Review of Air France flight from Paris to Libreville in Premium Eco

Hello here is my first Flight-Report in English of my regular commute to/from Gabon. As usual long-haul will be in premium economy and domestic flights will be in economy class. All flights are booked by the travel agency of my company.

The day starts with a fire on the highway which did not impede access to the airport from Paris.

I arrived at the airport with a large margin

It is not so packed inside.

Here is the Flight Information Display.

The most important part for me is this one, today waiting times are shorter than one hour

I'll be able to drop my luggage in the SkyPriority area in less than five minutes.

There is a priority line and, for once, the automated passport control gates are working.

There is a long line to access gates L.

Gates M require passengers to use the airport train.

Flight information is displayed here. Waiting time at security has decreased for M gates.

View from the automated train.

There is a priority line at at security. It will take roughly 10 minutes to clear security.
Time spent for passport control, train and security inspection : 21 minutes, not bad at all for CDG.

The gates are one level above security.

The central area is large. There are two wings on the left and on the right where the gates are located. Most shops are located in the central area.

There is a significant duty-free shop.

Also you can find an art exhibition

The waiting area closer to the gates has many seats and many electrical outlets.

There is also a playground for kids and video games for bigger kids

Overall the terminal seems large

Spotting is easy and but there is not a big airline diversity.
Today's aircraft to Gabon, an A350.

A few Delta birds

LATAM to Chile

China Southern to Guangzhou.

There is a smoking area at the end of the terminal. 

I walk back to the lounge. The entrance is clearly visible.

The lounge has a lot of natural sunlight. There are different areas : one with tables to eat.

Another one with a lounge apearance.

I'll take this seat. It was confortable.

Also available is this bar-like area.

Soft drinks, wines, Champagne and hard liquors are self serve. I was a bit disappointed by the wines but I am satisfied with the efforts made by the airline to offer French hard liquors.

The food offering has both warm and cold options :

My favorites, only three of those delicious chocolate desserts from Alain Ducasse are left.

My choice : mostly sugar.

It is also possible to spot from the lounge : here is a China Eastern in SkyTeam livery arriving from Shanghai.

Information screens display the flight as boarding. It's time to go.

Boarding is done by zone with different lines for each zone. Thera are also two jet bridges, one for business and one for economy and premium economy.

However there are no windows in the jet bridge.

Passengers are welcomed by the crew at the door.

It is necessary to go through the rear section of the business class to reach the premium economy area. I find thos seats gorgeous.

I'm seated here on the first of three rows. Pillow and blanket are already on the seat. They are different from those in Economy.

Nothing to see from the window.

Seat controls

There is a water bottle available

The seatbelt is branded.

The IFE systèm is large but there are a lot of reflections. You can pair your own device through bluetooth.

The legroom is good.

The safety card

The headset is located on a side pocket of the seat.

Use this button to free the tray table from the armrest.

The crew passes an amenity kit and a refreshing towel.

Then, there is a welcome drink, Champagne for me.

Pushback is initiated

During taxi, a safety video and a 90 year old annversary video of the compagny are shown on screens.

We pass close to 2G terminal

Cabin is ready for take-off.

Take-off

Around 50 minutes after take-off, the crew starts the first meal service. Here is the tray as given by the crew, I'll take Champagne and tomato juice as drinks. The juice s served in a real glass. Also the crew proposes more bread. Fork and knives are also metal ones.

I chose the salmon with pasta risotto.

The main dish was good and the quantity was adequate.

After the lunch, it is possible to get warm beverages, I got a hot chocolate and a pear liqor which I highly recommend on Air France. Also the crew hands out chocolates.

I'll do a quick tour of the cabin during the flight. The flight load is decent.

Door 4R

Quick look on the desert.

The rear galley

The second meal service starts one hour and half before landing. It is the usual disappointing bag.

Finally the pilot announces the upcoming arrival and the cabin is readied for landing

Approach on Libreville

Landed.

We disembark through door 1L.

The jet bridge has no windows.

Then there are a faw controls : first is the yellow fever vaccine controls. then there is the preliminary passport and visa control. And finally you get sent to a line for the real passport and visa control. There are only a few booths open (five) so depending on if you exist the airplane first or last, you can wait up to one hour and half to get to the luggage area. There is also a small duty free.

Baggage delivery takes place in this room with two belts. Both of them are used for widebody aircrafts. I'll wait around 20 minutes to collect my luggage on the belt.

Customs agents will be friendly and will only take a quick look at my luggage. Outside is the usual crowd of relatives, travel agents, SIM card and cigarette sellers.