Introduction
After arriving in Paris on a connecting flight from Amsterdam, it was wonderful to be back at Charles de Gaulle Airport, a familiar airport that I had travelled through regularly many years ago, before boarding my long-haul flight to Johannesburg.
From the airport experience in Paris to our arrival in Johannesburg, the journey was smooth, comfortable and enjoyable. I particularly appreciated the modern Airbus A350-900, friendly and professional cabin crew, excellent onboard entertainment and comfortable overall flying experience.
Not everything received five stars, however. While the onboard meals were beautifully presented, the food was the one aspect of the flight that disappointed me.
In this review, I share my personal experience of flying Air France Economy from Paris to Johannesburg, including Charles de Gaulle Airport, the Airbus A350-900, Economy Class seating, meals, cabin service, onboard entertainment and my overall ratings.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Paris has a fascinating aviation history. Some travellers may still remember the days when Le Bourget and Orly played much larger roles in international air travel, while Charles de Gaulle itself has continued to expand over the decades.
Moving Walkways
Today, Paris Charles de Gaulle is one of Europe’s great international aviation hubs. Terminal 2 is enormous, with striking architecture, long concourses and moving walkways that make navigating the airport considerably easier.
It is one of those airports that really has to be experienced in person to appreciate its scale.
I have always found the moving walkways at Charles de Gaulle fascinating. Having used the airport regularly many years ago, they are one of the features I particularly remember. When they are not too crowded, I prefer to walk on them rather than simply stand, making the long distances through Terminal 2 considerably quicker and easier to cover — and a little more fun too.
High-Speed TGV and RER B Trains
One of the great advantages of Charles de Gaulle is its excellent rail connectivity.
The Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV station provides access to France’s high-speed rail network, making it possible to continue directly from the airport towards destinations throughout France.
You can even travel directly from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Nice by high-speed train, with some journeys taking approximately 6½ hours.
The RER B commuter railway also connects Charles de Gaulle with central Paris.
Hotel Accommodation
Travellers with an overnight stop have plenty of accommodation choices. The Sheraton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel is conveniently located within Terminal 2, while several other hotels are situated around the airport.
Internal Airport Transit – CDGVAL
The free automated CDGVAL rail system connects the airport’s terminals and transport areas, making transfers around this enormous airport considerably easier.
The Roissypôle area also provides convenient access to several airport hotels.
Private Hotel Shuttles
A number of hotels in surrounding areas such as Roissy-en-France and Le Mesnil-Amelot operate their own airport shuttle services. Depending on the hotel, these may be complimentary or available for a fee.
Shopping and High Fashion
If you enjoy luxury brands and high-end fashion, Charles de Gaulle Airport is almost a destination in itself. The shopping areas feature an extraordinary selection of internationally recognised French and European luxury brands.
Walking through Terminal 2, I passed boutiques including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, Cartier, Gucci, Celine and Saint Laurent. Even if you have no intention of shopping, the beautifully designed boutiques make this part of the airport enjoyable to explore.
Airbus A350-900
Air France operates the modern Airbus A350-900 on its long-haul network. On my flight between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport, the journey took approximately 11 hours.
Economy Class Seating
Air France’s A350 Economy cabin uses a 3-3-3 seating configuration. As with most long-haul Economy Class cabins, personal space is naturally limited, but I found the seating reasonably comfortable for the journey.
Meals
French cuisine is renowned around the world, so perhaps my expectations were particularly high. Unfortunately, the onboard catering did not live up to those expectations.
The presentation was attractive and everything looked appetising, but for my taste the food lacked flavour. Having flown Air France several times in the past, I had expected considerably more from the onboard catering.
Dinner
Dinner included a starter, a choice of hot main course, bread, cheese, dessert and complimentary wine. I particularly enjoyed the fresh bread roll, cheese and wine. Unfortunately, the rest of the meal did not live up to my expectations.
Breakfast
Breakfast consisted of pastries, fruit juice, yoghurt and other light items. The presentation was once again attractive, but I found the breakfast disappointing. There were no eggs or hot breakfast option on my flight, and overall I felt the meal lacked both flavour and substance.
Compared with the breakfast I enjoyed on my KLM flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam, this was probably the biggest disappointment of my Air France experience.
Unlike my KLM flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam, I did not see a self-service snack galley on this Air France flight. On KLM, I particularly enjoyed being able to visit the galley between meals and choose from the snacks and drinks available.
Flying KLM Economy from Johannesburg to Amsterdam (Review & Rating) >
Onboard Entertainment
The onboard entertainment system was one of the highlights of my Air France flight. The personal seatback screen was easy to use and offered an excellent selection of movies, television programmes, music, games and flight information.
With approximately 11 hours in the air between Paris and Johannesburg, a good entertainment system makes a considerable difference on a long-haul flight, and Air France certainly delivered in this respect.
Service
The Air France cabin crew were friendly, courteous and professional throughout the flight. Service was efficient and attentive without being intrusive — exactly what I want from the cabin crew on a long-haul overnight flight.
My Rating
Overall impression: Despite my disappointment with the meals, I thoroughly enjoyed flying Air France Economy from Paris to Johannesburg. The comfortable Airbus A350, excellent entertainment system, professional cabin crew, clean cabin and punctual departure and arrival easily outweighed the catering disappointment. I would happily fly Air France again.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Air France operates nonstop services between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport. Aircraft types and schedules can vary, so it is always worth checking your particular flight when booking.
The nonstop flight takes approximately 11 hours, although the actual flight time varies depending on winds, routing and operating conditions.
I found the Economy cabin comfortable and modern. The 3-3-3 seating configuration is typical of the Airbus A350, while the personal entertainment system offered an excellent selection of movies, television programmes, music, games and flight information.
Definitely. Despite being disappointed with the food on this particular flight, I enjoyed the overall experience. The cabin crew were professional and friendly, the aircraft was comfortable and clean, the entertainment was excellent, and both departure and arrival were on time.
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