Cityjet Fokker 50 Economy
Published: 13/11/2009 - Filed under: Tried & Tested » Airlines » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Airlines » Cityjet »
BACKGROUND Air France launched twice-daily flights (once a day at weekends) from London City to Nantes in western France in April under its subsidiary VLM Cityjet, and is the only airline now serving this route. Flights depart London at 0815, arriving at 1100, and 1750, arriving at 2030.
Belgian carrier VLM started operations in 1993, but in 2007 was acquired by Air France-KLM. Since then, the group has been taking steps to merge VLM with its other London City airport operation, Cityjet. Once complete, the Cityjet brand will have incorporated VLM’s flight schedules and fleet of Fokker 50 aircraft.
CHECK-IN I checked in online earlier in the day at airfrance.com and, as most of the seats were taken and only rows four to 13 were displayed, accepted pre-assigned seat 6D on the AF5209 flight at 1750. I then printed out my boarding pass.
I arrived at the airport at 1700 and was through security within ten minutes (boots and belts off, laptops out).
BOARDING Boarding started at 1725 from Gate 10 – a five-minute walk right to the end of the corridor. Passports and boarding passes were checked and there was then a short wait in a room on ground level. At 1745 we walked across the tarmac to enter the plane from the front, up a flight of steps.
THE SEAT The Fokker 50 is a tiny plane configured 2-2 (A-B, C-D) and so getting to my seat and stowing my luggage was a bit of a jumble with everyone else getting on at the same time. But first impressions of the cabin were of how smart it looked, with seats upholstered in tan leather and aluminium seat backs featuring generously proportioned tray tables (although mine wasn’t very clean). Business class on this flight comprised of the front two rows – 1A-B and 2A-B, C-D.
My economy class window seat was under the wing, and I noticed that seats in this row (six), as well as in rows five and seven, have less overhead storage space. The passenger next to me had to force their small case under the seat behind as my bag had taken up most of the space under the seat in front, and it was too big to go in the bins above.
WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE? If you have much in the way of cabin luggage, avoid seats in rows five to seven because of the reduced overhead storage space. Other than that, seats are all much the same – your only concern is selecting your preferred window or aisle option. Seats in row 13 do, however, offer more legroom.
THE FLIGHT The safety demonstration took place at 1755, during which time we taxied a short way before sitting on the tarmac for 15 minutes. We took off at 1815 and the food and drink service started 15 minutes later. The seeded roll filled with salad and cheese proved to be a tasty snack, and the offer of tea, coffee, and soft/alcoholic cold drinks was welcome. The cabin crew were very friendly and warm.
ARRIVAL The flight touched down at Nantes Atlantique airport at 2055 local time, and the process of disembarking, and going through immigration took but ten minutes.
VERDICT A good service for business travellers – the Fokker 50s may be small, but the seats are comfortable and smart, and the crew friendly.
PRICE Internet rates for return economy class flights in December started from £172 with Air France.
CONTACT airfrance.co.uk, flyvlm.com
Jenny Southan
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