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.
Air France are interesting. The planes are clean, they are efficient and staff are ‘themselves’. I do rate KLM as unbelievably friendly, but yes, Air France is quite good.
Absolutely Agree. I now Much prefer AF to my former favourite LX. They really do seem to be thinking about all aspects of their operation. I do wonder whether La premiere is going to work with the absurd fares they are asking for——£25,000 LHR -SFO in late May?!!
I was just reading that elsewhere, that they refuse to discount La Premiere. Oh well, one can still dream 🙂
Air France has been gradually raising its prices across all cabin classes. And they seem confident that the service they provide warrants the increase.
Further,La Premiere is not THAT good!—– ive read a rather Stinging review[Nonstop Dan] highlighting poor service and surprisingly bad food. This coupled with fairly offhand service from the crew. BA are about to inroduce new first class seats,as are SQ on their refurbished A350’s—— they wont be charging the enthusiastic prices that AF are charging and service may well be better!. I’m particularly looking forward to the new CX first class——- initial images look fantastic.
I think you should give La Première a try and make up your own mind. And frankly, I wouldn’t put too much stock in Nonstop Dan’s trip review, given that it seems to be part of his business model to “uncover” some scandal or other, seemingly out of nothing, in his posts.
The KLM crews arw by far the friendliest. Although I have the impression it is sometimes interpreted as a lack of professionalism, which don’t think it is.
Not a sultana fan here as well.
AF really is the best overall European airline.
I just can’t imagine any meal that is enhanced be the presence of a sultana. The other one is pomegranate seeds… why oh why would anybody want to eat that?