at the top of the TGV station
Then thankfully i get to the room and bed. I hope i feel better in the morning, i've another early start...
Next: the final stretch home