A relatively short flight to Gothenburg but with a very decent service that seems to confirm a trend towards improvement in Air France’s medium-haul product, at least in business class.

After being historically disappointed by what Air France offered on its intra-European flights, which was the complete opposite of its long-haul product, in recent months I have felt a certain stirring that let me perceive that things were improving, and so it is without apprehension that I have decided to continue giving our national airline a chance.

For the record the routing of this trip :

You will find a summary of the articles on these holidays in Singapore and Bali at the bottom of the page.

Ticket purchase

I booked this flight several months before my trip, without preference in terms of airline or alliance. During my research, I was surprised to find that no airline offered a direct or one-stop flight from Paris to Gothenburg for less than 550 euros.

So I chose Air France and…paid with my miles (170,000 for the return trip).

Arrival at the airport and ground course

So I arrive at the remarkable (humour) 2G terminal about two hours before my flight.

Luggage must be checked in at the self-service automatic check-in kiosks.

I then head towards the baggage drop-off and a large family is blocking the Sky Priority line. I don’t even have time to make a face: realising this, an agent will open a second counter for me. Very kind and even funny, too.

Then I go through security in no time at all, again with very friendly officers, and go upstairs to the waiting area and take refuge in the Air France lounge.

I leave it a little before boarding time.

The large waiting area is full and not really pleasant, but that’s the only place for passengers to wait, as the doors are only announced at the last minute.

The door is finally displayed and I go there without delay, admiring the aesthetics of the place… This corridor is a real furnace, however.

Boarding

Passengers wait patiently for boarding to begin, which will be done on time and in accordance with the priorities.

In the end, I am one of the first to board the aircraft.

The cabin

The usual cabin of the Embraers Air France, which is due to be retrofited soon, in a 2-2 configuration.

A little dated and not particularly comfortable with a really hard seat.

Fortunately, I have a seat in the front row and hopefully I won’t have a seatmate.

There will only be one row of business on this flight, compared with Lufthansa where there are always at least 4 or 5 in my experience…and there will only be two of us passengers.

The flight

It gets very, very hot in the cabin during boarding and I regret that European airlines do not have the same practice as in the USA of keeping the window blinds closed on the ground.

Passengers struggle with their luggage compartments, which they cannot close, until a flight attendant intervenes. Their luggage is simply too big and… we’re on Embraer.

We are given high-quality refreshing towels and the captain informs us that we are ready to depart.

He also informs us that we will have to go around some storms and that we can expect turbulence at our destination.

Goodbye, Greater Paris!

A few minutes later, the curtain separating business and economy class is drawn, and service begins shortly afterwards.

On the menu: quinoa salad with just-seared prawns, cocktail sauce, Cantal AOP, Crottin de Chavignol AOP, vanilla cracker cabbage.

The prawns in cocktail sauce are very fresh and tasty, as is the quinoa. The cabbage for dessert will also be light and tasty! A real improvement since my latest Paris-Gothenburg (and the return flight was no better).

However, the bread will be hard and dry: inedible!

In the absence of a seatmate, I can make myself comfortable… Good point to note: for the drink, I had the choice between Perrier and Badoit! I appreciate it.

I will finish with a bergamot tea.

At some point, economy class passengers will try to use the toilets but will logically be turned away and directed to the toilets at the back of the aircraft. Yes, it may come as a surprise that one in two toilets is reserved for two passengers, but that’s the way it is.

The flight attendant will no longer reappear in the cabin.

I will doze off for the rest of the flight.

Arrival

We are approaching Gothenburg and are breaking through the thin cloud layer. There are lakes, it’s green, you’re in Scandinavia!

We land on time and I hurry to pick up my suitcase in the very typical baggage delivery room of this airport.

My suitcase arrived 5 minutes later, which makes a change from Roissy.

The crew

A very friendly and smiling flight attendant who disappears into the galley once the service is over.

Bottom line

A very pleasant flight from start to finish, with more comfortable seats would be perfect.

Articles about these holidays in Singapore and Bali

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