While I regularly use AF between CCS and CDG I had never made a trip report on this journey. But, due to a request by Luisde8cd, I have made the effort this time!

Saturday Sept 09th 2006
Taking into account the uncertainties of road travel in Venezuela I left Valencia at 09:20, after having checked on the AF website the status of the arriving flight: the arrival was planned at 14:24 for a scheduled time of 14:20. The Autopista Regional del Centro had a not too high traffic on this Saturday morning, but there were a lot of buses bringing Chavez supporters to a demonstration in Caracas in the afternoon.
They were the cause of the only problem encountered between Valencia and Caracas: at one point a lot of these buses had decided to stop for some time, and, as the parking space was not sufficient, they had incremented it using the emergency lane and the slow traffic lane of the highway. Only the left lane was available for traffic, so a queue of around 15 minutes to pass this spot.

We then used the "carretera vieja" to go down to Maiquetia, as I have found this route far more reliable than the trocha on the highway, which can be blocked for unpredictable durations at unpredictable times.

I arrived at the airport at 12:45.

I went to the Skyteam corner located at the right hand side of the international terminal, and there were already a lot of people already checking-in for the AF flight to Paris and the AZ flight to Milan. It was 12:50, so 3 hours 45 before the AF flight departure.


Fortunately, thanks to my Platinum AF card I was able to pass the entire queue, and was ushered in by the first agent, who checks the persons in the queue and leaves only ticketed passengers inside the check-in area.

I was directed to the passport check, which was done with two computers with passport reading machines. I have still to understand the exact purpose of this check, as it does not prevent a bothersome control at the exit of the jet way when arriving in CDG, as we will see later.

From there I was directed to the business check-in line, where there were 4 persons in front of me. But they were in one group, so I passed with the second agent available (there were 2 business counters), very quickly.
I noticed that, in addition of the traditional Eco and Business lines there was a new additional line for "e-services", which, according to a small board, was to be used for people having already checked in on the internet to drop off their luggage. There was no queue there so I guess it is a good idea to make the internet check-in when leaving CCS. For passengers without Elite status this does not avoid the first queue, but, at least, the second.
The check-in process was swift, my suitcase was checked-in with the priority tag duly added, my boarding pass emitted (I had pre-reserved 61L, upper deck, these seats can be pre-reserved by Elite passengers), and was given the invitation card to the lounge. The agent told me that all taxes were already included in the price of the ticket, and so, at 12:57, 7 minutes after arriving, I was all set, efficiently processed by the AF agents, courteous but not excessively friendly, just as I think airline agents should be. But I am biased, of course!  

Then I went to eat something with my friends, and returned at 14:15 to enter the international area.
There were 2 safety check points staffed, with a queue of around 15 persons in each. The process was efficient, and so at 14:20 I had passed this first step. For immigration 9 counters were opened. The one I selected had 8 persons in front of me, and I reached the agent at 14:30. At 14:31 I was cleared. I went to gate 14, and the AF 744 was already there, as planned.


For the usual AF bashers you will note that the plane was not dirty! You are free to think it had just been repainted!

I did some spotting; the only unusual plane (for me) was this one:



For the rest all the European planes were there: LH, IB, TP; AZ.

I went to the lounge (AF uses the AA lounge, which was not overly crowded - this is not always the case) to have a drink.



At 15:30 I returned to the gate, as the boarding time mentioned on the boarding pass was 15:35.

Flight AF 461 CCS-CDG
747-400 F-GISE
Scheduled 16:35 – 07:55
Real 17:05 – 08:06

Near the gate was the usual AF information board, which I find a nice touch (and if you don't like the captain or the chief purser, it is still time to change your mind  ).



Boarding started at 15:41, with families with children, and then Business class and Elite passengers were called at 15:45, so I joined the boarding.

There was a second safety check (hand carry luggage X-Ray and magnetic frame), plus the usual specific customs check just before the jet way, with manual palpation made by Guardia Nacional staff. I still don't understand the purpose of this last check, as there is no simultaneous control of hand carry luggage?

Newspapers were available at the entrance of the jet way, so I selected those I wanted. This is the normal procedure on AF.

I was greeted at the cabin door by the purser, and directed to the upper deck. At the top of the floor were two smiling FAs who wished me "Welcome on board".

The upper deck cabin:



The upper deck cabin is reserved to Elite passengers for advance seat selection, but is available to other passengers at check-in. The seat pitch is better than on the main deck (36" versus 32", this is noticeable). Additionally there are PTVs at all seats, while on the main deck this is the case for only 3 (the most recent) of the 16 AF 744.
I settled in my window seat, 61L, in the second row of the cabin. There was a PTV box under the seat in front, but not too bothering. In addition of the overhead luggage compartments (which are not very big, due to the fuselage curvature, passengers with large hand luggage have to store them near the stairs), windows seats benefit from compartments under the windows (but they are not wide, so if you travel in this cabin prefer two small hand carry to one big).

At 16:38 there was the announcement "Embarquement terminé – PNC débutez le comptage” (Boarding finished, FAs start passenger count). And at 16:44: "Counting finished". The upper deck cabin was 100% full, so I guess it was the same on the main deck.

Amenity kits were distributed at 16:45.



Meanwhile there were some movements of ground staff to and from the cockpit. At 17:02 the captain made an announcement indicating that we would start in some minutes, and that flying time to Paris would be 8h35, with good weather on arrival.

We pushed back at 17:05 after the traditional: "PNC aux portes. Armement des toboggans et vérifiez la porte opposée" (Cabin Crew take your stations at the doors. Activate emergency slides and check opposite door).
The cabin was sprayed with insecticide while we were taxing to the runway, with the safety demonstration shown on the main video screens.

We started to wait at the runway access at 17:13.
At 17:17 a TACA plane took-off, at 17:20 a LAN plane landed and we took off at 17:22.

At 17:35 menus were distributed and aperitif served.




For those interested the champagne offered was Jacquard Brut Mosaique. I stuck to tomato juice. The biscuits were sour cream and onion snacks crackers, quite tasty.

At 17:48 the captain told us we had reached our cruising altitude of 10 000 m, that landing was planned at 07:55, and wished us "Bon appétit".

Dinner was served from 18:13, by a smiling and efficient FA.



The menu:
Smoked salmon accompanied by a vegetable medley

Goulash with baked potatoes and sautéed zucchini
OR
Farfalle pasta, béchamel sauce, parmesan chesses, ham julienne and tomatoes with oregano

Cheese
Crème caramel
Coffee and tea.

Red Wine
Vin de Pays d'Oc Merlot La Baume 2005

White wine
Vin de Pays d'Oc Sauvignon La Baume 2005

In addition there was a small pot of tamarind cream.

Everything was quite tasty, as usual (on my last trips I had risotto which stayed on the menu for quite a while and was very good). The camembert was exactly as it should be, trust a Frenchman!

Coffee/tea were served at 18:45, then trays were collected and cabin lights were turned off at 19:17, which was 01:17 Paris time (there is a 6 hour difference between Venezuela and France during European summer time).

I tried to sleep, initially disturbed by some turbulences, and my neighbours permanent chatting until the middle of the night. Obviously some people are not used to the secret of cross time zone travel: "as soon as you are in the plane set your watch to the destination time and act accordingly".

At 06:40, the lights were turned on, and breakfast was served. We were still over the Atlantic.



This is a light breakfast, and the croissant is usually quite dry.



A piece of bread in addition would be appreciated, even if it would also be dry after a night of flight. For me this is one of the few weak points of AF Economy class catering: the fact that the bread is not heated, and therefore hard, especially for the second meal of a long-haul flight. Asian airlines are able to give hot bread in Economy, why not AF?

A video presenting the arrival in CDG was displayed, and at 07:25 the captain announced the beginning of the descent, with landing planned at 07:55.

We made the approach facing east, and as I was on the right had side of the aircraft had some good views of Paris.



The Eiffel Tower is roughly in the middle of the picture, on the left of the woods (le Bois de Boulogne).

We landed in fact at 07:55 and taxied to Terminal 2F, where we arrived at 08:06.



Disembarking was by jetway, as this is usually the case with this flight when it is made with a 744. As I was in the front part of the Upper Deck disembarking took some time, and so I arrived in the jet way at 08:17 only, to find the usual queue which is due to a first passport control at the exit of the jet way.



From what I know, this control, which comes in addition of the normal passport control exiting the international area, is supposed to detect illegal immigrants. Checking there enables to be sure of the flight they are arriving on. Otherwise they destroy their papers before reaching the "normal" immigration counters and as it is not possible to be sure of their nationality (of course they will not tell), they can not be sent back easily. However it is difficult to understand why this is necessary, with the pre-check made in CCS. Maybe for passengers in transit from other South American countries?

But this is a nuisance for everybody.

Fortunately jet ways in 2F have glass panels, so you can pass the time looking around;



I finally reached the immigration and customs agents at 08:28, and was in line for normal immigration at 08:30, with 15 persons ahead of myself. There were 3 counters opened, but none for UE citizens. Nevertheless I passed in 4 minutes and was at 08:36 at the baggage carrousel where luggage from the flight had already arrived, but not the supposedly "Priority" ones.



But my suitcase arrived shortly after, at 08:42.

I went to the exit, to discover it was blocked, as there was a security threat outside.


The exit was reopened at 08:45, but it took some time to exit, as there was quite a quantity of persons waiting.
I was at the taxi stand at 08:53, and as there was no queue, my taxi started at 08:54 for a fast journey to Paris on this Sunday morning.


Sunday Sept 24th 2006
I left my home in the south of Paris at 08:00, and, with the light traffic on this Sunday morning, arrived at CDG Terminal 2F at 08:40.



I had done the e-checking, so I had a “boarding pass” printed on an A4 sheet, but I needed to drop my luggage.
First I went to the specialized e-checking counters, but the agent at the entrance of this area, seeing my Platinum Flying Blue card, sent me to the Elite check-in counters. This may be due to the fact that to be loaded in Priority containers baggages have to be taken at these counters (at least this is what I had been told some months ago, when I used the Eco counter, as the queue was shorter there).

At the entrance of the Elite counters, the agent seeing my A4 boarding pass sent me directly to the First Class check-in counters, as business counters had 2/3 persons in line.
My A4 boarding pass was promptly exchanged fro a “normal” boarding pass, and my luggage checked in. At 08:54 I was all set.

I stayed there some minutes, as I had received a phone call, and went to the immigration counters. Lines were not very long (20/30 persons), but as I had just subscribed for the PEGASE test (automatic immigration with fingerprint recognition), I used the special access, and passed the entire queue. The PEGASE system functioned perfectly and in less than one minute the door opened with a written message: ”Have a pleasant flight, Mr TGV”. This machine is definitely much more pleasant than French immigration officers! After immigration there was only on safety check point (which was in fact the cause of the queue before immigration, as people had to wait for the safety check, and as there is no space between immigration and safety check), and so I had to take my turn. Nevertheless I passed in less than 5 minutes, and went to the lounge which was half empty, which is quite unusual at this time of the day.



I took a second breakfast, as the one from home was already forgotten, made my selection of newspapers and returned to the boarding area, where I like to stay, enjoying the airport views.



Flight AF 460 CDG- CCS
747-400 F-GISD
Scheduled 10:35 – 14:20
Real 11:12 – 14:34

Boarding was planned to start at 09:50, and started in reality at 09:56.
There were 3 counters, with the left supposedly dedicated to Elite passengers. This was indicated on a board, but this board was not very noticeable so a whole group of tourists was in the Elite line. When the boarding started the agent for the Elite line gently, but firmly, explained them that Elite passengers would be processed first, and then normal passengers, as soon as she would be free.

This situation was well handled by the agent, but is due to the inadequate organisation of the area, due to the terminal design. While is it quite pleasant for staying some time, with good views of the airport activity (if not crowded), spaces are inadequate for boarding large planes, as queues block all traffic, especially for gates located at the side of the stairs or of the ramps going to the lower level.
Exiting the terminal there was one jetway, but it divided in two in the middle, with screens mentioning:
- rows 1 to 8 and 60 to 67 for the left one,
- rows 14 to 57 for the right one.

As I had 61L, I confidently went in direction of the left jetway, but an agent present there, after checking my boarding pass, told me to use the right one. We had a small discussion, but it appeared he was right: it was easier to take the right jetway, which was connected to door 2L, so just in front of the stairs leading to the upper deck. The screens were wrong. It is very seldom you pass through an airport without noticing at least one error in the information displayed by the various screens used!

I was greeted at the door and at the top of the stairs by the FAs.

At 10:35, scheduled departure time, the U/D cabin was 100% full, and the passengers counting initiated. At 10:38 the captain wished us welcome on-board, and told us we would start in 10 minutes, for a 8 hours and 55 minutes flight to CCS.
Amenity kits were promptly distributed. At 10:50 the captain announced another 10 minute delay, as one passenger was missing and his luggage had to be offloaded.

In reality this took more time and we pushed back at 11:12 only.

From 2F we taxied around the new S3 terminal in construction.



And had this interesting size comparison view:



We took off at 11:29, facing west, and so we did not have to pass over Paris to take our course to CCS.

Menus were distributed at 11:36, and aperitif served. The lunch service started at 12:17



The menu:
Bulghur wheat salad served with grilled vegetables

Beef with onions accompanied by mashed potatoes, carrots and sugar snaps peas
OR
Hake served with chive sauce, vegetable julienne and fettuccine pasta.

Cheese
Yogurt
Blackcurrant crumble with vanilla

Red Wine
Vin de Pays d'Oc Syrah 2004 Castel

White wine
Vin de Pays d'Oc Chardonnay Viognier 2005

Everything was quite eatable, except, as usual, the bread.
After the coffee/tea service I had a small nap, browsed through the video programs, and read.
I then went to drink something (non alcoholic drinks are in self service in various points of the cabin, including the aft part of the upper deck) and went downstairs to visit the whole main deck cabin: the eco cabin load factor was somewhere between 95 and 97 %.

Time passed quite quickly, and at 12:55 CCS time (18:55 Paris time) we were served the “chilled dinner”: (no choice here), cold chicken and rice with vegetable salad, fresh cheese and cherry cake. This time I skipped the wine.


Soon after the tray collection we started the descent (at 14:07), and landed at 14:28 facing west which was only my second experience of this in CCS (and the first with the AF flight).

We were at the gate at 14:34 (and note the usual Gate 14, but the westernmost gate of the international terminal, is it 28?), and I arrived at immigration at 14:44.
There were 9 counters open, with already around 15 persons at each counter (most from the AZ flight which had arrived before us). But all went smoothly and at 14:58 I finished there, greeted with a friendly “Bienvenido” by the immigration officer.
I went to buy some whisky at the duty free, and when I reached the luggage belt at 15:04, my suitcase was already waiting for me.

I was not selected for a screening by the customs, so at 15:10 I was already in the company car, starting the return journey to Valencia.
We opted for the “carretera vieja”, which appeared to be a good idea because, from what we saw, the queue for “la trocha” was staring on the viaduct that follows immediately the Bocqueron tunnels!


In summary a very pleasant trip with AF, the small delays (less than 15 minutes) staying in what can I consider acceptable for a 9/10 hour journey.
The upper deck cabin is a pleasant place to travel, and the seats, which have the horizontal part advancing when you recline the backrest, are far more comfortable than the seat used before.
All AF staff I encountered was friendly and efficient (OK I speak French, this is an advantage).

CDG was not too bad (it can be far worst!) but had its share of problems, a lot stemming from the choices made by the “genial” architect that built it (so genial that of the 7 terminal buildings - T1 and T2A to T2F, there are not 2 that have a similar internal organization: this architect is still trying to understand how should an user-friendly terminal be conceived). CCS was quite good, as usual since the new immigration facilities have been put in service.