Hi there,
I had a crazy idea of upgrading our AF tickets to Premium Economy, but have read some really dreadful reviews of the fixed shell plastic seats. Since the main reason I'd consider paying the extra is to get some extra rest on the flight, I'm not sure I'd accomplish that in those plastic seats.
But the reviews i've read are a couple years old... so I wondered if by any chance AF has worked out the kinks since they initially introduced them in 2009 and 2010. Any more recent reviews online?
Thanks!
Has anyone tried the AF Premium Voyageur Fixed Shell Seats?
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You might start with the aircraft that you will be flying, or at least from where to where.
That helps, as not all seats are created equal.
Or better yet, you might spend a few minutes on google. There's a plethora of information there, including videos.
Here's a FlyerTalk discussion on the seats.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/skyteam/1059799-af-premium-voyager-review.html
Thanks for the question and for the review above. Hope you hear some more experiences from Fodorites.
Looks like something that I'd try for a day trip if paying out of pocket but would hold out for biz on night flights; but then I am flying from US west coast.
We will be flying AF PE in April - leaving 4/2 for PPT. I'll post a review from our trip. Until then - sorry no prior experience.
I've been in those seats several times and compared to coach they are marvelous. They are pretty much halfway between coach and business classes; food and service are significantly better than in coach. Most aircraft are the same except in the A380 the pitch is an astounding 50" pitch.
For something in the $400-500 range additional roundtrip from NA to Europe it is well worth it. We have used it twice so far and will be heading back in PE in May.
Note that if you book an itinerary in PE and it is not available on all flights, you will get coach (or upgraded coach) seats (NOT business).
I posted this in an earlier thread, but here it is again: a link I received from The Frequent Business Traveler. The linked article is a guide to Premium Economy services offered by five domestic US airlines and 12 international airlines, including AF.
http://www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com/2012/10/the-frequent-business-traveler-guide-to-premium-economy/
The AF seats are okay. The fixed shell is a bit weird to get used to and is lacking in thigh support, but it is okay and you get a fair amount of personal space. Not remotely as good as business class, but a nice step up from coach. Worth the money IMO.
A few years ago the seats were as hard as rocks. I had to take out time from our vacation in Croatia to find seat cushions to use on the return flight. Amazingly I found some at a street fair.
There was more leg room.
My girlfriend's entertainment set didn't work on the return flight and there were no empty seats to which she could move. She filled out a form to get FF miles on a partner airline as "compensation" but she never got them.
The food was mediocre coach quality, but we expected that.
The flight attendants acted like they really didn't want to be in attendance.