Wednesday newsletters at all times characteristic a lodge or flight assessment.
Final summer time (July 2023), I loved an outstanding safari & seaside vacation in South Africa and Mozambique, in all probability my greatest vacation ever. You’ll be able to learn my journey stories right here:
In the present day: Evaluation of Air France’s new Boeing 777 Enterprise Class suite (Johannesburg to Paris)
After an unimaginable vacation in Southern Africa, I flew again house with Air France onboard a Boeing 777 which was outfitted with the service’s latest Enterprise Class product: suites with sliding doorways organized in a 1-2-1 reverse format. As I already described in my assessment of the outbound flight, Air France’s new arduous product is superb and the suites – that are unfold over two cabins – characteristic cutting-edge devices corresponding to sliding doorways, wi-fi charging, bluetooth audio, and 4K high-definition anti-glare screens. Mixed with the service’s wonderful mushy product – which incorporates gourmand delicacies designed by Michelin starred cooks – all of it makes for a terrific flight expertise, therefore why Air France is one among my favourite airways.
On high of that, there’s one little-known characteristic that makes Air France’s new Enterprise Class product much more particular and distinctive. Its bulkhead seats – that are positioned within the entrance of each Enterprise Class cabins, extra particularly in rows 1 and 9 – provide an infinite quantity of additional house, which equals that and even tops the house you often discover in First Class cabins. IMHO, these are at the moment the world’s greatest Enterprise Class seats they usually appear to characterize some type of a “Enterprise Class Plus” product. To this point, Air France has not made a whole lot of fuzz about this characteristic and the service doesn’t cost additional for these seats however they’re solely out there to Flying Blue elite members at reserving (though in addition they turn into out there to different Enterprise Class passengers 72 hours previous to departure). For my return flight to Paris, I used to be in a position to choose a bulkhead suite in the course of the on-line check-in course of, which might be the prelude of one among my greatest Enterprise Class flight experiences ever.
Have you ever ever flown with Air France? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.
- Journey: Johannesburg (JNB) to Paris (PAR)
- Airline: Air France
- Plane kind: Boeing 777-300ER
- Plane registration quantity: F-GZNU (in-built 2016)
- Departure time: 7 pm
- Arrival time: 6 am (+ 1 day)
- Miles: 4420 miles (8720 km)
- Flight time: 10 hours
- Seat: 9A
- Class: Enterprise Class
On this assessment (extra info & pictures beneath my YouTube video):
- Air France Enterprise Class Lounge at CDG Airport
- Air France historical past
- Enterprise Class cabin
- Enterprise Class seat (+ greatest & worst seats)
- Facilities & bedding
- Meals
- Leisure
- Onboard web
- Different inflight experiences
- My verdict (rating)
1. SLOW LOUNGE AT JOHANNESBURG O.R. TAMPO AIRPORT
Air France doesn’t have its personal Enterprise Class lounge at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport. As an alternative, it presents its premium passengers entry to the Gradual Lounge, a 3rd get together contract lounge positioned one flooring above the airport’s principal concourse. The Gradual Lounge is comprised of two separate lounges, one to the left and one to the suitable of the reception space. Each lounge areas characteristic an analogous format, and are divided into separate sections for enjoyable, working or consuming. Every lounge options its personal buffet station (with an important collection of scorching & chilly dishes) and a lovely bar space. Though the Gradual Lounge feels stylish and its meals & beverage providing is superb, the lounge doesn’t have any home windows (so it lacks pure mild) and it would get very busy throughout peak hours (which was the case throughout my go to).
2. AIR FRANCE LONGHAUL FLEET
Air France has 63 Boeing 777s in its fleet: a mix of 18 Boeing 777-200ER and 45 Boeing 777-300ER planes. These plane have a mean age of 17 years (the youngest Boeing 777-300ER was acquired in 2016). Air France is the world’s 4th largest Boeing 777 operator (after Emirates, United Airways and Qatar Airways).
3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN
Air France’s retrofitted Boeing 777-300ERs that are outfitted with the brand new Enterprise Class product characteristic 48 spacious suites unfold over two cabins. The majority of the suites is positioned within the entrance Enterprise Class cabin, which has a complete of 28 seats and consists of seven rows, whereas the rear Enterprise Class cabin feels extra intimate with solely 5 rows of 20 suites. The Enterprise Class seats are organized in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone format, offering all passengers direct entry to the aisle.
All Enterprise Class seats are outfitted with a sliding door, permitting every passenger to create a completely non-public house, out of sight from the opposite passengers within the cabin. The seats positioned within the middle of the cabin are outfitted with a central panel that may be lowered by urgent it down, thus making a convivial house during which to take advantage of the flight collectively. Additionally, the seats on the entrance of each Enterprise cabins (in rows 1 and 9) have an infinite quantity of additional house in entrance of them for added consolation, making them the very best seats within the airplane.
Air France’s new Enterprise Class cabin has a chic design and shows Air France’s signature colours: navy blue, the presence of white including mild and distinction, and touches of crimson embodying its excellence and savoir-faire. The carpet on the ground revisits the standard decorative herringbone sample, symbolising the emblematic world of conventional Parisian Haussmann residences. The entrance of the cabin in addition to the facet panel of every suite characteristic a winged seahorse, embodying the founding fantasy of the corporate and its wealthy historical past. The cabin additionally feels very luxurious and plush because the service has chosen noble, mushy and pure supplies corresponding to wool, brushed aluminium and full-grain French leather-based for the manufacture of its seat.
4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)
Air France has put in Safran Versa Enterprise Class seat onboard its retrofitted Boeing 777s. With a pitch of 106 cm (42 inches) and a width of 53 cm (21 inch), the seat feels very comfy, has wonderful padding, and options luxurious accents, corresponding to a darkish navy blue seat cloth and a leather-based headrest. Positioned in its personal shell, the design of the Enterprise Class seat relies on the three “F”s: Full Flat, which means that the seat transforms into an actual mattress nearly 2 m (6.5 ft) lengthy; Full Entry, offering all passengers direct entry to the aisle; and Full Privateness, guaranteeing optimum privateness by way of a sliding door.
One facet of the seat – positioned in direction of the cabin wall for the window seats or the middle line for center seats – options a big enclosed console, that includes a backlit image of Air France’s iconic winged seahorse brand. On the within, the console has a hook with the noise-cancelling headphones upon boarding, however when you take away them it has sufficient room to retailer your smaller private belonging (e.g. cellphone, pockets, glasses). There’s additionally a conceit mirror inside this console and effectively as a handset for the inflight leisure. On the console’s outer wall is a studying mild (at eye degree) in addition to a USB-A outlet.
Subsequent to the console is a large counter, which incorporates a wi-fi charging station and a metallic trim holding the seat controls. Beneath the counter are a small storage pocket (which can be utilized to retailer a bottle of water) and several other energy shops (together with a USB-C charger and AC energy outlet). The seat’s bi-fold tray desk can be positioned on this facet of the seat and slides out from beneath the counter.
Every seat has a big 17.3-inch 4K high-definition anti-glare display. The suite’s apex additionally incorporates a footwell with an extra storage space beneath (which is ideal for stowing away a purse or sneakers). The ottoman is sort of giant, which boosts the sleeping consolation when the seat is totally reclined. When sleeping, the aisle armrest may be left up for extra privateness, or lowered for offering some welcome additional mattress width.
What are the greatest Enterprise Class seats?
- The bulkhead seats within the entrance of every Enterprise Class cabin – in rows 1 and 9 – provide an infinite quantity of additional house, which equals that and even tops the house you often discover in First Class cabins. There’s a lot house that when sleeping, passengers can principally place their physique any method they like
- Solo vacationers ought to select one of many window seats, whereas journey companions ought to go for the center seats.
What are the worst Enterprise Class seats?
- I recommend to keep away from the final row within the entrance Enterprise Class cabin (row 8) as a consequence of its proximity to the galley and bathrooms.
- I additionally recommend to keep away from the final row within the rear Enterprise Class (row 14) which is in entrance of the Premium Financial system Class bassinet seats.
Click on right here for a seat map of Air France’s Boeing 777-300ER.
5. AMENITIES & BEDDING
Air France presents the next facilities to its Enterprise Class passengers on longhaul flights:
- A consolation equipment product of 96% recycled materials. Its plastic packaging has been eliminated in favor of an integrity seal. Sober and refined, it’s out there in two colors, navy blue and beige. Every equipment incorporates a toothbrush and a pen constructed from maize straw, in addition to earplugs wrapped in kraft paper to keep away from plastic. A big sleep masks, socks, toothpaste and Clarins cosmetics full the equipment.
- A hanger
- A mushy microfiber pillow and a mushy blanket
- Air France branded noise-cancelling headphones, that are arduous wired into the storage cubby and of respectable high quality
Sadly, Air France doesn’t present a quilted mattress. It’s in all probability the one factor I missed throughout my journey with the service, as a quilted mattress can actually make a distinction in the case of the onboard sleeping consolation.
6. MEALS
Air France has an extended historical past of collaborating witch Michelin-starred cooks. In reality, it’s the one airline on the planet to accomplice with so many Michelin-starred cooks, reaffirming greater than ever its position as an envoy for high-quality French eating and experience all through the world. On long-haul flights departing from Paris, Air France has entrusted the menu in its Enterprise cabin to Michelin-starred French cooks. The best names in French haute delicacies, together with Régis Marcon, Anne-Sophie Pic and Michel Roth, take it in turns to supply vegetarian dishes in addition to refined dishes with crimson or chicken or fish. These meals are enhanced by tableware signed by French designer Jean-Marie Massaud. The wine and champagne checklist is chosen by world well-known sommelier Paolo Basso.
Throughout this in a single day flight from Paris to Johannesburg, two meals have been served: a dinner after takeoff and a breakfast earlier than touchdown. Menus have been properly executed (with all choices talked about in English and French), the dishes have been superbly plated, and the meals tasted wonderful.
I select the next choice from the dinner menu:
- Appetizer: zucchini and goat’s cheese roll, beet mousse ball
- Starter: tomato, black olive & crimson onion salad, mozzarella balls marinated in pesto & basil, salmon tartare, bruschetta with olive oil
- Major course: filet of beef with herbs, potato purée, bell peppers and inexperienced beans
- Cheese platter
- Dessert: caramel cream puff, chocolate and vanilla tart, ardour fruit and almond cake
Breakfast was served 90 minutes previous to touchdown in Johannesburg and included recent orange juice, espresso, tea, pastries, yoghurt, and fruits. The recent dish was comprised of scrambled eggs, potato fritter, roasted tomatoes with herbs, and sautéed mushrooms.
7. ENTERTAINMENT
As already talked about, every seat has a big 17.3-inch 4K high-definition anti-glare display, outfitted with noise-reducing headphones and a Bluetooth connection in order that prospects can use their private headphones. A state-of-the-art graphic interface out there in 12 languages makes it simple to select from all kinds of programmes. Greater than 350 movies can be found, together with a big collection of French motion pictures, in addition to TV sequence, documentaries, music and podcasts. A selected part on well-being additionally permits younger and previous alike to study meditation and seated yoga in the course of the flight. Lastly, children have their very own navigation interface to simply discover all of the leisure particularly devoted to our youthful passengers. Air France’s Boeing 777-300ERs are additionally outfitted with a nostril and stomach digital camera, streaming stay footage to the inflight leisure system.
8. ONBOARD INTERNET
In all cabins, passengers can use Air France Join, the airline’s in-flight Wi-Fi provide. The portal presents three passes, one among which is totally freed from cost and permits passengers to ship and obtain messages through WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, and comparable companies, though you can’t ship or obtain pictures, movies, or audio information.
Two different web packages can be found for buy on Air France’s longhaul flights:
- The Surf Cross is offered as 1-hour voucher for EUR 8, or a full-flight voucher for EUR 18. With this go, you may surf the web, and ship & obtain e-mails.
- The Stream Cross prices EUR 30 for the whole flight and allows you to surf the web, ship and obtain e-mails together with (giant) attachments, ship & obtain messages together with pictures, movies, & audio information, and stream music, audio, & video.
9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES
# CREW: The flight attendants on this journey have been very pleasant and supplied impeccable and courteous service. I used to be supplied a handwritten welcome card by the crew upon boarding, which was a pleasant contact.
# LAVATORY: Air France’s Boeing 777-300ER options 4 bathrooms for Enterprise Class passengers: two are positioned behind the cockpit and the 2 different within the galley between each Enterprise Class cabins. The bathrooms have been filled with Clarins toiletries.
10. MY VERDICT
- Seat consolation (upright): 9/10
- Seat consolation (mattress place): 10/10
- Meals (high quality): 9/10
- Meals (amount): 9/10
- Inflight leisure : 9/10
- WiFi: 9/10 (not out there)
- Service: 10/10
- Cabin design: 9/10
- General expertise: distinctive – 9,2/10
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