Review of Air France flight Paris → Beirut in Business

Hello everyone! I've decided to translate my previous FRs to English due to my cousin's interest in reading them!

French Versions:

20 Juillet 2014 - Beyrouth -> Paris - AF 561 - Business - 3A - A330 - http://flight-report.com/en/report-7765.html

20 Juillet 2014 - Paris -> Munich - AF 1822 - Premium Eco - 4D - A319 - Non Reporté (Maux de tête ont eu raison de moi)

9 Août 2014 - Munich -> Paris - AF 1423 - Premium Eco - 5C - A319 - http://flight-report.com/en/report-7785.html
9 Août 2014 - Paris -> Beyrouth - AF 562 - Business - 4A - A330 - http://flight-report.com/en/report-7823.html


English Versions:

20th Of July 2014 - Beirut -> Paris - AF 561 - Business - 3A - A330 - Soon
20th Of July 2014 - Paris -> Munich - AF 1822 - Premium Eco - 4D - A319 - Not Reported (Headaches kept me at bay)

9th Of August 2014 - Munich -> Paris - AF 1423 - Premium Eco - 5C - A319 - Soon
9th Of August 2014 - Paris -> Beirut - AF 562 - Business - 4A - A330 - YOU ARE HERE

I'm sorry that I started from the last report but my 10-years old cousin wanted to read the reports and this was the one I had translated the most so I finished it. Enjoy it Looch Looch ;)

Two days before my departure from Munich I get an email from Air France offering me an upgrade to Business class (from Premium Economy) for a very reasonable 213$ on the Paris-Beirut leg. Once again I accept the upgrade and my reservation is updated with the new travel class.

I needed that upgrade for one simple thing: I had a 5h layover and was stranded in Hall K with the temporary gardens which are terrible to stay at for more than an hour at most. I didn't want to end up paying 35 Euros to gain access to such a place, completely not worth it.

The Email :




My boarding pass with the previous Munich-Paris flight:




After deplaning by bus to Terminal 2F and a brisk walk later here I am in Terminal 2E- Hall K.

Directly after my arrival I head towards the temporary spaces set-up by Air France in the two extremities of Hall K. I head to the west space because of its close proximity to my boarding gate (K33). A lovely agent welcomes me to the garden and hands me a Wi-Fi card to be used while warning me that reception might not be optimal due to some antenna problems that were being fixed at the moment.

Here's the Wi-Fi Card:



I was connected for much more than 15min and I didn't use the card, does this mean the old limit is gone?


I seat myself in the lower section of the terrace with a direct view on the tarmac:



Comfort wise it's far from stellar:




An Emirates A380 passing by:



Air France A320 heading to the parking space:





There's more than 4h left till my next flight. I decide to head to the duty free and purchase some items for the family along with some special requests from friends as well:


A380 with the Airbus livery:


I come back to my initial terrace. The welcoming party suggests that I go the Air France Lounge in Hall L since I have enough time to go back and forth. Well here we go. I go through security in the opposite direction and take the shuttle towards Hall L:




I clear security in less than a minute thanks to the dedicated Sky Priority/Accès N'1 line which was completely empty.
The agent scans my boarding pass and tells me that I'm at the wrong gate. I explain my situation and he directs me to the lounge(which I already know). Another agent overhears our discussion and explains to me how to leave Hall L and head back to the Shuttle, she also wishes me a good day in a very warm fashion.

I take the elevator and here I am only a mere feet away from the lounge's entrance:




It's now 12h30 PM. I present my boarding pass and explain why I'm here. The agent greets me with a smile and invites me to visit the lounge in Hall M before it closes at 2PM. It was tempting by I was so hungry I needed to eat something first:

My lunch for today:



I ate two plates of the same cold pasta with salmon. By the time I finished it was already 1h30 PM and going to the Hall M lounge wasn't an option. Maybe next time.


Hall L Lounge:




Back to Hall K with a new security check. The agent at the terrace tells me that my boarding gate has changed to K51 and that I might want to go to the other terrace to be closer to the gate. Here We go.




A bit of spotting around Hall K (Not very spotter-friendly)




Air France B747-400:





Another 747 taxiing:






Air France A330-200 :







Air France A340-300:





A lot of Air France 777s :






My Final Spot:






B772 taking off:





Etihad A340-500 heading towards the Terminal:







Emirates A380 which was taxiing at the start of this FR:





Miscellaneous Planes:





Flight On-Time:





Heading Towards the boarding gate:






Our bird for the day with the ancient livery:






The Emirates A380 decides to push back the moment we started boarding (Priorities respected)






Zoom on the Terminal from my seat. Sadly I will have a neighbor in 4B but he slept most of the flight.





Wing + Engine:







Spotting during the relatively short Taxing:


Royal Air Jordanian A319




Another collection of planes:





Air France B777-300ER:





Air France B777-200ER received on the 2nd of April 2002:






Air France B777-300ER received on the 24th Of October 2007:





Air France B747-400:





Air France B777-200ER received on the 11th of Mars 1999:





Air France B777-200ER received on the 21st of April 1998:




Two Air France whales:





Special French-Chinese relations livery:




Air France A319 landing near us:





Take-Off:




I take a comfortable position and await dinner:




L'amuse bouche:





Easy-Jet in-flight spotting:




Another Plane:




Cruising altitude reached:



One More:




The winglet:




The table is getting ready:




Foie Gras and smoked salmon; exquisite.




Done:



The cutlery:



Evian:




The small IFE screen with decent content I must say:




Sneak-peek at the cabin:



I forgot to take a picture of the menu, I still have it somewhere though. I will update this report when I find it.

My Plate:



I choose pasta once more because I've had it with meat and chicken during my stay in Salzburg. It was decent but not cooked well enough; let's say it's not something you serve in Business class. Alas I was too tired to finish them and I skipped the cheese plate and the triple dessert.



I try to sleep but the seats weren't very comfortable at first. 10 minutes later I find a comfortable position and sleep until moments before landing.

Beyrouth:



Quick deliveries of the bags but the Priority tags were useless as always.

Thanks For Reading!