Soon I’ll be going on a new trip: a 2-week vacation in Europe, visiting several countries. In this post I wanted to give a quick announcement, and let you know what to expect in terms of travel experiences and the reviews that I plan to write on their basis.

1. Flying to Europe: Air France Business Class, New York-JFK to Lyon via Paris
2. Part 1 of the whirlwind: France
3. Part 2 of the whirlwind: Switzerland
4. Part 3 of the whirlwind: the Netherlands and Germany
5. Back to Europe: Singapore Airlines Business Class, Frankfurt to New York-JFK
6. Summary

Flying to Europe: Air France Business Class, New York-JFK to Lyon via Paris

My trip starts at JFK airport Terminal 1, from where I’ll be flying to Lyon, in France in Air France’s business class on one of their 4-class Boeing 777s. Unfortunately this is one of the ‘old’ configurations that didn’t get Air France’s new business class seat. The older business class seat should still be perfectly adequate, although it wouldn’t feature the newest tech and features.

Prior to the flight I’ll be visiting the Air France JFK Terminal 1 lounge, which I’m excited to try out as well. However, there is another lounge type kind of thing at Terminal 1 that should be interesting: The VIP ONE lounge this is not so much a ‘lounge’ as it is a VIP security checkpoint. It can be accessed for a fee or with a priority pass membership and allows you to skip the line at security.

While my destination on this leg is Lyon, I’ll be transiting in Paris-CDG. I should be arriving in Terminal 2E, and following a transfer through immigration, will then be departing from Terminal 2F. Here I hope to visit the Air France Lounge CDG Terminal 2F during my 2.5 hour layover before boarding my flight to Lyon: this time in Air France business class on one of their A320. Now, intra-Europe business class is not really special, as it’s essentially economy class with a blocked middle seat. That said, I do look forward to the food and drinks offered on this flight.

So, of all of this, I hope to publish reviews of the VIP ONE lounge, the Air France JFK Terminal 1 lounge, Air France’s Boeing 777 (old) business class, the Air France lounge at Paris-CDG Terminal 2F, and finally Air France’s A320 intra-Europe business class.

Part 1 of the whirlwind: France

I’ll be meeting my mother in Lyon, and we will be staying here for several days. Lyon is known as the kitchen of France. I know, it seems a little strange: a country such as France, already known for its cuisine and top quality food, has a city that is specifically known for having great food. I’m looking forward to tasting all of it… And of course visiting some museums, walk around town, and sit down in the odd cafe for a drink and a lemon tartlet.

Following Lyon we will be taking the TGV: France’s high-speed rail network, to Paris. Arriving at Gare de Lyon, we will then move further into the center where we will stay at a boutique hotel close to the Louvre. I love Paris – though I didn’t always. I look forward to having yet more patisserie and strolling along the Seine river, and the grand boulevards! Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll specifically review any of these experiences.

Part 2 of the whirlwind: Switzerland

Following Paris, I’ll be meeting my husband back at PAris-CDG airport. He will be flying into Paris in the morning, and then we’re meeting up on a flight from Paris to Zurich, for the second part of the trip. For this we will be flying on Air France’s A220 Intra-Europe business class. While again intra-Europe, I’m actually quite excited about this: I had the pleasure of flying on one of Delta’s A220 late 2024, and really like the plane. Flying it in business class in Air France should be a greta way to fly within Europe.

This flight will get us to Zurich, and start a 6-day vacation in Switzerland. We will be taking trains throughout, visiting Luzern, Grindelwald, Zermatt and finally we end in Geneva. I’m hoping to get into nature, be relaxed in the crisp mornings of the Alps, with stunning views and fun hikes!

Part 3 of the whirlwind: the Netherlands and Germany

Our trip of Switzerland ends at Geneva airport, from where we will be flying KLM’s economy class to Amsterdam. Nothing fancy this time, in part because the cash ticket prices are very expensive in business class, and also because I’d rather not spend my points and miles on Intra-Europe business class. Keeping in mind the inferior product and short flight time, it just isn’t really worth it in my opinion. As such I probably won’t be reviewing this flight.

We’re in the Netherlands for really only three nights or so. We’re doing this quick stop for two reasons: first of all, to see the blooming flower fields tat the Netherlands is famous for, and April-May is the time to go see them. And second, it’s a chance to have a casual dinner with my friends, some of whom have not met my husband yet, even after such a long time of being together! I guess it never worked out before…

Following that short weekend in the Netherlands, we will fly KLM in economy over to Frankfurt, for the last night of the trip. This is purely a positioning flight for our business class flight back to the United States, but we will likely visit Frankfurt city center, since neither of us have ever been. I will not be reviewing this short intra-European flight.

Back to Europe: Singapore Airlines Business Class, Frankfurt to New York-JFK

Finally, for the flight back we will be flying something a little different: Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777 business class, on their flight that originates in Singapore, bound for New York-JFK that stops in Frankfurt. This poses an excellent way to fly to Europe and back, and I’m so excited to get to fly it on the way back! The flight does leave incredibly early, and that is why we fly to Frankfurt the afternoon before.

I hope to visit one of Singapore’s two partner lounges at Frankfurt airport: the options are the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, or the LH Business Lufthansa Lounge. The truth is I’ve not usually heard good things about Lufthansa lounges, so perhaps we will visit the Air Canada lounge instead. Both of them open at 6am, so we should have enough time to visit either, but maybe not both, before our scheduled departure time. If any of you have had any experience with either of these two lounges, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

So by the end of this leg of the trip, I hope to visit either one of the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge or the LH Business Lufthansa Lounge, as well as Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 Business Class.

Summary

Here I outlined my upcoming trip, visiting France, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany. I’ll have the opportunity to try a host of lounges and review two great business class products: Air France (though it’ll be the older seat) and Singapore Airlines. I’m very excited to try both of these, as these two airlines are both known for their excellence (though admittedly, Singapore Airlines more so than Air France).

Have you flown these airlines or visited these lounges? I’m curious to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment and let me know what you think.