Review of Air France flight Beirut → Paris in Business

Airline Air France
Flight AF561
Class Business
Seat 3A
Aircraft Airbus A330-200
Flight time 05:05
Take-off 20 Jul 14, 10:20
Arrival at 20 Jul 14, 14:25
AF   #23 out of 94 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 6118 reviews
PortAxe
By 4981
Published on 30th August 2014
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 - YOU ARE HERE
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 - http://flight-report.com/en/report-7870.html

My journey begins at the Sky Priority check-in counters. The agent behind the desk seems happy to be there. While placing the Priority tag on my bags he tells me there's an offer to upgrade from Premium Economy to Business class using cash only. Having previously received Air France's offer by email two days earlier I politely decline (They wanted 407$).


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The agent is surprised by this amount and after checking his papers, tells me that this amount is for an upgrade from Economy to Business. Things start to get interesting. Finally he informs me that the upgrade will be 200$, I accept instantaneously. I choose a window seat and I'm placed in seat 3A. I receive my new boarding pass as well as the invitation to the Cedar Lounge.

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Sorry for the weird colors but the photo was originally completely black before I was able to light it up using Lightroom.

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Quick passage of passport control:

Nothing particulary interesting in the duty free which makes me go the Lounge even faster. The Cedar Lounge is luminous and offers a nice view of the tarmac and the different planes available.

Some Photos:

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A visually appealing lounge to be honest:





With a catering that doesn't do it justice:

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MEA A320 Push-Back:

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BA A321 Push-Back:

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Boarding time:

MEA A330 with the old livery:

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Companies with access to the Cedar lounge:

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Our bird for the day: An Airbus A330-200: F-GZCE received by Air France almost 12 years ago.


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Boarding Gate:

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MEA's version of boarding priorities replaced by AF shortly before boarding began:

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After a 20 min delays boarding is launched. Quite a big amount of people in the Sky Priority lane, priorities respected and passport control.

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And here's the seat of AF's A330 which everyone knows:

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Small IFE:

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Seat Controls:

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Pitch:

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I will be lucky that day, no neighbor in 3B (Yes!)
I was glad to see the newest additions to the Business class cabin (New pillow and blanket)

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Slippers with ear muffs :

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I get offered Champagne and juice, I take the juice.

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New comfort kit which I love:

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Security Card:

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Push-Back with some minor plane spotting:

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Air Arabia:

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A few relics:

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Quick take-off and start of service:





Exquisite amuse-bouche as a start and here's where it was seated:


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Menu:
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Starter: Shredded marinated salmon and Bündnerfleisch:

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My chosen main dish (between 4 choices including one local speciality): giant Orecchiette pasta stuffed with spinach and mushrooms in cream sauce and tomato sauce.

At first I thought I would regret my choice but that turned out to be delicious:

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Deserts:
- White Chocolate Dome .
- Orange Mousse .
- Tart with seasonal fruit

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A great meal in conclusion:

My favorite drink:

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Money Shot:

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Once the service is completed I lay back and watch Fiston, nice movie to kill time:

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Cabin light is dimmed:

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I wake up a few moments before landing (which was very smooth) and deplane by bus:

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The Airbus A380 which I adore:


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BONUS:
My best friend's house overlooks the airport which means that he was able to take a few shots of my plane during take-off, ENJOY!

Waiting:

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Taxiing:

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Rotate!

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Positive Rate, Gear Up!

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Thanks For Reading!
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Verdict

Air France

9.1/10
Cabin9.0
Cabin crew10.0
Entertainment/wifi8.0
Meal/catering9.5

Cedar Lounge

7.4/10
Comfort8.0
Meal/catering6.5
Entertainment/wifi8.0
Services7.0

Beirut - BEY

8.2/10
Efficiency10.0
Access7.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.0

Paris - CDG

8.5/10
Efficiency10.0
Access8.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.0

Conclusion

Confort: Excellent for a day flight. -1 for the cabin's age.

PNC: Excellent. Nothing to report.

Catering: Exquiste. -0.5 for the starter salad.

IFE: Small screen but great content. I won't be too harsh because of the flight's duration.

Punctuality: Took off 30 minutes late and arrived 10 minutes late.

Cedar Lounge: Great expect the catering: 8/10

Information on the route Beirut (BEY) → Paris (CDG)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 30 avis concernant 2 compagnies sur la ligne Beirut (BEY) → Paris (CDG).

Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est Middle East Airlines avec 8.6/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 4 heures et 33 minutes.

  More information

4 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 116740 by
    jetsetpanda 2283 Comments
    You are lucky to get these upgrade deals. At these prices, I wouldn't think too much about it neither It's always nice to fly on a widebody, especially in a premium cabin.

    The Cedar lounge looks very open with little privacy. Lebanon has a great culinary heritage but this lounge does not reflect that.

    I am surprised that AF provides slippers for a flight of this length.

    Thank you for sharing your awesome experience
    • Comment 301880 by
      PortAxe AUTHOR 91 Comments
      Agreed, a long-haul product on such a relatively short flight is a huge bonus, you get the full amenities ;)

      You're absolutely correct regarding the culinary heritage, there's so much possibilities to present a nice Lebanese breakfast instead of generic food only.

      Thank You for your comment! You're welcome!

  • Comment 116978 by
    KévinDC TEAM SILVER 6744 Comments
    Wow, another great upgrade deal! I fly in Premium Economy on AF a lot and have only gotten the offer once, and it didn't work because they had an IT glitch. grrr. So for my past trip I just bought Business at a good price, which ended up being cheaper than if I had bought Premium and then gotten upgrade deals. Beautiful pictures and well written report once again! Thanks for sharing!
    • Comment 301881 by
      PortAxe AUTHOR 91 Comments
      Well of course buying Business from the start is a more tempting option, but for such a short flight I didn't want to pay almost Double for it. I relied on paying for my upgrades because that would allow me to fly in Business where I need it while still maintaining a great ticket price. I didn't need Business class on the intra-europe flights when the service, seats and cabin are the same in Premium.

      Thanks!
      You're Welcome!

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