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yash777 · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:45 am Post subject: BOM-CDG-ORD on AF

So time literally flew by! After spending a good 3 months in Mumbai(Most of it spotting) it was time for me to get back to Chicago for another year!

Had the flight booked in April. AF was the cheapest with a return fare of 1128$.

1st leg

Route: BOM-CDG

Equipment: Boeing 777-228/ER

Rego: F-GSPS

© AirSpeed

I left a good 4.5 hrs before departure for the aiport. As expected there was a huge line at the airport at gate C. As I got into the line I kept gazing at the new terminal shaping up.

Shot a few weeks before my flight.

After getting in I checked in at the AF counter which was pretty empty at that time. I had checked in online a day before but there were no window seats left which had me pissed for a while. But at the check-in kiosk there was only one window seat left which I opted for.I proceeded towards the security check-in where in the long Queue I met fellow member Aalok Gaitonde(aalokg) who was flying 9W 228 to BRU and later to YYZ. Our flights were just 5 mins apart. After check-in, me and Aalok were walking around in the terminal for a good place for my JP top shot party for Aalok. Razz

We chilled out at a coffee shop at the airport with Aalok's mates who were flying Air India to YYZ. Soon after we parted ways and I saw an LH 744 pulling onto the gate.

Finally boarding started at 1.40 am. I made my way to the seat after a Bonjour from the flight attendant. A very unusual observation I made was that while the entire economy section was 3-4-3, mine and some other rows had the 2-4-2 configuration for which I wasn't complaining. VT-PPF was on the stand next to us while 2 AI 744s were parked in the AI hangars.

Onboard AF 217 to CDG with a 100% load.

We pushed back on time and taxied to 27. While on M4 I saw Aalok's flight 9W 228 taking off.

Refreshments were provided a few mins after takeoff and I was already getting bored. The much awaited dinner was ready. I had smelt the dinner way before it was served. I consisted of Uthappa, Rice and Sambhar with yoghurt and some juice. After dinner I looked at what AF's IFE offered. AF's IFE screens were cranky as always. I had to press the screen hard to make it work. It had quite a few movies and tv series but I didn't bother and tried to take a nap.

Above Romania I think.

After 8 hours we were ready to descend for CDG.

We landed 10 mins before the STA. I waited for all the passengers to get out of the aircraft as I wanted a flightdeck visit. Wink

I requested the flight attendant to have a look at the flightdeck and within a few minutes I was in the magnificent cockpit of the 772! The pilots as well as the FAs were friendly enough to allow me to sit on the left seat. What a feeling it was!

Why didn't I place my hands on the yoke? Crying or Very sad

Yet another cockpit shot FAIL! Embarassed

I thanked the pilots and the FAs and got out for my next leg to ORD.

2nd Leg

Route: CDG-ORD

Equipment: Airbus A340-313X

Rego: F-GLZM(Not sure)

© Youri Thonon

I took the bus from terminal 2C to 2E for my next flight on the slow a340. There are two different bus stops for 2E for different gates which had me in a fix as the gate number wasn't printed on my boarding pass. I got off the 1st stop which was the right one. The worst part of transiting through CDG is the unwillingness of the airport staff to speak English even if they can(typical of French folks I must say). While on the bus ride I got some shots.

I went through the security check and proceeded to gate 67 for the flight to ORD. A few gates ahead were three AF a380s which I managed to get a picture of later.

My flight was at 10.30 am whereas I had managed to reach the gate at 8.45 am. I got my laptop out and started enjoying 10 mins of free Wi-Fi at the airport. After that I had no clue what to do so I tried out an HDR of the terminal at CDG.

The staff had finished cleaning the aircraft and we were ready to depart to ORD. I took my seat and saw an AF a380 being pushed back and another 2 at the gate and another a340 going around/on final.

We stared taxing 15 mins later and as usual I was busy clicking pictures. It was a gorgeous day at CDG.

We were #2 for take off after an AF a321.

Can you spot Eiffel Tower? Click for a 1600 pixel view.

This shot always reminds me of the 'Fair weather' theme in Flight Simulator. Smile

After a while I started scanning AF's magazine for a die cast model which I wanted to add to my small fleet but eventually didn't.

The screen was cranky yet again!

After lunch was served I saw a really lame French movie with a hero not even good enough to do a role in a south Indian serial.

After 12 hours of flying and being on the airport I was really getting fed up and wanted to reach Chitown asap.

We entered US airpace through Canada and we started descending into a very overcast ORD. I had a brief view of downtown Chicago while on approach. We landed on runway 10.

ORD's teminal 5 with a Korean 744 Mexicana a320 and Himachal Pradesh.

Soon after we docked at the gate and I was not at all looking forward to Immigration and customs. Thankfully it was smooth and here I am writing this TR at my place.

Another decent flight on AF sans the In-Flight Entertainment which had me pissed for quite a while.

We docked next to Himachal Pradesh.

No better way to end a flight! Very Happy

Hope you enjoyed it.

Yash
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Nimish · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:17 am Post subject:

Hey Yash - thanks for posting. That shot of the 777 flight deck was the best Smile

!

Sounds like a typical European set of LH flights in Y - boring, boring and more boring... Nothing like a good book and a couple of drinks to keep alive..
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Spiderguy252 · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 1:32 pm Post subject:

Great TR! The pics especially towards the second half were nice. I loved the perspective of the superjumbo of the gate. Smile

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Yeah.

vivekman · Member Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 1897 Location: BOM

Neat TR, Yash! Would have loved more pics though. Wink

AF looks really boring and outdated as compared to the Asian carriers. Which was the second best option for you - costwise?

- Vivek
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me111993 · Member Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 3225 Location: MAA/AMD

Lovely TR Yash!!
Your pics are really stunning!! Very Happy

PS >> Looking forward to seeing the 3 AF A380's pic on 'JP top 4 shots' soon! Very Happy

Cheers
Rishul
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Causal Determinism : We are hardwired to need answers. The Caveman who heard a rustle in the bushes and checked out to see what it was, lived longer than the guy, who assumed it was just a breeze.

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aalokg · Member Joined: 21 Aug 2007 Posts: 158 Location: Mumbai

Very nice report Yash, lovely pictures too!

PS: You got away 'saste mein' this time around because I was already full Surprised

Regards,
Aalok

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Nice pictures Yash.

The only advantage of most European carriers is that they take you from point A to point B efficiently, in modern aircrafts.

If you want any extra frills best to stick to Asian carriers.

yash777 · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:56 pm Post subject:

justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore

Good TR mate!!

BTW cudnt resist this one Razz

Optimus.Prime · Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:30 pm Post subject:

Somehow that setting reminds me of one of those desperately old French movies where the protagonist starts with "Je suis......" and half-a-boring-hour later ends with "Merde!"

P.S: Brilliant Shots and a lovely TR!
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yash777 · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:50 am Post subject: