Flying with Air France to Mauritius
17/07/2018In June we navigated our way through Paris Charles de Gaulle airport for our connecting flight to Mauritius, having both flown direct to the island or via other hub airports in the past, the journey with Air France from London to Mauritius via Paris - was a first for us both. Something that many people don't realise is that travelling to Mauritius with Air France via Paris gives you the opportunity to fly from your home airport as opposed to transiting through Heathrow and ensures you have a quick and easy connection between your two flights.
Transiting through Charles de Gaulle
Upon our arrival in Paris we admired the sleek and contemporary décor of the airport, effortlessly blending timber with domed windows, the airport has recently undertaken a multi-million Euro renovation and was the winner of 'World's Most Improved Airport' at the 2015 Skytrax awards. We found the environment to be calm, serene and stylish – surprising for one of Europe’s busiest airports. There's no need to worry about missing your connecting flight, as we found the signage to be clear and easy to follow. After checking our flight details on the departure board, we breezed through the terminal on the speedy transit train and after a security check we entered the departure hall where our boarding gate for our onward flight to Mauritius was located. The terminal is small enough to navigate your way around but still offers a wide range of shops and activities for you to enjoy whilst awaiting your connecting flight.
We were amazed to discover a vast selection of chic designer boutiques nestled in the stylish main area, so if you feel like shopping ‘til you drop you won’t be disappointed with the choice of shops ranging from Chanel to Michael Kors. And if you’d like to pick up some French inspired duty-free items you’ll have plenty to choose between from patisserie and perfume to clothing and alcohol. During our visit we opted to satisfy our hunger and explore the food & beverage options available at Terminal 2E, for a quick snack there’s Pret a Manger or Starbucks on the upper level and Paul on the lower level. But we decided on something a bit more substantial and so ate at the Exki Café (healthy microwavable dishes) although if you are a seafood lover you shouldn't miss Yo Sushi.
For increased relaxation between your flights you may wish to consider paying an additional fee and enjoying the benefits that come with access to the Air France Lounge. Where you can pass the time with a luxurious Clarins spa treatment, choose from a selection of newspapers and enjoy a choice of hot and cold dishes.
During our walk around the terminal we discovered several areas perfect for families looking to beat boredom at the airport. Play areas with games and toys are scattered through the terminal ideal for keeping little ones busy whilst retro arcade games including Pac-man which gives teenagers something to do in between the flight connection. If you need a little snooze there are comfortable reclining seats and another great thing about stopping via Paris is that unlike other hub airports you can make calls and send text messages at no extra cost as you are still within Europe. See departure maps of Paris Charles de Gaulle airport
Flying with Air France
We checked in 30hrs in advance to secure our seats and if you are keen to secure more leg room you can opt to pick from one of the options including; seat plus, duo seat or seats at the front of the cabin. Whilst we were online checking in we discovered the Air France Play app which you can download 30hrs before departure. The app means you can catch up with current affairs and news through downloadable French and international newspapers or enjoy a range of films, TV shows, cartoons and documentaries during your flight - free of charge and without internet connection. Perhaps you feel the need to relax during the flight, then why not try listening to one of the playlists specially designed to calm any nerves. We however opted for the old fashioned form of reading material picking up a selection of complimentary newspapers and magazines at the boarding gate.
After receiving a warm welcome from the cabin crew we took to our seats for the flight to Mauritius, with a spare seat in-between us we had extra space to stretch out and the fleece blanket, pillow, eye mask and refreshing towel provided comfort.
The new safety video has a fun French theme which puts a entertaining and quirky spin on the traditional demonstration. The french influence continues through the refreshments with hot chocolate an option alongside tea and coffee. So after choosing between the two hot meal options, we both tucked into our evening meal which to our delight included a miniature bottle of rum punch, a nice nod to Mauritius. The meals were well presented with a wide choice of French inspired snacks including brie so our appetite was pleasantly satisfied!
Air France is a very family friendly airline, so if you are travelling with little ones you can arrange for a bassinet or infant seat to be ready for you onboard. There are also baby kits available including bib, diapers and Nivea baby wipes to make your child's journey more comfortable. Kids meals are fun and healthy and can be ordered to be specially adapted to individual tastes and needs, there are plenty of entertainment opportunities to keep your kids busy from colouring books to video games and cartoons shown on their personal video screen. Whilst the kids are kept busy you can enjoy a wide selection of TV shows and films alongside destination information and tips.
We wouldn’t hesitate to suggest flying via Paris, even if it's just to collect some tasty macaroons on the way home!
To book your holiday to Mauritius flying with Air France give our friendly reservation teams a call or request a quote.