Air France, Business Class A350-900 - Business Traveller.
Tom Otley, editor of Business Traveller UK details for us a flight review of Air France A350-900 business class. For more details: www.businesstraveller.com/tri...
- Well, here we are. We're at Charles De Gaulle Airport and today, we're going to be reviewing the new A350-900 Air France Business Class seats. The seating on the aircraft has a staggered formation. So, one seat will be close to the window and the next, close to the aisle. On this aircraft, C is close to the aisle, and A is close to the window. For these window seats, then the choice is whether you want to be on the aisle and have your side table against the window or alternatively, you could sit next to the window and have the side table on the aisle side. I mean, that's what I pick for privacy and also, not being disturbed, and so, in that case, you would go for Row 2. So, that would be 2A. Then, ignore 3C, that's where I'm sitting. So, this is seat 4A by the window. I'd definitely go for 2A, 4A... 6A, miss out 7C. Those C ones aren't so good and then 8A. Interesting point of these seats, okay, they have more privacy because they're by the window, but then they also have... a slide, just to give that extra bit. Okay, so, we're saying normally, you'd avoid the C seats and the J seats. In this case, with it being the front row, you just get that much more leg room, and also, a lot of room on that side table, and that would be true on the other side, which is not C, but J. Of course, one possible disadvantage is that you're so close to the galley. Unlike some of the other A350 combinations that British Airways and the Air France, there seems to be a bit more room in the aisle, and I guess the aisle is probably the same width, because you don't have the doors as you do on Virgin and BA. It feels more roomy. I mean, there are overhead lockers above both the window seats and the center seats, but the cabin does feel very roomy. See that that sign up front, "Welcome to the A350." For the center seats, you really need to pick a row where the seats are next to one another because otherwise, you have just this very small side partition between. You wouldn't really be able to talk to one another at all. So, Row 2 is good if you wanna be with someone and Row 4 and 6, and I think there's a Row 8 a bit back, as well, but the odd numbers in the middle, so, 3, 5, 7, that means you have got a lot of privacy or you're with someone you don't really want to speak with, and like many of these seats, this one... requires for takeoff and landing, a shoulder strap.
- [Tom] One good point here, is that the table completely recesses under the screen and then you just push to pull it out, and then, you can adjust it how you want it. So, this is where you have the room for headphones. There's a decent amount of storage space in there, and also a vanity mirror. That is really the principle place for storing things on this new business class seat. You can also see that's where you plug in the headphones. The power isn't easy to find and to be honest, it's not easy to plug in, either. It's under the side cupboard area. Just see under there. Probably can't see, but that's changing how bright that light is. Controls there, the one on the left is saying leave me alone, I'm asleep, and this one turns the light on in the side compartment where the headphones are. Calling a flight attendant and then up and down for the seat. That's the detailing of the seat. It's a nice little bit of leather around the top of the... shoulder belt and the red, sort of slash, for Air France. That leather is also identifiable up here. See that there's room for a few items, already filled with magazines. So, despite leaving London and going to Paris, to pick up this flight, that's going to Toronto, I'm now flying back over London with that amazing view. There's plenty of times you get a view from London, but not normally from, well not normally for me, this high up. You can see The Thames just snaking away. So, this is what the seat looks like after it reclines. There are different positions you can have on the way down, but very helpful flight attendant is just doing this for me so, we can see what it looks like. Now, what's interesting is that there is actually no mattress topper, at the moment. That's something that's coming. So, it might seem like a mattress topper's a small thing, but imagine you're lying on this bed, look at the gap there between the back of the seat and the seat pan. That's probably, I don't know, two-three inches, which is not gonna add to your comfort. Now, my understanding is that the mattress topper's coming and how it will come, is that it will be waiting for you at the seat, hanging from that thing here.