Flying Business Class with Aircalin: An Emotion-Filled Journey from Paris to Bangkok

An Exciting Start from Paris

During my thrilling journey to Bangkok via Paris, I boarded Aircalin's Business Class on an Airbus A330-900neo. The flight lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes from Paris (CDG) to Bangkok (BKK), and I couldn't hide my excitement. I had always wanted to experience Aircalin, the national airline of New Caledonia, so this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

Easy Ticket Booking

I used my accumulated points from Air France-KLM's Flying Blue to book my ticket. The cost was 105,500 miles plus $474.40 in taxes and fees. While this price is a bit steep, I couldn't refuse since it had been a long time since I had the chance to fly with Aircalin.

The Lounge and Boarding Experience

Before boarding, I visited the Primeclass Lounge at Charles de Gaulle Airport. The lounge wasn't spectacular, but at least it was quiet in the evening. My flight was set to depart from gate A45, but boarding was delayed by about 25 minutes due to cabin preparation.

The Business Class Cabin

Upon boarding, I was greeted by friendly staff and directed to the Business Class area. The cabin features a total of 26 seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. The space felt a bit cramped due to the narrow design of the A330, making everything feel more intimate.

Choosing a Seat

For those traveling together, the middle seats are the best option as they are closer together and further from the aisle. However, if you find yourself next to a stranger, there is a privacy partition that can be raised. Personally, I chose seat 7A, a window seat in the last row.

Seat Amenities

The seat features a control panel on the side with options for reading lights, entertainment controls, and storage space. USB and AC charging ports are available, but they are a bit hard to reach. The work table is quite large and sturdy, easily pushed forward if you need to step out during meal service.

In-Flight Entertainment

The 15.6-inch screen offers on-demand audio and video programs. However, the quality of the offerings was not great, with only 63 movies and 25 TV shows available, which is quite limited compared to other airlines.

In-Flight Service

The service staff were very enthusiastic, but the overall product was just average. While flying with Aircalin made me happy, I wasn't completely impressed with the quality of service.

Journey Conclusion

Even though there were a few things that didn't meet my expectations, I was still very glad to have the opportunity to experience Aircalin. If I return to New Caledonia, I would definitely fly with them again, but I wouldn't necessarily seek out this flight a second time.