Air France Review (London Heathrow to Paris CDG)

12/31/2010

Tailfin of an Air France Boeing 777: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Route: London Heathrow Airport to Paris CDG

Departure date and time of flight: 10:20am on the 7th December 2009

Flight Number:

AF1681

Flight duration:

1h 20 minutes

Class:

Economy Class

Aircraft type:

A321

Punctuality of the flight:

The flight was delayed taking off by around 20 minutes due to the normal traffic at London Heathrow Airport. Nevertheless, we arrived at Paris around 5 minutes early (because the actual flying time was only around 30 minutes).

Any baggage issues:

I was taking Air France on this connecting flight to Hong Kong via Paris CDG. So I was aware that I had any baggage issues UNTIL I arrived in Hong Kong. Apparently Air France is famous for losing people’s bags on connecting flights’! (I found this out from a lot of other passengers’). My baggage arrived 4 days late in Hong Kong- by which time I had no choice but to go on shopping at Air France’s expense. It was an interesting experience to be able to go on a shopping spree while on a press assignment!

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

Ahh...I arrived around 10 minutes late for check-in (due to the London Traffic!)...but they still allowed me to check in. I was taking Air France on this connecting flight to Hong Kong via Paris CDG. So I was aware that I had any baggage issues UNTIL I arrived in Hong Kong.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Just the usual drinks service (tea/coffee). I asked the air hostess if there were any cakes/biscuits’, to which she replied “Ohh...you are hungry is it?...Paris is only 30 minutes away you know?”. This was an unprofessional way to answer a paid passenger of a big airline company such as Air France. It was not expected and an unwanted remark. Later on she apologised for her remarks.

Comments regarding the first meal:

Just a simple (yet hot) croissant.

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):
None

Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

None

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

Please see my comment regarding the air hostesses remark regarding the pre-meal service.

Improvements that could be made:

Perhaps Air France needs to make sure its baggage handling system is up to scratch!

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort):

All of Air France’s seats are beautifully covered with seat covers that are coloured in blue, red and white (representing the national flag). The planes are clean and well maintained.

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 8 (the quality of the seats let down the flight

About Airline PR

This is a special section on Airline Branding, and Airline Public Relations written by me on all the flights I have been fortunate enough to have been on. These are not records taken from somewhere else, but are actual flights I have been on. Most of the flight trips are officially sponsored by the airline companies in order to promote their certain routes, and aircraft. Airline promotion and PR related work in the aviation industry is one of my expertise.

This section of the website will grow in time, and will include detailed reviews of the in-flight meals, the airline seats, the comfort of the overall trip, the customer service both at the check-in-desk as well as by the Cabin Crew; and how good the assistance has been by the airline staff. All the reviews are honest, fair, firm, and non-biased.

I am proud to have worked with some of the largest PR agencies, and some of the most powerful airline brands in the world, including but not limited to: Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa German Airlines, Air China, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Air Malta, Air France, KLM, CityJet, and many others.

All the flights I have taken in my life are documented on this weblog except for any flights that were taken before 2003. These included Syrian Airlines (747SP in 1985), British Airways (2003 to Dubai), Aeroflot (IL-62, and IL-86 in 1989) and a few others. I regret not documenting them because I never thought of doing that back in those days.

I am hoping to bring to life the joy of reviewing airlines.

Note Regarding Photos

For all media reviews, special permission has been granted from the airline authorities, and even from airport authorities for the photos/videos taken on-board the aircraft and on the ramp because it is strictly forbidden to take photos and videos on and around the aircraft without permission.

The purpose of this blog is to provoke thought, inform, intrigue and amaze you.

You read it first here!

Click on the particular airline below and see my flight review. When you click on an airline, it should list all of the flights taken with that airline.

Navjot Singh at a Chinese Military Airfield

Watch exclusive videos below taken in the cockpit of a Boeing 777-300ER in-flight over Chinese Airspace.

Special thanks goes to
Turkish Airlines