Worth a short connection to avoid AF A330 business class?
May 7, 2019, 3:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Worth a short connection to avoid AF A330 business class?
We had a good experience on AF last year on the 777, but read the A330 is angle flat. Instead of SEA-CDG nonstop I can fly SEA-AMS-CDG with Delta on their A330, but with only a 55 minute connection in Amsterdam. I'm surprised that's even a legal connection.
Would you go for the nonstop to avoid the tight connection? Or skip Skyteam completely even (Oneworld is $2700 vs $3100 my dates)?
Would you go for the nonstop to avoid the tight connection? Or skip Skyteam completely even (Oneworld is $2700 vs $3100 my dates)?
May 7, 2019, 3:48 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
May 7, 2019, 5:47 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA, YVR
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Flying Blue Gold, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 568
Just a suggestion - what about SEA-YVR-CDG? It would be AF 777 for the YVR-CDG leg. I'm also SEA based and I often fly J YVR-AMS or YVR-CDG because the prices are better (stacked with Amex IAP), typically around ~2200 USD.
May 7, 2019, 7:15 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Do these replies indicate that skipping the AF nonstop is worth trying to do?
May 7, 2019, 11:17 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: Flying Blue, Accor Le Club, Hilton HHonors, Hertz Gold Plus, Avis Preferred
Posts: 476
The YVR-CDG flight has a horrible schedule though: you're leaving YVR at 1:25pm and arrive in CDG the next day at 8:15am local time. The Best cabin probably helps, but it's still tricky to sleep long enough.
May 8, 2019, 3:45 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,928
May 8, 2019, 3:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA, YVR
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Flying Blue Gold, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 568
Good point on the timing for the yvr-cdg flight! I don’t mind the timing as much since I like arriving nice and early in Paris but I’m also a good plane sleeper =)
with that being said, in regards to whether it’s worth changing the non stop flight, I’ve never been able to sleep on an angle flat seat (I always feel like I’m sliding off, being short probably doesn’t help) so I would absolutely choose a one stop vs non stop if it meant lie flat vs. Angle flat. So depends on your preference/ timing/ flexibility/etc.
with that being said, in regards to whether it’s worth changing the non stop flight, I’ve never been able to sleep on an angle flat seat (I always feel like I’m sliding off, being short probably doesn’t help) so I would absolutely choose a one stop vs non stop if it meant lie flat vs. Angle flat. So depends on your preference/ timing/ flexibility/etc.
May 10, 2019, 12:01 am
#9
Join Date: May 2012
Location: AMS
Programs: BA KL LH Hilton Marriott
Posts: 1,233
Not sure about the seats on the AF A330 and what is the better option. But if you choose to route through AMS you can almost always choose for a longer connection for the same fare. These connections are not always shown among the primary options but if you click on "Show more options" at the bottom there will normally be plenty of choices with a longer layover.
May 10, 2019, 1:25 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: France
Programs: FB Plat for Life, UAMP, BAEC, Accor ALL Platinum, Marriott silver, Hilton, Meliá silver.
Posts: 3,120
I’ve never been able to sleep on an angle flat seat (I always feel like I’m sliding off, being short probably doesn’t help) so I would absolutely choose a one stop vs non stop if it meant lie flat vs. Angle flat. So depends on your preference/ timing/ flexibility/etc. (...)
May 11, 2019, 5:47 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: France
Programs: FB Plat for Life, UAMP, BAEC, Accor ALL Platinum, Marriott silver, Hilton, Meliá silver.
Posts: 3,120
May 11, 2019, 8:25 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,928
May 18, 2019, 3:43 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Stuttgart
Programs: Flying Blue, Skymiles, Miles & More, MileagePlus, MileagePlan, Iberia Plus
Posts: 20
Just coming back from Rio on the same NEV4 seats as on the A330. I was surprised by the comfort of those seats. Minimum angle and inclination you don’t feel when sleeping. Air France used to have NEV3 seats in the past on the B777 but they have disappeared now and the NEV4 are much more comfortable. A few A380 have those NEV3 seats though. Be aware.