Sam ChuiRecently, I went to Paris and back with Air France to attend 20 years annivesary event of Air France at CDG T2 hub and a visit of the Air France A380 hangar. I flew with Air France B777-300/ER new Business Class and below is my review of their new long haul Business Class product.
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At CDG T2
Paris CDG suffered a bad reputation about being difficult and complex to navigate around. The airport authority have really worked hard on this. I found the process easy. There were clear signs everywhere! I was checked-in at T2F in SkyTeam Priority desk within minutes and made my way to T2E Hall L where the Air France long haul departure lounge and gate is located. On the other note, I love the design of the terminal in CDG T2. It would've shown better if I had a sunny day.
Salon Air France (Air France Business Class Lounge T2E Hall L)
The lounge is clearly showing its age. I was told it is due for an extensive refurbishment later this year. Good thing about the lounge is not overly crowded during busy hub hours for long haul departure. There are a decent selection of food and beverage on offer. Guest of the lounge are entitled to a free 20 minutes Clarins facial spa treatment which is a really nice feature! There were a total of 3 treatment to choose for ladies and 2 treatment for man.
Onboard new Business Class
I was warmly welcomed by the experienced Air France crew. The new business class has everything done right. It has all-aisle access, flat bed, good storage and the right amount of privacy. The cabin has an elegant design as everything else with Air France. Flight to Dubai is operated by B777-300/ER. Registration F-GSQJ. There are a total of 60 business class seats in 2 separate cabin.
New Comfort Kit
I was lucky as Air France just rolled out a new comfort kit for Business Class. This new model is available in four colours – blue, grey, orange and turquoise. Inspired by a “Toi & Moi” design, the Business kit features two suede pockets that are closed by a metal zip, with a shiny leather flap that flips over the top. This new elegant and practical kit features Clarins beauty products.
Food and Beverage
This is, perhaps the highlight part of flying Air France. The onboard gastronomy is simply done right and wonderful. In the Business cabin, your culinary voyage begins with a glass of champagne and a selection of French wine picked by sommelier Paolo Basso. The menu is designed by Michelin Starred chef Régis Marcon, Michel Roth and Guy Martin. I have the cured salmon as starter and chuck steak which is amazingly tender and flavourful, followed by a trio of dessert and sorbet. Passenger with dietary requirement can pre-order their selection online.The Rest of my flight
I have a beautiful flight enroute to Dubai with stunning scenery over the Austrian/Swiss Alps. The crew were all very kind and provided many personal touch. All of them are willing to go the extra mile to make me feel comfortable onboard. The touch screen enabled in-flight entertainment is also a strong feature onboard. I watched a foreign language movie in the comfort of my bed. At the end of the 6hr 30 mins flight, I was allowed to visit the cockpit and chat with the pilot on the ground in Dubai. Air France also provides limousine transfer in UAE for business class passengers arriving in Dubai.Conclusion
I am a big fan of Air France. They are by far my favourite European airlines. The new business class cabin and in-flight service is associated with chic, elegance and business friendly. It is a very competitive product. The Air France crew goes out a long way to make me feel comfortable onboard. Overall, I have a very pleasant flight with Air France.Video
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