For the following section of my journey to Japan through Mongolia, I flew Air France HOP’s Embraer E190 enterprise class on the one-hour flight from Paris to Frankfurt (after getting off my Air France A350 enterprise class flight from New York to Paris). HOP is Air France’s regional subsidiary, working a fleet of Embraer jets on brief haul routes.
Intra-Europe enterprise class isn’t a lot to get enthusiastic about, and when it comes to seating, Europe might be the weakest area on this planet in the case of the standard of brief haul enterprise class. So I had combined emotions in regards to the Air France HOP expertise — whereas the meals was tasty and repair was pleasant, there weren’t even blocked seats in enterprise class.
How I booked my Air France HOP enterprise class ticket
I booked my Air France HOP enterprise class ticket utilizing Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles. Particularly, I booked the next award in enterprise class for 50,000 Flying Blue miles plus $226.70 in taxes and charges:
1/25 AF9 New York to Paris departing 11:30PM arriving 12:40PM (+1 day)
1/26 AF1318 Paris to Frankfurt departing 3:25PM arriving 4:45PM
Flying Blue miles are are straightforward to come back by, as this system is switch companions with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Final Rewards, and Citi ThankYou. On prime of that, Flying Blue typically sells miles at a reduction.
Air France HOP enterprise class lounge & boarding
I had a virtually three hour transit at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. My flight from New York arrived at Terminal 2E, whereas my flight to Frankfurt departed from Terminal 2G. As a lot as folks complain about Charles de Gaulle, I truly discovered the terminal switch course of to be fairly environment friendly. It required taking a bus, and I made the entire switch inside about 20 minutes.
Terminal 2G is definitely the least spectacular terminal on the airport, provided that it’s solely utilized by Air France for regional flights. Nevertheless, the terminal was higher than I used to be anticipating. For one, I’m glad that Air France has a terminal for regional flights, because it means you may board immediately from a gate, reasonably than having to go from a distant stand (like at most hubs in Europe).
Moreover, the Air France Lounge Terminal 2G is sort of good, with loads of seating, and a wide selection of meals and drinks (I gained’t be absolutely reviewing it this time round).
The terminal space with gates is tremendous funky, particularly with the lighting. My flight was departing from gate G24. There’s an elevated walkway, after which the gates are down a degree, although there’s nearly no seating there, in order that they get very crowded.
My flight was scheduled to board at 2:55PM, half-hour earlier than departure. In actuality, boarding began at 3PM, with enterprise class passengers being invited to board first.
It was good to not should get on a bus, however reasonably to have the ability to stroll onto the apron and up a set of stairs to board the plane. My flight was operated by a 16-year-old Air France HOP Embraer E190 with the license plate F-HBLE.
Whereas completely random, I ought to point out that Air France’s regional subsidiary is within the strategy of being rebranded considerably. The airline was once referred to as “Air France HOP!” however is now simply referred to as “Air France HOP,” so the exclamation level has been dropped. As you may inform, not all plane have been repainted but to mirror that.
Air France HOP E190 enterprise class cabin & seats
Air France HOP Embraer E190s function 100 seats, unfold throughout 25 rows in a 2-2 configuration. As is normal on European airways, there aren’t any “correct” enterprise class seats, however reasonably there’s just a few further legroom within the first a number of rows of the cabin. As you may in all probability inform, enterprise class has pink headrests, whereas financial system class has headrests with a pink and white sample.
The scale of the enterprise class cabin can change on every flight primarily based on demand, and on this flight there have been 4 rows of enterprise class.
What’s reasonably irritating about Air France HOP is that there’s no seat blocking in enterprise class on all Embraer jets, so that you don’t even get an empty adjoining seat. This contrasts to Air France’s mainline fleet, the place you do get an empty seat subsequent to you when in enterprise class.
That is fairly a aggressive drawback, as all Lufthansa Group carriers provide blocked seats in enterprise class, even on regional jets. On this flight, the cabin was 100% full, in each enterprise class and financial system.
On the plus facet, legroom on Air France HOP’s Embraer E190s is sort of good within the first a number of rows. Moreover, Air France HOP nonetheless has the previous fashion, “thick” seats, reasonably than the slimline seats you discover on so many airways these days, in order that’s good for seat consolation. I assigned myself seat 4F, the window seat on the best facet within the fourth row.
Every seat had a typical tray desk, plus a literature pocket.
The overhead console had studying lights and particular person air nozzles.
Additionally ready at every seat upon boarding was a bottle of water and a refreshing towel.
Air France HOP plane don’t have any charging ports, Wi-Fi, or leisure, so be sure you board with charged electronics and your individual leisure. Then once more, Air France HOP largely operates very brief flights.
On stability, I’d say Air France HOP seats are a bit extra snug than the seats you’ll discover on different regional plane in Europe (because of the stable padding), with the key catch being that there are not any blocked adjoining seats.
Air France HOP E190 departure from Paris
All through the boarding course of, I couldn’t assist however discover Air France HOP’s fascinating boarding audio observe. It’s basically directions about the place to retailer your baggage with clubby music within the background. Hah.
Boarding wrapped up round 3:25PM, at which level the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, informing us of our flight time of 1 hour. He additionally defined that baggage have been nonetheless being loaded, however we needs to be leaving quickly. By the best way, out the window you may see an Air France HOP Embraer E190 with the brand new branding (with out the exclamation level). As you may see, the brand new livery emphasizes its affiliate with Air France much more, which I feel is smart.
Loading baggage took fairly a while, and it was enjoyable to look at that course of. It appeared to me that they have been attempting to load baggage into the ahead maintain, however after some prolonged conversations, they drove these baggage to the rear maintain as a substitute. I’m unsure if that was for weight and stability, or what.
We lastly pushed again at 3:35PM, after which started our taxi at 3:40PM, throughout which era the handbook security demonstration was carried out.
Inside 5 minutes we made it to our departure runway, 26R, the place we have been instantly cleared for takeoff.
The views on departure have been stunning…
…particularly as we took off into the east, after which made a pointy flip to fly into the west, so we had a terrific view of Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The seatbelt signal was turned off simply 5 minutes after takeoff.
Air France HOP enterprise class snack service
About 10 minutes after takeoff, the enterprise class flight attendant began the inflight service, which concerned rolling a cart down the aisle. The snack and drinks have been served directly, in contrast to on another airways, which first carry out the meals, after which carry out the snack.
I’ve to say, this snack was distinctive for such a brief flight (or perhaps it was simply actually up my alley). The meal consisted of a foremost course of smoked salmon and pasta conchigliette with cauliflower cream and truffonade. Then there was a cheese plate on the facet, in addition to a pear tartlet.
The dish was phenomenal, and in a totally totally different league than something I’ve been served on a comparable Lufthansa flight. The one factor that wasn’t nice was the bread roll, which was sort of stale and room temperature (I assume Air France HOP planes don’t have ovens).
Drinks have been additionally supplied, and I ordered a glass of champagne and a cup of espresso.
I additionally admire how Air France HOP has a bit menu card on the tray that tells you what you’re consuming.
Air France HOP E190 enterprise class toilet
There’s a small toilet on the entrance of the Air France HOP Embraer E190 cabin. It’s a really fundamental toilet, and also you’ll need to decrease your time in right here, particularly if you happen to’re claustrophobic.
Air France HOP E190 arrival in Frankfurt
At round 4:15PM, half-hour after takeoff, the captain suggested that the seatbelt signal could be turning on quickly, and that we’d be touchdown in about 20 minutes. He additionally suggested that it was a gusty afternoon in Frankfurt, so there could be some turbulence on strategy. Certain sufficient, the seatbelt signal was turned on at 4:20PM, and certain sufficient, it was a bumpy strategy.
Since we have been touchdown into the east, we first needed to fly previous Frankfurt Airport, which made for some good views.
We additionally had some beautiful views of the Frankfurt skyline on our ultimate strategy.
We touched down in Frankfurt at 4:35PM.
We had a reasonably lengthy 10 minute taxi to our (distant) arrival stand.
I don’t completely thoughts a distant stand when arriving in Frankfurt and terminating there, since no less than you’re dropped off close to the exit. The airplane views aren’t half unhealthy both. 😉
After that journey, it was time to move to the Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport for the night time, previous to flying MIAT Mongolian’s Boeing 787 enterprise class to Ulaanbaatar the next day.
Backside line
Intra-Europe enterprise class tends to be fairly lackluster in comparison with premium cabins in different elements of the world. Air France HOP is Air France’s regional subsidiary, largely working very brief flights. On the plus facet, Air France HOP has superb meals, as you’d hope from a French airline. Moreover, seat padding is superb.
Sadly Air France HOP doesn’t block adjoining seats in enterprise class on these plane, in contrast to another airways. Moreover, don’t anticipate something in the best way of leisure, charging ports, and so on.
What’s your tackle Air France HOP’s E190 enterprise class?
