Jul 21, 2015, 3:15 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: FN-GM

LIST OF ROUTES/FLIGHTS WITH BEST SEATS - update 21 April, 2017. Flights looked up for week of June 12, 2017
IMPORTANT NOTES :
- This is the list of "BEST"-operated routes for a typical week during the summer season in June 2017.
- Some of the routes listed below may see a non-BEST aircraft operating the flight some day(s) of the week
- Last minute aircraft substitution is always possible

NORTH AMERICA

- BOS (AF334/333) : on days the flight operates with a B772
- IAD (AF026/027)
- IAH (AF636/639)
- JFK (AF032/019) : operating from ORY
- JFK (AF022/023)
- JFK (AF008/009)
- LAX (AF072/073)
- LAX-PPT (AF076/077)
- SFO (AF082/083)
- YUL (AF342/345) : on certain days
- YUL (AF344/345 B787-9)
- YVR (AF374/379)

CENTRAL & LATIN AMERICAS
- EZE/MVD (AF394/393)
- EZE (AF228/229)
- SCL (AF406/407) : on certain days
- GRU (AF456/459)
- GRU (AF454/457)
- PTY (AF474/475)
- CAY (AF852/853)
- CUN (AF650/651)
- HAV (AF820/825)

ASIA
- BOM (AF218/217)
- HKG (AF188/185)
- HND (AF274/293)
- KIX (AF292/291)
- NRT (AF276/275)
- NRT (AF272/271)
- PEK (AF382/381)
- PVG (AF112/117)
- PVG (AF116/111) : only on days when the flight is B777-operated (A380 has no BEST cabins at the moment)
- CAN (AF102/107)
- SIN (AF256/257)
- SGN (AF258/257)

AFRICA
- ABJ (AF702/703) : only on days when the flight is B777-operated (A380 has no BEST cabins at the moment)
- BKO-ABJ (AF520/521)
- ACC (AF780/781)
- DLA-NSI (AF982)
- BGF-NSI (AF775/775)
- NSI (AF900/901)
- LBV (AF976/977)
- LAD (AF928/929)

MIDDLE EAST
- BEY (AF566/565)
- CAI (AF570/567 B787-9)
- DXB (AF662/643)

CONFIGURATIONS OF THE B777 FLEET
Note : this list is not up-to-date
Boeing 777-200ER 309 seats J-W-Y without new cabins : 4/25

Code:

F-GSPA – NEV4
 F-GSPE – NEV4
 F-GSPM – NEV4
 F-GSPZ – NEV4

Boeing 777-200ER in modification process : 2/25

Code:

F-GSPD
 F-GSPP

Boeing 777-200ER 280 seats or 316 seats "quick change" J-W-Y with new cabins : 16/25

Code:

F-GSPB – BEST
 F-GSPC – BEST
 F-GSPF – BEST
 F-GSPG – BEST
 F-GSPH – BEST
 F-GSPI – BEST
 F-GSPJ - BEST
 F-GSPK – BEST
 F-GSPQ – BEST
 F-GSPR – BEST
 F-GSPS – BEST
 F-GSPT – BEST
 F-GSPU – BEST
 F-GSPV – BEST
 F-GSPX – BEST
 F-GSPY – BEST
 
 
 or

Boeing 777-200ER 312 seats (28J) J-W-Y with new cabins : 3/25

Code:

F-GSPL – BEST
 F-GSPO – BEST
 F-GSPN – BEST

Boeing 777-300ER 303 seats P-J-W-Y without new cabins : 0/43

Code:

All Converted to BEST

Boeing 777-300ER 381 seats J-W-Y without new cabins : 5/43

Code:

F-GSQD – NEV4
 F-GSQE – NEV4
 F-GZNH – NEV4
 F-GZNI – NEV4
 F-GZNJ - NEV4
 F-GZNK – NEV4

Boeing 777-300ER in modification process : 0/43

Boeing 777-300ER 296 seats or 322 seats "quick change" P-J-W-Y with new cabins : 20/43

Code:

F-GSQA – BEST
 F-GSQB – BEST
 F-GSQC – BEST
 F-GSQF – BEST
 F-GSQG – BEST
 F-GSQH – BEST
 F-GSQI – BEST
 F-GSQJ – BEST
 F-GSQK – BEST
 F-GSQL – BEST
 F-GSQY – BEST
 F-GSQM – BEST
 F-GSQU - BEST
 F-GSQV – BEST
 F-GSQY – BEST
 F-GZNA – BEST
 F-GZNB - BEST
 F-GZNC – BEST
 F-GZND - BEST
 F-GZNE – BEST
 
 
 or

Boeing 777-300ER 468 seats J-W-Y "CIO" without new cabins : 12/43

Code:

F-GSQN – NEV4
 F-GSQO – NEV4
 F-GSQP – NEV4
 F-GSQR – NEV4
 F-GSQS – NEV4
 F-GSQT – NEV4
 F-GSQX – NEV4
 F-GZNF – NEV4
 F-GZNG – NEV4
 F-GZNL – NEV4
 F-GZNN – NEV4
 F-GZNO – NEV4

Boeing 777-300ER 381 seats J-W-Y with old J and new W-Y : 6/43

Code:

F-GZNP – NEV4 (delivered new from Boeing in April 2015)
 F-GZNQ – NEV4 (delivered new from Boeing in May 2015)
 F-GZNR – NEV4 (delivered new from Boeing in November 2015)
 F-GZNS - NEV4 (delivered new from Boeing in March 2016)
 F-GZNT - NEV4 (delivered new from Boeing in March 2016)
 F-GZNU - NEV4 (delivered new from Boeing in April 2016)

777 New Cabins - Deployment Schedule

Closed Thread Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Oct 12, 2016, 7:33 am

#751

Jpan99

Join Date: Sep 2016

Posts: 1

Boston to Paris

I'm heading to Paris end of March 2017. Flying BOS-CDG and have been checking for the new seats. I'm flying solo and love the single seat by the window. Found them on flight 333 on a Friday evening. The seat layout for that flight changed last week from the old 2-3-2 so I'm hopefully optimistic that I can find the new seats for the flight home. So far I keep seeing the old seat whether I fly back on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday.

Does anyone know of any particular day that always has the new seats, CDG-BOS on flight 338? Or is it really just luck if you get them?

Oct 12, 2016, 7:54 am

#752

brunos

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Hong Kong, France

Programs: FB , BA Gold

Posts: 15,555

It is too early to tell.

Oct 12, 2016, 2:47 pm

#753

Goldorak

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: Paris, France

Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond

Posts: 21,918

Quote:

Originally Posted by brunos

It is too early to tell.

Oct 14, 2016, 7:36 am

#754

Slc2012

Join Date: Oct 2016

Posts: 170

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpan99

For my information, if we are flying (2 people) with a 2-3-2 business cabin (777-300ER with NEV4); which seats are the best: 1A + 1B or 2A + 2B...

Oct 15, 2016, 12:36 pm

#755

Schwalex

Join Date: May 2016

Posts: 4

Hello,
I am flying to OSAKA (KIX) this winter and the cabinplan of my flight looks a bit strange.
So I checked the cabinplans on the Air-France website and usually there should be seats in front of the seats 36 J,K,L.
I want to book seats with extra legroom. I am worried that if I book the seats 36J or 36K there will be the seats 35 J or 35 K in front of me, even though they are not shown on this cabinplan.
The seats 36 J,K are still available on the KLM website but not on the Air-France Website. (I wonder why?)
Does anybody have some idea or information about it?
I attached a picture of the cabinplan.
Thanks in advance.

Attached Images

Oct 16, 2016, 9:25 am

#756

brunos

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Hong Kong, France

Programs: FB , BA Gold

Posts: 15,555

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schwalex

Apparently AF is now rerofitting their 772 with a new config that includes only 28J seats and Y starting in row 18, not 19. There appears to be "missing" seats in row 35 (35JKL). You find that config on several destinations when you try to book on AF website (or on EF), i.e. CDG-YUL AF342 20 October.

I wonder if Goldorak has an explanation.

Even if that config shows no 35JKL, I would be careful as AF might substitute a 772 with a different config.

Oct 16, 2016, 11:34 pm

#757

Goldorak

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: Paris, France

Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond

Posts: 21,918

Quote:

Originally Posted by brunos

I wonder if Goldorak has an explanation.

No, I don't. Seems strange to me too. My 1st thought was that it was a glitch, but if you have found the same for other flights, it is surely not.

Oct 17, 2016, 6:27 am

#758

Schwalex

Join Date: May 2016

Posts: 4

Thank you both for your answers. On both my flights AF292 and AF291 they show me this cabinplan.
It feels like a glitch for me too. Is it possible that they just dont show these seats yet and later on check-in they will be available? (31 A,B,C seems to be missing too)
As I reserved seat 36 J they didnt inform me about it beeing a emergency exit seat. Usually if I choose a emergency exit seat I get informed about it.
So it kind of feels like there will be some seats in front of 36 J, even though they are not shown. Maybe somebody has already flown this config and can clear us up.

Oct 17, 2016, 6:43 am

#759

carnarvon

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: France

Programs: FB Plat for Life, UAMP, BAEC, Accor ALL Platinum, Marriott silver, Hilton, Meliá silver.

Posts: 3,119

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldorak

No, I don't. Seems strange to me too. My 1st thought was that it was a glitch, but if you have found the same for other flights, it is surely not.

I have just had the same issue on a A319 flight, where some rows were missing (2 DEF, 4 DEF, 6 DEF, 3 ABC and more) and showing carpet only (same as on the 772 seat map here)

I asked for an explanation and the lady came up with "balancing the plane".

However, even though the actual load was very light (so no need to change the balancing), the missing seats were all occupied.

Puzzling...

Based on this experience, I would definitely assume that there are seats on row 35.

Oct 17, 2016, 6:55 am

#760

FlyerWx

Join Date: Sep 2016

Location: LAX/BUR, RDU

Programs: DL SM, AAdvantage, SPG

Posts: 1,360

There was a large group of seats missing from my AF operated flight (BEST 772 280 seat config) this December as well. From rows 28 to 38 or so were missing up until a month ago, when they finally showed up. This makes little sense as a weight/balance issue initially because this is the middle section of the aircraft, and the aircraft is a lot more full now.

The unusual thing was that even when these seats did show up, every seat was shown as unavailable. I had to go through KLM's website to eventually select a seat.

Last edited by FlyerWx; Oct 17, 2016 at 2:33 pm

Oct 17, 2016, 8:50 am

#761

brunos

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Hong Kong, France

Programs: FB , BA Gold

Posts: 15,555

It is more than a glitch of three missing seats in row 35.
Y starts at row 18 to 48. PE is in row 10-12. J has only 7 rows in BEST.
This is a totally different config than the usual BEST ones with and without quickchange.

Oct 17, 2016, 1:58 pm

#762

Goldorak

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: Paris, France

Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond

Posts: 21,918

This weight balance explanation is a utter nonsense. Indeed, even if it was the case, the seats would be displayed on the cabin map and appear as already booked/non available. Curthermore, a weight balance issue is handled during check-in or just before boarding with some seats re-assigned, but certainly not months before when the airline can still hope to sell 100% of the seats.

The only plausible explanation I might see for the KIX flight is if this flight is still code-shared with JL (I am not sure AF and JL are still code-share partners) and if the agreement is a blocked-seat type one. In that case, the rows you are not seeing when booking with AF are the seats allocated to JL.

Oct 18, 2016, 11:05 am

#763

wco81

Suspended

Join Date: Oct 2004

Location: Bay Area

Programs: DL SM, UA MP.

Posts: 12,729

Would it be reasonable to expect that over time, more and more flights will have the BEST cabin?

For instance, it sounds like the flights between SFO and CDG have the BEST cabin on some days only.

By next June, will the frequency of BEST cabin flights increase?

I know that in the winter, AF scales back the SFO-CDG flights and also switch to smaller-capacity planes even. Or at least they used to do this a few years ago.

Seems like they got at least 2 flights going each way during the summer.

Oct 18, 2016, 1:50 pm

#764

Slc2012

Join Date: Oct 2016

Posts: 170

Quote:

Originally Posted by wco81

Next summer, there are 2 flights per day: one with A380 and a second one with 777-300. None of them has the best cabin in business.

Oct 18, 2016, 2:02 pm

#765

brunos

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Hong Kong, France

Programs: FB , BA Gold

Posts: 15,555

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slc2012

Next summer, there are 2 flights per day: one with A380 and a second one with 777-300. None of them has the best cabin in business.

The retrofit of the 77W is now finished. Apparently AF is using one of its "leisure" ac with 42J (not the COI) to SFO. This shows how ridiculous it is to only install BEST on less than half its 77W.