Upon our arrival to the gate, I learned why being near the back of a larger double-decker plane is a bad thing. To help you save even more time, your checked baggage will receive priority delivery. I can see why the complaints are there. Find the A380 on only 2 routes: Los Angeles (LAX) – Paris (CDG) on AF 65; Miami (MIA) – Paris (CDG) Second place in Air France premium economy is tied between the A340 and A330. However, we would be checking them on the way home, so we asked if they had large plastic bags to protect the straps and keep them from jamming up the belt system. While the window seats on the upper deck (all classes included) all have these neat closing storage bins, Row 83 is aligned in such a way for the maximum amount of storage and space. Air France: A380 Premium Economy - See 32,138 traveler reviews, 5,389 candid photos, and great deals for Air France, at Tripadvisor. A slow right turn over the city/fogbank, and we were on our way to Paris. This guy is one of them: Great kickoff to our honeymoon, TY @EddieIzzard for being so gracious! A completely redesigned dining offer in the Economy and Premium Economy cabins. Air France Premium Economy Options Air France A380 premium economy. We were greeted warmly by a flight attendant, and directed to cross the cabin to the far aisle to get to our seats, 83H and 83K. With no seatback in front, the entertainment screens and tables were moved to the armrests. – Photo: John Nguyen | AirlineReporter. Gate monitor for our Air France flight to Paris – Photo: John Nguyen | AirlineReporter. And wind up at the upper level? Here’s our guide to the best cards for airfare purchases. January 3, 2021. 74 22. But the TSA security checkpoint at JFK’s Terminal 1 is one of the most painful parts of flying, anywhere. I have flown in the A380 a few times and loves it very much and when introduced the A380 was an engineering feat but was late on arrival when airlines were more interested in twin-engine fuel-efficient engines like the 787 or A350. Aircraft within the same airline will often have drastically different seats. items free of charge, which will be priority-tagged and would theoretically be among the first to arrive at the baggage claim. Im going on a long 12 hr flight with AF and wondering if the PE seating is worth it? No direction nor announcements were given, so the crowd organically found their own way and created their own queues. Passengers for our flight were standing around the relatively small gate area. How is the pitch reclining for sleep? Did you have any issues making your connection? As soon as you arrive at the airport, we provide everything you need to facilitate your trip and ensure your well-being. Maybe I was too distracted by the painful seat (see a pattern?). You included commentary on everything that I cared about. Thanks! I was excited to board the massive Airbus A380 — this was the first one delivered to Air France, in 2009 — and take the jet bridge right up to the upper deck. With a scheduled 3:45pm departure, we stayed the night near the airport and spent the early part of the day in the city, and left around noon to return our rental car and be dropped off at the curb in front of SFO’s International Terminal, a seemingly too-obvious name, but a few domestic airlines do operate out of there, like Alaska Airlines and Sun Country. First Look at Emirates Premium Economy and Upgraded Cabins on A380. Tested on 2,500 passengers and nearly 1,000 hostesses and stewards, this new offer is designed to adapt to each passenger and combine a gourmet touch, balance and originality. I am satisfied that you simply shared this helpful info with us. What a disorganized madhouse! British Airways World Traveler Plus premium economy seats on the A380 … We also took a photo with my wife, but she refuses to let me post it because she didn’t have makeup on, standing next to the radiant Mr. Izzard – Photo: Eddie Izzard (using my phone) | Airline Reporter. United flies a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Paris from SFO. (Wifey won’t let me post her pic w/o makeup) pic.twitter.com/Oao3RKnnJf, Eddie Izzard takes a #selfie with yours truly, at the Air France lounge at SFO. Advertisement: The beverage cart makes its rounds just before the meal is served. I blame the confusion and hysteria on two parties. Air France is widely known for its high-quality inflight meals and to go a step above to premium economy, there were certainly some high expectations. Photo: Andy Mitchell via Wikimedia Commons. My #avmuggle wife was very impressed (we’ve been jaded by domestic safety videos that are getting a little long in the tooth *cough*American*cough*). And while we love the A380, the premium economy seat on Air France’s version of the aircraft is just not that good. In a worst-case scenario where you miss your flight to Rome, there are a couple of others they can rebook you onto, either on Air France or Alitalia, perhaps others as well. We uncover what passengers can expect from the A380 in terms of cabin and comforts, and see which routes still offer the chance to fly the A380 with Air France. Please stay us informed like this. It was utter chaos, a comedy of errors… poor showing by Air France. On other dates that gap fell to the high $300s. My wife and I were married late last year, but postponed our honeymoon because we wanted to visit Europe during the warmer months. Air France’s Premium Economy section on the A380 is your personal haven of comfort. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Early in the morning or late at night, the AF lounge is also open to Priority Pass members, which is how I was able to hang out there last June before my Cayman Airways flight. A limited number of seats are distributed in a layout that offers more space. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement, Scott! The seat reclines within a fixed area to ensure your personal space and comfort for all. Your review was therefore very timely and appreciated in satisfying my curiosity! Budget restraints limit us to flying economy and are intrigued by the upper deck economy section looking at Row 92 seats A and B or K and L. Our travelling companions require extra leg room and are looking at Row 91. The flight attendants were friendly but not memorable. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Air France’s Premium Economy section on the A380 is your personal haven of comfort. I'm 6'5" and had PLENTY of leg room. This redesigned service class on the upper deck provides a privileged travel space. Is the space to move past the person next to you without them getting up? Please continue with future articles! Great review! The bread, while not warm, was very yeasty and flavorful, going great with the brie and pate. My trip from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) was uncomfortable, the food was uninspired and the service, while pleasant, wasn’t special. The new Premium Economy cabin is a first for any Middle East airline, featuring 56 seats in a 2-4-2 cabin layout.. Mr_5_Senses. On eastbound flights across the Atlantic I normally eat in the lounge and then try to sleep immediately after takeoff. A glamour shot of Air France’s Premium Economy seats, these on board a Boeing 777. The aircraft previously registered as 9V-SKB has already been dismantled, becoming the first dismantled A380 in the world. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT - LOS ANGELES, CA. By far, my favorite item was the truffled brie, and the cruidites with tzatziki were refreshing. Unfortunately, they were completely switched around from how the crowd had arranged itself. Let us delight you with the Premium Economy cabin! Get notified of all new comments. ): I hated feeling like I was bothering him, but my lovely wife (who didn’t know who he was) walked right up and politely introduced herself. Leave a reply . I am assuming that because she is in a wheelchair we will be brought to our connection gate. There’s nothing calm about it. The amenity kit had stylish colors but lacked anything I needed. Air France premium economy is incredible. However, given that Air France has chosen an entirely new business class seat, they may continue the trend and introduce a new product in the Premium Economy cabin too. The wine bottle was plastic, but at least the glass it was poured into was real. Travel was at the author’s own expense, and the views and opinions are the author’s own. The Airbus A380 is the largest of the airliners, so if there was one that would make you feel less claustrophobic, I think that would be it! The little more legroom that you get in a very uncomfortable seat isn’t worth the extra cash. There’s also a touchscreen that provided in-flight entertainment and controlled a few other functions. I love your precise way of writing and the humor you throw in only adds to the over-all interest. I will say, however, that I was in 81A which is the front row, left window. My premium economy ticket granted me Sky Priority access, which I would also have had as Delta elite status holder. Not bad, not great. When I expressed that it would be a challenge for her, they told me that “an attendant or 2” would need to the carry her up & down the stairs in a “special chair”…. The other perks such as dedicated priority check-in lane, lounge access [for a fee – further explanation below], and alternative meal service options were just icing on the cake. At online check-in, I was offered a $461.23 upsell to business class for the New York-Paris leg. On an Air France A380, the PE section is on the upper deck towards the rear, behind Business class and in front of a small economy class section (the lower deck features first class and the bulk of the economy seats). Can you give me the pros and cons of each? The food was the highlight of the premium economy experience. Its elegant design brings about a sensation of relaxation and space, perfect for rest or work. The configuration and seats in Air France’s Premium Economy. Thank you John! Entirely designed with your well-being in mind, this cabin is available on our intercontinental flights. Headphones were provided, but I ended up using my own noise-canceling ones instead. New Premium Economy cabin: even more comfort for you! Email: [email protected]. On long-haul flights, … That’s just unacceptable for a redeye flight where passengers are trying to squeeze in every last bit of sleep they can. Did it take you quite a bit of time de-planing? For this trip, I was flying to Cape Town, South Africa to be part of TPG’s efforts supporting PeaceJam. Sure, it has three jetbridges including one for the upper deck, but it seems like they forgot how much real estate 500+ people (and their carry-ons) take. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. There are plenty of seats and power outlets, and the area feels very spacious – making it ideal even for transfer passengers without lounge access. Air France’s webpage dedicated to PE trumpets access to Sky Priority, Skyteam’s alliance-wide branding for a suite of priority services, such as checking in, security screening, boarding, and baggage handling. Several weeks ago, Delta posted abnormally low fares for Premium Economy (PE) from a few cities in the U.S. to Istanbul (IST). The boarding process was as organized as it could be for a plane carrying 516 passengers. Had I not been reviewing this flight, I probably would have paid for it to sleep across the Atlantic. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. I was not expecting Kristal or Krug. I could also have checked in online. Many friends ask me if it is worth upgrading their seats … If you decide to use the Expert Flyer, you will have to search for “0” space. I went from extremely frustrated and worried to now feeling at ease & joyous again about our journey, all because of you, thank you! May 21, 2020 ReedZ Reply. A380 Premium Economy. It gave us the chance to walk through large business class cabin. The new aircraft is equipped with 324 seats, with 34 in a brand-new Business cabin, 24 in a new Premium Economy cabin and 266 in Economy. I see the seat extends under the thighs, but is there a foot rest to allow a full body extension? It also allowed us priority boarding. That’s honestly more than I can say about some U.S. domestic first-class flights. My one-way ticket in Premium Economy cost 102,000 Flying Blue points plus $268.65 in taxes and fees. Thanks to Delta, I found a smashing deal to fly an Airbus A380 for the first time, and not in economy! Facing us, there were storage cubbies for Evian water bottles (in fact, the top area has a decal saying that it was only for storing water bottles) and small items, and a flip-down tray table that also flipped out and pulled out, creating a fairly large, adjustable work surface. View our latest valuations here. Decent service, quiet aircraft, better legroom than coach. Would appreciate your comment. Reviews. First, the designers of this gate area that was specifically meant for A380 operations flubbed on passenger space. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Premium Economy takes up six rows near the back of the top deck. Air France flies out of JFK’s Terminal 1. This flight, booked two weeks prior to the departure date, was purchased with cash. If an eyeful of European carriers is what you’re looking for, then stay tuned…! Getting around CDG . Entirely designed with your well-being in mind, this cabin is available on our intercontinental flights. Economy seats were 17.5 inches wide, and had 32 inches of pitch, roughly the industry norm for this aircraft type, and a half-inch wider than the airline’s 777 arrangement. My wife and I have booked a cruise out of Rome in September, 2018 and are planning to fly out of SFO through CDG on the Air France A380. Since the lavatories for our cabin were aft and there was a crossover space in front of the bulkhead, there was no congregation of passengers in the extra space. During the breakfast, the muffin was also dry. It also gave me a chance to play with my new camera lens and using what I call the “#foodporn” setting on my camera: Beverage service on Air France – Photo: John Nguyen | AirlineReporter. United States. Cyprus . We had already selected our seats at time of purchase and checked-in online (Air France allows online check-in 30 hours prior to departure), so we were there just to get our boarding passes reprinted. Overhead, there were reading lights… but no air vents! Food options were very good as well, and very satisfactory...but, let's not get carried away, it was still airline food, but it was better than most. To take full advantage of the PE product, I found flights on Air France equipment. Without a doubt, we get great service from our flight attendant after that (and end up with a few more bottles of wine and extra treats, without asking). This Y+ product is intended for customers looking for extra comfort over the regular Economy Class product but at a lower fare compared with Business Class. Economy class onboard an Air France A380. As you’re entering, First Class and Sky Priority check-in is on the left, while Economy is on the right. Follow the SkyPriority signs to receive quick, priority access through airports around the world. Dear John, What can I say your are a gem and the AF team would benefit from some training from you about their air craft, LOL!! I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. There were better lines of sight for sure, but I’m not too sure the window itself was much larger than any other Airbus. About five minutes before (delayed) regular boarding was supposed to begin, and after pre-boarding had already finished, a staffer finally wheeled out the directional signs showing where Sky Priority and Economy lanes were actually supposed to be. I said I’d gotten much more than from New York. Row 81 (exit row) in Air France’s Premium Economy cabin on the Airbus A380 – Photo: John Nguyen | AirlineReporter. It is sad to see the A380 being retired by Air France (and perhaps many other airlines, if it hasn’t already). The seat was that bad. However, you can call Air France on 1-800-237-2747 to get Air France free upgrade to Business Class with a help of the agent. Get the best seat possible with our Air France A380-800 seating chart and traveler seat reviews. The French/English menu offered various options to choose from: Premium Economy menus for Air France – Photo: John Nguyen | AirlineReporter. Our early dinner selections for this flight: Chicken with Catalonian sauce, rice with mixed grains or Pasta shells with marinara sauce, ricotta cheese and spinach, Cheese Fruit compote Grand Marnier almond cake Coffee and tea. Food options were very good as well, and very satisfactory...but, let's not get carried away, it was still airline food, but it was better than most. PE passengers can check up to two 50-lb. I just disembarked AF 83 SFO-CDG,and I\'m typing as I wait my connection flight to BCN. My fiancè and I are flying from LAX to CDG for our connection to Venice and we only have 1 hour and 45 minutes. Thanks. Yes, whoever wrote the blurb about the PE section getting off quickly forgot about the A380. I will be traveling with my mom to Italy (with a stop over in Paris, PE on Airbus…. It was much, much better than I had anticipated. The seats are laid out in a tolerable 2-3-2 configuration, compared to 2-4-2 in the rows of regular economy behind us. Air France A380s also have no Wi-Fi. Here’s the kicker: Delta doesn’t have a proper PE cabin on its aircraft, just a section of Economy seats (called Comfort+) with more legroom. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Originally, Emirates intended to take delivery of five or six A380’s in 2020 and the remaining aircraft in 2021. Deep blue and gray tones create a … Once in the private mini-cabin dedicated to Premium Economy, I was impressed with the stylish seats and the way the white headrests, navy seats and red pillows looked together. If anything, I find celebrity run-ins more of an annoyance, and it’s generally not because of the celebs themselves, but because of the attention they get from paparazzi and adoring fans tend to disturb my enjoyment of the day. Photo: Air France. Follow the SkyPriority signs to receive quick, priority access through airports around the world. Then, of course, to upgrade such a massive aircraft would cost Air France just shy of a fortune. I was excited to board the massive Airbus A380 — this was the first one delivered to Air France, in 2009 — and take the jet bridge right up to the upper deck. The Points Guy will not sell your email. Notice the larger inner window compared to the smaller outer window. Our plane was an Airbus A380, double-decker wide-bodied plane, said to be the largest passenger airplane now flying. I paid using The Platinum Card® from American Express, which earned 5x points on the ticket, for a total of 2,915, worth about $55 according to TPG’s most rec… It was a coach meal with an upgraded appetizer “inspired by the Business cabin menu,” according to the airline. A flight attendant on that second plane to Cape Town later asked me if I had gotten any rest on the 12-hour flight. Air France: Premium economy in the AF A380 - See 32,064 traveler reviews, 5,376 candid photos, and great deals for Air France, at Tripadvisor. Equipped with a large and relaxing seat, the Premium Economy seat gives you 40% more space compared to the Economy cabin as well as multiple storage areas. An Air France A319 passes by a Delta 767 parked at CDG – Photo: John Nguyen | AirineReporter, Airline: Air France (AF) Aircraft: Airbus A380-800 (388) – 516 seats (9 First, 80 Business, 38 Premium Economy, 389 Economy) Departed: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Arrived: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) Class: Premium Economy Seats: 83H, 83K (upper deck). Don, I see you don’t monetize airlinereporter.com, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn extra bucks every month with new monetization method. Today I was invited to have a first look at the Emirates Premium Economy Class on their newly delivered A380, registration A6-EVN.. The Grand Marnier cake was decent enough for me to finish, but I passed on a second helping from my wife. This would be our first time flying the A380, as well as the first time in decades flying on Air France. The premium economy cabin is located at the front of the main deck of the Airbus A380, with 56 seats in a 2-4-2 cabin layout. You could feel the collective sigh and rolling of eyes, and this swarm of people proceeded to do this dance of having to intersect each other just get to the correct side of the gate. With security behind us, my wife and I strolled through the mall-like terminal and trekked over to the Air France lounge, which recently relocated into a larger space that was previously occupied by a Delta Sky Club. I ended up connecting onto an Airbus A340 once flown by Air France’s failed discount airline, Joon. I was heading to Athens and exploring Crete in Greece and wanted to see Berlin also. Last week Air France took delivery of its first Airbus A350 at the Airbus delivery centre in Toulouse France. The only complaint i have is about sleeping in the premium economy … Image courtesy of seatguru.com. The stand-up comedian was traveling for the European dates of his “Force Majeure” world tour. Our plane was an Airbus A380, double-decker wide-bodied plane, said to be the largest passenger airplane now flying. Many flyers comment about the A380’s noticeably quiet cabin, and I completely agree. If left unchecked, you will still get email replies to your comments. While this actually made it more comfortable to see the screen, it made it very difficult to sleep unless I shifted myself down or my head to the side. We headed over to the Sky Priority line and the idle agent working the First Class counter waved us over. Positive Reviews for British Airways Premium Economy A380. She just shrugs her shoulders and directed us to join the back of the queue. There will be signs indicating where everyone should go (and with wheelchair assistance, your mother will be allowed to board before everyone else, and guided on the right path all the way to her seat. Recently (Feb/Mar 2015), I had the opportunity to fly Air France round trip to Barcelona, and I booked the entire fare as W class – Air France’s premium economy. At the bottom of the escalator to the landing area in SFO’s International Terminal housing Gates A9/A10 – Photo: John Nguyen | AirlineReporter. I appreciate your knowledge and patience with handling ALL my questions, links included. Photo: Chris Loh/Simple Flying. There are few exceptions I can think of. They don’t (and couldn’t, logistically) hold back the economy passengers downstairs from deplaning, so by the time we made our way to the jetbridge, about 3/4 of the plane had already gotten off… that’s about 375 people ahead of us, all headed for either the exits or transfer security. So when it comes to autographs and selfies, I’d rather not. Without any good award availability through AirFrance-KLM’s Flying Blue, I purchased a round-trip Delta ticket, in euros, for $583. And this doesn’t include the passengers of OTHER flights coming and going. The next passenger did the same, and we slowly made our way almost to the front, where we ran into a family who’s trying to make the same flight to Istanbul. The fare includes lounge access for a fee ($35/person, last time I checked), which I suppose is better than no lounge option at all. Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. As a point of comparison, my co-worker had purchased a round-trip ticket in the same cabin for $2,324.83. Air France Airbus A380. I originated in Barcelona (BCN), where MegaDo Day Two left us. Before boarding, you can see the different jetbridges on the upper and lower level doors of the plane. (Air France is retiring its A380s, in fact, in just a couple of years.). Many friends ask me if it is worth upgrading their seats to premium economy. Premium economy promises to bring some civility back to air travel. They quickly announced the start of boarding for Sky Priority, and we finally fought our way through the economy passengers (not their fault at all) to reach the scanner, and up the escalator we went to the upper deck jetbridge. I’m in a similar situation and would love some guidance. ANA 787-8 Business Class, Kuala Lumpur, and Economy – Oh My! We landed seemingly on time, but we must have taxied along the meandering scenic route at CDG. Good luck! Cyprus - EN; Contact us; Create my account; My account explorer silver gold platinum platinum for life platinum ultimate platinum for life ultimate club 2000 club 2000 skipper club 2000 ultimate club 2000 skipper ultimate Miles; Go to letter Country ou region starting with letter. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Air France does offer the option to purchase a premium meal in advance. Having booked daytime flights, we hoped that our sleep would be minimal, but that’s a lot of hours to just sit there without at least a quick nap. The chicken and pasta — even though it was doused in sauce — was still dry. The crew spoke Spanish, German, Portuguese, French and English, all of which was mentioned during a lengthy announcement as we pushed back from the gate. The scallop was a chewy, fishy puck. With boarding passes in hand, we headed towards security and into the premium security lane, which I was thankful to have access to. I would do everything in my power to book away from this jet in the future. An abbreviated version of the prior meal service commenced; the drink cart came through, then breakfast was served. (I actually regretted throwing out my newspaper in the lounge; adding that to my seat would have doubled the padding.). Truth be told, there was quite a bit of recline angle on the seatback, but the problem was in the head-and-neck area; since the head rest was attached to the hard wall, my head was propped up no matter how much I reclined. Cute and clever, playing off Paris’s status as a world fashion capital….