Here is my promised report of trip in P FRA-CDG-SIN last weekend.


Overall an excellent trip, but the experience in FRA is far from what we should expect. And, for what I report here about FRA, I don’t know what is due to my Ulti status versus the P class. Not that FRA has ever been a station providing Ulti benefits in the past, but I realize I didn’t stop at the counter in FRA for many years. At check-in (contractor staff), question whether I’d like to be escorted at the lounge, I said yes. She asked one of her colleague behind who was obviously super annoyed by having to do this. When walking to the lounge, he asked me if I had a connection in CDG, so obviously he didn’t know I was in P and this is why I said above that I don’t know what is due to Ulti. We arrived at the entrance of AF lounge and he said goodbye at this point, not even presenting me as a P customer to the lounge agent (this is usually what is done in good stations). I also guessed that there would be no further escort from lounge to plane, and I was right on this. The lounge agent acted like a robot, scanned the BP and that was it. Not a word apart a quick hello. There is a reserved (cordoned) space in the lounge but I was not invited to use it. For those who do not know, in FRA, it’s an AFKL lounge but there is no more AF staff, it’s all handled by ground handler contractors. The same situation exists in MUC, but the ground handler in MUC is excellent and provides great service to Ultimates (reserved space in AF lounge and escorts). AF lounge in FRA, apart the natural AFKL pax, is now also used by several airlines on top of credit cards and pass pax, so it’s always crowded. And I don’t want to appear pedantic; but the lounge clientele was far from being chic (basic sport attire, top of underwear visible, big belly guys with belly visible at the bottom of the T-shirt, etc)…The lounge attendant was aligned with this attire as he was wearing flip flop shoes (not joking…). This is very far from La Première chic experience, and also very far from a J-class experience. I reported that to the AF P staff in the lounge in CDG and they said they will report it and asked me to send a report to CS (not done yet).



No special attention or service in FRA lounge. During my stay, a group of 4 people arrived and the lounge agent told them to use the reserved space (while not escorting them there). I don’t know what made those people eligible for this area, they left before me and I am not sure they were even AFKL pax.

At boarding time, I reached the gate by myself. The agent who checked me in was at the gate area entrance and recommended me to go back to the lounge as the boarding lounge was full and they were not ready yet for boarding (it would have been better to inform the lounge beforehand…). So I returned to the lounge, and 15 min later to my biggest surprise, the same gate agent called me on my cell phone to tell me I could come now. No escort at the gate to plane, as it is normally done in good stations.

So, for FRA, it’s disappointing



Once I was on-board the Hop plane, it started to be all good. FA knew I was in P, the adjacent seat was kept free (it was the only seat left vacant), she kept some space in the storage bin for me, took my jacket, etc. I skipped the meal on-board as I knew a better lunch was expected in CDG .

In CDG 2G parking, Porshe and AF P agent were here.


Excellent welcome in the P lounge by AF agents and by Ducasse team who remembered me from previous stays. I had an excellent lunch in the lounge with the paté en croute and the beef filet which is a true killing. The waiter strongly recommended me the “exotic soufflé passion fruit coriander and mango sorbet” for dessert. I did not regret it as it was incredible. He also told me the lounge menu would change 2 days later (so it should be implemented now).

Apéritif

Apéritif

Pâté en croûte

Beef filet sauce au poivre, purée

Exotic soufflé


I had a massage later during the afternoon.



Flight to SIN was great, with a very professional FA and very good menu.






I took the soup, the “mixed vegetable & lobster” for appetizer and the veal blanquette-style for main course. It was delicious. Then cheese. I was so full, so even if I was very tempted by the Paris-Brest, I just took some sorbet and fruits and asked the FA to keep one Paris-Brest for me for breakfast / The Paris-Brest cake was another killing !!

Caviar

Soup

Appetizer (vegetables/lobster)

Veal blanquette-style

Cheese (Langres & Selles sur Cher)

Light dessert (strawberry sorbet and fresh strawberries)


The Paris-Brest cake I took at breakfast.

Fresh fruit salad for breakfast


P cabin was full (3 seats were booked weeks in advance and I think the 4th one was a paid upgrade at OLCI as the seat became occupied 24hrs before flight). One of the P seat was occupied by a very famous CAC40 CEO (who was of course at the lounge before). I will not disclose his name here to respect his privacy. On arrival in SIN, him and I shared the same buggy from plane to immigration and so I had a few minutes discussion with him. Checked bags were already off the carousel when we arrived your escort is coming with you until your ground transportation.



Overall, an excellent flight and topissime service in CDG, but subpar experience in FRA.