To kick off the return portion our royal go to to Versailles, I flew Air France’s Airbus A220-300 enterprise class on the 1hr30min flight from Paris (CDG) to Vienna (VIE).
Intra-Europe enterprise class isn’t a lot to get enthusiastic about, on condition that it’s simply economic system with a blocked center seat and higher service. That being stated, Air France’s quick haul enterprise class on the A220 is about pretty much as good because it will get.
The A220 is a pleasure to fly, and the 2-3 format makes it a cushty journey, whether or not in enterprise or economic system. On high of that, the aircraft has energy retailers and Wi-Fi, and I additionally like Air France’s quick haul catering and pleasant service.
How I booked my Air France enterprise class ticket
I booked my Air France enterprise class flight from Paris to Vienna on the identical ticket as my Air France La Premiere top quality flight from Miami to Paris (since Flying Blue permits free stopovers on award tickets). I booked the next for 236,000 Flying Blue miles plus $302.10 in taxes & charges:
2/15 AF99 Miami to Paris departing 7:50PM arriving 10:45AM (+1 day)
2/19 AF1738 Paris to Vienna departing 3:30PM arriving 5:25PM
Whereas Flying Blue miles are straightforward to come back by (due to this system partnering with main transferable factors currencies), as you’ll be able to see, top quality awards aren’t precisely a discount, given the mileage necessities. On high of that, Flying Blue tremendously restricts these awards — they’re solely out there to Flying Blue Platinum members.
Air France enterprise class lounge & boarding
My Air France flight was departing from Terminal 2F. I do know some folks don’t like Charles de Gaulle Airport, however as an aviation geek, I completely adore the structure (and the airport’s well-known chime!). The departures expertise for enterprise class passengers and elite members is nice, with a devoted safety lane.
I additionally lastly had the possibility to go to Air France’s Terminal 2F lounge. Whereas I gained’t be reviewing it intimately this time (it was just too crowded, and I prefer to evaluation lounges after they’re quieter), it is a means above common regional lounge, if you happen to ask me.
The structure and design are gorgeous, the foods and drinks choice is substantial, there’s even a spa with complimentary remedies (if you may get an appointment), and the bathe suites are plentiful and splendid. Air France actually is a lower above the competitors in so some ways.
After a while within the lounge, I headed to the gate, as my flight was departing from gate F34, with boarding scheduled for 3PM, half-hour earlier than departure. This space of the terminal has such cool, retro design, but can be horribly missing with regards to out there seating.
Boarding began proper on schedule, with SkyPriority passengers being invited to board first (enterprise class passengers and SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers).
Air France A220 enterprise class cabin & seats
On the ahead door, I used to be greeted by the pleasant lead flight attendant. I used to be glad to be onboard an Airbus A220, certainly one of my favourite industrial plane. Air France’s A220-300s are configured with 148 seats, unfold throughout 30 rows, in a 2-3 configuration.
The A220 is simply so a lot better than different slender physique jets with regards to passenger consolation. In economic system, the 2-3 configuration implies that solely 20% of seats are center seats (in comparison with 33% of seats on different jets). In the meantime in enterprise class, there are nonetheless two seats blocked per row, so these seated on the left facet get each a window and an aisle seat.
Anyway, the dimensions of enterprise class can change with each flight on these jets, by merely transferring the curtain and divider. On this flight, there have been 5 rows of enterprise class, for a complete capability of 14 passengers (for the reason that first row solely has seats on the proper, and never on the left).
Air France’s A220 seats have 30″ of pitch, 18″ of width, and three″ of recline. I assigned myself seat 5F, the window seat on the proper facet, within the final row. As talked about above, on the proper facet of the cabin, the middle seat is blocked, whereas on the left facet of the cabin, the aisle seat is blocked. So if touring alone, the best state of affairs is to pick a seat on the left, so that you just’re assured an aisle and a window.
So far as seat options go, this is among the extra amenity-rich slender physique seats you’ll discover, which isn’t saying an entire lot. There’s a private gadget holder on the seat again, plus USB-A and USB-C retailers, with 60W charging.
The seat again additionally has a cupholder, which is a helpful characteristic, for conditions the place you may have a drink, however don’t wish to use a tray.
Talking of the tray, it was completely commonplace and rectangular.
The A220 has trendy overhead consoles, with studying lights and particular person air nozzles.
There wasn’t a lot in the best way of facilities at seats, although packaged refreshing towels had been handed out throughout boarding.
The product definitely isn’t something to get enthusiastic about, however whenever you mix the comforts of the A220 with the charging ports and Wi-Fi (extra on that under), I’d argue that that is about pretty much as good as intra-Europe enterprise class will get. The exception after all is Turkish Airways, plus a really restricted variety of jets from Luxair and Bulgaria Air. I’m additionally a fan of Aegean’s regional enterprise class.
Air France enterprise class leisure & Wi-Fi
Air France doesn’t provide any seat again or streaming leisure on its A220, however the airline does provide Wi-Fi. On this flight, Wi-Fi choices had been as follows:
- There was a complimentary messaging go, which doesn’t enable sending footage, movies, or audio
- There was a €12 browsing go, which permits net browsing, however doesn’t enable streaming of content material
- There was a €22 streaming go, providing the perfect speeds and fewest limitations
That pricing is certainly on the steep facet, given the quick flight size. Fortuitously since I used to be connecting from La Premiere (regardless that it was a couple of days earlier), Wi-Fi was really free. That was a nice shock, as I wasn’t anticipating that.
Better of all, understand that Air France is quickly introducing Starlink Wi-Fi, in order that there will likely be excessive velocity connectivity for all passengers on a complimentary foundation.
Air France A220 departure from Paris
This flight was packed, with almost all seats occupied (although I had a set of three seats to myself). Boarding wrapped up by 3:25PM, at which level the primary officer made his welcome aboard announcement, and knowledgeable us of our imminent departure.
At 3:30PM the primary cabin door closed, with the one empty enterprise class seat being the one throughout from me. Round this time, the primary officer was again on the PA to announce that we’d be delayed by round 10 minutes, to attend for baggage to complete being loaded.
That ended up taking just a little bit longer than deliberate, and we ended up pushing again at 3:50PM. At this level, the security demonstration was carried out — there was an audio observe with the directions, after which a handbook demonstration within the aisle.
At 3:55PM we started our fast taxi to the departure runway.
Then at 4:05PM we had been cleared for takeoff on runway 26R.
We had a robust takeoff, and a easy climb out.
Apparently, the seatbelt signal stayed on for over quarter-hour, which is unusually lengthy on a European provider, when the journey is easy.
Air France enterprise class snack & service
As quickly as we leveled off, the lead flight attendant handed by means of the enterprise class cabin with the snack service. I believe Air France has the perfect intra-Europe catering of any main European provider, and this flight was no exception.
There was no alternative of snack on this flight, however somewhat everybody received the identical. This included a lentil, fig, chestnut, and kumquat salad, with butternut squash and orange cream. Then there was a number of cheese, a bread roll, and a Paris-Brest for dessert.
I recognize how Air France offers just a little menu playing cards with snacks, so that you really know what you’re getting (many different airways don’t). Moreover, as somebody who doesn’t eat pork, I like how Air France usually focuses on snacks that most individuals can eat, because it’s so frequent to see airways simply give a plate of pork as a snack (which excludes me, plus those that adhere to 2 main religions).
The flight attendant supplied a spherical of drinks with the snacks, and I ordered a Coke Zero and a glowing water.
The flight attendant was pleasant and attentive, and he or she made a number of passes all through the cabin in the course of the flight. A bit in a while, I ordered a cup of espresso.
Air France A220 enterprise class bathroom
One other good thing about the A220 is that the rest room tends to be fairly spacious, particularly in comparison with what you’d discover on the 737 or A320. Whereas the rest room wasn’t significantly clear throughout my go to on the finish of the flight, it was a very good dimension.
Air France A220 arrival in Vienna
I spent a lot of the flight simply gazing out the window, as flying over the Alps by no means will get previous. What breathtaking views.
Quickly sufficient, the solar started to set. At 5:10PM, the primary officer was again on the PA to announce that we’d be touchdown in round 25 minutes, at 5:35PM. The seatbelt signal was turned on 10 minutes after that.
As anticipated, we touched down in Vienna at 5:35PM.
From there we had a 5 minute taxi to our arrival stand, the place we parked subsequent to a Lauda Airbus A320. We arrived at a distant stand, so we needed to take a bus to the terminal.
From there I headed into the town for the night time, the place I’d be staying on the Park Hyatt Vienna, previous to flying Austrian’s 787 enterprise class again to america the next day.
Backside line
Europe might be essentially the most disappointing area of the world with regards to the standard of quick haul enterprise class. That being stated, Air France presents the most effective experiences within the area on its A220s. The aircraft is a pleasure to fly usually, and on high of that, Air France has energy ports, Wi-Fi, good meals, and pleasant service. I’d choose this over the mainline regional enterprise class supplied by any IAG or Lufthansa Group provider.
What’s your tackle Air France’s A220 enterprise class?
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