Air France Gets Its First A380

[straitman]

Air France Gets Its First A380


Air France has taken delivery of its first Airbus A380 today in handover ceremonies at the Airbus factory in Hamburg, Germany.



Air France is the first European airline to get the aircraft and will be the first to introduce it in transatlantic service from Europe, although Emirates has operated the aircraft on the Dubai-New York route.

 

[samh004]

The article doesn't paint a pretty picture of where the aircrafts bars are located. Seems like AF wanted the maximum occupancy though, with a "tiny" Y bar and a shared J and F bar.

 

[straitman]

The article doesn't paint a pretty picture of where the aircrafts bars are located. Seems like AF wanted the maximum occupancy though, with a "tiny" Y bar and a shared J and F bar.

It is unusual that someone from AFF should immediately look at where the bars are located :!:

I thought it would have been NM or JohnK though :!:

 

[NYCguy]

I've never really understood the idea of the inflight bar. One of the main reasons I fly F is to avoid as much contact with other passengers as is humanly possible. It's also advantageous for the other passengers as well.

Then there's also my no-booze-in-lounges-or-on-planes-under-any-circumstances rule...

 

[samh004]

It is unusual that someone from AFF should immediately look at where the bars are located :!:

I thought it would have been NM or JohnK though :!:

Well the article has nearly a whole paragraph on the bar locations, even going so far as to say F pax need to walk up a flight of stairs to access the bar, as if F pax are incapable of walking up a simple flight of stairs!

Jens Flottau from Hamburg clearly doesn't like this idea.

I've never really understood the idea of the inflight bar. One of the main reasons I fly F is to avoid as much contact with other passengers as is humanly possible. It's also advantageous for the other passengers as well.

Then there's also my no-booze-in-lounges-or-on-planes-under-any-circumstances rule...

I think the idea of a bar in the air is a self-service area where you can go to grab a bottle of water, a snack, or mainly, something non-alcoholic. For F and J pax this may seem silly as you might expect the crew to do everything right up to wiping.... but for economy it makes some sense.

Plus, instead of inviting a fellow pax to your "bedroom", you could meet them at the bar for a talk and a drink before bed, and thus not disturb other pax around who are already asleep. After all, it's really just a dormitory, is it not?

 

[ejb]

...I think the idea of a bar in the air is a self-service area where you can go to grab a bottle of water, a snack, or mainly, something non-alcoholic...

Hi Sam,

I disagree with this assumption, I think they are really being used to "sell" the premium experience on the A388. These bars are being designed in J and F to sit at and lounge at during the flight. For instance VA advertise the "sit at" bar.

However I do agree that as a J pax I expect them to bring me the drink and I also have heard that F pax can't do anything for themselves.

ejb

 

[harvyk]

So is the bar a self serve type arrangement, or a proper bar with barman arrangment?

As for the idea of getting up and getting the drinks yourself, I kinda like doing that as it gives me a chance to stretch my legs, I also try to get up and stretch at the end of every movie... (I usually just place on movie after movie... FGlying
(actually I like having the option to get a drink myself, or get a FA to bring me a drink)

 

[Mr Ed]

As long as the Pitot tubes are first class I'll give them a go.

 

[samh004]

Hi Sam,

I disagree with this assumption, I think they are really being used to "sell" the premium experience on the A388. These bars are being designed in J and F to sit at and lounge at during the flight. For instance VA advertise the "sit at" bar.

However I do agree that as a J pax I expect them to bring me the drink and I also have heard that F pax can't do anything for themselves.

ejb

I can't imagine they could advertise it too much though, a lot of pax all moving to one point in the a/c must shift the weight around quite a bit?

As harvyk said though, it's a good idea to stretch your legs a bit. Certainly a good way to alleviate DVT.

Interestingly, on AF's website they seem to suggest there's more than 2 bar locations (link).

So is the bar a self serve type arrangement, or a proper bar with barman arrangment?

Having a dedicated barman at each bar would take staff off other duties, or add more staff to the plane, and thus more costs, so I'd assume like every other (?) A380 in service, it'd be self-service.

As long as the Pitot tubes are first class I'll give them a go.

I'm not sure if this is in bad taste or not?

 

[harvyk]

Having a dedicated barman at each bar would take staff off other duties, or add more staff to the plane, and thus more costs, so I'd assume like every other (?) A380 in service, it'd be self-service.

True, but I also remember that CO used to have a bar (and full time barman) on their L1011 services, so it has been done before.

The bigger problem I can see is the US's "no loitering in public places" rules. So technically it would be illegal on a US bound flight to leave your seat and sit around at an onboard bar. (I wonder how QF goes with it's on board business lounge on A380 flights?)

 

[Sprucegoose]

So is the bar a self serve type arrangement, or a proper bar with barman arrangment?

As for the idea of getting up and getting the drinks yourself, I kinda like doing that as it gives me a chance to stretch my legs, I also try to get up and stretch at the end of every movie... (I usually just place on movie after movie... FGlying
(actually I like having the option to get a drink myself, or get a FA to bring me a drink)

QF have the same thing on the A380, I saw alot of people enjoying themselves at the self serve bar front top deck. F need to walk up the stairs as well.

I am surprised this is the first A380 to be delievered to Europe. This century definately doesnt belong to them.

SPRUCE:mrgreen:

 

[Alanslegal]

from those photos, the Y seats look incredibly narrow ... ( of course, perecption can be different from fact & practice)

 

[NM]

from those photos, the Y seats look incredibly narrow ... ( of course, perecption can be different from fact & practice)

With 449 Y seats on board the aircraft, they are going to be little "sardine-like". The AF A380 is configured with 9 First Class, 80 Business Class and 449 Economy Class seats for a total of 538 pax capacity, significantly more than QF and SQ (not sure on EK's config).

 

[ejb]

With 449 Y seats on board the aircraft, they are going to be little "sardine-like". The AF A380 is configured with 9 First Class, 80 Business Class and 449 Economy Class seats for a total of 538 pax capacity, significantly more than QF and SQ (not sure on EK's config).

It does appear AF has gone for "as many as can fit" seating.

I'm suprised only 9 F seats yet 80 J seats, seems like a 2 class setup would have been a better approach.

ejb

 

[docjames]

Ek are low 500's (? 523 or so??) I believe

 

[NM]

Ek are low 500's (? 523 or so??) I believe

EK A380 is 14F (suites), 76 J (lie flat), and 399 @ 32" Y. Main deck is all Y, upper deck is F up front and J behind.

Total of 489.

 

[docjames]

Someone had to know, my mistake, i thought is squeaked just over 500.

 

[NYCguy]

from those photos, the Y seats look incredibly narrow ... ( of course, perecption can be different from fact & practice)

Apparently 32" pitch and 19" wide.

For the US$700 JFK/CDG/JFK fares AF is flogging at the moment, passengers won't be expecting to travel in the lap of luxury.

 

[ejb]

Apparently 32" pitch and 19" wide.

For the US$700 JFK/CDG/JFK fares AF is flogging at the moment, passengers won't be expecting to travel in the lap of luxury.

19" wide is not too bad. 32" pitch is a little tight IMO.

ejb

 

[NYCguy]

19" wide is not too bad. 32" pitch is a little tight IMO

32" pitch sounds pretty bloody tight to me as well, but I have a feeling that 31-33" is pretty much the standard pitch of most of the big players.


AF is also introducing Premium Y, although their seatmaps don't (at least for the moment) differentiate between the two economy classes.