dodgeflyer

By any chance on the 2nd?

Being a regular BA and OW traveler (C/F), and before that Star Alliance, I must say AF is leaps ahead of its European competition with the new seats.

We flew to KIX on KLM, and not sure which NEV product it translates into but probably the worst l/h business class seat I've ever been in except the old LX C-seats (only started travelling C ca 2008). The old OS C-seat was better as it went completely flat - the kink in the seat rendered it useless for sleeping.

Positives: I'm a stomach sleeper and leg crosser so found the cut-outs around the seat to be useful to place my legs in and I was able to fall asleep in the same position as in a bed. The padding was exceptionally good but this could just be the newness of the seat (but did find it slightly thicker than on new BA seats). Table as mentioned is easy to use though I wish there was a functionality to move the table closer. Storage around the seat very good.

Negatives: At 1.83m I found the bed maybe slightly short. I'd have assumed standard length would be 2m but is this potentially 1.9m-1.95m? The seating positions were probably less good than competitors but the bed makes up for this.

I think anyone who doesn't like this seat must be slightly off. This C-seat is by far the best I've tried out of a dozen or so long-haul seats in terms of width, accessibility, and space. I appreciate BA's F product is quite far behind other F-products but this seat easily stacks up to that product. I was also pleasantly surprised about the food and friendliness of the FA's.

Would I change my allegiance to AF-KLM? No, unlikely. BA's FF program is leaps ahead (though AF may award fewer miles, I think BA makes fewer seats available) in terms of being simpler. Being London based BA suits my needs much better with route network and lack of connections (I hate connections on the way home). But, the most important reason why I would not change to AF-KLM is the overall percentage of lie-flat seats on the network. Whereas I can sleep on BA's product, KLMs seats (and I imagine AFs seats) are to a standard which should no longer exist in any airlines l/h offering, and the gamble simply wouldn't be worth it. The overall speed of the roll-out is also too slow making the gamble even higher.

Now, I flew there on the WOW sale fare, and for that price, I would of course fly AF/KLM. Would I for work? No, due to connection and guarantee of lie-flat (and we're not price sensitive). Would I fly it privately? Yes, if the price is significantly lower than BA.

gooselee

Just booked on AF17 JFK-CDG and it is showing 1-2-1 for our flight this fall.

DL agent tried to secure window seats but the system rejected them, so it looks like I'll be playing the twitter game with AF. I know I should be able to get a seat for myself as a DL PM...will I also be able to get a window for Mrs. Lee, who is on my same PNR but only DL Silver/STE-?

orbitmic

Yes

I believe not

Goldorak

No, a few days ago.

I don't have recent experience in J on BA so I cannot comment on the comparison, but indeed the new AF seat is a great one.

gooselee

Thanks for the quick response.

Now I have to figure out if I'm going to be okay with one of us in the middle with a stranger or if we just keep the double seat. She usually MUST have a window, but I'm trying to convince her that there will be nothing to see on the overnight, overwater flight...

Goldorak

For the middle seat block, there is a seat divider which ensure privacy.

gooselee

Yes, but if I can convince Mrs. Lee to give up the window, I'd still much rather have her on the other side of the divider.

Are people having good luck getting moved into window seats at check-in if only STE-? The ideal is for us to have two window seats anywhere in the cabin. We will see enough of each other before and after the actual flight.

Yahtzee

Just off AF 10 -- which was originally supposed to have the new FC but didn't -- and as a paid first customer it was a little annoying when to have the cabin probably half full of non revs.

Also, will the new first have a better monitor and remote. The 777-300 is embarrassing.

Goldorak

The IFE and screen in the new cabin is impressive. You can have a full review of the new P with pictures of the screen and remote in part 9 of this trip report :
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...-af-new-p.html

For non-rev, I completely understand you. They became pretty rare in P except the captain's relatives. If you are sure they were non-rev, you should complain to AF customer service, as this practice on-board is normally forbidden.

Yahtzee

Thanks. I'm planning to do my own trip report and will show the old to compare with your new.

Not sure they were non-rev; maybe op up. They certainly didn't seem to be getting a number of the services (escort, pajamas, amenity kit, orders were taken last).

gooselee

New question - Would I be correct in my thought that the chances of the 777s operating CDG-ATL-CDG will be refurbished sometime within the next 9 months is exactly, or very close to, nil?

brunos

Despite announced policy, it is generally accepted that Business class is a free for all staff/family/friends once boarding is completed. But AF had managed to implement a stricter policy in F and for many years. It seems that the F section is under the Captain's "control". However, I understand that there are quite a few other nonrev staff that can travel in F, beyond the cockpit's family. That includes other AF pilots, higher management,..

I am not familiar with AF staff travel, but on CX (or BA), staff (and retirees) can purchase F tickets on a seat-available basis ("ID tickets"). The cost is very low (some 10% of a fixed F fare). They do not have lounge access, but would get PJ and amenity kit. Actually, other airlines staff can also use this facility.

Goldorak

With what you describe, I'd say they were non-rev because op-ups get the same treatment on-board (same amenities) as revenue pax. But on the ground, they don't get the escort and P lounge access.

Yes, close to 0 chance as per the information we have today (ATL has never been cited at the moment for the 2015 destinations). But they may announce it later during the year.

I was indeed speaking about P only. As you said, we know that non-rev likes to move to J once the doors are closed...

tpatta

Any idea about the retrofit for the LAX-CDG 777-200? It seems from the thread that any route served by the A380 may not get the upgraded cabin anytime soon. Booked LAX-CDG for Nov2015 and still showing the old 2-3-2 configuration. Any hope?

gooselee

That's what I figured. Oh well - swapped to DL metal instead. We'll try out the new AF J some other time.