[Click above for the video review.]
Airline: American Airlines (AA)
Flight Number: AA45
Route: CDG-JFK
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER
Registration: N-783AN
Delivered: March 2000
Flight Duration: 8 Hours 40 Minutes
Distance: 3,635 Miles
Overall Impression:
It’s always a gamble flying American’s Boeing 777-200ER Business Class. Some of the airframes are fitted with the older Zodiac Concept D “shaking” seats (which I’m not a big fan of). Luckily we got on a flight with the newer B/E Aerospace seats, which are the more traditional reverse-herringbone configuration. There are a lot of storage compartments to stow your belongings during the flight and are very comfortable for this 8 hour journey across the pond. The seats also lie fully flat and offers direct aisle access.
The in-flight catering was was OK, but could be better in terms of presentation and taste.
The New York based crew working the flight were professional and efficient in delivering service. Our flight attendants we interacted with took good care of us during the flight and constantly checked if we needed anything.
What I liked:
The seats – I like these B/E Aerospace seats, though I’m not sure if I like them better than the business class seats on the 777-300ER. The seat offers plenty of personal space and storage. It was comfortable for lounging, dining upright. For sleeping, I found that I tended to hit hit the pullout table while rolling over to my side. Not a problem for shorter people like me, but could be a huge nuisance for taller folks. I also liked that there were personal air nozzles available to keep me cool during the flight.
The onboard service – The crew on this flight was good. The 2 senior flight attendants we interacted with onboard were charming and delivered quick and efficient service during the flight. Pre-departure beverage service is back along with hot towels.
The IFE – AA’s Panasonic IFE is among my favorite in the sky. The interface is intuitive and responsive. There was also plenty of media content and my favorite Voyager moving map app to keep me occupied during this transatlantic flight.
The Admirals Club at CDG – Though there are better Oneworld lounges at CDG airport like Qatar and Cathay Pacific’s, I was pleasantly surprised with the Admirals Club in CDG. The lounge was not crowded and offered plenty of seating to relax before the flight. The food offering was also plenty and on par (if not better) with AA’s Flagship Lounges in the states.
What I didn’t like:
The catering – As I mentioned above the catering out of Paris was just OK on this flight. The grilled beef main that I pre-ordered did not look very appetizing. Though in all fairness, it was very tender. The pot pies for the pre-arrival meal tasted like a frozen boxed TV dinner from the supermarket. As a consolation, the ice cream sundae for dessert was amazing and the crew did a good job to setup the walk-up snackbar mid-flight for a quick snack.
Expensive WiFi Service – In-flight WiFi used to be $20 for the entire flight, but it appears the price has gone up almost double to $35.
It was OK…I guess:
The Amenities – AA offers a Shinola business class amenity kit, Bang and Olufsen noise canceling headphones (collected 45 minutes before landing), a business class amenity kit, bottled water, and a full-size pillow and duvet set. No slippers or pajamas on AA though…
americanairlines #businessclass #cdg #jfk #boeing #777 #777200ER
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