AIRPORT–With reclining seats, foot rest, a bigger screen and much more amenities and comfort, Air France introduced its new Premium Voyager cabin on Wednesday. This cabin, located between the Voyageur (Economy) and Affaires (Business) cabins, completes Air France’s long-haul range with additional services and cabin comforts at an introductory fare of 1,054 Euros.
Air France Regional Director Luc Maricot described the cabin as an option for passengers who are willing to spend a little more money for more comfort from Princess Juliana International Airport to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France.
The airline started the service to the US first and began servicing St. Maarten’s route about 6 weeks ago.
Thus far, sales are looking good with occasional full flights. Station Manager for Air France/KLM Walter Borel said he anticipates the cabin to be full during the high season. About 80 per cent of Air France’s long haul destinations have been modified with the cabin and the entire fleet is expected to be modified by the end of the year.
Premium Voyageur fare range is particularly attractive for small and medium-sized businesses and customers who usually travel in the Voyageur cabin for leisure.
Customers will benefit from preserved personal space thanks to the fixed-shell seat offering 40 per cent more space compared to the Voyageur cabin, meals designed by Michel Nugues, Chef at Servair, Air France subsidiary specialized in in-flight catering and the wine list from the Voyageur cabin chosen by Olivier Poussier, Air France’s chief wine advisor and world’s best sommelier in 2000.
Customers will also benefit from the amenities kit, a bottle of water and noise-reducing headphones from the business cabin and free baggage allowance of two bags, each weighing up to 23 kilograms. The new cabin to St. Maarten on A340 aircraft will have 21 seats.
The choice of a fixed-shell seat, generally reserved for the best business class cabins, makes Air France the first European airline to offer such a comfortable seat in an intermediate cabin.
Air France especially asked B/E Aerospace to develop this seat. The seatback slides down inside the shell without intruding on the space of the passenger behind. Each passenger’s personal space is totally protected. Inside the fixed shell, the seat reclines to 123 degrees, allowing the passenger to relax comfortably with the legs extended.
The seat is equipped with a leg rest whose height can be adjusted, an adjustable footrest, and a headrest that can be raised, with movable wings. The roomy seat is 19 inches (48 centimetres) wide, with 10 centimetres wide leather armrests. The pitch between seats is close to one metre (38 inches, or 97 centimetres).
In order to free up space for the legs, Air France has incorporated the video control box into the seat, rather than beneath it. This was, in fact, the choice Air France made 3 years ago for the seats in its Voyageur (economy) class. Air France has filled in the space between individual seatbacks so passengers are no longer bothered by the light from other video screens while sleeping or watching a film.
Premium Voyageur also offers services on the ground that makes time on the airport much easier. Premium Voyageur passengers may check in at priority desks. For just 35 Euros or 5,000 Miles, passengers can access the lounge at Paris, Charles de Gaulle International Airport.
Like passengers in Affaires, Premium Voyageur travellers can board at their convenience and, on arrival, are among the first to disembark and enjoy priority delivery of their checked baggage.
Source: The Daily Herald