Review of Air France flight Paris → Vienna in Economy

Welcome to this final 2023 rotation.
And yes, after this return trip to VIE, it will be just about waiting for 2024 flights.
Easy routing to end the year. 

CDG - Landside

To reach CDG on this short journey, I'm relying on public transportation.
I'll be lucky to catch a direct train from Paris, but the young (French) travellers next to me, unaccustomed to the subtleties of pricing in "Ile de France" area, will be fined for having an invalid ticket for CDG… (35 euros the fine).
Arrival at CDG 2 station was uneventful.
I note that the usual control gates exiting the train station seem destined to be replaced by only validation terminals (better for fluidity).

The emblem of the transition from rail to air.

Then, once you've chosen the right direction for Terminal 2F, it's off to the long corridors.

Arriving at Terminal 2F, there didn't seem to be much of a crowd.

Barely a dozen pax are ahead of me at the controls.
This one will nevertheless be a little long.

airside and lounge

Once I've crossed over to the not-so-dark side of the force, it's off to the lounge where I plan to have lunch, as I've come straight from the office without having been through the canteen.

No crowd at the entrance.

No crowds inside.
Still, it's a busy place.

Let's face it, it looks calm.

I decide to stay on the "ground floor" and settle into the restaurant area without any trouble.
Before choosing the hot dish, I take a quick look at the desserts and liquid options. 

I chose the chicken in a bittersweet sauce and it was clearly very good.
It's interesting to note that despite my late arrival time at the lounge (around 2pm), there's still plenty of choice.

Finally, of course, I couldn't leave out the HSE Martinique rum!
Always a credit to the house! (I must admit, however, that I was rather impatient for the vanilla rum I saw at Orly at the end of October…).
The little pear cake (the aesthetics of which leave something to be desired, but who cares) was also very good.
Much more so than the red fruits/choco duo.

As I'm near the buffet and the kitchen exit, I overhear several exchanges between staff trying to find out who's in charge of the ultimate space.
I say to myself that I'd still have to find the stargate before I had access to it (vain hope, but that's what keeps you going! LOL).
The investigation will be quick and the stargate almost anonymous.
But it doesn't really matter where it is, because you just need to be able to be guided there quickly.

I left then the lounge without any pressure and headed for the door.

boarding

It won't take long to walk to F34 gate.

I'll be the first to go to start the SkyPriority line.
At 3.15pm sharp, boarding begins.
The jetbridge is mine. 

The door picture has never been so clear.

Grey, everything is always grey in Paris.

Pole position in the queue means empty cabin on arrival.

After the 5 rows of BC, I found my 7A seat.

Quick review of the personal space.

and cleanliness check.
The backseat pocket is getting a bit tired.

The vacuum didn't catch the rebel (non-greasy) paper hiding underneath.

Next door, an unsuspecting neighbour and our refueling agent at work.
Let's feed the beast!

By the way, who's the beast? It's F-HEPF, now in its 10th year.

Boarding went smoothly and I was joined on my triplet by a couple going to Vienna for the weekend.
We got on well and chatted for most of the flight.

taxi and take off

But of course, you mustn't forget your homework aka the flight report ! (which I explained to them, by the way).
Push back at 3.50pm.

Our pusher confirms the end of his operation.

And the road, or rather the taxi, is ours.
Towards the northern runways.

So it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that we're going to have to wait and see…

But to get there, there's still a little way to go.

In the end, we will be #6 position on take-off (as announced by the captain).
I immortalise 2 North Americans on departure.

Of course a SkyTeam cousin.
I would have been one hair away from the photo of the year if I hadn't clicked too quickly and cut off the tail of this beautiful bird.

But you'll still see what's been cut, there's no censorship here.
At the bottom right, someone is landing too.

We entered the runway at 16:11 and took off immediately.
With the Terminal 1 in full frame.

Then it's on to Le Bourget and the Eiffel Tower…

But because everything is grey, you soon can't see anything.

Even if it's still inspiring.

flight

Once we've turned right to head east, the usual protocol kicks in.
In the announcements, we learn that the WiFi is NOK but the usb socket is OK.
The funny thing is that on the way back, it will be the other way round…

As there's no wifi and of course I've got nothing to hand, I chat to my new friends.
Outside, it's blue.

Catering arrives at 4.35pm.
Two sandwiches to choose from: chicken or cheese.
Cheese on the outward journey.

The food will be quick.
But no more so than the waning daylight.

Well, let's not speak too quick.
5.17pm, announcement of the start of the descent.
The light is fading fast outside.

Arrival

It's hard to make out anything in the dark of night, but the captain is adamant that we're on our approach to VIE.
We trust him.

17:34, landing announced as imminent.
Might be the smoothest landing of the year!
The taxi to the gates will be short, and the gates appear to be deserted.

Final turn.

Parking mode.

Disembarkation will be quick.
and like the empty gates, the corridors are not the busiest.

A portrait of our plane, playing with reflections.

Then the traditional (and rather long) walk to the exit and the 2 beautiful red and green exit gates of VIE.

The slight blur in the previous photo comes from the fact that when I booked my uber, I was reminded that I had to go to the departure level to find it. And suddenly I remember that the elevator isn't right at the exit… => switch to hyper speed mode.

To finish this smooth flight, our fightradar route. 

See you !