Review of Air France flight from Paris to Los Angeles in Business

IA ORANA !

Hello and welcome to this next episode that is going to take us to…

French Polynesia!

Flying blue claimed: 13932
XP status points earnt: 54 (Air France was offering 50% more XP after Covid)

This flight AF76 is:
- the longest domestic flight in the world (yes domestic!)
- the longest AF flight 
- a historical route that still has some interesting traditions

The flight however includes a stop over at LAX to refuel the plane - althought Air Tahiti Nui made it in one go with a half passengers and freight on board non stop in 2022.

Even though we had our printed Boarding pass, we checked-in online.

Air France detailed on the app the whole Business Protocol a passenger would expect.

The flight will be operated by a 280-seat B777-200ER, as always since the retirement of the B747-400, almost 20 years of undisturbed routine.

Since, the A350s and their exceptionnally good Business cabins took over.

This aircraft configuration is called "business" because it offers two business cabins and therefore a little less seats in total.

ROUTING

The J round trip tickets from Lyon were almost €8,000 for our dates, or €16,000 for two, an amount that is not reasonable to spend.

1. So we already looked at French cities, close to LYS:
- Direct from CDG it was even more expensive, and I often had the opportunity to check that a departure without a connecting flight was much more expensive
- Marseille is usually a bit cheaper, but this was only the case by €100, the same from TLS, NCE was much more expensive.

2. I looked at the hubs of other companies around France, my rationale that AF would be more competitive there:
- Brussels was at €6,000
- FRA at €7,500
- LHR €5,000, but there was a risk of crossing a border once again unnecessarily
- MAD/BCN at €4,800

3. Finally the good news came from a country where the company is part of Skyteam alliance: Italy
- Milan was at €4,500
- Rome at €4,400
- Turin at €4,050, which is half the price of a flight from LYS!

4. That still represented €8,100 for two, still beyond what I had budgeted.
I changed the dates or tried several combinations, but the prices hardly changed. The long-haul flight in question is so long that there is a technical stopover, and the second part of the flight was the most expensive.
So I had the idea of ​​taking a multi-destination routing by taking out one of the two flights from the reservation and using my miles for part of the return flight in economy, which was not a big deal because it was a day flight.

And suddenly the total price (multi-destination ticket in J + part in Y with miles) came to €2750 each, which is a big amount but "just" €1000 more expensive than the economy - but YOLO!

AT PARIS - ROISSY CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT

We had our boarding pass from Lyon, I don't think I've ever had so many flights on the same pass!

We take the bus again but this time with a lot more people are queuing, I'm not worried, I know that I will be expected a little more being in J than in Y.
A short train ride later we arrive in front of 2F and it's back to 2L this time, and we pass by of our A321 we went on board from Lyon!

What is Aer Lingus doing at an AF terminal building? Weird..

at the 2L AIR FRANCE lounge

The Air France lounge reopened in 2018 after extensive renovations. It is now very bright, with large bay windows, plenty of seats, work spaces and a VIP area.

The lady at the reception told us that the lounge was designed to bring more of a French touch, and I think they somehow achieved it. I think we can talk about elegance since the decoration is present but remains subtle, we are not in at the less so pretty Hall K lounge that nor in Dubai, the view of terminal 2 is a real plus.

We also note the presence of a bar with a bartender available, which is still very appreciable for the AA (and I dont mean American Airlines) that I am.

The VIP sectiob

The buffet corner, we didn't have time to go to the hot food counter..
There is also a selection of white and red wines, and bubbles.

The showers and Clarins facial treatment section.

Sorry for the mess!

We go back through the FIDS when we suddenly see LAST CALL.
Having in mind a number of Flight reports bound for the USA, I calm my companion down, I tell him that they are exagerating a bit - just to check all the passports.

Actually I was wrong! We were amongst the last passengers to board!

Aircraft: Boeing B777-228ER
Tail number: F-GSPY
Engines: 2x GE90
Age: 20 years
Layout: J40 C24 Y216
Named: Vincennes
Comments: One of the last B772 received by Air France and with the new livery.

The plane just arrived in the morning from Denver, which was  previously operated with the A332, I guess a good sign for the route.

ONBOARD THE B777-200

The odd numbered gates and southern side of L terminal building is organised for medium-haul A32X aircraft (the gates are equipped with a single jetway), it is therefore no surprise that everyone boards via the same jetway.

On the background Hall K which has an A320 at the gate, probably for London.

The Cabin equiped with the famous Cirrus seat (same design as the American Airlines suite). These seats set up a new standard in Europe when they were launched about 15 years ago.

Even though they are not brand new, they still remain very confortable.

I like the colours of the seats, it just a shame that the cabin walls are still in that old factory beige colour. 

The Pros
- The foot resting box is large
- The armrest is solid and retracts
- The cabin is in 1-2-1, we cannot yet say the same for all the European majors.
- All the seats are positioned in front of the step, which seems obvious but not automatic (yes British Airways I am thinking of you)
- Lots of storage space, even more if you compare to other European majors: under the foot box where you can store your shoes, two on the sides of the seat the small cupboard with red door and its vanity mirror, the small black elastics to attach my camera or my water bottle… A real boudoir effect! 
- Different lighting options, under the table and in the boudoir, and the ceiling light. However no mood lighting.
- I really like the cocoon that surrounds the seat in the seated position, which offers a little privacy, however if you travel with your other half on the other side of the aisle it is quite difficult to talk to each other. 
- The great classics of electronic connections with USB, EU and UK sockets
- The IFE screen is quite large, the remote control is a bit slow compared to the screen.
- Very comfortable cushion, the cover could be a little bigger.
- The noise-canceling headphones are not a Bose either but rather correct


The Cons
- no mattress topper
- no small door that completely closes the seat like on the new A350 cabin

The captain chooses to wait for the last passengers' luggage who were on a short connection, so he asks us to be patient for another half hour.

The aperitif is distributed, I was not thirsty but I find it difficult to refuse such a kind attention.

The amenty kit is handed out to the passengers.

The contents of the kit:
- Socks
- Clarins moisturizing and revitalizing creams
- A pen
- A sleeping mask
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Earplugs 

I compared at home the content of a 2019 amenty kit and a few items disappeared:
- Reading glasses wipe
- Shoe horn
- The comb
- The toothpick

We finally push back!

The Safety video was brand new at the time.

The Hop regional aircraft fleet

We took off from the 26R.

Vrrraooouuuuuammmmmmbrroouuubbrbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrpshhiiooouuvoubroummmmmmmmmmmmm…

After the cat in the washing machine (CFM56 engines of the A32X and B73X),
The Dys**on vacuum cleaner (PW engine of the A220)
here are the electricity generators of a pizza truck (the GE90 of the B77X). 

Here we are above the Channel…

Let's start with the aperitif. Until now I've always had champagne, it was a bit of a default choice, let's explore what else there is…

Let's go for red Martini for once!

Air France prints its Business class menu according to the actual flight, a nice and rare touch.

For the mains…I'm not really into veal even if I want morels, but I don't think I have ever seen duck lasagna before - interesting!

The very French wine list is very representative of our terroirs: Burgundy, Côtes du Rhône and Bordeaux

- On the bubbles side, Air France offers Joseph Perrier, which has a reputation for pleasing everyone and that is my case.

- In white wine section we still find a Burgundy, the Pouilly-Fuissé has given way to another Chardonnay: the Saint-Véran, it is rather an upgrade, the second white is a Pouilly Fumé from the Loire.

- In red, we stay in exactly the same appellations as before with a St Joseph and a St Estèphe, not going to complain either even if a little variety would be nice. 

I understand the need to showcase the French regions with wine, but it would be good to something else for example a Loire Valley or Alsace, or Savoie, Cahors etc…

I'm not talking about foreign wines, even if I like Italian, Argentinian, Greek, Californian, South African wines… But this is Air France, France and the French people, where presenting a foreign wine on the wine list would probably be too daring and lead to an unstopble fourth French Revolution.

The cabin crew come to see us first for our choice of dishes - really before anyone else - even though we are not platinum… Did they receive the note from their colleagues from the previous flight?

The cabin crew member then introduces herself, then tells us that she has seen many messages in red on her tablet and that she congratulates us, saying that she is going to pamper us, that the champagne will flow freely, that we will have a double dose of everything.

We discuss about Tahiti, she tells us that she knows it, that she used to go there much more since she started her career on AOM. At the time when this company sent her to PPT she had a 12-day rest period before leaving again… 

We talked a lot about AF, she herself tells me that she is delighted to see that the negative elements are less and less numerous (understand the Karens).

For once I thought to ask her her first name to be able to name her and thank her publicly if she ever had to read FR. So thank you Marie!
Here she is ! (Blurry picture)

She serves us the mains and takes the time to explain to us what we are going to taste, just like what you can expect at a nice restaurant.

When she talked about a double dose, she wasn't kidding… I got a double dose of foie gras! It's silly but she made an effort to personalize our dish, she really went the Extra mile.

I start with the Saint Véran.

The whole cutlery / silverware has been renamed after me - what a nice touch!

Wait - what is that extra L?

The dish is brought at each person's pace and the crew regularly refills the wine and bread.

My husband chose the veal.

I had the duck ravioli and what a treat… 

The best meal I've ever had on a plane.

The sauce boat made its way back since covid.

I ask for St Estephe red wine for the cheese… And there is again a nice improvement since the cheese is brought afterwards, not with the starters as before.

According to Marie, several customers, especially Asian ones, have complained about having the smell of cheese when they eat the starter.

I'll ask for more champagne for dessert, I'll finish my St Estèphe later.

A short visit of the cabin

I have a small Armagnac Château Laubade to finish my feast and my film.
I drink quite a bit of water and Marie has given each of us a large bottle of water.

The bar of the Business class… a little too small compares to Virgin, Emirates or American Airlines

On the advice of the crew we avoid sleeping too much but I still fall asleep for 2-3 hours.

We wake up a little before dinner.

SMALL GIFT FROM THE CREW

As we woke up, all the PNC of entire plane came to us and congratulate us on our wedding, a very warm feeling.

The flight leader, a former pilot for the air force comes to congratulate us too and we talk about Tahiti, which he knows well since he was in charge of flying fighter planes there from the mainland.

The captain wrote us a note in Tahitian, so did the crew, and together with some small gifts.

Again it's not much but it must have taken them a little while, and I know from experience that not all crews would do it. 

The brandade was very good, the financier a bit dry but good too; and mostly the food was in good portion as it is a very long flight.

Air France back then recently changed its magazine to EnVols.

The photos of the files are always very nice, but you have to go through no less than six pages of advertising to come across the summary.

The very first edito of this very first issue.

My favorite page of the magazine, as any avgeek.

Since then all the Bombardier CRJ planes left.

Los Angeles is definitely not a tiny village.

AT LOS ANGELES - INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (TERMINAL TOM BRADLEY)

Air Tahiti Nui chose such a beautiful livery for their dreamliner planes.

Double decker

We were very lucky on arrival, as for once entering the USA there was litteraly nobody queeuing at passport control.

Once this passed, you have to go through check in counters and security- again.
Shame that american airports don't understand the concept of "in transit".

Les stats FR24, où l'on voit qu'on est montés jusqu'à 38 000 pieds.