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Air France Economy Long Haul

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Old 25th Sep 2006, 16:34
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Air France Economy Long Haul

Afternoon all,

I'm flying EDI-CDG-YYZ and return in November, just wondered what sort of service I could expect.....?

Mainly:
  • What is AF short haul like (for 1st sector obviously)
  • In LH, can I exoect an amenities pack and what will it contain
  • What are the meals like
  • Does anyone have any experience of AF connecting flights at CDG
and anything else anyone can think of that I will find useful....


Thanks
EDIspotter is offline  
Old 26th Sep 2006, 07:02
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I regard CDG as worse than LHR. It stinks of stale air, it is generally always dirty, overcrowded, and don't even think about asking for help from anyone.

Can't comment on Air France long haul economy.
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Old 26th Sep 2006, 10:11
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Flown AF economy a few times. No problems, the journey is so short from London to CDG that 'service' isn't really a factor. It's like getting on a bus.

Afraid I've only flown long haul twice with them and that was in J. That said, their J product wasn't all that brilliant.
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Old 26th Sep 2006, 14:33
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Flown Air France longhaul many times and it's economy product is up with the best,good meals free drinks and small amenity pack containing headset eye mask,ear plugs. You should get some sort of service on your flight to CDG probably breakfast.

Transfer in CDG should be okay if your flight down is on time,I have missed three connections in a row at CDG due to late arriving flights but AF looked after us superbly except on one occasion which we were generously rewarded for.

Enjoy.
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Old 26th Sep 2006, 15:46
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I agree with 10secondsurvey - CDG is one of the few airports I class as worse than LHR (though the surface transport links are much better). It can be a very confusing place to transfer - keep a close eye on the Departures monitors (if they're working).

To put the tin lid on it, in my experience there's a better than 50-50 chance that at least one set of 'workers' there will be en grève. Thank heavens for Eurostar!
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Old 26th Sep 2006, 21:04
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Most of my experience with AF is either short haul economy or long haul business. Without doubt, AF is getting better at providing a quality product and be surprised if you have a problem while on board.

I concur with 10secondsurvey and Pax Vobiscum with regard to CDG, it's a very unpleasant experience and certainly the worst airport of any capital city in Europe (including Eastern Europe) If there is less than an hour between your arrival and departure your luggage probably won't join you on your onward flight.

Good luck.
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Old 26th Sep 2006, 22:25
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Hi,

You will be taking a AF flight operated by Cityjet for your EDI-CDG routing. You will expect to travel on a BAe 146-200/300 or if your lucky one of our new RJ100's delivery from November onwards.
The meal is great, small snack morning is Croissant, Pain au Chocolate and a yogurt with a choice of Orange / Water, tea or coffee.
Afternoon / Evening Service - Sandwich, two other pick foods plus a dessert. Open bar soft / alcoholic.

Cityjet cabin standards can vary, depends on what you expect. If your looking for a french crew then you have a 50 / 50 chance of getting that. Its also the same on the standards of the crew. We are as a rule to a very high standard, especially when im onboard. You should not receive any problems with Cityjet we are a good little company. Seats can be uncomfortable but depends on aircraft. Can be very tight on a full flight even for the crew its very difficult to move up and down the aisle.

AF long haul, i cant really comment on other airlines as i only travel AF because of my job with Cityjet. Service is normal you get more than enough food and open bars. All aircrafts are comfortable except for the 747-400 economy. It really is old and dated, very uncomfortable.

So i will leave you with that, enjoy anymore questions no worries. Enjoy your trip.

Frank
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Old 27th Sep 2006, 10:16
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Last time i flew AF long haul MAN-CDG-NRT and back I thought it was superb. Granted, check in at MAN gave me my transfer details at CDG which turned out to be wrong gate at the wrong terminal, but if you're wary of the pitfalls of transitting through CDG then you're ready for that anyway. The big problem at Terminal 2 CDG is the complete lack of signage to the inter terminal transfer bus stops, they're tiny signs, with even tinier English translations that you really need to keep an eye out for. Once on board I feel the economy product is as good, if not better than most european carriers (I regularly fly VS and LH and it compares most favourably to them). Seatback screens, great food and drinks (you can have champagne on the first drinks round but you need to ask for it as they won't tell you it's available) and attentive, attractive cabin crew. On the longer long haul they do the open galley thing, which is very nice with sandwiches, ice cream available to help yourself along with drinks (and smelly pot noodles on the japan flights). All in all you're on a winner with AF.
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Old 27th Sep 2006, 22:26
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cheers for the replies so far guys !

got an email today with a flight change.....CDG-YYZ now departs 1015 rather than 1040, but EDI flight "appears" to arrive same terminal to which YYZ is departing from....

EDI flight leaves 0605GMT and is expected to arrive 0915CET, which I think they must be overestimating on, 'cos if you add another 10-15mins on to that you could be landing in Girona or El Prat in my experience....

5 weeks on Friday coming......and counting !
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Old 1st Oct 2006, 13:31
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I have travelled with AF long haul on their African routes with no problem. The connections in CDG can be a bit challenging but if your inbound flight is delayed then they will generally wait for you. Their long haul cabin crew are a bit of a lottery-either you get a very good crew who are very much on the ball or you get the crew who make United's trolley dollies look almost human and are only slightly better looking. That said the food and everything they provide is pretty good with only Virgin's Y product being better.

With respect to CDG, I love that airport and the facilities but some of the AF ground staff can be unhelpful and with a poor service attitude.

Enjoy your trip with AF but maybe next time try VS!
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Old 1st Oct 2006, 16:04
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Living in France, I fly fairly often with AF, though not as much as I used to because I’m now doing less travelling than I used to (thank god).

All I can say is that they have changed beyond belief over the last 10 years. A decade ago I was flying with them for convenience and because I was working with mostly French companies and they like to stay patriotic.

The service was not to put a too finer point on it; Crap.

These days they seem to be getting there act together, the service is generally good, the majority of the food edible and the wine drinkable.

I fly economy on domestic/short haul and get more than I need in the way of drinks, snacks and service. When I have been delayed on the first leg of a journey, I have always been informed on the aircraft to my situation vis à vis the corresponding flight (held back, booked onto next flight, etc…), also you usually get very clear and precise details about the terminal and gates for the next flight. Although I don’t know what the level of service in English is like.

I agree that CDG T2 can be confusing and labyrinthine the first time round but I feel the same way when trying to navigate around Heathrow, I suppose it’s what you get used to.

Long haul I use business, again no complaints unless I get a seat in the middle of the aircraft. The amenity pack is adequate nothing special, I only use the earplugs and mask usually.

The only serious problem I’ve had over the years is when I was flying back from Shanghai four years ago and it was a code share with, and operated by, China Eastern (if I remember correctly). I was bumped up to First and it is without doubt the worst flight I have ever taken in my life, worse than the one time I flew with Balkan Airlines when the Iron curtain was still drawn. They did not have my choice of meal and I ended up choosing from the business menu, which was a waste of time because it was inedible. The overall level of service was invisible, the drinks service non-existent and the only thing to nibble on were those plastic pot noodle things.

I complained to AF by letter and received a grovelling reply (at the time I was flying with them long haul twice a month and the ticket was being paid by one of the largest multi-nationals in France) and a shed load of Air-miles.

So all in all, I’m happy with AF, just be watchful if it is a code share.

Boggart
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Old 2nd Oct 2006, 07:10
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I fly to Africa with AF most months, connecting out of either LHR or SOU. I second all of the comments about CDG, it just isn't nice. If you have to change terminals, don't just leap onto the first shuttle bus, find one that is taking the quickest route to where you want to go. I know it sounds obvious, but it is very easy just to follow the herd and end up going right around terminal two to end up just five hundred metres from where you started.

I've got no complaints about AF economy travel. The IFE is pretty good and the food is no worse than anyone's else. Generally you get a foot rest and the head rest slides up and down to accomodate your height and there are 'ear flaps' that fold out to keep you from flopping onto your neighbour when you fall asleep.
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