SFO777

Air France Denver-Paris inaugural, CDG La Première Lounge and Lufthansa First Class back home all in 48 hours

With our move back to Denver came the exciting news that Air France was starting the first ever Denver-Paris nonstop. Although Mrs. SFO777 was not the least bit impressed when she found out that it was Business Class only with no La Première. But for me, even with no La Première cabin, I was determined to be on the inaugural flight especially since recent La Premiere passengers are able to purchase the full CDG La Première Ground package.

My DFW-based friend DFW-CK agreed to join me on this 48 hours whirlwind trip. He arrived from DFW around 2pm and we met at the new Air France counter at 2:30p for check-in and doc check. Our amiable French-for-the-day DEN agent was happy to pose for a pic. We had booked early and only paid 53,000 Flying Blue miles for the full Denver-Paris-Athens itinerary.





From check-in, we cleared security and hopped on the train to the C concourse and the Amex Centurion Lounge.







































Very nice afternoon food options...







The pasta dish was delicious.

SFO777

Air France Denver-Paris inaugural 789

We left the Centurion Lounge at around T-70, took the train back to the A concourse, arriving at Gate A37 to find inaugural festivities underway, with airline execs and local politicians. Blah, blah, blah.











Macarons for all at the gate.



Our beautiful 789.





Gate lice out in droves this afternoon, blocking the entire walkway.


Denver-Paris
Air France AF 631
789
5:20pm-10:40am (sked)
5:50pm-11:35am (actual)
Business Class
Departed 30/30

OK, so new airline, new staff, new plane and I'm inclined to cut them some slack, but boarding was pretty chaotic. More like a dozen chickens running around wiith their heads cut off. And then there was the annoying pre-boards of handicaps, famillies with children and the endless stream of those (supposedly) needing extra time.



On board, a pleasant looking 30 seat 1-2-1 Business Class cabiin.



I know that it's not First Class but this seat and conifguration was not that great. OK when first sit but in action, the flaws leap out and smack you in the face. Angled TV screen that swings out. Then in recline, the seat moves towards the TV screen, way too close for a lot of folks. The tray is laughably tiny. One simply cannot use a laptop and watch TV in recline mode. Not even close to the well designed United Polaris seat.







Inaugural flight socks.









Good thing I like blue as there's a whole lot of blue in the amenity kits.



Today's menu, impressive for Business Class.

















Even the ground staff paused to watch our 789.



Our gate neighbor Lufthansa pushing at the same time.



Once in the air, service was by cart. But what's with the miniscule tray?



But with a comically large table cloth by comparison. My FB Gold status was recognized by both the Purser, who stopped by welcome me back, and our FA who asked me for my main dinner choice before others.



There was no pre-dinner drink or cocktail service. The crew just went right to dinner. All service was by cart. While personable, our FA was annoyingly stingy with the pours. This was my entire first "glass of champagne". Seriously, I'm not driving tonight.



And no proactive refills as I had to flag him down twice. I later gave up and just walked up to the galley for more. That's when he finally got the message and poured me a real glass.

Our loaded dinner tray, indeed so loaded that I had to move some items to my seat counter to make it work comfortably.



The pan fried tuna starter was really good, with wasabi mayo and mango salsa.



My main... no idea why he couldn't take off the foil.



Without the foil, the chicken supreme was excellent. With chorizo emulsion, espellete chili pepper, potato purée with garliic and confit bell pepper.



Once the dressing had soaked in, the salad was tasty.



The cheese tray was simple but good. And a glass of porto.



No mattress pad or PJs, but the fully reclined seat was reasonably comfortable and I slept for a good 4 hours. About 60 minutes out, a simple continental breakfast. The croissant and fruit were good, the yogurt was simply awful. Does anyone really like this crap or is it something cheap to fill the tray?





Impressive Christofle flatware.



Almost here.



While we landed only 20 minutes later, we had to wait another 30 minutes as our gate was occupied... some passenger issue. Finally, we're pulling up to our gate.



And yes indeed, our BMW 7 series limo is waiting for us. So excited to be here for our 10 hour (well make that only 9 hours now) La Première experience... and what an experience it was.

757

As always, SFO777, an amazing report and photos! Air France J looks like their cabin service and food is really good, but their seat looks incredibly cramped from your photos. I also started laughing when I saw that bedsheet style table cloth for the tray ... LOL I know Delta offers a bit of a dated product on their 763s (to and from Europe on many flights), but there still there seems to be a bit more leg room in those seats compared to these.

Looking forward to the continuation of your trip - thank you so much!

Matthew

glasman19

53,000 miles!? Bargain! However J looks pretty claustrophobic? Hope you saw Mt Olympus.

krazykanuck

The AF DEN chick is pretty cute. Is there a rebirth of the ladies of SFO777 trip reports in the making?

One of my friends was on a WN flight following you out of town the same evening and in the CL around the same time.

13901

Thanks for the treat of another TR, SFO777! I'm a bit of a peasant in terms of premium flying and I only know the Cirrus (and its close cousin the B/E Diamond) from CX and having sat in the Club Suite mock-up, but that Air France seat reminds me an awful lot of my dentist's chair. Maybe it's all the white.... Looking forward to the rest.

SFO777

Thanks so much Matthew. That bedsheet table cloth was too funny. And we got the same bedsheet size for breakfast. It wasn't the worst J seat I've experienced but not great. But the convenience of the nonstop is probably enough for me to do it again.

The funny thing about the pricing is that just DEN-CDG was 67,000 miles. Go figure. Didn't see Mt Olympus, but we did see the Acropolis.



LOL, I think that ship has sailed. Pretty cool to see the pic of our AF 789 in front of your friend's WN flight.

Thank you 13901. Yeah, not my favorite J cabin. Sadly, I don't see La Première coming to DEN any time soon. So, we'll probably connect to LAX or SFO when with Mrs. SFO777, especially since this seasonal nonstop will not be operating around Thanksgiving when we're thinking of going to Paris.

Klems

Interestingly enough I just flew the KLM 787 for the first time in J last week, and it's the exact same seat and tray table... I was quite shocked as well that it was so small and flimsy (mine couldn't even stay straight). At least they have a handkerchief size version of the table cloth . The version of that seat they have on the AF 777 is much better, even if it's older.

wakesetter93

Already read ahead on your website, great trip report!

It's also making me extremely jealous that you flew AF biz and LH first the same week I'm hitching a ride on a Delta CRJ-200

SeaHawg

The Biz Class on the 789 is nice, but it’s no 777 with reverse herringbone. It was very good on our flight to DTW.

FallenPlat

Wow! Evidently there are two kinds of travelers in this world, people like me who fly regional jets in coach to places like Albany and then people like you who fly in First (ou peu s'en faut) to places like Paris. Even in the airport, now that I think about it, I've never even seen a full moon . . . .

ianassum

As always an enjoyable read treading that fine line between tact and assertive opinion NOT so carefully!!😂👍
There is a menu error, ironic for France - the Bordeaux is described as a "Burgundy"
Keep 'em coming.

SFO777

Thanks very much Klems. That tray table is crazy small for J. When first opened it I thought I must have opened it incorrectly since surely there was more that I was missing. Or this was a Y tray table. The bed sheet table cloth was too funny. And then I got it again for breakfast.

Thanks so much wakesetter93. Yikes on the DL CRJ-200. You must really need to get somewhere.

The J seat on the 777 did look a look better than the 789 seat.

LOL. Thanks FallenPlat.

Thank you very much ianassum... I think.
Good catch on the menu typo. Hadn't notice that before you pointed it out. Mon dieu!

wakesetter93

Thankfully it's only a 40 minute flight!

SFO777

The most amazing La Première Lounge experience... ever!

Pulling into our gate.



Our La Première Personal Assistant Anya greeted us in the jet bridge at the 1L door and escorted down to our BMW.





For the very short drive to the La Première Lounge.



After a brief doc check, we were waived thru the Lounge's private security and escorted up the elevator to the best airport lounge on the planet. Looking even better with its refresh last year.





















The newly remodeled bar area. Gorgeous.









Time to check out the shower, spa and rest area. Whoa, ...? One of the LP guest's woof-woof decided to explore on his own. LOL.









Enough of the tour, now for the 9 hours of sheer decadence. A glass of the Bruno Paillard Rosé pour commencer.



While we plotted today's gastro journey with Alain Ducasse.









Showtime, Round 1. My croque-volaille was out of this world, with comté and truffe noir.



O-M-G.



For my main, the John Dory was exquisite... Saint-pierre au naturel, Swiss chard and grenobloise garnish.



DFW-CK enjoyed the iconic Coquillettes.



For dessert, he loved his Glace vanille "noyée". Vanilla ice cream flood with coffee and praline.



My Baba au Rhum was delicious.



After we relaxed a bit and edited some trip pics, I headed off to explore and shower.







A little later, more Bruno Paillard and a mid afternoon snack.





The cheese selections from Marie-Anne Cantin were amazing.



As was the delicious Laurent Laborie charcuterie plate.



By this time, it was approaching 4pm and mom, daughter and woof-woof were gone from the sleeping "rooms" so we power napped for 90 minutes or so.





Now with a 2nd wind, time to head for the bar and try the Grey Goose Ducasse Martini.









Pre-dinner apéritif with nuts.





And Showtime, Round 3.









I started with the incredible pâté en croûte, chicken and duck foie gras, with Sauternes.





DFW-CK went with the John Dory while I chose the Filet de bouef aux poivres with pomme purée.





This was outstanding. Perfectly prepared and so delicious.



Both of our desserts were fabulous... the Cookpot de fraises with pistachio and diplomate cream.



And my Palet "La Première" au chocolate with bleu, blanc and rouge garnish. Simply marvelous.



By this time, it was just after 8pm and 45 minutes from our CDG-ATH departure. Sadly, our nearly 9 hours of La Première decadence was coming to an end. We enjoyed every moment of it and quite frankly could have spent a few more hours here.