To complete off the primary half of my 4 journeys throughout the Atlantic, I flew Air France’s new Boeing 777-300ER enterprise class from Paris to New York. The airline not too long ago launched this product, which represents the subsequent technology of enterprise class for Air France.
Nicely, I’m joyful to report that this can be a spectacular product. It’s particularly good for those who can snag one of many bulkhead seats, which I’d think about to be one of the best enterprise class seats on the earth.
Air France has a terrific transatlantic smooth product, with glorious meals and wine, and pleasant service. Now add in Air France’s phenomenal new laborious product, with privateness doorways and leading edge tech, and this product actually is a winner, and is price searching for out for lengthy haul journeys.
How I booked my Air France enterprise class ticket
I booked my Air France enterprise class ticket utilizing Flying Blue miles. Flying Blue has entry to extra enterprise class award availability on Air France and KLM than different applications, in order that’s my go-to for reserving these awards.
Particularly, I booked the next flight in enterprise class for 55,000 Flying Blue miles, plus $377 in taxes & charges:
2/09 AF22 Paris to New York departing 8:30AM arriving 10:50AM
What’s superior is that Flying Blue companions with main transferable factors currencies, together with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Final Rewards, and Citi ThankYou. I even managed to switch over my factors to Flying Blue when there was a switch bonus, which means I paid even fewer transferable factors ultimately.
Air France enterprise class lounge & boarding
Within the final installment I reviewed the Air France Lounge Paris Terminal 2E Corridor Ok, which was situated within the concourse I used to be departing from. My flight left from gate K30, situated on the finish of the terminal and on the left.
Can I take a second to simply admire how beautiful Charles de Gaulle’s retro terminals are? As a lot as I like a great fashionable airport, this terminal is timeless, for my part.
Boarding was scheduled for 7:35AM, 55 minutes earlier than the 8:30AM departure. As regular on US-bound flights, there have been safety questions on the gate, however that was dealt with fairly effectively.
Air France 777 enterprise class cabin & seats
Air France’s reconfigured Boeing 777-300ERs function a complete of 48 enterprise class seats. Air France has reverse herringbone seats, and chosen the Safran Versa product with doorways. Whereas reverse herringbone seats are widespread on many airways, the most well-liked is the Collins Aerospace Tremendous Diamond seat, so this can be a barely totally different product.
There are minor variations between some of these reverse herringbone seats, although I don’t suppose one is essentially that a lot better than the opposite. I believe what units Air France’s new reverse herringbone seats aside are three components:
- The seats have doorways, which not many airways have for reverse herringbone seats
- The bulkhead rows have an unbelievable quantity of non-public area, and are for my part one of the best enterprise class seats on the earth
- The seats have distinctive tech, from wi-fi charging, to bluetooth audio, and extra
With that out of the way in which, let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the cabin.
Enterprise class is unfold throughout two cabins, with all seats being in a 1-2-1 configuration. The ahead cabin (between the primary and second set of doorways) has a complete of 28 seats, and consists of seven rows.
In the meantime the second cabin (behind the second set of doorways) has a complete of 20 seats, consisting of 5 rows.
Since I used to be seated within the second cabin, I additionally had the possibility to take a peek on the giant premium economic system cabin, which was fairly giant, with 48 seats.
First let’s check out a typical (non-bulkhead) enterprise class seat. I discovered the seat to be properly designed, and particularly the footwell was a great measurement, which is usually a problem in these sorts of seats. That’s a bonus over the Collins Aerospace Tremendous Diamond reverse herringbone seat.
In the meantime one of the best seats on this configuration are the bulkhead seats, situated in rows one and 9. These seats are particular due to the huge quantity of legroom that they’ve. I assigned myself seat 9A, the window seat within the first row of the second cabin, on the left facet.
Word that these seats will be chosen by Flying Blue Gold and Platinum members on the time of reserving, and by different enterprise class passengers on an area obtainable foundation 72 hours earlier than departure.
I admire the eye to element that went into the seat design. Generally you sit down in a seat and surprise if the designers ever really ever sat within the seats for lengthy durations of time. For instance, I appreciated how there was just a little armrest to the facet of the seat, with none controls you may unintentionally hit.
The tray desk on this configuration folds out from the console to the facet of the seat. Many will choose this to Collins Aerospace Tremendous Diamond seats, the place it’s situated beneath the monitor, and makes the footwell really feel fairly constrained.
There’s an enormous counter to the facet of the seat, that includes the easy-to-use seat controls, in addition to a wi-fi charging station.
Then to the again left of the seat is an enclosed storage compartment, that includes a backlit image of Air France’s legendary winged seahorse brand. There’s one thing I actually love concerning the brand, and I admire how Air France is more and more incorporating this into its branding and cabin design.
The storage compartment has a hook the place you’ll be able to grasp headphones, the leisure controller, a mirror, and a USB-A outlet.
Beneath the counter is a small cubby the place you’ll be able to retailer a bottle of water. That is additionally the place the opposite energy shops are situated, together with a USB-C charger and AC energy outlet. It’s nice to see that Air France has 60W USB-A chargers, which is able to let you cost nearly any system at full velocity. So many USB shops on planes have ridiculously low limitations. Tech was clearly a spotlight for Air France with these new cabins.
On the aisle-side of the seat is an armrest, which will be raised and lowered.
Then there’s what makes these bulkhead seats so wonderful. Reasonably than having a reasonably small footwell it’s important to squeeze your toes into, these seats have huge ottomans, which make these seats extra spacious than some top quality merchandise at present in operation. Whereas there are many wonderful enterprise class merchandise on the market, that is spacious on an entire totally different degree.
In fact one of many different key options of this product is the door. Throughout takeoff and touchdown this stays locked, in order that it may possibly’t be closed. Nonetheless, after takeoff, it may be closed with the push of a button. I discovered the door to be fairly straightforward to function. This gained’t offer you full privateness (clearly), however many people nonetheless admire this function.
One draw back to this product is that there aren’t any particular person air nozzles. Air France is putting in these on newly delivered plane, however these planes have merely been reconfigured, and traditionally Air France hasn’t had air nozzles. For what it’s price, I used to be flying on F-GZNK, a roughly 11-year-old plane. Happily the cabin on this flight was saved unusually chilly.
Air France enterprise class facilities
There have been a number of facilities ready at my seat upon boarding. There have been a pair of noise canceling headphones, which have been fairly good. There wasn’t actually a necessity for them, although, provided that Air France has bluetooth audio on these jets.
There have been additionally a pillow and blanket. Whereas not one of the best airplane bedding on the earth, it was nonetheless above common, with a thick pillow, and a blanket that was cozy with out being too heat.
There was additionally a bottle of Evian water at every seat upon boarding.
Upon settling in, the pleasant crew provided pre-departure drinks, together with the selection of champagne or orange juice.
Amenity kits with merchandise from Clarins have been additionally distributed, they usually contained socks, eyeshades, a dental package, earplugs, a pen, lip balm, and a hydrating cream.
Journey security kits have been additionally distributed, which included face masks and hand sanetizer.
Lastly, menus for the flight have been handed out.
Air France 777 enterprise class leisure & Wi-Fi
Air France has a wonderful leisure system on its reconfigured Boeing 777s.
The primary noteworthy function is that there’s bluetooth audio on these planes, so you’ll be able to join your individual gadgets to the inflight leisure. This was very easy to do.
There was an enormous choice of films, and a extra modest choice of TV exhibits. It was form of laborious to determine simply what number of there have been, provided that the group was a bit complicated, as many films have been listed underneath a number of genres.
I additionally appreciated how there was a function on the prime of the display screen the place you may see the essential particulars of the flight’s progress with out having to exit a TV present or film.
Then there was the map function, which I loved maintaining a tally of all through the flight. It might be personalized in order that you may zoom in or out as a lot as you wished.
Lately Air France has accomplished a commendable job putting in Wi-Fi all through most of its fleet, and that features the reconfigured Boeing 777s. There have been three totally different pricing choices for the Wi-Fi:
- You might buy a one hour “Surf” move for 8 Euro
- You might buy a full flight “Surf” move for 18 Euro
- You might buy a full flight “Stream” move for 30 Euro
For these questioning concerning the distinction between the “Surf” and “Stream” move, the latter is meant to supply increased speeds that let you stream movies and extra.
I bought the premium move, and located the speeds to be phenomenal. Quick, moderately priced Wi-Fi with no knowledge caps is one thing I admire greater than I can categorical.
Air France 777 departure from Paris
To my shock (since mid-February is usually a quiet time throughout the Atlantic), the Air France flight was packed, with nearly each seat taken in all cabins. Boarding took fairly a while, and at 8:35AM the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, informing us of our flight time of 7hr35min. He additionally defined that we have been delayed a bit as a result of two passengers hadn’t proven up, so their luggage needed to be offloaded. Moreover, we’d must be deiced.
At 8:45AM (quarter-hour behind scheduled departure) the principle cabin door closed. At 8:50AM we started our pushback, and at 8:55AM we started our taxi, as we have been handled to a surprising dawn.
Apparently there was a handbook security demonstration. Is that as a result of the reconfigured 777s have some options that differ from the earlier variations, and due to this fact the video isn’t correct, or…? We taxied fairly rapidly, and inside 10 minutes reached the deicing pad.
Deicing took round 20 minutes, so by 9:25AM that was full.
Then 5 minutes after that we have been cleared for takeoff on runway 27L.
Air France has nostril cameras on these jets, that are at all times satisfying to observe throughout takeoff and touchdown.
We had a fairly highly effective takeoff roll, and a few beautiful views of a chilly however clear Paris morning.
The seatbelt signal was turned off round 5 minutes after takeoff, at which level the crew closed the curtains between the galleys and cabins. I’ve heard some individuals recommend that Air France’s new cabins look sterile, however I’ve to disagree. Between the frequent use of the winged seahorse brand, the patterned carpet, and the distinction between the blue and white seat finishes, I believe the cabin has some persona.
Air France enterprise class brunch service
Given this flight’s departure time, brunch was served after takeoff. Sometimes breakfast or brunch are the least thrilling meals you will be served on a flight, particularly as the principle meal. So I’ve to offer Air France credit score, as I believe this was one of the best such meal I’ve ever had in enterprise class.
Beneath yow will discover the brunch menu, in addition to the drink checklist, for this flight.
About half-hour after takeoff, heat towels have been distributed.
Subsequent up, drinks have been served off carts. I used to be provided a drink round 45 minutes after takeoff. I requested a glass of champagne, plus a cup of espresso. At present Air France serves Duval-Leroy champagne in enterprise class. That’s a wonderfully good champagne, but additionally not essentially the most thrilling enterprise class champagne on the market.
The starter was served off a cart round an hour after takeoff. This consisted of plain yogurt with granola, “strawberry tartare” with white chocolate shavings, and a salmon muffin slice topped with greens and cheese. On prime of that, there was a wonderful choice from the bread basket.
Actually, what a tasty, properly introduced brunch starter.
For the principle course, I chosen the omelet with cheese, celery, spinach, and tomato sauce. I’m not exaggerating once I say that that is one of the best omelet I’ve ever had on a aircraft. It wasn’t greasy in any respect, I appreciated the dearth of breakfast meat (that are virtually at all times included in airplane omelets, and which I don’t get pleasure from), and the tomato sauce had a kick to it. I might’ve been very joyful having an omelet like this on the bottom, and that’s saying one thing.
I completed off the meal with an espresso, and was provided some pralines to go together with it.
The whole meal service was carried out at a leisurely place, and was accomplished slightly below two hours after takeoff.
At first I used to be unhappy that my flight on Air France would have brunch as the principle meal, although this positively delighted me.
Air France 777 enterprise class mattress
Whereas I didn’t get a lot sleep on this daytime flight, I did spend a while testing out the seat’s mattress mode. It goes with out saying that these bulkhead seats are extremely spacious when sleeping, given that you just don’t must squeeze your toes right into a cubby, and you’ll simply sleep in your facet with out having your knees stumble upon something.
Admittedly the bulkhead seats solely have totally different ottomans, and the seats aren’t in any other case totally different. In a perfect world it could be good if these seats had bigger cushions to the facet as properly, so that you’ve got a a lot bigger sleeping floor. Nonetheless, that is an unbeatable enterprise class product for sleeping.
Air France 777 enterprise class bathrooms
Air France has 4 bathrooms in enterprise class on the Boeing 777-300ERs, together with two on the entrance of the plane, and two between the 2 enterprise class cabins. These bathrooms have been additionally clearly not too long ago refreshed. They weren’t notably giant, however have been in any other case properly maintained. Additionally they contained a few merchandise from Clarins.
Air France enterprise class pre-landing snack
About 90 minutes earlier than touchdown, the crew turned on the lights within the cabin, in preparation for the pre-landing meal. You’ll find the snack menu under.
Service started with heat towels being distributed. As soon as once more, this meal was form of breakfast-y, and all the things was served on one tray. I ordered a cup of espresso and a few cherry juice (which I’ve by no means had earlier than — it was tasty however candy).
The meal consisted of a puff pastry brioche with egg mayonnaise, celery, fava beans, and pickled onions. There was additionally a strawberry tartare with white chocolate shavings, plus a madeleine sponge cake.
Okay, so this snack was scrumptious, however:
- Is Air France deliberately serving precisely the identical facet (the strawberry tartare with white chocolate shavings) with each meals?
- It’s a bit odd to serve the identical sort of puff pastry/muffin idea with each meals
So yeah, I actually loved the meal, although some selection would even be good.
Air France enterprise class service
I usually discover service on Air France to be fairly good in enterprise class, and this flight was no exception. The very first thing to acknowledge is that this was all the crew’s first time working a flight with the brand new cabins, so this was a brand new expertise for them as properly. Nonetheless, you wouldn’t have identified it based mostly on their service.
All of the flight attendants in enterprise class have been courteous, charming, {and professional}. That they had an eye fixed for element, and at all times provided drink refills when a glass was empty. Additionally they rapidly responded to the decision button.
Air France 777 arrival in New York
At 10:30AM native time the captain was again on the PA to announce that we’d be touchdown in round 40 minutes. He suggested of overcast circumstances and gusty winds in New York. Round that point we started our descent, and about quarter-hour later the seatbelt signal was turned on.
We had a easy landing at JFK at 11AM.
From there we had a ten minute taxi to Terminal 1, the place we parked subsequent to a Korean Air Boeing 747-8.
I handed by means of immigration very quickly because of International Entry, after which headed over the Hyatt Regency JFK, the place I’d be spending the evening.
Backside line
Air France has accomplished an outstanding job with its new enterprise class. The airline has a brand new fashion of reverse herringbone seats, with doorways and unbelievable tech. On prime of that, the bulkhead seats on this configuration are wonderful.
Add in Air France now having quick and fairly priced Wi-Fi, a wonderful leisure choice, pleasant service, and nice meals, and I’d say this is without doubt one of the finest methods to cross the Atlantic. Admittedly solely a small portion of Air France’s fleet has this new product thus far. Then once more, the usual Air France enterprise class is nice as properly.
It’s spectacular how briskly Air France obtained this product into service, provided that Lufthansa has been speaking about its new Allegris enterprise class since 2017, but thus far zero planes have these seats. I’d say that is now essentially the most compelling lengthy haul product provided by any European airline.
What’s your tackle Air France’s new 777 enterprise class?
