The Details

• Flight: AF7
• Aircraft: B777-200ER
• Class: Business
• Seat: 3E and 3F
• Route: New York John F. Kennedy (JFK)-Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG)
• Distance: 3,740 miles
• Duration: 6hrs 40min
• Departure: 10:13 PM
• Arrival: 10:53 AM (+1)

The Preflight

On the way to our wedding in Lake Como, Italy, my fiance and I had an eight-hour layover at JFK airport. We had intentionally booked an extended layover as we were flying on two separate tickets for the safest option. Our American Airlines flight landed at 2:59 PM at Terminal 8 and we took the AirTrain to Terminal 1 where Air France departs. There were separate check-in counters for Sky Priority/Business class and economy passengers.

Despite having TSA PreCheck and access to the Fast Track lane, getting through the security checkpoint took well over 30 minutes. There were no dedicated PreCheck lanes, rather we were given a laminated card stating our PreCheck status to give to the security personel to bypass taking off our shoes and removing laptops. Once we were through security, we made our way to the Air France lounge at the end of Terminal 1 next to gates 1 and 2.

The lounge was fairly large spanning two floors of the terminal. Upon entering the room, there was an assortment of sofas and chairs.

Further into the lounge of the first floor were small dining tables with two to four chairs.

There was a buffet area with hot and cold foods with self-serve drinks on the first floor.

On the second floor of the lounge was an identical buffet offering with another dining area with similar tables and chairs.

The alcohol selection included a variety of red and white wines, liquor, and beer.

Additional drinks included an espresso machine, Coke products, and flavored waters.

I found the food selection to be one of the better lounge offerings in the USA. As expected for France’s flag carrier, there was an excellent selection of cheeses and cold cuts.

There was an equally excellent selection of desserts including angel cake, chocolate mousse, lemon cheesecake, and chocolate cheesecake.

The hot options were also above average for a lounge. Options included two quiches, ham sandwiches, eggplant lasagna, cod, rice, and roast beef.

There was also an extensive bakery selection of cookies, brownies, and various breads.

There was also a salad bar with build-your-own options, quinoa, and a couscous salad.

Our gate was adjacent to the lounge at gate 2. Our B777-200ER tonight, registration F-GSPD, was an old 25.5-year-old aircraft originally delivered in January 1999. It was one of 18 active B777-200ERs in the Air France fleet.

Boarding was very chaotic as an Air Azores flight was boarding at the same time directly next to our gate. The two groups of gate agents shouted over one another during the boarding process as passengers would mix up the two boarding lanes.

We boarded at 8:43 PM via door 1L. Thankfully, Air France utilized two sets of jet bridges with the second bridge for economy passengers ensuring business class passengers a more calming boarding process.

The Flight

Air France has three separate configurations for their B777-200ERs. One version features 40 business class seats across two cabins while the last two configurations have 28 business class seats in one main cabin at the front of the aircraft. Our aircraft was one of the latter with a total of 28 business class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.

My fiance and I were seated in the center, 3E and 3F. There was a simple plastic divider between the seats which the flight attendants manually removed to allow us to see one another during the flight. The Safran Cirus III reverse herringbone seats were 20″ wide and very comfortable with thick cushions and a leather headrest.

While there was no door at the seat, there was a small wing near the headrest for some privacy. Each passenger was also provided a coat hook which the flight attendants quickly collected.

There was a generous amount of legroom with more than enough space to stretch my legs out.

A 16″ HD touchscreen display folded out from the seatback. Located at the top left there was also a small coat hook.

The footwell was a decent size and allowed me to sleep sidewise later on in the flight. Underneath the footwell was a small storage space perfect for shoes.

To the right of the headrest was a small reading light and IFE remote.

Above the countertop was a large storage bin in which the headphones were located. There was also a mirror.

The countertop had a built-in cup holder which I appreciated.

The seat controls were fairly basic with three main functions (going forward/backward, laying flat, and upright).

Each seat also had a fairly simple but sturdy bi-fold tray table.

Underneath the countertop was a USB port, 110V outlet, water bottle holder, and literature pocket.

On the aisle side of the seat, there was an adjustable armest that could be raised and lowered.

Air France provided both a comfortable blanket and a pillow for business class passengers.

Each passenger was also provided a small Evian water bottle. The headphones locked to the seats were average but not the most comfortable for prolonged wearing.

During boarding, flight attendants also came by to distribute amenity kits. Contents included Clarins branded creams, a dental kit, ear plugs, an eye mask, and socks.

Flight attendants also offered warm towelettes and a pre-departure beverage. Options included a sparking wine, water, or a mint-apple juice.

Menus were also distributed on the ground and our main dish selections were taken before take-off.

We pushed back at 9:40 PM and after a long taxi, we took off at 10:12 PM.

Service began quickly upon reaching cruising altitude with a beverage service and the classic Crepes Fourrees. I had a glass of the Pommery champagne.

The appetizer, dessert, and cheese course were served together on a tray with a simple salad. The appetizer consisted of a few slices of bland roast beef. I did enjoy the cheese selection which paired well with a few warm toasted bread rolls. For dessert, there was a decadent chocolate cake.

For my main, I had the poultry parcel with foie gras and potato puree. It turned out to be a chicken meatball with mashed potatoes which I found average.

On the other hand, the fillet of lamb with gnocchi and Cafe de Paris butter sauce looked delicious.

The meal service concluded an hour and a half after take-off as the cabin lights were turned off. I made my bed and got a short three-hour nap during the flight. Fully flat, the Air France seat is six feet and seven inches long. Even though there was no mattress topper, I still found the bed comfortable.

There were also two standard lavatories at the front of the cabin for business class passengers.

90 minutes before arrival, the cabin lights were turned on for the breakfast service. What sets Air France apart from other trans-Atlantic competitors is that they offer a hot breakfast on the short overnight service. There was a delicious goat cheese omelet with roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, and potatoes for the main course. There was also a side of yogurt with granola and fresh fruit.

We landed in Paris at 10:53 AM.

We had a short 10-minute taxi to the gate K1 and soon we were off to customs.

Air France remains one of my favorite business class products to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The food is often tastier than competitors such as United or Lufthansa, the seat is a guaranteed 1-2-1 reverse herringbone, and the service is above average. I would gladly fly Air France again over its competitors.