Evaluation: World’s greatest Enterprise Class seat

Wednesday newsletters all the time characteristic a lodge or flight overview.

Final summer time (July 2023), I loved an exceptional safari & seaside vacation in South Africa and Mozambique, in all probability my greatest vacation ever. You possibly can learn my journey studies right here:

At the moment: Evaluation of Air France’s new Boeing 777 Enterprise Class suite (Johannesburg to Paris)

After an unbelievable vacation in Southern Africa, I flew again residence 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 overview of the outbound flight, Air France’s new arduous product is great and the suites – that are unfold over two cabins – characteristic cutting-edge devices comparable to sliding doorways, wi-fi charging, bluetooth audio, and 4K high-definition anti-glare screens. Mixed with the provider’s wonderful tender product – which incorporates gourmand 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 high of that, there’s one little-known characteristic that makes Air France’s new Enterprise Class product much more particular and distinctive. Its bulkhead seats – that are situated within the entrance of each Enterprise Class cabins, extra particularly in rows 1 and 9 – provide an unlimited quantity of additional house, which equals that and even tops the house you normally discover in First Class cabins. IMHO, these are at present the world’s greatest Enterprise Class seats they usually appear to signify some kind of a “Enterprise Class Plus” product. To date, Air France has not made plenty of fuzz about this characteristic and the provider doesn’t cost further for these seats however they’re solely accessible to Flying Blue elite members at reserving (though additionally they grow to be accessible to different Enterprise Class passengers 72 hours previous to departure). For my return flight to Paris, I used to be in a position to choose a bulkhead suite through the on-line check-in course of, which might be the prelude of certainly one of my greatest Enterprise Class flight experiences ever.

Have you ever ever flown with Air France? If that’s the 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 (in-built 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 overview (extra data & photographs beneath 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 (+ greatest & 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 gives its premium passengers entry to the Sluggish Lounge, a 3rd social gathering contract lounge situated one flooring above the airport’s primary concourse. The Sluggish Lounge is comprised of two separate lounges, one to the left and one to the correct of the reception space. Each lounge areas characteristic an analogous format, and are divided into separate sections for stress-free, working or consuming. Every lounge options its personal buffet station (with a fantastic collection of sizzling & chilly dishes) and a gorgeous bar space. Though the Sluggish Lounge feels stylish and its meals & beverage providing is great, the lounge doesn’t have any home windows (so it lacks pure gentle) 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 mix 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 largest 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 characteristic 48 spacious suites unfold over two cabins. The majority of the suites is situated 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 house, out of sight from the opposite passengers within the cabin. The seats situated within the middle of the cabin are outfitted with a central panel that may be lowered by urgent it down, thus making a convivial house through which to profit from the flight collectively. Additionally, the seats on the entrance of each Enterprise cabins (in rows 1 and 9) have an unlimited quantity of additional house in entrance of them for extra consolation, making them the most effective seats within the aircraft.

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 gentle and distinction, and touches of crimson embodying its excellence and savoir-faire. The carpet on the ground revisits the normal decorative herringbone sample, symbolizing the emblematic world of conventional Parisian Haussmann flats. The entrance of the cabin in addition to the facet panel of every suite characteristic a winged seahorse, embodying the founding fantasy 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 comparable to 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 comfy, has wonderful padding, and options luxurious accents, comparable to a darkish navy blue seat cloth and a leather-based headrest. Situated 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, guaranteeing optimum privateness by way of a sliding door.

One facet of the seat – situated 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 emblem. 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 an arrogance mirror inside this console and effectively as a handset for the inflight leisure.  On the console’s outer wall is a studying gentle (at eye degree) in addition to a USB-A outlet.

Subsequent to the console is a large counter, which incorporates a wi-fi charging station and a metallic trim holding the seat controls. Beneath the counter are a small storage pocket (which can be utilized to retailer a bottle of water) and several other energy retailers (together with a USB-C charger and AC energy outlet). The seat’s bi-fold tray desk can be situated 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 incorporates 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 absolutely reclined. When sleeping, the aisle armrest might be left up for extra privateness, or lowered for offering some welcome further mattress width.

What are the greatest Enterprise Class seats?

• The bulkhead seats within the entrance of every Enterprise Class cabin – in rows 1 and 9 – provide an unlimited quantity of additional house, which equals that and even tops the house you normally discover in First Class cabins. There may be a lot house that when sleeping,  passengers can principally place their physique any manner 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) attributable to its proximity to the galley and bogs.
• I additionally recommend to keep away from the final row within the rear Enterprise Class (row 14) which is in entrance of the Premium Financial system Class bassinet seats.

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

5. AMENITIES & BEDDING

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

• A consolation package manufactured from 96% recycled materials. Its plastic packaging has been eliminated in favor of an integrity seal. Sober and refined, it’s accessible in two colors, navy blue and beige. Every package comprises a toothbrush and a pen comprised of 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 package.
• A hanger
• A tender microfiber pillow and a tender blanket
• Air France branded noise-cancelling headphones, that are arduous wired into the storage cubby and of first rate high quality

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

6. MEALS

Air France has a protracted historical past of collaborating witch Michelin-starred cooks. In truth, it’s the one airline on this planet to companion with so many Michelin-starred cooks, reaffirming greater than ever its function 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 crimson or chicken or fish. These meals are enhanced by tableware signed by French designer Jean-Marie Massaud. The wine and champagne record 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 wonderful.

I select the next choice from the dinner menu:

Breakfast was served 90 minutes previous to touchdown in Johannesburg and included recent 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 clients can use their private headphones. A state-of-the-art graphic interface accessible in 12 languages makes it simple to select from all kinds of packages. Greater than 350 movies can be found, together with a big collection of French motion pictures, in addition to TV sequence, documentaries, music and podcasts. A selected part on well-being additionally permits younger and outdated 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 digital camera, streaming stay 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 provide. The portal gives 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 obtainable as 1-hour voucher for EUR 8, or a full-flight voucher for EUR 18. With this cross, you possibly can surf the web, and ship & obtain e-mails.
• The Stream Cross prices EUR 30 for all the 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 provided impeccable and courteous service. I used to be provided 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 situated 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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