Route: Paris CDG- Hong Kong

Departure date and time of flight: 13:45pm on the 7th December 2009

Flight Number: AF184

Flight duration: 11h 20 minutes

Class: Economy Class

Aircraft type: Boeing 777-200

Punctuality of the flight:

The flight was delayed taking off by around 20 minutes due to the afternoon traffic at Paris CDG- the taxi to the runway took a very long time (perhaps around 20 minutes).

Any baggage issues:

This was a connecting flight that I took from London Heathrow to Hong Kong via CDG. Now, as far as I was concerned, everything seemed to be OK until I arrived at Hong Kong. The Air France ground staff at the arrivals desk assumed that my baggage was on the next plane in from CDG (due to arrive in the morning). I was informed that I can spend around 100 EUROS on anything I would like until I get my baggage. To my surprise the baggage arrived 2 days late (actually three days if one takes into account the time difference between Europe and Asia). I have heard from a lot of other people that they also had issues with Air France, and when I was at CDG Airport I do recall meeting couple mentioning in frustration that they have experienced baggage problems with Air France many times (were they just unlucky?!)

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

I was on a connecting flight in from London Heathrow to Hong Kong. There was a HUGE queue for the security and the transfer check-in area prior to the boarding gates. Though the staff were polite and considerate. There were no major problems on the whole-just the feeling that I may miss my connecting flight! (but it was all handled well by the local staff).

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

A Yellow coloured packet of Croccentelle Bux olives (pretzels) was served, along with drinks (choice of orange juice, apple juice and other drinks), along with red or white wine. The pretzels were OK (fresh and salted).

Comments regarding the first meal:

Creamy pumpkin blended with cod and vegetables- Just LOVELY (especially when sprinkled with pepper) was the dish of the house. A neat bowl of salad consisting of diced tomatoes and onions was served with a delicious thin carpet of salmon. A meal on Air France would not be complete without the trademark French baguette (just the right size- not too long), a healthy portion of French cheese (camembert) and a serving of traditional French butter.

A fabulous helping of chocolate cream pudding made up for the pudding- as well as a fresh orange (taken from a French farm!). The cutlery was all plastic with a napkin in Air France colours.

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

Passengers could help themselves to the kitchen to get pot noodles, tea, coffee and other drinks (including Cognac and other spirits).

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

Breakfast was served around an hour and a half prior to landing at Paris CDG. There was a choice of either a Cantonese or a French breakfast. The only difference between the Cantonese and the French breakfast was that the Cantonese breakfast consisted of the signature “congee”, while the French breakfast consisted various slices of three kinds of cheese. The rest of the meal was standard- consisting of a healthy portion of bread (baguette and croissant), butter, orange juice, apple rice pudding and a pot of French yogurt (delicious!). Oh and of course there was the French frais (strawberry) jam. Loved every bite!!

A hot cup of tea or coffee (or green tea) were offered afterwards. The air hostesses offered another helping of the croissant to those that needed one. You just can’t argue with that high quality of service.

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

Passengers could watch a myriad of movies (French, Indian, Chinese, American, Spanish and British varieties were on offer), and music (all sorts). There were plenty of games to be played too. It was an action packed IFE system offered by Air France- however it being a night flight so not many passengers had time to watch the IFE (sleeping seemed more important in International airspace!).

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

Very professional. Actually the Air France staff are very helpful, polite and offer the best of French hospitality.

Improvements that could be made:

Perhaps Air France needs to make sure its baggage handling system is up to scratch! That’s the only thing that let this flight down- otherwise the in-flight service was great!

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): 9

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

Route: Hong Kong to Paris CDG

Departure date and time of flight: 23:05pm on the 26th December 2009

Flight Number: AF185

Flight duration: 12h 30 minutes

Class: Economy Class

Aircraft type: Boeing 777-300ER

Punctuality of the flight:

The flight departed on time and landed on time. Everything went smoothly.

Any baggage issues:

There were no baggage issues whatsoever. It was a lovely flight and everything went smoothly.

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

I checked in early at Hong Kong, and had plenty of time to wander around the airport before making way to the boarding gates. There were no major issues to deal with.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

The pre-dinner snack consisted of pretzels served with a choice of drinks (orange juice, and others). A fresh slice of lemon was added to the drinks – it was a lovely touch and went well with the orange juice. Scrumptious at 37,000f eet! The red and white wines were, naturally, French. Nice choice too.

Comments regarding the first meal:

Dinner was served at the right time, around 35 minutes after departure. So we did not waste any time! The main dish consisted of a lovely portion of spinach, chicken breast, boiled potatoes and diced carrots. A healthy bowl of salad along with salad cream and mustard cream was presented. The presentation was immaculate. The bread was accompanied with goat’s cheese (can’t ask for anything more on Air France- it was of a very high-quality). Generous amounts of fresh fruit was presented with cut slices of mango and melon.

The highlight of any in-flight meal is a perfect pudding- and one could not go wrong with the apple crumble that was presented on this flight. Was it there to die for or what?!

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

Snacks were available in the galley on this all night flight from Hong Kong to Paris. Passengers could help themselves to Tea and coffee along with complimentary drinks.

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

The wake –up lights were turned on around an hour and half prior to landing at CDG airport- so it was time for breakfast! I took the chance to go to the rather clean Air France galley to brush my teeth and freshen up before I was served the morning meal.

The main dish consisted of a cold prawn salad with a slice of lemon to sprinkle on to the food (The Chinese dish was a bowl of congee). A lovely apple danish pastry was accompanied with fresh orange juice, yogurt and a bowl of fruit (fresh dragon fruit packed in Hong Kong was eaten somewhere over the south of France! Priceless).

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

An assortment of IFE was offered (movies, music and games).

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

Very professional. Actually Air France crew are very well trained and professional on long haul flights.

Improvements that could be made:

Perhaps offer a bit more on long haul breakfast dishes (and not just simple salad?)

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): 9

Route: Paris CDG to London Heathrow Airport 

Departure date and time of flight: 19:05am on the 27th December 2009

Flight Number: AF1180

Flight duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Class: Economy Class

Aircraft type: A319

Punctuality of the flight:

The flight was delayed taking off by around 5 minutes due to the evening rush hour traffic at Paris CDG Airport. Further more we were delayed by a further 10 minutes because we had to circle over London (Biggin Hill)- though the actually flying time from Paris airspace to London was around 30 minutes, the rest was spent just holding and waiting to take-off/land!.

Any baggage issues:

I was taking Air France on this connecting flight from Hong Kong via Paris CDG. Thankfully this time around there was no baggage issues, and I arrived in time with all my bags in tact! Air France do have a history of losing baggage during transit. 

Comments on the check-in staff and any issues:

None- it was all smooth. I had come into Paris early in the morning at around 5.50am from Hong Kong and stayed all day Paris for an 8 hour stopover. My bags were in transit- so all I had to do was go through security and onto the gate. Because of jet lag, I was not that tired (really!).

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Snacks consisting of butter cookies and “Tarallucci au Fenouil” (The French equivalent of pretzels?).

Comments regarding the first meal:

None

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

Just the above mentioned choices, along with drinks (Madame Minute orange and red wine)

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

None

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

None

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

My selected seat was changed when I got on board the plane. I could never forget the coldness in the eyes and body language of the French cabin crew member who did not offer a proper apology when I asked to bee assigned to the seat which I had selected. I am not sure what to write over here after my experience. In regards to the customer service that I was provided by the cabin crew, I would say that your average KFC employee would do a much better job.

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

Some of Air France’s seats are beautifully covered with seat covers that are coloured in blue, red and white (representing the national flag). Likewise, some of the planes are clean and well maintained- while the majority seem to across as they need the vacuum cleaner to be used again. 

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 3 (the quality of the seats, customer service, and the unkept interior of the aircraft let down the flight)