SYNOPSIS
Hello everyone, and welcome to a this new flight review to Switzerland !
By the end of 2023, I stayed in Northern France for a fixed term contract in an insurance company in Lille, when an invitation by friends to spend the New Year's Eve leads me to position to Grenoble the 31th of December. So, I'm searching for the cheapest and / or the quickest way to go there. The quickest is to take the French High speed train (TGV) with a connection to Lyon, but by this high-demanded period in the year the prices are quite high.
I finally chose to check out for plane issues, I grab very good deals thanks to my Air France youth card and initially book a return ticket outbound from Paris CDG to Lyon and high speed train which deserves directly Grenoble from Lyon airport, even if it needs to add the pre-routing and post-routing.
I eventually searched for issues to Geneva to try the new Air France's Airbus A220 that they just introduced 14 months ago, as they often position this type of aircraft on this route. So, I cancel the outbound flight to Lyon and book a one-way ticket to Geneva on the 10:05 a.m. flight.
So, I booked one TGV ticket to reach Charles-de-Gaulle airport and I will join Grenoble by French regional train from Geneva.
PARIS CDG AIRPORT- TERMINAL 2F
As expected, I arrive shortly before 8:30 a.m. by TGV at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. I climb to the surface with the escalators and I get quickly in front of the CDG's iconic noticeboard.
Let's now head to Terminal 2F's departures area via the travellators
Some views on the parons with a lot of AF aircrafts.
I quickly reached Terminal 2F's departure area. My flight is still scheduled on time.
I've decided to use the automatic machines to print my boarding pass. It seems like Air France has changed it recently.
Since I have to bring a beer bottle for tonight, I made a stop to drop off counters to check my suitcase in. Therefore, I used the self check-in process. Waiting time was a few minutes only.
After dropping off my luggage, I directly proceeded to the security checkpoint. By this Christmas and New Year's celebrations period, security was a bit busy (around 15 mins of waiting time). It seems like the airport was still not equipped with scanners to pass without removing the computers and electronics devices, because I saw other passengers taking out their equipments.
Once the security controls were cleared, I straight made my way to gate F49 where my flight is scheduled to leave from.
I have to say that Christmas vibes are very present in the commercial area.
We can see a KLM Boeing 737 through the windows pushing back towards Amsterdam.
My boarding pass for this morning.
ABOUT OUR AIRCRAFT
Our flight towards Geneva will be operated by F-HPNB, a 6 months (at the time of flying) Airbus A220-300 delivered to Air France in June 2023 and named after the French city of Sauternes, where is produced one of the most renowned white wines in the world.
BOARDING AND CABIN OF THE AIR FRANCE A220
Boarding begins shortly after 9:30 a.m. for Skypriority passengers at gate F49. Other groups will be called less than ten minutes afterwards.
On the right is the 7th Air France Airbus A220 named after the French city of Provins.
I think the Airbus A220s' nose feels very much like the Embraer aircraft's ones.
The door
Fuselage shot
While getting into the aircraft being greeted by some friendly flight attendants, I discovered the cabin of the Air France Airbus A220. Air France Airbus A220s are fitted with 148 Meridian Collins Aerospace seats which I think are among the best equipped in European market. I think the seats feels a bit like the Airbus A320's "Smart & Beyond" cabin but are much more modern than the others.
Like the seats on the European cabins on Airbus A32X Aircrafts these on A220s are equipped with an adjustable headrest each one.
I really like the shape of the Airbus A220 windows.
Next to us is parked a 15 year-old Airbus A321 nicknamed after the French city of Beaune.
While boarding was cleared just before 10 a.m our captain also took the floor to tell us about the flight time and the weather conditions inflight. In this case the flight time will be 50 minutes to reach Geneva with a disturbed weather inflight and a rainy weather at Geneva.
The Air France A220's seats feature one adjustable tray table, one USB-A / USB-C power outlet, and one phone holder which is very useful if you want to watch videos or films during the flight.
Legroom is sufficient for this 50 minutes flight.
While choosing this seat I got a nice view on the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engine.
THE FLIGHT: AF1842 TO GENEVA (GVA)
Pushback was performed at 10:06 a.m
Focus on the ultra modern A220 Personal Service Unit.
EasyJet A319/320
We started our taxiing at 10:09 a.m. towards runway 26R
There was at least two other plane taking off on the runway 26R, so we had to wait until the runway was less busy
Our plane lined up at 10:20 a.m. and one minute later pilots powered up our two PW1500G engines at full thrust for take off, providing us some nice views on the CDG apron, before we see Goussainville and the TGV railway.
We then turned left while flying over Montmagny, before flying over Paris allowing us some amazing views on French capital.
As an inflight entertainment you can enjoy Air France Connect Wifi with several functionalities like free messaging, or you can enjoy a full surf access available for purchase.
Weather was very cloudy during the remainder of the flight.
On my row middle seat remained empty.
Around 10:30 a.m. inflight service was served, on this flight the snack offered on international medium-haul flights consists in a single cheese sandwich with a choice of beverages, I went for a coffee. A water bottle was also provided. It looks cheap for an European flight but better than competitors while Lufthansa just offers water and one single chocolate bar, and it is sufficient regarding the hour of the flight.
Since I don't like cheese in the sandwiches I asked if anyone would like it but nobody replied so I gave it to the flight attendant.
I had just the time to go to the loo that cabin crew announced we'll start our descent towards Geneva so I had no time to take some photos of the loo, but it was very clean.
Just before 11 a.m. we acrossed the cloud layer, as announced weather was very cloudy on Geneva this morning. Approach on GVA provided us some beautiful sights on Leman Lake and mountains, but I was on the wrong side to enjoy the views on the Alps.
We can see the city of Versoix and its harbour.
Our final approach takes place near the French city of Ferney-Voltaire.
We touched down at GVA at 11:15 a.m.
During our taxiing towards our parking stand we can see the numerous airlines operating this morning, including the two main airlines in Geneva, Swiss and EasyJet Switzerland.
We're finally parked just before 11:20 a.m.
As usually all passengers leave their seats once the plane is parked, while seatbelt sign is not powered off yet.
GENEVA AIRPORT
Let's take a last sight at our A220-300
I have to hurry up to make my way to the baggage claim of the French sector, since the luggage only make one turn on the belt at French sector, before moving down to the Swiss sector.
Time goes, baggage delivery starts, but I don't see my suitcase. So, I decide to head to the Swiss sector to check if my suitcase is already there. But I'll be waiting a long time before getting my trolley.
Just before the Swiss sector's baggage claim area, is a duty free shop.
I just needed to collect my luggage and I missed my train to Geneva which would have allowed me to catch a quick connection to Grenoble. So, I decided to reach Grenoble with a Blablabus for 30 euros.
Thank you for stopping by, see you soon for future reviews !
