Air France Business, Airbus A319, Paris CDG

As part of a business trip to the south of France, I have to make a quick stopover in Nice.

Without hesitation, I booked a round trip on Air France, and a Marriott hotel in Nice. Here’s the itinerary booked:

#	Type	Review
1	Flight	Air France Business, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle – Nice, Airbus A319
2	Hotel	AC Hotel Nice
3	Flight	Air France Business, Nice – Paris Orly, Airbus A320

Today’s itinerary

Booking

I made the booking about 2 weeks before departure. I used a coupon I’d received by e-mail to save €50, but as my schedule was tight, the prices weren’t particularly sweet at €260 round trip.

Ground experience and lounge

I arrive at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle in the late afternoon, after a journey full of traffic jams and heavy rain. Terminal 2F is empty and I’m airside within 3 minutes after getting off the Uber.

The screening station will be passed in a matter of seconds

With my flight boarding at gate F51, I head for peninsula 2F2, deserted at this hour. I take the escalator down to the food and beverage outlets and the lounge.

The access corridors to the peninsulas are deserted

The welcome at the lounge is perfect and cheerful, and after scanning my boarding pass, I find a seat near the tarmac without much difficulty. It should be noted that one out of every two chairs is still neutralized.

The buffet is still on assisted service, and I confess I prefer it that way. That way, you don’t have to worry about all the greedy people ruining the buffet. Drinks are still completely self-service. When I open the Air France application, I see that I’ve been upgraded to Business class!

32212CC7-268C-4168-80D0-92AEE586F729 — A glass of Laurent Perrier, while an Air France flight attendant passes by the lounge with a tray of champagne glasses.

I leave the lounge shortly after the start of boarding announced on the FIDS.

Boarding

Boarding takes place at gate F51, one of the most cramped, as it is located at the end of the peninsula. However, due to the low number of passengers, the SkyPriority boarding area was completely clear when I arrived at the gate, and I was boarded directly by the ground agent.

The weather is not very kind in this late summer

No waiting in the jetway, and I’m straight to the door.

Cabin and welcome

The welcome is particularly warm and cheerful, and I head for my seat, 01C.

This is the classic medium-haul Smart & Beyond cabin, with the middle seat neutralized in Business.

I immediately notice how dirty the cabin is, with the previous passenger’s marks still visible in the basket attached to the bulkhead.

I’ll use the disinfectant wipes to remove these reliefs and hand them to the flight attendant.

Service and catering

Service begins a few minutes after the seatbelt sign is switched off.

The short-haul service protocol is fairly straightforward, with the distribution of a savory and a sweet snack, and a limited bar. The champagne served is a Jacquart Brut, and it makes me wonder why it’s an economy champagne here, while a mid-range champagne is served on longer flights.

The now traditional Michel Cuizel *pleasure boost*

The purser will be perfect, offering me permanent refills, and coming to chat with me for a few minutes at the end of the flight to thank me for my loyalty.