Assessment: World’s finest Enterprise Class seat

Wednesday newsletters at all times function a lodge or flight evaluation.

Final summer season (July 2023), I loved an outstanding safari & seashore vacation in South Africa and Mozambique, most likely my finest vacation ever. You possibly can learn my journey reviews right here:

At this time: Assessment of Air France’s new Boeing 777 Enterprise Class suite (Johannesburg to Paris)

After an unimaginable vacation in Southern Africa, I flew again dwelling with Air France onboard a Boeing 777 which was outfitted with the provider’s latest Enterprise Class product: suites with sliding doorways organized in a 1-2-1 reverse format. As I already described in my evaluation of the outbound flight, Air France’s new exhausting product is superb and the suites – that are unfold over two cabins – function cutting-edge devices resembling sliding doorways, wi-fi charging, bluetooth audio, and 4K high-definition anti-glare screens. Mixed with the provider’s glorious tender product – which incorporates connoisseur delicacies designed by Michelin starred cooks – all of it makes for a terrific flight expertise, therefore why Air France is certainly one of my favourite airways.

On prime of that, there’s one little-known function that makes Air France’s new Enterprise Class product much more particular and distinctive. Its bulkhead seats – that are positioned within the entrance of each Enterprise Class cabins, extra particularly in rows 1 and 9 – supply an infinite quantity of additional area, which equals that and even tops the area you normally discover in First Class cabins. IMHO, these are presently the world’s finest Enterprise Class seats and so they appear to characterize some form of a “Enterprise Class Plus” product. Up to now, Air France has not made a number of fuzz about this function and the provider doesn’t cost additional for these seats however they’re solely out there to Flying Blue elite members at reserving (though additionally they turn out to be out there to different Enterprise Class passengers 72 hours previous to departure). For my return flight to Paris, I used to be capable of choose a bulkhead suite through the on-line check-in course of, which might be the prelude of certainly one of my finest Enterprise Class flight experiences ever.

Have you ever ever flown with Air France? In that case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

• Journey: Johannesburg (JNB) to Paris (PAR)
• Airline: Air France
• Plane kind: Boeing 777-300ER
• Plane registration quantity: F-GZNU (inbuilt 2016)
• Departure time: 7 pm
• Arrival time: 6 am (+ 1 day)
• Miles: 4420 miles (8720 km)
• Flight time: 10 hours
• Seat: 9A
• Class: Enterprise Class

On this evaluation (extra data & photographs under my YouTube video):

1. Air France Enterprise Class Lounge at CDG Airport
2. Air France historical past
3. Enterprise Class cabin
4. Enterprise Class seat (+ finest & worst seats)
5. Facilities & bedding
6. Meals
7. Leisure
8. Onboard web
9. Different inflight experiences
10. My verdict (rating)

1. SLOW LOUNGE AT JOHANNESBURG O.R. TAMPO AIRPORT

Air France doesn’t have its personal Enterprise Class lounge at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport. As an alternative, it provides its premium passengers entry to the Gradual Lounge, a 3rd celebration contract lounge positioned one flooring above the airport’s primary concourse. The Gradual Lounge is comprised of two separate lounges, one to the left and one to the suitable of the reception space. Each lounge areas function an analogous format, and are divided into separate sections for enjoyable, working or consuming. Every lounge options its personal buffet station (with an incredible choice of scorching & chilly dishes) and a wonderful bar space. Though the Gradual Lounge feels stylish and its meals & beverage providing is superb, the lounge doesn’t have any home windows (so it lacks pure mild) and it’d get very busy throughout peak hours (which was the case throughout my go to).

2. AIR FRANCE LONGHAUL FLEET

Air France has 63 Boeing 777s in its fleet: a combination of 18 Boeing 777-200ER and 45 Boeing 777-300ER planes. These plane have a median age of 17 years (the youngest Boeing 777-300ER was acquired in 2016). Air France is the world’s 4th greatest Boeing 777 operator (after Emirates, United Airways and Qatar Airways).

3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN

Air France’s retrofitted Boeing 777-300ERs that are outfitted with the brand new Enterprise Class product function 48 spacious suites unfold over two cabins. The majority of the suites is positioned within the entrance Enterprise Class cabin, which has a complete of 28 seats and consists of seven rows, whereas the rear Enterprise Class cabin feels extra intimate with solely 5 rows of 20 suites. In each cabins, the Enterprise Class seats are organized in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone format, offering all passengers direct entry to the aisle.

All Enterprise Class seats are outfitted with a sliding door, permitting every passenger to create a completely personal area, out of sight from the opposite passengers within the cabin. The seats positioned within the heart of the cabin are outfitted with a central panel that may be lowered by urgent it down, thus making a convivial area by which to benefit from the flight collectively. Additionally, the seats on the entrance of each Enterprise cabins (in rows 1 and 9) have an infinite quantity of additional area in entrance of them for extra consolation, making them the very best seats within the airplane.

Air France’s new Enterprise Class cabin has a chic design and shows Air France’s signature colours: navy blue, the presence of white including mild and distinction, and touches of pink embodying its excellence and savoir-faire. The carpet on the ground revisits the standard decorative herringbone sample, symbolizing the emblematic world of conventional Parisian Haussmann residences. The entrance of the cabin in addition to the facet panel of every suite function a winged seahorse, embodying the founding fable of the corporate and its wealthy historical past. The cabin additionally feels very luxurious and plush because the provider has chosen noble, tender and pure supplies resembling wool, brushed alluminium and full-grain French leather-based for the manufacture of its seat.

4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)

Air France has put in Safran Versa Enterprise Class seat onboard its retrofitted Boeing 777s. With a pitch of 106 cm (42 inches) and a width of 53 cm (21 inch), the seat feels very snug, has glorious padding, and options luxurious accents, resembling a darkish navy blue seat material and a leather-based headrest. Positioned in its personal shell, the design of the Enterprise Class seat is predicated on the three “F”s: Full Flat, that means that the seat transforms into an actual mattress nearly 2 m (6.5 ft)  lengthy; Full Entry, offering all passengers direct entry to the aisle; and Full Privateness, making certain optimum privateness by way of a sliding door.

One facet of the seat – positioned in direction of the cabin wall for the window seats or the middle line for center seats – options a big enclosed console, that includes a backlit image of Air France’s iconic winged seahorse brand. On the within, the console has a hook with the noise-cancelling headphones upon boarding, however when you take away them it has sufficient room to retailer your smaller private belonging (e.g. cellphone, pockets, glasses). There’s additionally a conceit mirror inside this console and nicely as a handset for the inflight leisure.  On the console’s outer wall is a studying mild (at eye stage) in addition to a USB-A outlet.

Subsequent to the console is a big counter, which includes a wi-fi charging station and a steel trim holding the seat controls. Beneath the counter are a small storage pocket (which can be utilized to retailer a bottle of water) and a number of other energy shops (together with a USB-C charger and AC energy outlet). The seat’s bi-fold tray desk can also be positioned on this facet of the seat and slides out from beneath the counter.

Every seat has a big 17.3-inch 4K high-definition anti-glare display. The suite’s apex additionally includes a footwell with an extra storage space beneath (which is ideal for stowing away a purse or footwear). The ottoman is sort of giant, which boosts the sleeping consolation when the seat is totally reclined. When sleeping, the aisle armrest could be left up for extra privateness, or lowered for offering some welcome additional mattress width.

What are the finest Enterprise Class seats?

• The bulkhead seats within the entrance of every Enterprise Class cabin – in rows 1 and 9 – supply an infinite quantity of additional area, which equals that and even tops the area you normally discover in First Class cabins. There’s a lot area that when sleeping,  passengers can mainly place their physique any means they like
• Solo vacationers ought to select one of many window seats, whereas journey companions ought to go for the center seats.

What are the worst Enterprise Class seats?

• I recommend to keep away from the final row within the entrance Enterprise Class cabin (row 8) resulting from its proximity to the galley and bathrooms.
• I additionally recommend to keep away from the final row within the rear Enterprise Class (row 14) which is in entrance of the Premium Economic system Class bassinet seats.

Click on right here for a seat map of Air France’s Boeing 777-300ER.

5. AMENITIES & BEDDING

Air France provides the next facilities to its Enterprise Class passengers on longhaul flights:

• A consolation equipment made from 96% recycled materials. Its plastic packaging has been eliminated in favor of an integrity seal. Sober and refined, it’s out there in two colors, navy blue and beige. Every equipment accommodates a toothbrush and a pen constructed from maize straw, in addition to earplugs wrapped in kraft paper to keep away from plastic. A big sleep masks, socks, toothpaste and Clarins cosmetics full the equipment.
• A hanger
• A tender microfiber pillow and a tender blanket
• Air France branded noise-cancelling headphones, that are exhausting wired into the storage cubby and of respectable high quality

Sadly, Air France doesn’t present a quilted mattress. It’s most likely the one factor I missed throughout my journey with the provider, as a quilted mattress can actually make a distinction with regards to the onboard sleeping consolation.

6. MEALS

Air France has an extended historical past of collaborating witch Michelin-starred cooks. In actual fact, it’s the one airline on this planet to companion with so many Michelin-starred cooks, reaffirming greater than ever its position as an envoy for high-quality French eating and experience all through the world. On long-haul flights departing from Paris, Air France has entrusted the menu in its Enterprise cabin to Michelin-starred French cooks. The best names in French haute delicacies, together with Régis Marcon, Anne-Sophie Pic and Michel Roth, take it in turns to supply vegetarian dishes in addition to refined dishes with pink or chicken or fish. These meals are enhanced by tableware signed by French designer Jean-Marie Massaud. The wine and champagne checklist is chosen by world well-known sommelier Paolo Basso.

Throughout this in a single day flight from Paris to Johannesburg, two meals had been served: a dinner after takeoff and a breakfast earlier than touchdown. Menus had been properly executed (with all choices talked about in English and French), the dishes had been superbly plated, and the meals tasted glorious.

I select the next choice from the dinner menu:

Breakfast was served 90 minutes previous to touchdown in Johannesburg and included contemporary orange juice, espresso, tea, pastries, yoghurt, and fruits. The recent dish was comprised of scrambled eggs, potato fritter, roasted tomatoes with herbs, and sautéed mushrooms.

7. ENTERTAINMENT

As already talked about, every seat has a big 17.3-inch 4K high-definition anti-glare display, outfitted with noise-reducing headphones and a Bluetooth connection in order that prospects can use their private headphones. A state-of-the-art graphic interface out there in 12 languages makes it straightforward to select from all kinds of packages. Greater than 350 movies can be found, together with a big choice of French films, in addition to TV collection, documentaries, music and podcasts. A selected part on well-being additionally permits younger and previous alike to find out about meditation and seated yoga through the flight. Lastly, youngsters have their very own navigation interface to simply discover all of the leisure particularly devoted to our youthful passengers. Air France’s Boeing 777-300ERs are additionally outfitted with a nostril and stomach digicam, streaming dwell footage to the inflight leisure system.

8. ONBOARD INTERNET

In all cabins, passengers can use Air France Join, the airline’s in-flight Wi-Fi supply. The portal provides three passes, certainly one of which is totally freed from cost and permits passengers to ship and obtain messages through WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, and related companies, though you can not ship or obtain photographs, movies, or audio information.

Two different web packages can be found for buy on Air France’s longhaul flights:

• The Surf Cross is accessible as 1-hour voucher for EUR 8, or a full-flight voucher for EUR 18. With this go, you possibly can surf the web, and ship & obtain e-mails.
• The Stream Cross prices EUR 30 for your complete flight and allows you to surf the web, ship and obtain e-mails together with (giant) attachments, ship & obtain messages together with photographs, movies, & audio information, and stream music, audio, & video.

9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES

# CREW: The flight attendants on this journey had been very pleasant and supplied impeccable and courteous service. I used to be supplied a handwritten welcome card by the crew upon boarding, which was a pleasant contact.

# LAVATORY: Air France’s Boeing 777-300ER options 4 toilets for Enterprise Class passengers: two are positioned behind the cockpit and the 2 different within the galley between each Enterprise Class cabins. The toilets had been full of Clarins toiletries.

10. MY VERDICT

• Cabin design: 9/10
• Seat privateness: 10/10
• Seat consolation (upright): 9/10
• Seat consolation (mattress place): 10/10
• Meals (high quality): 9/10
• Meals (amount): 9/10
• Inflight leisure : 9/10
• WiFi: 9/10
• Service: 10/10
• General expertise: distinctive – 9,2/10

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