Goldorak

I don’t know if some of you noticed, but approximately since 3 or 4 months, AF has changed its protocol of service in J long-haul, and not for the best. It is still under testing period, so I sincerely hope it won’t stay.

I usually always travel at the front (rows 1 or 2) for the usual reasons : disembarking faster and being served food first. The latter is especially important for me on night flights to maximize sleep time (crucial for US/CAN flights).

Since 3-4 months, I noticed that it was taking longer and longer to be served the meals and finally noticed they are now starting the service from the back of the cabin. I discussed with some flight attendants and they explained me it was the new protocol decided with the suppression of 1 FA in J and the introduction of the configuration of the new retrofitted B777. With each cart (one per alley), you have now only 1 FA instead of 2 and the remaining FA are in the galley to prepare the warm main dishes and bring them to pax. Due to this, they start the service from the back, to facilitate access to the alley to the FA bringing the main course. The result of this is that, if you are seated at the front, it takes literally forever to be served (minimum 2.5 hrs, up to 3hrs after take-off). I have a significant number of data points now. Today for instance, I am on a flight that left CDG gate at 13:20 and I received my tray at 16:10. I did a BOS trip recently and it was the same from CDG. Worst on the way back, when they removed my tray, there was only 3h45 of flight time remaining (total 6 hrs flight time).

You will tell me that one just need to take a seat at the back of the J cabin, but I don’t like this because more traffic with galleys and toilets and because of the noise coming from W/Y cabin with baby bassinets.

This is also affecting Y (and W to a lesser extent). The service is also taking much more time than before.

I discussed a lot with the FA of my flight today and they are unhappy of this. They realize also it’s taking forever.

Another thing to mention is that Ultimates are supposed to be served first, but it is more and more forgotten.

I will report this to AF as I believe it’s really a very bad trend. I encourage you to do the same if you also noticed this and don’t like it.

wuzziduzziman

I experienced the very same thing on a DTW-CDG recently and it completely ruined my rest! I did not think it was a systematic move to a new policy, along with staff reduction - so I'm glad you are bringing this up!
I also hope they will revise the procedure. As I usually start my US trips from DUS or BRU, I will else focus on AMS connections or DL in the future for my short, eastbound trips from US to Europe. (On a westbound day flight, it wouldn't matter to much for me though).

BA6948

I don't think anything will change. In November 2020, they reduced one FA from Shorhaul. The consequence was a deterioration of the service in Business Class with only cold meals and one option being offered. This was a concession AF made to simplify the service in Business and not overload cabin crews. The result are awful cold meals no matter what the distance and flight time. We have been complaining since, but nothing happened.

Bullspread

as a positive note, the C onboard service for domestic flights (ex CDG) will be enhanced next year for the IATA summer season

maalloc

What is the planned enhancement for domestic C?

Bullspread

Flight attendants had not much more details except that it will be improved in term of quantity and quality.
We should not expect too much, but starting from almost zero (except the champagne service) , each improvement will be more than welcome

jondo

I had a strange meal service experience a month ago on TATL flight on 40J B772.
I was travelling with my SO and we were seated in 1E and 1F. We both had our meals preselected.
They served meals starting at 1F/1L, to the back of the starboard aisle, then from the back of the port aisle to 1A/1E.
My SO was the first one to receive the meal and I was the last person. By the time I got my tray, my SO's was empty.

On the other hand, they served drinks on my side first. I had a glass of liquor without food. My SO got a glass only in the middle of the main course.

This happened on both flights (same equipment and same seats), to and from Europe.

On CDG-bound flight only, another strange thing was that they served appetizers and desserts together.
It was awkward having dessert laying around while waiting for the main course after finishing the appetizers.
Yes, I took a few bites of them while waiting.

BA6948

and nothing about enhancing the meal service on longer routes to bring on par with competition? I mean on my last flight to Tunis. The service was completed in 15 minutes for a 2h10 flight. I don’t get it when they say it is overwhelming to heat some meals and have at least 2 options.

irishguy28

A few bites? Surely that meant finishing them completely?

;-)

Goldorak

I can tell you that AF has received many complaints about those meals when talking about routes > 2hrs. I have hope that it's going to change. So I think it's important to give also the negative feedback about long-haul. And the risk for AF is much higher for J long-haul than medium-haul.

Goldorak

I suppose you talk about east coast US/CAN-CDG flights ? If yes, this exists for at least 20 years and, I am totally happy with it. It's done to accelerate service on such very short flights so pax can sleep longer. You eat your appetizer, they bring your main course and can go straight to cheese & dessert without waiting for the service cart to return in the alley.

jondo

Yes, east coast to CDG. Thanks for the insight. That is a pretty good reason.
In reality though, you eat appetizer, cheese & sweets, then finish with protein for dessert. I mean, they are hard to resist when they are sitting right in front of you even though you know they will make the "main" taste bland in comparison .

hhdl

That's the normal service for the shorter eastbound TATLs, though with the new protocol, maybe it's a lost cause.

Bullspread

This new protocol is getting ridiculous .

We should we be happy that they do not serve the tray of 2nd meal with the 1st meal 🙄

hhdl

As Goldorak noted, everything but main on one tray, then replacing the starter with the main has been the eastern US/Canada service for 20 years (so not the new protocol).

The new protocol somewhat blunts the benefit of this if it's an hour from starter to main.