Hi everyone,
After 10 superb days in Costa Rica, it's time to go home.
But first, let's face it, Costa Rica really is a magnificent destination!
There are a few inconveniences here and there, such as traffic jams, slow roads and sometimes very "US fares", but the beauty of nature will make you forget all that (see bonus).
With this return flight comes my first flight in an A350, a machine often hired for its comfort and silence, so it's time to make the most of it!
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Enchainement de vols
- 1
- 2Here is my 1st fligh with an A350 !
UPGRADE: a great deal!
30 hours before departure, I perform the online check in.
The process is a bit tricky in the AF app, with our tickets to be managed individually as they are included in a larger group with my colleagues.
Nevertheless, I manage to do it without a hitch, and we're basically expected to be seated at 32 A/B/C.
This time, however, I noticed the button for the “Enhance your trip” option and curiosity made me click.
I was right to do so, as I came across the most tempting upgrade offers.
J and W are only half-full (and even then, painfully so), and are therefore offered:
- Y to W at 229 euros (or miles, but I can't remember how much),
- Y to J at 549 euros (or 78,000 miles).
From my point of view, and for a 10-hour flight, these fares are absolutely fantastic (and by the way, the same fares offered to the other members of the group, whose FB statuses are heterogeneous)
I couldn't pass up this opportunity, and on an A350: GO for J!
Once the process was finalized, I broke out in a cold sweat, because when it came to downloading the BPs, I was caught by the group limitation and could only see my BP on my phone.
After checking, wife's will upload to her app, and for Junior, we'll have to go to the counter anyway.
SJO
To reach SJO, we take the same rather picturesque Mitsubishi bus.
The travel agency has arranged for us to meet at 3pm (our hotel is in El Roble and we'll be there for 75km) for an 8pm flight.
That sounds very (too) wide, but it's not, because in Costa Rica, the roads are 80 km/h max and the traffic is very bad.
Add to that mainly two-way roads winding through the hills and heavy truck traffic, and you've got the combo for a fast finish.
And today, to top it all off, it's raining!
End of the story: we'll arrive at 5 p.m. (which is still a huge margin), but the last 10 km will have taken us 40 minutes….
A departure from the hotel at 4pm or later would probably have been suicidal…
The outside of SJO isn't the most exciting and with the weather, we're not going to linger outside.
The route to the counters is extremely short.
A short corridor and you're there.
Our driver having aimed at the right gate, we don't even have to walk 10 m to get to the AF counters.
It wasn't very busy, but it was a bit slow: about fifteen minutes when only one person had already been taken in front of us.
As at CDG, I had no trouble putting the 3 pieces of baggage in my name, but now, in J, the baggage allowance was insane!
I could have made a coffee import to last the year.
Light as air, we set off for the gates where, as at CDG, we first pass through the passeport control and then the security.
Everything is in a row, as seen in the photo below.
No fast track, even for business, according to the screening officer.
But since the crowd is small, it's no big deal.
On the security side, it's a bit of a mess as there's little room to prepare your trays, especially as you have to take everything out (which is what everyone does, so we follow the trend).
Nevertheless, the passeport control security duo is crossed in 10 min.
On the Airside, colorful boutiques await you.
Very modern and well-stocked.
On the other hand, prices are a little bit high from french perspective (including for coffee).
To give you an idea: 130 g of chocolate-covered fruit = $16…
So I stuck to the basics: rum.
After all, there's sugar cane grown here, which means rum.
Coming from a land of rum, I couldn't pass up the chance to try it, given that during our stay we didn't see any at all (although we did drink some local "Imperial" beers!).
A quick chat at the duty free with the saleswoman, who recommends Ron Centenario, a local, and Flor de Cana, which everyone drinks in Costa Rica, even though it comes from Nicaragua.
That's a bad sign… because if the local drinks the neighbor's rum, the house rum must sting.
As a scientist, I'll have 200 mL of Ron Centenario 7 ans and 375 mL of Flor de Cana 7 ans: $47…. better be good, because for that price at FDF, you're getting into the heavy stuff!
PS postcards: there's a (blue) letterbox to post your forgotten postcards in a pocket in the terminal (near the main duty-free exit), but you'll need to stamp it first. If not, you can ask at the main duty free for a postage service: it will cost you $2.5 (or 1400 colons) whatever your destination.
PS souvenir strategy: in the second photo, you'll see wood/leather rocking chairs. For the record, I saw exactly the same ones in the store at La Paz Waterfall Garden, as well as some colorful wooden masks. So I wonder if, in terms of souvenirs, there isn't a national homogenization… I can't say whether the price is the same, but in my opinion, if you have any last-minute regrets about not having snapped up this or that store, there's probably a significant chance that SJO will save you.
Enough shopping/pricing chatter, since we've got plenty of time, let's head for the lounge.
In the meantime, we're still “A tiempo”.
Lounge
Shortly after exiting the main duty free area, you'll find the elevator/staircase leading to the multi-company lounge.
The elevator is hidden to the right of the photo…
This means you can wait in peace and quiet, without going crazy over the buffet.
Tonight, no big crowds.
At the entrance, I was told that you could bring your starbucks/cookie, but no outside food (like fast-food).
I'll understand the point of this greeting later.
On the solid and liquid side, the limited choice has the merit of existing.
On my way to the bar for a drink, I notice that there's a paying menu, which explains the remark at the entrance.
For alcoholic beverages, there's the following card dedicated to AF / KL pax (complimentary drinks).
From previous flight reports, the lounge was announced with a view, but for me this evening, no big luck because of the rain…
Too bad, because we're in a really good position.
I still managed to snatch the portraits of 2 local birds while juggling with the drops, my phone glued to the glass.
Wandering around outside the showroom, I was also able to immortalize this 763 freighter bound for Cincinnati.
Boarding
Just before 7.30pm, we left the lounge, which was admittedly not very interesting.
If the lounge is at gate 5, ours is at gate 20, i.e. the end of the terminal.
So it's a short 5-minute walk (personal scouting after my rum purchase).
We're in a good position to throw ourselves into the beast (“Cayenne” is its nickname), and I can't offer you a worthy portrait of it.
7.35pm, we run in the blind jet bridge.
Gate without its fuselage shot.
Tadaaaaaaaaaa!
I stamp my foot on the floor of an A350, with a slight left turn to the J cabin.
Since I'm the one upgrading the whole crew, there's no arguing about it: it's me at the window.
The whole thing looks good, but there's still a feeling of crampedness as I slide into the seat.
Once I'd settled in, things went much better.
The equipment isn't bad, the headset is efficient, and the little storage space is handy for storing all my junk.
I note the absence of a usb-c socket, but that doesn't matter, just pull out the charger.
The footbox is a little narrow, but everything seems well optimized.
Seated in any case, everything runs smoothly.
We've seen worse for a "first flight".
I'm also contemplating the return of the slippers!
A closer look reveals a few details of pronounced wear (the plane is only 2 years old…) and questionable cleanliness.
But this doesn't detract from the experience.
On the contrary, to make myself even more comfortable, I promptly ask for a second pillow so that I can sleep like a prince.
Ground experience
Since we're still on the ground, a quick trip to toilets at door 2 (from memory).
Why this mention?
Well, because several times, the front ones were unavailable, as they adjoined the galley, and the crew quickly found themselves in the hard space when the pax were passing by.
The second cabin is reserved for the pilots.
As a result, each time I had to go to door 2 or even further.
A small weak signal of lack of space in this part of the cabin (door 1).
I find also there the typical scent of Clarins products.
In the absence of kerosene vapors at home, it's these scents that also make me travel by proxy.
We're still on the ground, but there's a lot going on.
Distribution of the kit.
Classic contents and new pen design (with cap): I prefer the old one.
As a new user of the cabin, I had trouble unfolding my tablet, although it's very easy.
8:00 p.m., end of refuelling, but it's still busy outside, even if the large windows don't let you see it.
8:05pm, still on the ground, the adventure continues, menu distribution.
It's always a pleasure to receive this paper menu.
I hope it will always be maintained.
Especially as tonight it is very important for us, as we were in upgrade mode and couldn't make any choices in advance.
So, the menu (in French as I didn't take the picture of the english section…):
And the drinks menu.
In the meantime, a welcome drink (a slightly lukewarm chamapgne…) was offered as well as an oshibori (also rather lukewarm).
8.12pm, door closes and push back at 8.16pm.
The video of safety instruction is started and our glasses collected.
At the count, the J cabin is almost complete: I note only 2 empty seats (huge rate of upgrade tonight).
I'll take advantage of this for a paradoxical moment during safety instructions.
If I had the feeling of narrowness when I slipped into my seat, as for the overhead compartments, they are surprisingly high, especially in the middle, making it difficult to retrieve my little bag slipped in at the very bottom from the top of my 1m70….
The engines are started, and it's really quite impressive.
Compared to my 773, it's a whisper…
The crew checks that everyone belt is properly fastened.
PS: the little buckle on the 3-point belt that's still in the back will be a bit of a pain… I'll make it hang between the seat and the wall later.
Taxiing starts at 20:24.
I'm delighted with my choice of window… thanks to the weather.
But in an A350, there is a second chance.
Here, taxiing is sloooooow… or rather, in TK speed mode… we're dragging ourselves along.
What's more, we have to wait at the end of runway 25 for another plane to take off.
Surprisingly, we don't take off in the same direction.
Runway entrance at 8.45pm, take-off in the immediate aftermath.
In silence, I'd be tempted to say!
Impressive.
Flight
The climb is smooth, giving me a false A380 take-off feel (that's what came to mind when I first felt it).
We'll save almost 1h30 during this flight back to Paris.
Time to play with the windows buttons…
It's not as fluid as the good old manual cover, but that's probably because I'm not used to it yet…
The wifi works, but only for the free pass, so it's impossible to buy another option.
Not so bad, as we're supposed to be going to sleep.
And since I'm test everything, I realize that you can pair your phone to use it as a remote control.
top.
note : Pairing was sucessfull with my iphone.
Now that we've started, let's wait for the service.
But first, the crew go into the cabin to choose the dish.
This is done according to tiers, which allows me to realize :
- there are quite a few top tiers passengers with us,
- and that not many, if any, had made a choice beforehand.
We'll each have a different choice that will be satisfied: good.
At 9.25pm, service begins with the mise en bouche and aperitif (this time with chilled champagne).
21h50, starter time.
I'm surprised not to see the cheese on the tray to save time.
The starter is simple but pleasant.
Mixing watermelon and asparagus wouldn't have occurred to me spontaneously.
The cabin crew then watch for everyone's progress to bring the hot dish to the tray.
Mine arrived at 10:10pm.
I chose the beef which, although a little tough, was still tasty.
I'll be accompanying it with red wine (Saint Joseph).
Wifey and copax junior chose chicken and fish.
editor's note: Wifey's framing is a little too close-up…
In the end, everyone is satisfied.
22h25, the cheese arrives.
The red wine refill is not offered as standard, and in the end, I'll do without it.
The cheeses are very consensual, not to say lacking in character.
Nevertheless, I can understand why there's no Maroilles or strong Camembert in the cabin.
22:55, time for dessert.
It's a bit long and the eyes are starting to sting badly.
The chocolate cake is good and the calvados is served generously, so I don't regret the lack of wine refill at cheese time.
A fruit salad was also offered.
I understood cake OR fruit, but copax junior understood cake AND fruit.
11:05pm, we clear away to switch to night mode at 11:25pm.
I admit I wouldn't have said no to a slightly faster version.
Windows closed, bed mode, double pillow, it smells good even if I'm a little cramped.
I say good night here.
The night is divided into 3 parts:
- deep sleep until 02:00,
- at 2am, I wake up with a raging thirst and a big torticollis…
Since I've been told that the air on A350s is less dry than on 777s, I blame it on the bucket of calvados.
A bottle of water later, I'm feeling better, but my neck's a mess.
I look for a position I can't find, play with all the buttons on the seat to try and find a saving adjustment, pick up a 3rd pillow on an unoccupied seat to try and find a solution, and of course, punch every corner while turning around for 1 hour…
My thought at the time was that good old BEST seats in 772 are more comfortable (ahhh, making excuses…).
- 3 a.m. - 5 a.m., my watch says it all: I'm asleep again!
In fact, it's the sound of cabin crew voices that wakes me up, rather than the light at second service time.
There's no hunger here, as there was on the CDG-SJO flight, but my neck still hurts like hell.
Knowing that the omelette can sometimes do me harm, and not wanting to tempt the devil, I opt for the charcuterie option.
This breakfast will be fine (except for the bread, which has become a little too dry).
When I open the window's blind (agin with button touch issues), I see once again the relevance of my authoritarian choice for the window seat.
By the time I get to the toilets (door 2 again…), I overhear an interesting discussion between crew members about the lack of drainage at all the taps (one of them dutifully sponging around the grate underneath).
I agree with them: always have a collection under a potential leak point!
The debate is on.
06:00 (13:00 local time), the descent begins.
Time to get back to my seat.
A hot oshibori this time follows shortly afterwards.
The clouds are still very low, so approach in blue and white only.
Once through the clouds, beautiful views of CDG.
13:35: Soft touch landing after a quiet approach.
Funnily enough, we passed “Pointe-à-Pitre” on the runway (but you'll have to take my word for it, as the photo isn't sharp enough).
FWI power!
Taxiing will be short, because at 1.40pm, the last turn.
Inevitably, with door 1 open quickly and starting from row 4, you're out the door in a jiffy.
On the other hand, we've arrived at T2E-M terminal.
This means that we must take the terminal train (LISA) and we're only moderately delighted as it will take some time.
Passeport control will make us smile again (it's empty !).
I notice that the PARAPHEs are marked “+12 years” (I'd never noticed before or I forgot like a goldfish), so copax junior will soon be eligible. Great!
After checking, it's only for the entrance to France. The +18 age limit still applies to exits.
For baggage claim, we'll be at belt 30, at the very bottom of the hall.
Of course, our luggage won't be the first to arrive…
But let's not be too unkind: 2:30 p.m., time to get out!
End of a great trip and a very good first flight with the A350, even if my neck is still a bit loose.
Hurray for the A350, and I'm thinking that with the J seats with doors, it must be even better!
If you want to go to Costa Rica: no hesitation and go enjoy your stay!
