Sometimes it’s important to take a moment to appreciate how well premium airline cabins have evolved over the years. That’s what this particular Air France 777-300/ER business class review is all about.
What you’re about to read is a comprehensive review of the old (outgoing) Air France 777 business class product. The seats look somewhat dated (and they’re falling apart), but at least they’re still comfortable.
I’d like to think of this as required reading for anyone about to try the all new Air France business class seats for the first time. It’ll be impossible for you to complain once you fully understand what it used to be like…
AF84
Paris, France (CDG) – San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Friday, April 14, 2023
Aircraft: 777-328/ER
Registration: F-GZNE
Duration: 10 hours 37 minutes
Seat: 16L (business class)
Air France 777-300ER (F-GZNE) side view illustration by NorebboStock.com. My first ride ever on an aircraft in the SkyTeam livery!Our route from Paris to San Francisco today as AF84.
My full review of Air France 777-300/ER business class from Paris to San Francisco
Full disclosure: I had a pretty good hunch that the aircraft I would be flying on would have the old business class seats. There simply aren’t that many Air France 777s that feature the new seats yet, and I don’t even think they operate those aircraft to San Francisco yet.
BTW, I booked this reservation for only 135,000 Flying Blue points. It was basically a steal considering that every other Air France flight to the US that day was 300,000 points (or more).
Arrival at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris (was a mother******)
Immediately after arriving from Munich in Air France A220-300 business class, I followed the signs for international connections with great anticipation. That all came to a screeching halt once I realized that I had to go through a very long passport control line. It got worse once I realized that it was hardly moving at all.
Welcome to CDG! I took this pic as I was following the signs for “2K” after arriving from Munich, feeling awesome, and completely (blissfully) unaware of the ****show that was about to unfold. Crap! This is the line for passport control, which wouldn’t have been that bad if it weren’t for the fact that boarding for my flight to SFO is starting in less than 10 minutes. The ****show basically starts now.
Good news: I made it through passport control! Bad news: my flight to SFO might already be gone. Run SANspotter, run!Outta my way people! Stressed out airline reviewer coming through!Of course my departure gate is all the way at the far end of Terminal 2E. It ain’t a true ****show unless it involves running (the non graceful kind).You’re kidding, right? Not only is the plane still here, the boarding door is still open as well. To say that I wanted to hug everyone in the immediate area is an understatement.The icing on the cake was being selected for a random security check before being allowed to proceed to the jet bridge. To be honest though, after what I just went through, watching a complete stranger rummage through my dirty underwear was more amusing than it was frustrating.Whew! Not only did I feel like winning the lottery by making this flight……I was awarded with the SkyTeam 777-300/ER (F-GZNE) for the journey to San Francisco today. Woohoo!
Long story short, I made it to my flight with no time to spare. They basically shut slammed the door behind me. So much for having a few minutes to relax before the flight!
First impressions of the old Air France 777-300 business class seats
Upon stepping onboard, it became blatantly clear why this was the cheapest flight I could find using points to the US. Yup – this particular aircraft was still sporting the old business class seats. They’re the exact same seats you’ll find on a lot of other airlines though (including Vietnam Airlines 787-9 business class) – so they’re not that bad.
Air France 777-300/ER business class already loaded up and ready to go. It was at this moment that I realized that I was “that guy” (the one who shows up late and delays the flight). I swear it wasn’t my fault!I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that there has never been anyone so relieved to see this seat than I was at this very moment. I almost shed a tear.
To say that the seats looked worn out and run down is an understatement, although I will admit that I appreciated the 1-2-1 layout. At least it wasn’t anywhere near as vintage looking as what you saw in my KLM 777-200 business class review.
Waiting (patiently) on my seat for me was a blanket, pillow, and a hanger. What am I supposed to do with the hanger?This is still a very competitive business class seat IMHO. Yeah, it looks (and feels) like the interior of a 12 year old car, but it’s hard to scoff at the generous amount of space.Legroom for miles (I mean kilometers, considering this is Europe and all).I have a feeling that Air France would prefer if I referred to these scuffs and scrapes as “patina,” so let’s go with that.Oh! Looks like I found the USB and full size electrical outlets as I was down here taking pics of the patina.The blood red interior of the cubby space is a nice touch. I’d even go as far as to say it felt a bit scandalous.Much like how we used to hang phones on the the kitchen wall in the 1980s, the remote control for the entertainment system is conveniently located next to the cubby space.The seat control buttons (surrounded by more patina).There’s not all that much to see of the rest of the cabin while seated. However, there is a strong “mutant hatching pod” vibe to these seats that I kind of like.Yes, privacy is excellent!
The amenities
Crusty old business class seats or not, Air France does really well with amenity kits in my opinion. The one they provided us on this flight was as stylish and useful as you might expect to be. For the record, the amenity kit was already at the seat when I arrived. They don’t hand them out during the boarding process.
Located in that scandalous red cubby that I showed you earlier is a pair of noise canceling headphones and an amenity kit.Said amenity kit. I think Air France my be slippin’ a bit, because the Porsche-designed amenity kit I got in Lufthansa A350-900 premium economy a few days was far more stylish than this.The contents of the amenity kit were just as good IMHO. Nope, there’s nothing remarkable here, but all of it will come in handy eventually.The question is: do I use the hot towel to wipe my hands, or do I attempt to scrub away some of the patina on this seat?Of course I used it to wipe my hands. You don’t even want to know about all the nasty things I’ve touched recently!
Departure
Pushing off the gate was the first time in over 90 minutes that I was able to breathe a sigh of relief. Nearly missing this flight (and then working hard to get all the pics and the video of the seat) really took it out of me.
Commence pushback.
Just knowing that I didn’t miss the flight (along with getting all the content I needed for the review) was a glorious feeling indeed. Here are the sights and sounds of the departure out of CDG this morning:
Perhaps the most amusing thing about the taxi out to the runway was the fact that it was impossible to avoid getting pics of Delta aircraft. From some angles, it seemed more like ATL than CDG.I did see some occasional Air France aircraft though, so that was reassuring.Mental note: seat 16L probably isn’t the place you want to be if there’s an uncontained engine failure on one of these 777-300/ERs. Fingers crossed I don’t get shredded with fan blade debris on the way out of here…
Here’s the full taxi and takeoff video (which is always more exciting than just looking at pictures with stupid captions):
In-flight entertainment
There’s not much to say about the in-flight entertainment on these old Air France 777‘s that isn’t obvious by looking at the following pictures.
One hand, the screen is relatively small and low contrast compared to the video screens in modern business class seats.
On the other hand, it features a really good catalog of content that’ll please nearly everyone (I’m sure of it).
This is the home screen, but that’s not the point of this picture. I’m actually demonstrating the fact that the latch on this screen is broken and I wasn’t able to place it out of the way and back into its frame. Crap!This is the main menu. BTW, the look on Brendan Fraser’s face perfectly mirrors mine as I realize that the screen is basically stuck in this position for the entire flight.Despite the vintage of the screen, this is a solid in flight entertainment product IMHO. Movies, TV shows, podcasts, and music galore!
The best way to sum up these video screens (and the catalog of movies and TV shows) is to say that it’s exactly the opposite of what I recently experienced in Aeromexico 787-8 business class. In that case, the screens were phenomenal but the content was lacking.
At least the remote control looked modern(ish). And you’re darn right I’m going to watch Bullet Train. Again.
Audiophiles (or at least those of you who like to be able to hear what you’re watching) will appreciate the noise canceling headphones. They were decent.
The noise canceling headphones were solid AF.I know! I’m just as shocked as you are that it’s taken me this long to make a cheesy “AF” reference in an Air France review.
The first meal service
This being my first ever flight in Air France long haul business class, I was very much looking forward to the meal. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Air France onboard service over the years (especially in regards to food), so couldn’t wait to experience it for myself. Check this out:
Holding a pamphlet that simply says “business” could mean lots of things, but I’m going to assume this is the menu for today’s flight.It is indeed the menu (and a good one at that). Click on the image to see a high resolution version of it if you’re curious about the meal (and drink) options.First up was the appetizer, which consisted of a carrot purée with orange, ewe’s cheese, and pine nuts.The decision to pair it with a Diet Coke was entirely mine. Do I have great taste, or what?Next up was the starter, consisting of smoked salmon fillet, raspberry and grapefruit jelly, cream of pea, with lemon and basil soup.I’m detecting a hint of flavors that my inexperienced palate has no idea how to process. The main course: sautéed shrimp, orange beurre blanc sauce, served with Puy green lentils. It was essentially a bomb *** bowl of shrimp stew.The verdict? A brilliant (but complex) blend of flavors that were as interesting as they were delightful. Or, put in more simple terms: yum!Despite cheese being an option (and y’all know how much I love cheese), I went with the chocolate and hazelnut gianduja for dessert. Being able to add fancy new words to my limited vocabulary is what made this worth it.
Testing out the lie flat seat
I’m not normally able to sleep at all on daytime flights from Europe to the US, but I was very much looking forward to it this time thanks to the crippling jet lag I suffered on this trip.
Well, here we go. I ate so much food just now that the impending food coma is basically unavoidable.And for anyone wondering, yes, the blankets they provide are of decently high quality. It was plenty good enough to keep warm during a deep food-induced coma.Taking one last look at my disgustingly fat belly before going fully lie flat? Either that or I got caught on camera admiring my manhood again (it’s a guy thing).Dreaming of the newest Air France 777-300ER business class seats I’m sure.By the way, privacy isn’t so great while in a lie flat position. Those of you who don’t like to be watched while you sleep probably aren’t going to like this.
Say what you will about how ugly and crusty these old seats look, but it was a perfectly fine place to lay my tired body and soul. Yeah, the seats are a little lumpy (and narrow), but that didn’t stop me from getting a solid three hours of sleep.
Oh – the footwells in these seats (while in lie flat mode) are quite large. It’s a rarity these days!Then again, who needs footwells when you’re as limber as this?
Taking a walk around the cabin
Three hours of sleep on an airplane is nothing short of a miracle for me, so I chalked that up as a win. I spent the remaining hours before the second meal service walking around the aircraft, getting a little work done, and gently snoozing. These Paris to San Francisco flights are quite long, so there’s a lot of dead time to fill.
The first order of business during my walk around the cabin was to check out the self serve snack and beverage bar located in the galley between the two business class cabins. A fresh bottle of water for the second half of the flight has been secured.The next thing to check out was the lavatory. Why do these things always gotta look the same?Lol at the “PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY” disclaimer on these soap and lotion bottles. I used them anyway since nobody was looking.Thankfully the feet were nowhere to be seen by the time I returned to the business class cabin (much to the dismay of anyone reading this who has a foot fetish I guess).
The second meal service
The fact that I had to go back and look at my pictures (and video) of the second meal service to write this portion of the review tells you everything you need to know about it. I honestly couldn’t remember what they served. I had no recollection of it being inedible slop though, so I guess that’s a good thing.
“Chicken fillet with tomato sauce.” No wonder it wasn’t very memorable!I will admit that it was pretty tasty though. The risotto-style bulgur wheat added some much needed flavor to the overall dish.They even threw in a madeleine sponge cake to help make the meal as French as possible. Well played, Air France. Well played indeed.
The descent and arrival into San Francisco
The weather was looking nothing short of spectacular as we began the initial descent into SFO. I was quite happy about this, because there are basically only two types of weather in San Francisco: sunny and warm, or foggy and cold.
I do believe I was smiling as we were making the final descent into SFO.
What a view! The Sierra Nevada Mountains always look great from any angle, but I can tell you from experience that they look even better from the window of an Air France 777-300ER.Welcome to San Francisco! Given the age of this airplane, I think it’s safe to assume that she’s been here a time or two before.The same thing could be said about me I guess. SFO is very much familiar territory for this weary traveller.
Well, that was fun! I’m not afraid to admit that this was a flight that I enjoyed quite a bit. As an experienced airline reviewer, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if you think that I’d snub my nose at anything less than the latest and greatest business class seat.
However, I found these old seats to provide a perfectly comfortable and pleasant experience throughout every phase of the journey.
“12 year old car” vibes or not, I enjoyed the crap out of this seat. Really!FYI, this is my “4 out of 5 stars” face.
One final last bit of advice: SFO international to domestic connection times aren’t that bad. I find it to be one of the best airports to get through customs and immigration quickly, and this time was no exception. I made it through the entire process in less than 20 minutes.
Perhaps they can give the folks at CDG a few pointers on how to move people through passport control without any fuss…
Pros and cons of the old Air France 777-300/ER business class experience
Before getting to the individual pros and cons, I’m just going to leave you with this: a lie flat seat is a lie flat seat. It doesn’t matter what it looks like as long as it lies flat and provides the means for a few hours of deep sleep without interruptions. That’s exactly what I got, so I guess I can’t complain.
Pros
Despite how old it looks, it’s still a very comfortable long-haul business class seat.
The 1-2-1 configuration is perfect for solo travelers and couples alike.
Privacy is pretty good for such a vintage seat. It’s not perfect, but it’s hard to shake a fist at.
You’ll still get the latest and greatest onboard service from the cabin crew (which is very good IMHO).
Cons
Expect to have to deal with panels falling off and latches on the doors and armrests not working like they should.
You know how old cars rattle and buzz while going over even the smallest bumps? These old seats do the exact same thing.
You’ll be far less likely to impress your followers on social media by posting a selfie taken from one of these old seats compared to the new ones. The horror!
Yes, but was the plane clean? (You might know this already, but Airliners.net has an inside joke about Air France planes being dirty)
Anyway, really nice review! A few things:
1. That’s got to be the most nerve-racking start to any SANspotter review! Oh, and it’s pretty cool how this plane had the Skyteam livery.
2. If there’s one thing to be learned from this blog, it’s that Air France & KLM fly their oldest aircraft (with the oldest products) to SFO. Come to think of it, when I went to San Francisco I arrived on an Alaska A320 & returned on a United Domestic/High Density 777-200 (yes, the one with 8-across Business Class, no IFE in Economy, and faulty engines), both of which aren’t exactly the pride of each airlines’ fleets (albeit for different reasons). I know, it’s probably just a coincidence lol.
3. Both KLM & AF have elegant branding, but in different ways. KLM has what can be described as Old World Charm, whereas Air France is minimalist yet stylish.
Oh yes – I’m very much aware about the memes! Considering that my last Air France flight (before this trip) was back in 2011, I’m happy to report that things seem to be better than they used to be. They just gotta work on updating these old 777s though…
I too have wondered why some airlines don’t put all that high of a priority on their SFO flights. It’s basically the tech capital of the world (and the home of some heavy hitting financial firms), so it’s a head scratcher for sure.
For AF, this product will be the mainstay of SFO for as long as the NASDAQ is elevated. Since this product is found on the only planes in the fleet with La Premiere first class, destinations like SFO, LAX, JFK, MEX, DXB, SIN, HND, and GRU (with occasional others) will be see this product in business class for years to come.
That’s a bummer! For some reason or another I thought JFK had switched over completely to the new product. Oh well. It’s still a decently fine seat, but just crappy enough to persuade people to want to upgrade to La Premiere I guess.
Peter
Yes, but was the plane clean? (You might know this already, but Airliners.net has an inside joke about Air France planes being dirty)
Anyway, really nice review! A few things:
1. That’s got to be the most nerve-racking start to any SANspotter review! Oh, and it’s pretty cool how this plane had the Skyteam livery.
2. If there’s one thing to be learned from this blog, it’s that Air France & KLM fly their oldest aircraft (with the oldest products) to SFO. Come to think of it, when I went to San Francisco I arrived on an Alaska A320 & returned on a United Domestic/High Density 777-200 (yes, the one with 8-across Business Class, no IFE in Economy, and faulty engines), both of which aren’t exactly the pride of each airlines’ fleets (albeit for different reasons). I know, it’s probably just a coincidence lol.
3. Both KLM & AF have elegant branding, but in different ways. KLM has what can be described as Old World Charm, whereas Air France is minimalist yet stylish.
Scott (SANspotter)
Oh yes – I’m very much aware about the memes! Considering that my last Air France flight (before this trip) was back in 2011, I’m happy to report that things seem to be better than they used to be. They just gotta work on updating these old 777s though…
I too have wondered why some airlines don’t put all that high of a priority on their SFO flights. It’s basically the tech capital of the world (and the home of some heavy hitting financial firms), so it’s a head scratcher for sure.
Levi
For AF, this product will be the mainstay of SFO for as long as the NASDAQ is elevated. Since this product is found on the only planes in the fleet with La Premiere first class, destinations like SFO, LAX, JFK, MEX, DXB, SIN, HND, and GRU (with occasional others) will be see this product in business class for years to come.
Scott (SANspotter)
That’s a bummer! For some reason or another I thought JFK had switched over completely to the new product. Oh well. It’s still a decently fine seat, but just crappy enough to persuade people to want to upgrade to La Premiere I guess.
Justin
Is there going to be a YouTube video about this flight?
Scott (SANspotter)
Yup – I just started working on it!