Review of Air France flight from Paris to San José in Economy

Hi everyone,
At last, it's time for my first long haul flight, heading for new horizons since covid time.
I'm flying to Costa Rica with my wife and child on a "company" trip (meaning that, thanks to my company, we had a significant discount but we' have to flight with colleagues !). 
From France perspective, It's the destination of the moment, as several flight reporters are also in the running, as well as a number of friends.
Is this craze justified? Only 11 hours of flying left to find out!
This trip will also bring my long-awaited A350 first flight.
I'd hoped for an A350 on the round trip, but in the end, to leave Paris, it'll be a good old 772.

CDG/Passeport Control and Security

To reach CDG, no risk, we take the Uber option, and with a margin.
Here we are shortly before 10am at the check-in counter.
No nasty surprises this time with our PAX Y status: easy access and check-in with an agent.
In fact, the check-in process is extremely efficient.
New perk for FB Platinum passengers: we're entitled to 2 FlyingBlue baggage items in addition to the one included, so I'll be able to combine our 3 suitcases with my name.
Once we've unloaded our suitcases, we're off to the passeport control and security duo without a hitch, which is amazing for a vacation departure on a WE.

When I say few people, that's an understatement.
Because 15 minutes after arriving at CDG, here we are, just after the passeport control booth.
The pressure regarding efficiency is now on the security check. 

Well, it's done his homework: 5 minutes later, we're airside.
This efficiency is due in no small part to the new scanners, which allow us not to unpack the entire contents of our bags, especially when it comes to electronics.
Only liquids need be taken out. 

Everything is so fast that by the time I click on my phone, the FIDS will have changed to the left before I know it…
In fact, we're right on time for K30 gate. 

We have no objective other than to wait, so we're off to the lounge.

Lounge

Quick access here too, and window/buffet-side installation.
It's quite busy in the lounge, though. 

We try to get upstairs so as not to be seated in the entrance hall, but in the end, we prefer the option next to the main buffet.
All that remains of this escapade is the staircase, which is far less glamorous than the lounge of 2F terminal. 

We're at the breakfast/lunch switchover.
So we'll be able to have both breakfast and lunch…
Champagne is available from 10.45am (go for mimosa coktail) and on the red wine side, there's obviously already been some consumption… 

With the time we spent on site, we were able to have these 2 small selections for a pleasant wait.

For the hot dishes, the aim was to taste “everything” and clearly, it was very good.

Eating is one thing, but keeping up to date is another.
Everything is nominal for us, and today F-GSPU will be taking care of us.
In fact, she's made a great east-west leap in 3 days… 

After this time in the lounge, where we noted a steady flow of PAX, we headed for the plane, boarding at 12:30.

Head for K30, at the far end.

BOARDING AND CABIN

At 12.20pm, boarding starts but for just to enter the jet bridge.

Not the best spot for the portrait of our 772.

If we've saved 10 minutes regarding the start of boarding, seeing the crew arrive on the tarmac at the same time suggests a non-zero waiting time…

The growing crowds show that SJO is popular!

After 20 minutes, the line starts moving.

Airplane at the end of the path.

On of the greedy GE90.

Here we are at the gate and time for a fuselage picture.
A smiling welcome at the gate and a right turn for the Frosty Family to row 39.

Yes, we slipped into the Sky Priority line, but for us it's the last Y cabin.
Indeed, be seated further ahead would have meant dropping a substantial fee for the junior seat, NO WAY.
In any case, between the head and the tail, all will land a the same time! 

So we can sit back and relax in our 3-seats row.

Once seated, the feeling of space fades, but we're comfortable.
There's nothing missing, including the socket for recharging our phones during the flight.
Speaking of the phone, we'd like to make sure we've switched off the roaming option, otherwise we'll be at risk of being punished on the spot.

The underside is fine, even if there's a bit of "I don't know what" left in the front. 

Next door, no neighbors.

Time to review our menu.
As we consult the menu, junior is concerned by the size of the screen, which seems smaller than our last flight from FDF.
He'll have 11 hours to think it over… 

Scheduled to arrive at 4:11pm, we'll actually have an extra half-hour.

At 1.15pm, end of boarding for our 772, which was full as an egg.
If it was a bit cold when we got on the plane, now we're in full heat mode.
Can't wait for A/C mode on. 

Our captain (assisted by 2 pilots) starts its announcements regarding flight information as well as a small breakdown in the hold requiring maintenance intervention.
Door closed at 13h33 for a push back at 13h43. 

A start with vibrations that I love so much.

Taxiing starts at 1:48pm, taking us to the end of the runway in less than 10 minutes.

While waiting for our clearance, on the runway next door, some heavy bird arrives.

Take off at 2pm.
From my unusual position (i.e. behind the engines), I note the noise and slight blurring in the photos due to the exhaust fumes… 

This slight blurring is perceptible on views of the traditional CDG landscape (Carole racing circuit, Le Bourget), but remains acceptable.

Then clouds.

FLIGHT

The protocol starts with a fresh towel at 2:15pm.

A quick trip to the amenities before lunch.
Great set of mirrors in this narrow cabin.
To change your baby, he doesn't have to be very big… 

Returning to my seat, you'll notice how well this last Y section is filled.

At 2.40pm, service begins, but I don't get my tray until 3.25pm.
It will be standard, as it's identical to the one on our flight to FDF this summer.
I notice that the marketing always talks about a clafouti with plums… whereas mine is always with A plum… 

Coffee to finish.
So far, everything is the same as our flight to FDF, and this will have a small effect on hunger at the end of the flight… (because there's another 3 hours to go to reach 11 in total instead of our usual 8h flight). 

Well, the extra 30 minutes can be seen now on our live map.

Regarding WiFi, only the free pass works.
It's not possible to pay for other options (the same will occur on our flight back).

Here we go for a long movie session.
It's not a very pleasant one, though, as the IFE suffers from several jerks and the noise from my beloved GEs in the back is rather loud…

Halfway through the flight (it's now 7 p.m.), we set up the snack.
The photos are just as good, but it's going to be a “war” in the sense that as soon as the trays are set down, they're going to be emptied.
Hunger sets in at 7pm, and it's only going to get worse…
So much so that to make the connection with the 2nd service, the cabin crew will have to “ration” the food.

Incidentally, I made a mistake in the sense that I didn't take any sandwiches when I took the photos.
In the end, I'll get them on request at the time of “rationing”.
And it's only 9:20pm.

editor's note: the second service will be 2 hours later.

In short, it was the first time I'd ever been really hungry on a plane, and obviously I wasn't the only one.
There is room for impovement…

For consolation, a bit of natural IFE with islands I'm not used to see.

Next up is Cuba, which I'm also flying over for the first time.

At 11.10pm, the second service, awaited like the messiah.
This "bon appétit bag" doesn't include much more than the one from ORY/CDG -> FDF flight.

I confess that rather than a bruschetta kit (bread and tomato sauce), I'd have preferred a ready-made sandwich.
 
At this point and with hunger, everything will be eaten. 

The coast of Central America arrives.
The images are not of the highest quality, but the muddy beaches are clearly visible, due to the rivers that have recently been flooded by rain.  

Landing soon.

LANDING

The start of the descent is announced at 00:30 or 16:30 local time.
Captain announces 24 degrees and possible rain/thunderstorm at SJO…
As we approach SJO, we circle the airport.
The clouds obstruct the view a little, but I make the most of it anyway. 

Big left turn again to line up.
Below, another airport (Tobías-Bolaños de San José Airport - SYQ), a succession of red roofs and grey/rain.

In fact, it's a nightmare to get a view.

But here we are, landed!
4:56pm, beautiful sunset. 

Disembarkation takes a little longer (20 minutes).
Logical, since we're almost at the bottom of the cabin.

The portrait of our valiant 772 after his 11h30 of work.

Then a long walk to the luggage claim. Note a small duty free shop along the way.

Note #1 regarding passeport control (which will be fairly quick): be ready to tell the officers where you're staying (ie. name of hotel or address), as the answer is mandatory to obtain their stamp.

Note #1 regarding passeport control: In Costa Rica, paperwork and deadlines are no laughing matter. A colleague's non-French spouse was turned away because her French residence permit was only valid for one month after the return date, rather than the 3 months required in Costa Rica.
This caused a bit of a scare in the group and for the family in question, as everything had been checked by the agency beforehand…
“Fortunately", she will be able to leave directly on the same plane, thus avoiding probably (minimum) 24 hours of the most unpleasant stay in the transit zone.
And so there's a little dispute to be settled on the way back…

At the baggae claim, many porters offer their services.
Not usual for me. 

With the emotions and difficult decisions behind us, our little group gathered outside to wait for the bus to our hotel.
It's not much of a glitzy exit, but it's effective. 

Shortly afterwards, our bus arrives.
After loading our luggage through the rear window (…), we set off for 1h30 of narrow roads to our hotel on the Pacific coast..

Now, it's vacation time!