Wednesday newsletters all the time function a resort or flight assessment.
Final summer time (July 2023), I loved an outstanding safari & seaside vacation in South Africa and Mozambique, most likely my finest vacation ever. You possibly can learn my journey experiences right here:
Immediately: Assessment of Air France’s new Boeing 777 Enterprise Class suite (Johannesburg to Paris)
After an unbelievable vacation in Southern Africa, I flew again residence with Air France onboard a Boeing 777 which was geared up with the service’s latest Enterprise Class product: suites with sliding doorways organized in a 1-2-1 reverse structure. As I already described in my assessment of the outbound flight, Air France’s new onerous product is great and the suites – that are unfold over two cabins – function cutting-edge devices comparable to sliding doorways, wi-fi charging, bluetooth audio, and 4K high-definition anti-glare screens. Mixed with the service’s wonderful tender product – which incorporates gourmand delicacies designed by Michelin starred cooks – all of it makes for a terrific flight expertise, therefore why Air France is one among my favourite airways.
On high of that, there’s one little-known function that makes Air France’s new Enterprise Class product much more particular and distinctive. Its bulkhead seats – that are situated within the entrance of each Enterprise Class cabins, extra particularly in rows 1 and 9 – provide an unlimited quantity of additional area, which equals that and even tops the area you normally discover in First Class cabins. IMHO, these are at the moment the world’s finest Enterprise Class seats they usually appear to characterize some kind of a “Enterprise Class Plus” product. To this point, Air France has not made a variety of fuzz about this function and the service doesn’t cost further for these seats however they’re solely obtainable to Flying Blue elite members at reserving (though additionally they grow to be obtainable to different Enterprise Class passengers 72 hours previous to departure). For my return flight to Paris, I used to be capable of choose a bulkhead suite in the course of the on-line check-in course of, which might be the prelude of one among my finest Enterprise Class flight experiences ever.
Have you ever ever flown with Air France? In that case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.
- Journey: Johannesburg (JNB) to Paris (PAR)
- Airline: Air France
- Plane kind: Boeing 777-300ER
- Plane registration quantity: F-GZNU (inbuilt 2016)
- Departure time: 7 pm
- Arrival time: 6 am (+ 1 day)
- Miles: 4420 miles (8720 km)
- Flight time: 10 hours
- Seat: 9A
- Class: Enterprise Class
On this assessment (extra data & images under my YouTube video):
- Air France Enterprise Class Lounge at CDG Airport
- Air France historical past
- Enterprise Class cabin
- Enterprise Class seat (+ finest & worst seats)
- Facilities & bedding
- Meals
- Leisure
- Onboard web
- Different inflight experiences
- My verdict (rating)
1. SLOW LOUNGE AT JOHANNESBURG O.R. TAMPO AIRPORT
Air France doesn’t have its personal Enterprise Class lounge at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport. As an alternative, it affords its premium passengers entry to the Sluggish Lounge, a 3rd get together contract lounge situated one flooring above the airport’s important concourse. The Sluggish Lounge is comprised of two separate lounges, one to the left and one to the correct of the reception space. Each lounge areas function the same structure, and are divided into separate sections for enjoyable, working or consuming. Every lounge options its personal buffet station (with a fantastic choice of scorching & chilly dishes) and a ravishing bar space. Though the Sluggish Lounge feels stylish and its meals & beverage providing is great, the lounge doesn’t have any home windows (so it lacks pure mild) and it would get very busy throughout peak hours (which was the case throughout my go to).
2. AIR FRANCE LONGHAUL FLEET
Air France has 63 Boeing 777s in its fleet: a mix of 18 Boeing 777-200ER and 45 Boeing 777-300ER planes. These plane have a median age of 17 years (the youngest Boeing 777-300ER was acquired in 2016). Air France is the world’s 4th largest Boeing 777 operator (after Emirates, United Airways and Qatar Airways).
3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN
Air France’s retrofitted Boeing 777-300ERs that are geared up with the brand new Enterprise Class product function 48 spacious suites unfold over two cabins. The majority of the suites is situated within the entrance Enterprise Class cabin, which has a complete of 28 seats and consists of seven rows, whereas the rear Enterprise Class cabin feels extra intimate with solely 5 rows of 20 suites. In each cabins, the Enterprise Class seats are organized in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone structure, offering all passengers direct entry to the aisle.
All Enterprise Class seats are geared up with a sliding door, permitting every passenger to create a completely personal area, out of sight from the opposite passengers within the cabin. The seats situated within the heart of the cabin are geared up with a central panel that may be lowered by urgent it down, thus making a convivial area during which to take advantage of the flight collectively. Additionally, the seats on the entrance of each Enterprise cabins (in rows 1 and 9) have an unlimited quantity of additional area in entrance of them for added consolation, making them the perfect seats within the aircraft.
Air France’s new Enterprise Class cabin has a sublime design and shows Air France’s signature colours: navy blue, the presence of white including mild and distinction, and touches of pink embodying its excellence and savoir-faire. The carpet on the ground revisits the standard decorative herringbone sample, symbolizing the emblematic world of conventional Parisian Haussmann residences. The entrance of the cabin in addition to the aspect panel of every suite function a winged seahorse, embodying the founding fable of the corporate and its wealthy historical past. The cabin additionally feels very luxurious and plush because the service has chosen noble, tender and pure supplies comparable to wool, brushed alluminium and full-grain French leather-based for the manufacture of its seat.
4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)
Air France has put in Safran Versa Enterprise Class seat onboard its retrofitted Boeing 777s. With a pitch of 106 cm (42 inches) and a width of 53 cm (21 inch), the seat feels very snug, has wonderful padding, and options luxurious accents, comparable to a darkish navy blue seat cloth and a leather-based headrest. Positioned in its personal shell, the design of the Enterprise Class seat relies on the three “F”s: Full Flat, which means that the seat transforms into an actual mattress nearly 2 m (6.5 ft) lengthy; Full Entry, offering all passengers direct entry to the aisle; and Full Privateness, making certain optimum privateness via a sliding door.
One aspect of the seat – situated in direction of the cabin wall for the window seats or the middle line for center seats – options a big enclosed console, that includes a backlit image of Air France’s iconic winged seahorse brand. On the within, the console has a hook with the noise-cancelling headphones upon boarding, however when you take away them it has sufficient room to retailer your smaller private belonging (e.g. cellphone, pockets, glasses). There’s additionally an arrogance mirror inside this console and effectively as a handset for the inflight leisure. On the console’s outer wall is a studying mild (at eye degree) in addition to a USB-A outlet.
Subsequent to the console is a large counter, which encompasses a wi-fi charging station and a steel trim holding the seat controls. Beneath the counter are a small storage pocket (which can be utilized to retailer a bottle of water) and several other energy retailers (together with a USB-C charger and AC energy outlet). The seat’s bi-fold tray desk can be situated on this aspect of the seat and slides out from beneath the counter.
Every seat has a big 17.3-inch 4K high-definition anti-glare display screen. The suite’s apex additionally encompasses a footwell with an extra storage space beneath (which is ideal for stowing away a purse or sneakers). The ottoman is sort of giant, which reinforces the sleeping consolation when the seat is totally reclined. When sleeping, the aisle armrest might be left up for extra privateness, or lowered for offering some welcome further mattress width.
What are the finest Enterprise Class seats?
- The bulkhead seats within the entrance of every Enterprise Class cabin – in rows 1 and 9 – provide an unlimited quantity of additional area, which equals that and even tops the area you normally discover in First Class cabins. There’s a lot area that when sleeping, passengers can principally place their physique any manner they like
- Solo vacationers ought to select one of many window seats, whereas journey companions ought to go for the center seats.
What are the worst Enterprise Class seats?
- I recommend to keep away from the final row within the entrance Enterprise Class cabin (row 8) on account of its proximity to the galley and bathrooms.
- I additionally recommend to keep away from the final row within the rear Enterprise Class (row 14) which is in entrance of the Premium Economic system Class bassinet seats.
Click on right here for a seat map of Air France’s Boeing 777-300ER.
5. AMENITIES & BEDDING
Air France affords the next facilities to its Enterprise Class passengers on longhaul flights:
- A consolation equipment product of 96% recycled materials. Its plastic packaging has been eliminated in favor of an integrity seal. Sober and refined, it’s obtainable in two colors, navy blue and beige. Every equipment incorporates a toothbrush and a pen created from maize straw, in addition to earplugs wrapped in kraft paper to keep away from plastic. A big sleep masks, socks, toothpaste and Clarins cosmetics full the equipment.
- A hanger
- A tender microfiber pillow and a tender blanket
- Air France branded noise-cancelling headphones, that are onerous wired into the storage cubby and of first rate high quality
Sadly, Air France doesn’t present a quilted mattress. It’s most likely the one factor I missed throughout my journey with the service, as a quilted mattress can actually make a distinction on the subject of the onboard sleeping consolation.
6. MEALS
Air France has a protracted historical past of collaborating witch Michelin-starred cooks. Actually, it’s the one airline on the earth to accomplice with so many Michelin-starred cooks, reaffirming greater than ever its position as an envoy for fantastic French eating and experience all through the world. On long-haul flights departing from Paris, Air France has entrusted the menu in its Enterprise cabin to Michelin-starred French cooks. The best names in French haute delicacies, together with Régis Marcon, Anne-Sophie Pic and Michel Roth, take it in turns to supply vegetarian dishes in addition to refined dishes with pink or chicken or fish. These meals are enhanced by tableware signed by French designer Jean-Marie Massaud. The wine and champagne checklist is chosen by world well-known sommelier Paolo Basso.
Throughout this in a single day flight from Paris to Johannesburg, two meals had been served: a dinner after takeoff and a breakfast earlier than touchdown. Menus had been properly executed (with all choices talked about in English and French), the dishes had been superbly plated, and the meals tasted wonderful.
I select the next choice from the dinner menu:
- Appetizer: zucchini and goat’s cheese roll, beet mousse ball
- Starter: tomato, black olive & pink onion salad, mozzarella balls marinated in pesto & basil, salmon tartare, bruschetta with olive oil
- Primary course: filet of beef with herbs, potato purée, bell peppers and inexperienced beans
- Cheese platter
- Dessert: caramel cream puff, chocolate and vanilla tart, ardour fruit and almond cake
Breakfast was served 90 minutes previous to touchdown in Johannesburg and included recent orange juice, espresso, tea, pastries, yoghurt, and fruits. The new dish was comprised of scrambled eggs, potato fritter, roasted tomatoes with herbs, and sautéed mushrooms.
7. ENTERTAINMENT
As already talked about, every seat has a big 17.3-inch 4K high-definition anti-glare display screen, geared up with noise-reducing headphones and a Bluetooth connection in order that prospects can use their private headphones. A state-of-the-art graphic interface obtainable in 12 languages makes it simple to select from all kinds of packages. Greater than 350 movies can be found, together with a big choice of French films, in addition to TV collection, documentaries, music and podcasts. A particular part on well-being additionally permits younger and outdated alike to study meditation and seated yoga in the course of the flight. Lastly, youngsters have their very own navigation interface to simply discover all of the leisure particularly devoted to our youthful passengers. Air France’s Boeing 777-300ERs are additionally geared up with a nostril and stomach digicam, streaming stay footage to the inflight leisure system.
8. ONBOARD INTERNET
In all cabins, passengers can use Air France Join, the airline’s in-flight Wi-Fi provide. The portal affords three passes, one among which is totally freed from cost and permits passengers to ship and obtain messages through WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, and comparable providers, though you can’t ship or obtain images, movies, or audio information.
Two different web packages can be found for buy on Air France’s longhaul flights:
- The Surf Go is obtainable as 1-hour voucher for EUR 8, or a full-flight voucher for EUR 18. With this move, you may surf the web, and ship & obtain e-mails.
- The Stream Go prices EUR 30 for the whole flight and allows you to surf the web, ship and obtain e-mails together with (giant) attachments, ship & obtain messages together with images, movies, & audio information, and stream music, audio, & video.
9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES
# CREW: The flight attendants on this journey had been very pleasant and provided impeccable and courteous service. I used to be provided a handwritten welcome card by the crew upon boarding, which was a pleasant contact.
# LAVATORY: Air France’s Boeing 777-300ER options 4 bathrooms for Enterprise Class passengers: two are situated behind the cockpit and the 2 different within the galley between each Enterprise Class cabins. The bathrooms had been full of Clarins toiletries.
10. MY VERDICT
- Cabin design: 9/10
- Seat privateness: 10/10
- Seat consolation (upright): 9/10
- Seat consolation (mattress place): 10/10
- Meals (high quality): 9/10
- Meals (amount): 9/10
- Inflight leisure : 9/10
- WiFi: 9/10
- Service: 10/10
- Total expertise: distinctive – 9,2/10
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