I just arrived in Paris CDG’s Terminal 2E Hall K. It’s gone 19h00 as I step off my flight from Gatwick and enter the terminal building. My onward connection to Geneva departs at 20h40 from Terminal 2F.

Transfer Terminal 2E to 2F

Despite its enormous size, transfers at Paris CDG are easy and painless. The way to go is clearly signposted and the process is well conceived and executed. The security check and immigration to enter the Schengen area take place at ground floor level in between the two terminals.

Just fifteen minutes from disembarking, the final set of escalators ejects me on the main departure concourse that connects the two piers of Terminal 2F.

The Air France Lounge at Terminal 2F

The Air France lounge is located between the two piers that make up Terminal 2F. I’m welcomed at the entrance by a gate agent, who asks me to scan my boarding pass to enter the lounge.

The lounge is moderately busy, but definitely not crowded. Actually, they’ve already cleared away and closed some of the buffet stations, so that there is just the one open on either floor. I get myself a Perrier and then find a place by the window from which to admire the array of beatiful Air France tails on the ramp.

Boarding

At 20h15 I exit the lounge and make my way to gate F49, from where the Geneva service is boarding. I arrive just as boarding groups 1 and 2 are invited to come forward. I just love the architecture of the F piers, even though they are, quite evidently, way too small now for the amount of passengers they handle.

The Air France Business Class Cabin & Seat

On this flight there are seven rows in the Business Class cabin, for a total of 21 seats. Four seats in the back remain empty. I suspect these were for connecting passengers that didn’t make it. I’m seated on 4A. The pitch is not bad, but not quite as good as on 1A. The good news is that sitting this far back makes it easier for me to watch the wing.

The Service & Crew

The crew on this flight are quite senior and they’re great. They’re very no nonsense in the way they go about their work, but they’re not unkind. The flight time to Geneva is fifty minutes. Shortly before pushback, the crew pass through the cabin with packaged towels.

We take off in a westerly direction, which puts the city of Paris on our left. La Tour Eiffel is perfectly visible against the dusk sky, and I’m mesmerised when the whole tower starts sparkling when the clock strikes nine. We make a sweeping left turn over the city to point us in the direction of Geneva.

The Air France Business Class Meal – Dinner

The meal service starts quickly after departure – the cabin is busy and the flight time is short. The main course is couscous with vegetables (no broad beans), olive crumble (very tasty), and honey glazed chicken breast pieces. It’s a nice meal that could have easily been enhanced with the removal of the horrible sultanas. As on the previous flight, there’s a plate of cheese which is served with a warm roll. And the dessert is… oh my… I think they’re trying to kill me… the dessert is a chocolate cake that is basically made of solid chocolate, butter, and cream. It’s very good, but it’s so rich that I can’t handle more than two spoonfuls before I capitulate.

Arrival in Geneva

By the time we’re descending into Geneva it’s already dark. The crew report that a storm cell has just passed over the airfield, so everything is slightly wet. The temperature is surprisingly balmy at sixteen degrees.

Conclusion

Okay. Yeah… no. I’m not changing my mind – as far as I’m concerned, Air France is currently, hands down, Europe’s best airline and definitely one of the world’s leading premium carriers. Even on these two short flights their service was excellent. The quality of the food that was served was very good and the lounge in Paris is pleasant, comfortable, and stylish. More importantly, the consistency and predictability of the service delivery on Air France is remarkable, especially considering the size of their operation.