Foreign hacks left fuming as French go first

Foreign hacks left fuming as French go first

AIR France might want to rethink the venue of its future press conferences following the launch this week of the airline’s upgraded cabins.

Held in a B747 aircraft at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, the venue unfortunately just went to show that no matter what improvements are made to head rests and upholstery, economy class will always be cramped.

To make matters worse, while the Brits, Dutch and Italian journalists were squeezed into economy-class seats, we could see via a screen that the French hacks were living it up in first class, thoroughly enjoying the new woollen Ottoman-rib beige seats and the damask cushions complete with their 18th-century designs.

Air France senior vice-president of marketing and development Marc Lamidey acknowledged there were problems in economy.

“There have been no decisions about the future of the economy product, but we are looking to improve it over the next few years,” he said.

However, it was clear that handing out press packs, serving up a three-course meal and passing the microphone round to hot and bothered journalists was taking its toll.

When an Air France steward tried and failed to squeeze past a trolley, he joked he was getting too fat.

To which a stewardessmatter of factly replied: “No, there’s just no room.”