Air France Business Class JFK-CDG
We quickly made our way down the empty jet bridge and boarded the 777-300 aircraft. Friendly flight attendants greeted us in French and English upon boarding and directed us to our seats. We enviously walked through an empty first class cabin with big, plush leather seats. I would have redeemed for first class, except that Delta does not allow for international first class redemptions- and even Air France only lets their elites redeem for first at highly inflated levels. I suppose this restriction is in place because Delta does not have an international first class product; however, that does not stop Continental, whose OnePass program allows first class redemptions on all Star Alliance partners- even though Contintental does not have an international first class cabin. However, as described here, I got this whole trip for 120,000 Delta miles, so I am not going to dwell on the fact that I only got business class. I fully understand how fortunate I am to travel in the business class cabin, considering I am 6'7†and riding in coach, even in an exit row, can be brutal for extended amounts of time.
This was my first time on Air France and I was immediately impressed by the clean and modern cabin of the Boeing 777-300 aircraft. The Affaires (business) class cabin is in a 2, 3, 2 configuration, meaning 2 seats on each side and 3 in the middle. The color theme is a navy blue and cream and the seats are all
new pod-style angled lie-flats. This means that you only see a shell in front of you and you cannot tell when the person in front of you reclines. The cloth seats were comfortable and there was a hanger on each seat which was pre-marked with your seat number. This helped streamline the boarding process and once the entire cabin was settled in and the doors were closed, flight attendants came around the cabin with hot towels and then trays of orange juice and champagne. This approach differs from some carriers who provide pre-departure drinks during the boarding process.
Contrary to what I've read about Air France flight attendants, our service was phenomenal. I guess it helps that my partner speaks fluent French, but they didn't ridicule me when my elementary French came out butchered. In fact, they even continued to speak to me in French, when many people would switch to English.
Before I knew it, glasses were collected and we were ready for takeoff. The weather was clear and sunny, so there wasn't a huge line waiting to takeoff, which was nice for a change, since I've sat on JFK's runways for hours at a time (like the last British Airways flight I took). Takeoff was smooth and within 5 minutes, the captain turned off the seat belt sign. This is a fun feature of flying foreign carriers- I feel like US carriers keep the seat belt sign on forever- up to an hour at times. This allows the flight attendants to prep dinner service, which is very much appreciated on a 9:30pm departure flight. Menus were distributed-
Gourmet Appetizer- Maine lobster, wasabi mayonnaise and mango salad
Main Course- choice of either Pan seared tournedos of beef with peppercorns, mashed potatoes with leeks. Provencale stile simmered vegetables
Or
Plat du Jour- Grilled fillet of salmon with barbecue sauce and rice wine vinegar, wasabi basmati rice and Asian-style green beans
Dessert- Berry tartlet
I decided to go with the beef and my partner got the salmon. The appetizer was absolutely delicious- by far the best first course I've had on an airline. The lobster was fresh and the wasabi mayonnaise just the right amount of savory heat.
The beef was just okay- I've had much better, specifically on Delta's JFK-LAX business elite service. The potatoes and vegetables were a bit salty like most airline food.
After dinner, I wanted to get as much sleep as possible, so I immediately extended the bed into sleep mode and changed into pajamas (I hate sleeping in jeans). For me, being 6'7â€, this setup is not the most comfortable, since I cannot stretch fully out and I felt like I was sliding. For me, the only way to avoid the sliding feeling was to sleep on my side, which was slightly uncomfortable since the seat is not padded thickly enough. However it didn't really matter, because my trusty Lunesta kicked in and I was about to get almost 5 hours of decent sleep.
Breakfast service began about 45 minutes before arrival. It was a continental breakfast, which I didn't realize. I just chose one croissant when the cart came through, not realizing that would be it. However, I wasn't hungry and we were landing in Paris, so I knew my culinary needs would be taken care of for the next 3 days.
Landing at CDG was smooth and taxi to the gate took about 10 minutes. Once at the gate, we were one of the first people off the plane, and once again got to admire the first class cabin. Customs was completely empty and a carefree border agent just looked at our passports and waved up through- no forms necessary at all.
At baggage claim, the timer said we'd have to wait 20 minutes, but after 5 minutes, the bell rang and baggage started coming out. Our priority bags were on the belt in minutes and we were off to take the RER into the city to the Park Hyatt Vendome- which will be outlined in the next installment of this report here.
Overall, I was impressed with Air France, but not blown away. The lie-flat seat is probably very comfortable for most people under 6'2, but being 6'7", I felt cramped and if I was sliding. Food choices were minimal and if it were not for the delicious lobster appetizer, would have been sub-par all around. Service was friendly, though you can tell the difference when you are on a 4-class carrier and not in the top class of service. The service attentive, professional and quick, which is all I can ask for on an east-bound transatlantic flight. Overall, I was able to arrive in Paris somewhat rested- something that never happens when flying coach long haul.
[card card-name='Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express ' card-id='22035076' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.