Review of Air France flight from Papeete to Los Angeles in Economy

Hello !
We live in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and we fly to France 1 or 2 times a year, with Air France via LAX. I’m tired to always fly with the same companie, the same plane, always transiting in LAX.
Here are the Flight Reports of my first round-the-world trip, with my family (2 adults and 1 child 3 years old), in Economy class.
Routing is PPT – LAX – CDG – TLS – FRA – SIN – AKL – PPT
Companies will be Air France, Lufthansa Cityline, Singapore Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui

1ST PART : From Tahiti to France : I did it my way Papeete [PPT] - Los Angeles [LAX], Air France AF77, B772, Economy, January 26, 2014
YOU ARE HERE Los Angeles [LAX] - Paris [CDG], Air France AF77, B772, Economy, January 26, 2014 CLICK HERE Paris [CDG] - Toulouse [TLS], Air France AF7788, A320, Economy, January 27, 2014 CLICK HERE 2ND PART : Going East : New Horizons Toulouse [TLS] - Frankfurt [FRA], Lufthansa Cityline LH1099, CR7, Economy, February 17, 2014 CLICK HERE Frankfurt [FRA] - Singapore [SIN], Singapore Airlines SQ325, B77W, Economy, February 17, 2014 CLICK HERE 3RD PART : Back to Tahiti : Full Circle Singapore [SIN] - Auckland [AKL], Singapore Airlines SQ285, B77W, Economy, February 22, 2014 CLICK HERE Auckland [AKL] - Papeete [PPT], Air Tahiti Nui TN102, A343, Economy, February 23, 2014 CLICK HERE

A glance at the FlightStats website a few days before the first flight, searching possibilities for upgrade to Business class with Flying Blue miles :
On the PPT LAX section, it looks good, 7 seat in class O (for award ticket or upgrade to Business class)

On the LAX CDG section unfortunately, filling rate is much better and so there is no class O available

Finally for a ticket PPT CDG, no upgrade possibility (no class O)

We have a PPT CDG ticket, flight AF77 (considered as 1 flight with technical stop in LAX) which can not be split into 2 sections PPT LAX and LAX CDG .
That means that I can not have a Business class upgrade on PPT LAX despite the availability of these for the sole reason that I continue my flight to CDG the same day.
It's frustrating to see that a passenger who could benefit upgrade awards released by the yield management, can not do for logistical issue : the AF system can not handle two flights with the same number the same day for the same passenger.
Don’t worry about filling the Business cabin on this flight PPT LAX, I saw the registration paper of the check-in hostess at the airport, it was possible to find about ten non-revenue passengers to fill the vacant seats in the front of the plane
Now on to what interests us : the flight itself.
Online check-in impossible for us, but it doesn’t matter

Let’s go to the airport

2 flights this sunday morning : Air Tahiti Nui to Tokyo Narita and Air France to Los Angeles and Paris

Not so many baggage drop or economy check-in counters opened

For us, quick check-in with the SkyPriority lane

Unique boarding pass for our 3 upcoming flights

We go straight through custom and borders and security check

In the departure area, photo exhibition for 15th anniversary of Air Tahiti Nui

Our plane is here

Let’s go to Manuhiri lounge (the only and independent lounge in PPT airport, used by almost all companies here in Tahiti)

Food and drinks are the weak point of this lounge, but I found some sweets good enough

Wifi gives me the corporate picture

On the tarmac, birds wait patiently :
A343 ATN named Rangiroa

And our 777 today will be F-GSPD (777-200ER)

I insert here an airplane that I saw during January during one of my business trips in the islands of French Polynesia : Danish Air Transport MD80 with astonishing livery “Fifa world cup trophy tour / Coca Cola (the trophy was exposed in Tahiti in September 2013, but in January 2014 not to my knowledge)

Boarding is then called on time, walking on the tarmac is always a moment of excitement

Large fan

Smiling stew welcomes us
And here are our 3 seats for this flight, on the left side of first economy cabin, row 23 (I could not have seats in row 20 this time, 20C is offering a larger legroom)

A new red cushion

Stamp size In-Flight Entertainment

Classic legroom for Air France in economy class

Less classic legroom

Air France Magazine and safety card

Air Tahiti Nui is pushed back before us

And take of to Tokyo

It’s our turn to push back, on time

During taxiing, I see the latest plane of Air Tahiti’s fleet, ATR42-600 with the new livery

Take off

I can see Tetiaroa (Marlon Brando’s atoll) despite wing and reactor

In a plane with incomplete filling in economy class, some got the perfect seat allocation

Everyone deals with the IFE for the beginning of the journey
“Planes” for the kid

“Now you see me” for me

Menu is quickly distributed

Appetizer quickly served, Champagne for me of course

45 minutes later, trays distribution begin, starting with special meals, child meal for my kid

Chicken nuggets and potatoes

Then comes the main meal service, I choose lamb curry

As a starter, pasta salad was a bit bland, it lacks a little taste

The lamb curry later is OK but not exciting, I expected more

Some dairy in a box

For dessert, I didn’t like this apple tartlet does

The meal, without being bad, was a little below what I would expect from an economy class meal with Air France
The flight continues safely over equator, from southern to northern hemisphere

Another film viewing for me, “Rush”, the story of the rivalry between Nicky Lauda and James Hunt

Water is provided by stews at our seat.
I stand up to walk a little bit and comes face to face with the bar in the galley

Economy cabin is quiet

We are now approaching LAX …

And night …

The snack is served 1 hour 30 minutes before arrival, starting with the child meal

The adult tray appears identical but includes a bonus chocolate

Some ice crystals remind me that I am going to a cold area (France in winter)

The sun sets quickly

And it's dark when we fly around Long Beach

We touch down on time and it takes about 15 minutes taxiing to reach our parking stand.
I try to take a picture of Qantas A380 despite darkness and movement

We are arrived at Terminal 2

Quick disembarking and we plunge into the bowels of LAX

Next step, US customs & borders

And there, it will be very painful, there are many people and it will take us 50 minutes to get to the TSA agent

And transit is not finished yet …
To be continued …