back from the caribbean
Let's start with a small bonus from the Saintes islands
And the caravelle beach in Grande Terre.
Since the market is essentially french, besides ITA Airways that sometimes fly there, there are just 3 airlines operating flights from mainland France: Air Caraïbes, Corsair and Air France. In theory you could think that the competition would bring the prices down but actually there is very little difference.
Miles flying blue claimed: 6664
XP points earned: 30 XP
Enchainement de vols
- 1
- 2
- 3Air France Business B772 FDF - CDG
- 4Air France A319 CDG - LYS
The reason why we chose this connecting flight instead of a direct return flight is that the whole return jouney premium eco then business was at €1078 each!!
I must tell you that nowadays even this price in economy is hard to find, as the 3 operators have "agreed" to all raise their prices by 40% (so not sure competition is that benefic for the customer)
Since the withdrawal of the B747, Air France has been consistently operating B773 on the route from both Orly and CDG airports, but as I mentioned In these covid times, we got the shorter version (not that it changes much in terms of passenger experience, but my fly log doesn't agree with me!)
The flight will be operated with the B772 in the 312 seats configuration.
at FORT DE FRANCE - AIMÉ CÉSAIRE international airport
If our experience at Point à Pitre was a complete mockery, the ground staff at FDF was so lovely.
The minute we stepped inside the terminal from the paxbus riding from our previous flight, two Air France crew were holding signs with our name to give us our boarding pass and to escort us all the way to the lounge.
The airport is packed full of people, which makes you wonder if it has really been designed to accomodate 3 long haul planes at a fairly similar time.
at the air france lounge
The lady at the front desk is very friendly, she even indicates where there are some seats left and not to miss the rhum they newly added to their selection!
The lounge isn't the most beautiful in the world, far away from the prestigious AF lounge at CDG but does have all the bare minimum.
Besides a TV and some newspapers, there isn't much entertainment, it looks like a regional airport lounge but does the job just fine.
At least (and compares to PTP), the staff was friendly and the lounge was open!!
We will have a full three course menu onboard so I am wisely choosing my calories input :p
We were a bit busy tasting some different rhums when the boarding announce was made.
Sorry for the blurry picture.
onboard the b777-200
Aircraft: Boeing B777-228ER
Tail number: F-GSPN
Engines: 2x GE90
Age: 20 years old
Layout: J28 C24 Y260
I was always lucky enough no to travel with the old and horrible NEV4 business class seats.
The seats are well designed, the only cons I feel is the old beige shade of the cabin itself of the B777-200.
Corsair next door has configured its cabin with 336 seats, I let you imagine how densely configured that it is..
The bottle of water is already there on the seat. The Screen is large.
The aperitif was back after this lock down period, which was a good surprise.
You can tell I was craving for some champagne!!
The seats are Full Flat, Full Access and Full Privacy - which seems to be the standard but not for everyone (hello Lufthansa!)
I like the colours of the seats, it just a shame that the cabin walls are still in that old factory beige colour. I chose the last row of the business cabin not to have anybody behind us and hence to have more privacy.
Here are a couple of observations about the seat:
- The arm rest is retractable
- All seats are facing forward - seems obvious but a few airlines chose to alternate with rear facing
- Large amount of storage, especially if you compare with the other European majors.. the red cabinet (Cupboard) with its mirror and elasctic band, the large table, the side shelf, underneath your seat and of course above your head.
- There are a few ambiance lights; underneath the cabinets and tables, above your head
- Most of the business seats just offer you a smaller and squarry space for your seat, here the space is generous.
- There is a plug (UK and EU) and USB charger.
- Each seat is good becaue of the 1-2-1 configuration, wherever you are seated, you have a good level of privacy (litterally it is hard to know who your neighbours are), if you seat on your seat, you can't see the face of the passengers next to you nor even in front of you. Each seat is also fully convertible into bed position.
- The only con i found is if you are a couple and want to chat, you have to bent slightly forward to see and hear each other.
The captain gives the cabin a brief about our flight (winds, speed, altitude, navigation etc).
The safety video is then played.
Air France was offering Covid safety kids back then.
Ready for take off, a good meal and a nice sleep!
See you soon Martinique!
The food menu is given by the crew, with a nice little chit chats with the passengers.
Marcel Ravin, chef at the Monte Carlo bay has signed the day's menu.
There is a large selection of hot dishes but no choice for the starter and dessert, which is a bit of a shame - at least with AF you get cheese AND dessert!
Funny enough the wine selection is exactly the same as on the way out, typically the wine selection does vary a lot more often on AF.
The Wine list is - dare I say - good but only French (the opposite would be quite risky, we already have been through 3 revolutions!).
Each major wine region is well represented, allowing a sensible wine pairing option for any food that is on board. It would nice though to have some wine from other regions (Corse, Alsace, Sud-Ouest, Loire Valley, Provence…) The dessert was in larger portions than on the way out.
The starter was excellent, and the dish cooked with old rhum!
My partner was about to fall asleep!
I barely look at my menu for the liquors digestives and he is already asleep!
Did you notice how the picure is blurry? This is my artistic view on someone who had too much of chartreuse liquor!
Air France does offer a mini bar for those who are still thirsty at some point!
I managed to sleep a few hours, who wouldn't, these seats when turned in the flat bed position are very confortable (although I wouldn't mind an extra mattress).
Air France has been featuring these Clarins products in the toilets for a while now.
Goodmorning dear GE90!
The blue shade of the sky is so pretty.
WiFi has worked perfectly well during all the flight.
Air France is still offering a free digital press application and an onboard magazine.
With the magazine articles
With the double fleet page that I particularly like.
Some Skyteam news
The breakfast was quite decent, with the addition of fresh fruits, a really nice touch that makes up a bit for the crashed pastries!
The descent started shortly after.
On finals…
I like the landings on B777, the touch is always quite "masculine"!
Spoilers on
And reverse…
at paris - charles de gaulle aiport
We arrive at our gate at the terminal 2E hall L. A lot of B772 and A332 around this time..
Next to us the first ever delivered A350 of Air France, F-HTYA named "Toulouse".
Thanks for reading my FR!
Hi ChrisB and thanks a lot for the sharing ! Air France often offer to do a stop at PTP or FDF to go back to Paris or to arrive at these two airports. I think it is a bit sad that the single trip from PTP to FDF is so expensive for the local population. Hopefully that, on the contrary of PTP, the workforce at FDF was really kind ! I is quite a shame that the design of the airport does not suit the needs. Air France's strength is, according to me, the quality of the seats offered onboard (nev4 not included). However, I think that catering is slightly above what the european's competitors are offering. That price is à really good offer but the context and the travel dates were also in favour of it. The demand increased a lot and it is sure that Airlines are doing big profits on these routes. There are not a lot of risks there in the way that the demand is almost always there. I also understand these price raises because all these three Airlines have made massive investments in brand New aircrafts. Thanks a lot for that routine and ses yeux soon
Hi Yann and thank you very much for stopping by, very nice of you!
It is very sad indeed, and even more sad that there isn't really any competition, Air Caraibes and Corsair aligned their prices.
agreed (well nev4 soon no more)
Generally speaking it seems more refined yes but some other european legacy carriers do offer a choice for starters and deserts.
Thanks for sharing Chris!
Looks more like a hurricane shelter with so many people crammed into a small dark place^^
The OZ B772s are still more aged in color^^ Surprised they never bothered redoing the cabin when they updated the seats. The AF cabins generally look good with their reds and blues. I'm not a fan of the tray table in this cabin though, much prefer those that release from the IFE side of the seat versus side table.
Still hybrid catering at this time. Meal was still a single tray versus coursed? Agree that AF offers good selection for the main, few carriers these days offer options for starter so I don’t think it is a negative mark. More than likely, adding a starter option would force them to reduce the number of mains based on galley space to cover the quantities needed, which be more detrimental overall since it reduces the protein options to cover the necessary dietary restrictions.
Thanks Michael for the comment :)
AHAHAH indeed! let's call it a shelter with an Air France lounge :p
I know right, as if they already knew these old B772 are to go soon.
Yes they do but yet without the slidding door like on your recent NH flight.
Yes apparently it was safer for the staff LOL... Since I guess many people complained and now they stopped bringing all the food in one tray (cheese and dessert are brought after the main)
Yes you are right, the majority don't and at least the starters are in good portions.
A lovely end to a wonderful trip! Despite now being always a decade old, the "Best & Beyond" cabin still looks fresh and chic...at least on some planes haha...it did take quite a long time to get those retrofits done so some cabins are only a few years old.
Pretty crazy how far CDG has come in the past few years, from one of the worst to connect through, to now one of the easiest European airports for connections. Meanwhile AMS has gone all downhill and LHR...well LHR has always sucked so nothing's changed there HAH.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kevin and thanks for your comment, always nice to hear from you!
yes Air France did step the class up a decade ago. The seats look fresh but the old beige colour of the cabin is a bit meh (yes the B772 got retrofitted before the B773, I would have done the opposite given that the B772 are to go sooner)
AHAHAH I love it. well what else could I say, it is just spot on!