continuation from IAH-CDG http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ums/trip_reports/read.main/159475/

OCT09
CDG - HKG
AF184
772 - F-GSPV
Departure gate E35
Scheduled departure / actual departure : 13h40 / 13h46
Wheels up : 14h00
Scheduled arrival / actual arrival : 07h20 / 07h01 +1

This segment will actually be shorter. Sorry for the lack of photos this time but with the cabin being dark I didn’t want to stand out using the flash !

Our lounge agent, one of the same ones who met us on the arrival from IAH, advised us she would accompany us to the gate by foot because the aircraft was on a jetbridge stand right at terminal 2E. It’s kind of hard to describe where the Premiere lounge is. If you have ever traveled through 2E, the elevator which leads up to the mezzanine level where the lounge is situated is to the right after passing through security.

Mme the lounge agent was very friendly and comfortably conversational. She asked if we were able to freshen up and have lunch. I said I was even able to have breakfast too, having saved room to eat two meals in the lounge hehe. We were discreetfully brisked through the crowd at the gate and through the boarding card readers. It was as if there was no one else on the flight. Everything going on around you is a blur.

Both jetbridges were utilized (for once) although it seems that passengers from all classes came through door 1L.

We were presented to the cabin crew by Mme the lounge agent, who wished gave us the ever-so-typical Air France bon voyage and we were directed to our seats 1A and 1E. Two Chinese men were already settled in seats 1F and 1L so P would be full. I opened the overhead I found a used duvet / pillow. I didn’t really know what to do because I am not one to make a fuss, although I really was hoping that was not going to be the duvet and pillow for my seat !

I mustered up the courage to advise the f/a at the door, who would end up working in P. She was floored to discover that the dirty duvet and pillow were still there, saying they had called prior to boarding for them to be removed ! Just as she finished her apologies, someone from the cleaning team showed up and was gone within a matter of seconds. Phew.

A glass of champagne was proposed but since we do not drink alcohol we declined and a glass of orange juice was proposed in its place. The pyjamas and amenities kit followed … more for the collection !

Push back was only 6 minutes late, very good for CDG standards ! Flights for JFK, DXB and PEK were around us but we managed to push before them. We took off on the southern runways …


Terminal 2G :


Once the crew was released we informed our flight attendant of our wish to eat later, since we were full from eating in the lounge ! I wonder if some of them expect that … This was great because our flight attendant proposed to set up our beds even before starting service for the two Chinese men. In any event the Chinese translator on board had to come help them translate for their choices.

I actually fell asleep watching a movie … and woke up with the cabin lights already shut off … how long had I been sleeping ?? 4 hours already !!! Perfect timing for dinner in fact ! I went to the galley to ask our flight attendant if I could eat … to which the answer was “of course !” … she did advise me that one of her colleagues would be looking after me. Without her saying it I knew she was going off to her rest.

Her fellow flight attendant came to greet me and was interested in my all of my choices for lunch (dinner!) and tastefully set my table shortly afterwards.

Lunch à la carte

Mise en bouche (not served)
Cracker topped with orange and goat cheese, langoustine sushi, foie gras with mango and ginger

Choice of hors d’oeuvre
Duck foie gras with glazed chestnuts accompanied by apple chesnut purée


Sautéed scallops flavored with powdered spices and seaweed, fingerling potatoes with vinaigrette

Mushrooms in Melfor vinaigrette, cantal cheese

Fresh seasonal salad

Choice of main course

Felet of beef served with truffle jus complemented by a fennel flan and fennel compote

Sole and scallops with a pisa-style sole sauce accompanied by a rice cake


Lasange with eggplant caviar, tomato and fresh goat cheese


Plat du jour : curried shrimp sautéed with crushed tomatoes, chilip pepper, onion, garlic and ginger, served with vegetable rice and artichokes flavored with fenugreek

Our special selection of cheese
Camembert, Roquefort, pérail, langres, beaufort

Fresh bakery selection

Dessert cart
Miniature pastries
Chocolate fruitcake, pear cake, apple tartlet
Sherbet served with cookies (green apple sherbet was my choice)
Assortment of fresh fruit

Buffet
Please help yourself at your convenience. If you prefer you may also ask your flight attendant to serve you at your seat.
Asian noodles
Sandwiches
Miniature pastries
Basket of fruit
Haagen-Dazs ice cream

The menu from CDG actually was not too appetizing for me. But this is personal choice ! I noticed a lot of seafood on the menu. I don’t care for scallops (both were on appetizer and main course), shrimp (plat du jour), and fennel … other than that believe me I am not a picky eater ! So unfortunately I did not even have an appetizer 

My friend, who ate even later than I did (and I had fallen back asleep !) said the foie gras was very good. The filets of sole were excellent and the scallops apparently very tender.

For my choice I was pleasantly surprised by the lasagna with eggplant and goat cheese … it came out piping hot the sauce has splattered in the dish as you can see) and was full of flavor.

Dessert followed :
My friend’s choice : chocolate fruitcake … tea service …


Green apple sorbet and apple tartlet … I was afraid that the apple tartlet was going to be some average round tartlet but I was proved wrong. The tart dough was awesome and the apple filling was awesome.


I was apprehensive about not eating when everyone else did … apprehensive that the quality of service was not going to be the same, that I was going to get the “you’re bothering us” attitude.

On the contrary ! I loved being able to eat when I wanted to (as you always can in Premiere) and I loved how the flight attendant went through the service so naturally … the timing was once again perfect … yes it’s easy and she should not have to ask but I thought it was great how dessert followed without her even having to ask again … the French have a knack for this I think, at least in my experience !

And naturally after dinner I fell back to sleep … the cabin was awake with about 2h30 left …

Breakfast

Orange and kiwi salad with mint
Cereal yogurt
Butter, preserves, and honey
Breakfast pastries
Choice of main course : scrambled eggs with cream, simmered bell peppers, bayonne ham
Caramelized apple tartlet servd with crème fraiche

I went with the savory option … the eggs were kind of strange, but not gross … the mini pain au chocolat were as always yummy … and of course the perfect double Illy espresso in the coffee cup … mmmmm.


The apple tartlet was like dessert !


The only gripe I have with the second service on AirFrance in Premiere : the tray !

Early arrival in Hong Kong on 07R … view after turning into the gate :


We were naturally the first ones off the aircraft … immigration was pretty smooth inspite of a few minutes wait … and in Chinese fashion bags were already on the belt by the time we got there. What better could you ask for ?

High-speed train station to Kowloon / Hong Kong :




All in all a very smooth trip all the way from IAH to HKG. If I had to say, the IAH flight was probably better, if only for the food choices. But again that is personal taste. There is nothing to be said for the Premiere lounge, only accolades. And the Air France inflight service is still up there for me. Both flights were on time. People complain the Premiere seats are not as “private” but I am not complaining, the bed and the duvet are awesome. One word for the new IFE : flawless. I love the abundant choice of films, even on ultra long haul flights you can’t watch more than three films between sleeping and eating.

It’s the “French touch”. I really look forward to the updated Premiere product, it’s about time AirFrance step up to the plate.