There’s one time when business travelers don’t mind lying down on the job, literally. That’s when they have a chance to fly across the Atlantic out of LAX on aircraft equipped, up front at least, with those “flat-seat beds.” One after another, the major carriers are installing those expensive seats that recline full flat increasingly in business. Most already offer them in first. The goal, of course, is to give business passengers on that 11-hour-plus flight a chance to sleep or at least relax lying down. Lufthansa German Airlines has flat beds on its run from LAX to Munich and LAX-Frankfurt is scheduled to get them early this year. British Airways has flat beds in its Club World (business class) on its 747-400 double daily flights between LAX and Heathrow. Right now, Air France on its LAX-CDG run hasn’t installed those fancy seats in business class (or to use its formal French name l’Espace Affaires) on the 777s used on the run but is in line to do so this year. Even so, the current in-flight and preflight amenities for those in J are considerable. For starters, Air France now departs out of Delta’s Terminal Five at LAX. That in itself is a plus over battling the crowds at the Bradley International Terminal, used until September of ’03. Curiously, the Air France telephone recorded flight departure/arrival information line makes no mention of this fact. Unless one had reason to check, one could go to Bradley and then have the long schlep with luggage down to T-5. After check-in at the Delta terminal and clearing security, AF business and first-class passengers have access to Delta’s expansive and well-equipped Crown Room, just steps away from the departure gates 57 and 58 used by AF. Open from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., the Crown Room is divided into various sections: a “quiet” area with no TV, a small work area with a half-dozen partitioned-off sections for dial-up Internet connections or phone calls (free for local calls) and a large lounge area with TVs, magazines and newspapers. Serving guests there is a bar with complimentary beverages. A small business center is equipped with a copy machine. In the lounge’s foyer is even a putting area. Clubs are provided by the front desk. Air France has two departures a day out of LAX to CDG and for this report, Frequent Flyer was in business class on Flight AF065 with a scheduled departure time of 3:30 p.m. Push back actually came ahead of time. First-class pax heading for Paris’ CDG with Air France on its 777-200 out of LAX can stretch out in its l’Espace Premiere cabin. That first-class cabin accommodates 12 in two rows with 2x2x2 configuration with 82-inch-pitch seats. These recline down a full 180 degrees. As mentioned, the flat bed sets aren’t in business class but they are on their way. Business class on the 777-200 on the LAX-CDG run accommodates 55 in two cabins of 28-27 passengers each. One is directly behind first class with four rows of seats in a 2x3x2 configuration and separated from a comparable cabin by a galley and toilets. The economy section is configured with 3x3x3 seating accommodating 202. Seats have either a 33- or 34-inch pitch and are 18.5 inches wide. Business-class seats are equipped with individual television, personal over-the-shoulder reading light, and in the seat pocket an 8-ounce bottle of water and amenity kit. The in-flight entertainment selection was more than adequate with first-run movies and audio features. Business-class seats on this aircraft recline down to 127 degrees with a pitch of 48 inches and a 20-inch width. Leg rests extend out electrically and there are several seat-back adjustments for increased comfort. Because various electronic and mechanical power units are located under seats, there’s essentially almost no empty space under the seat in front of you. The exception is at the window seat and in the center seat of the middle though there still isn’t room available for anything larger than a briefcase or laptop. Certainly, not enough room to stuff even a small shoulder bag let alone a roll-on. Overhead bin space, however, is quite adequate. Other downers: There is no power port for computer use and reading materials beyond USA Today and the L.A. Times are mostly in French. Hot towels are handed out after takeoff along with glasses of champagne and orange juice. If you prefer a mimosa, take one glass of each and pour your own. Apparently, the idea of mixing good champagne with something as mundane as OJ offends French sensitivities. About 4 p.m. or 2 ½ hours after takeoff, beverage service begins with a full selection of liquors, brandies, beer, soft drinks and juices. Dinner followed with a menu offering a choice of hors d’oeuvre and a choice of main courses. On this flight the main menu course was grilled tournedos of beef or an alternative “Today’s Suggestion.” This day it was shoulder of lamb. The entrée was followed by assorted desserts. An option I didn’t see anyone opt for was the so-called Express Service, designed for the passenger not interested in the full meal. This is a “chilled” meal consisting of hors d’oeuvre, cheese and pastry. A feature of business class is the Bar Espace, an area on each side of the galley where passengers during the flight can avail themselves of fruit and espresso. About an hour and a half before landing an “international” breakfast is served. It features choice of fruit juices, a chive omelet or crepes and rolls, and breakfast pastries. An alternative is a continental breakfast of juice, coffee or tea, fresh fruit, yogurt and bakery selection. Arrival at Charles de Gaulle International is at Terminal 2F. Of interest is the fact that Air France has three international lounges at CDG—one each for outbound pax in the departure areas of Terminal 2F and an arrival lounge in Terminal 2C after clearance opposite Gate 2. Its facilities are designed for the arriving passenger who has time before heading to his hotel in Paris or directly to a scheduled meeting and would like to freshen up. These facilities include showers, hot breakfast, clothes-pressing service and other features to get ready for the day ahead. Because of its location, the facility doesn’t serve arriving passengers from LAX but is mainly for Air France flights in from JFK, LGH, BOS. In all, Air France has 10 lounges in CDG with admission open to first- or business-class pax, to its Frequence Plus Rouge pax, SkyTeam Elite Plus pax, or Club 2,000 members. Also welcomed are all first- or business-class passengers on an international SkyTeam flight.
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