Flying safely with a French legacy carrier

Founded on October 7, 1933, Air France serves as the national flag carrier of France. Beyond passenger transport, the airline manages cargo logistics and maintains its own fleet. With service to over 195 destinations globally, the airline maintains a presence at most regional French airports while relying on its two primary hubs, Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Orly, to manage its long haul operations.

Expanded coverage via KLM and Skyteam

Partially privatized in 1999, Air France entered a partnership with its Dutch counterpart in 2004 to form the KLM, Air France group. This structure allows travelers to book flights through Air France that are operated by KLM, typically with a connection in Amsterdam. As a founding member of the Skyteam alliance, the airline also markets flights operated by roughly twenty partners, including Delta Airlines, Aeromexico, and ITA Airways. In short, Air France provides global connectivity across Europe, the French Overseas Territories, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Its low cost subsidiary is Transavia France.

Competitive pricing models

The airline website allows for booking flights to your chosen destination in a few clicks. Various fare classes are available, ranging from economy to business. While the carrier was once criticized for high pricing, current online and agency fares remain competitive with most major international carriers, excluding ultra low cost airlines.

In flight service standards mirror those of most international full service carriers. From boarding to arrival, passengers are supported by professional crews trained in standard cabin service protocols.

Company perks

  • Flight delay compensation: In the event of a delay of at least 2 hours, barring force majeure, passengers are eligible for compensation. No formal claim is required, as refunds are processed automatically.
  • Loyalty program: The airline operates the Flying Blue program, which provides value for frequent travelers. Members earn miles that can be redeemed for partner offers or business class upgrades.
Discover all offers
https://www.airfrance.fr
Voir le site

Reviews of Air France

Summary of 31 reviews
2.9/5
Average rating
+20 recs +42 -22 Score weighted by contributor expertise level: a recommendation from a level 3 member counts as 3.
Total recs

Average ratings by criterion

Customer service
3.1/5
Reliability
3.1/5
Value for money
2.5/5

Overbooking, downgrading, and family separation

We had booked 4 premium seats for the family from MRU to CDG 4 months in advance. The day before departure, we were notified by an impersonal text message without any explicit reason that 2 of our seats had been downgraded to Eco. We bust our tails booking great seats long in advance at the premium price, and we end up separated the day before we leave. The flight attendant explained to us that it was overbooking and that our tickets were the cheapest, so they were resold to the highest bidder. This airline is becoming more and more distressingly inhumane. The flight attendant told me it was no big deal because we would be refunded the difference, but WE COULD NOT CARE LESS. We wanted our premium seats! Honestly, I used to be a loyal customer because I thought Air France took better care of its customers than the low-cost airlines, but that is absolutely not the case. Do not hesitate to look for another airline, you will not see the difference and you will have the same risk of being downgraded as on the big carriers. I will only fly Air France if I have no other choice, and I am canceling my Flying Blue.
10
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Disappointed with the service

I was a bit disappointed by my experience with Air France. For a national carrier with relatively high fares, I expected higher quality service. The meals on board really lacked flavor and the staff was not always very friendly. In my opinion, the airline still has some work to do to live up to its image.

8
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Fine...when everything goes well

I have never tried Air France for long-haul flights, only within France. In itself, the service provided is decent, nothing more and nothing less, so the job gets done.

However, the information provided is not always very clear. I am thinking, for example, of the procedure for traveling with a pet in the cabin (which is quite expensive for this service, by the way, but hey, it seems to be the market standard).

6
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Return flight lost because outbound flight missed

Hello,

I booked a round trip from Perpignan to Paris for my son and his friend, who had to go take an exam. They couldn't take the outbound flight due to an unforeseen issue. One left by train, and the other took a flight the next morning. When I bought that second plane ticket, I was told the original outbound flight was lost because apparently I hadn't purchased insurance! However, when I tried to check them in for the return flight for these two young men, I was told that since they didn't board the outbound flight, the return was lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After a whole day spent on the phone between AIR FRANCE and EDREAM (who kept passing the buck) to find a solution, the only thing we were offered was to rebook our return seats for €457 each, even though we had originally bought the round trip for €360 for both tickets.
An eDreams manager was supposed to call us back, but we are still waiting!

The result is that a round trip from Perpignan to Paris that was supposed to cost us €360 ended up costing us about €800, because our young men had to come back by train.
6
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A reliable and attentive airline

Even though flight prices are relatively high, Air France offers some interesting discounts if you book far enough in advance. For example, I paid less than 800 euros (about $865) for a nonstop trip from Paris to Los Angeles and San Francisco to Paris, which is no more than other, more low-cost airlines. While not optimal, the comfort is decent and customer service is available very quickly to deal with any issues. A small downside is that there were a few schedule changes made to my flights before the trip, but there were very few delays or cancellations to report.

7
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Way too expensive!

Personally, I never travel with Air France because their prices are way too expensive. Plus, the planes are aging and not very comfortable compared to newer airlines. The meals aren't very filling, although they are generous with the alcohol! For work, I always have to travel with Air France. If there are any issues, they are responsive regarding refunds. However, I notice that delays are very frequent and, in the end, there are sometimes more problems than with low cost airlines.

6
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My favorite airline

For long-haul flights, I especially recommend Air France. Even if this airline is a bit more expensive than some of its competitors, the service is top notch. I have never run into any issues with this company. The onboard staff is always exceptional and very kind.

6
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Pleasant surprise with customer service

Following an SNCF strike, I had to take a flight to get from Paris to Toulouse recently. I went with Air France because the schedule and prices worked out well.
I checked a brand new suitcase (first use). When I arrived in Toulouse and picked it up, I was annoyed to see it was damaged. I wanted to talk to the company's customer service or baggage department immediately, right there in the airport. You have to ring an intercom for that. Someone answered and told me that all claims are handled online now. Honestly, at the time, I thought this was just a way for Air France to dodge their responsibilities.

I still took a photo of my damaged suitcase, making sure to take the picture in the airport in front of the baggage department intercom (just in case, I figured it might be useful if I needed to explain that I tried to report the claim to the teams on-site first). Then I filed my claim online.

I was expecting a lot of objections to deny my claim, or maybe no answer at all. To my pleasant surprise, within a few days, I got a response, an apology, and most importantly, a transfer of €150 (about $162) in compensation. Honestly, hats off to them :)
4
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Way too expensive

Hey everyone, just a quick message to say that for me, Air France is way too expensive most of the time...Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

5
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Meals need some work

My take is that Air France is a good airline, reliable and competent, but the quality of the snack served on domestic flights leaves something to be desired. Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

5
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Good service

Life is priceless, and Air France has had its share of disasters (the Concorde), but it is true that it is more expensive. On the other hand, the planes are spotless and the service is generally not too bad. It would also be nice if the staff were a little more smiley and available.

Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

6
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Not up to the level of the competition

Thank God, Air France is not the only safe airline out there. I have traveled with them often in business class and I have to say, unfortunately, that I am not satisfied at all. Flight to New Delhi, the 747 was too old, and the staff seemed unmotivated and like we were bothering them the whole time. Meals were rarely a good choice and the video system was terrible, outdated, and often broken. Same goes for a flight from Bangkok to Paris. It is a shame that I am forced to travel with foreign airlines. I am heading back to Bangkok, but this time I am taking a Persian Gulf airline that is cheaper and clearly better. Long live competition, and in this case, I am not sure Air France is winning. Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

5
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Disappointing

Air France!! Honestly, I found the service at Air France more than disappointing. It costs way more than low-cost airlines. I was expecting a classy plane and something good to eat (since it is a French company). The result was an old rust bucket, a sandwich so bad that even in England they couldn't make one worse, and being hauled from bus to bus at the airport... Disappointing when you have to pay so much!!

Valerie
Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

6
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Mishandled luggage

If you take an Air France flight with a short layover (in Amsterdam for example), your luggage won't necessarily make it! If you are unlucky like I was, it won't be delivered to you until the next day. Too bad for you if you had urgent things to get! Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

4
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Not bad

Not bad Air France, not too much of a delay for now, so I am not complaining...Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

5
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Good airline but a bit pricey

Air France is a good airline, reliable, and competent, but a bit expensive. Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

5
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Avoid at all costs

I try to avoid booking Air France tickets as much as possible. They are often more expensive than the competition and provide service that leaves a lot to be desired. The flight crew isn't always friendly, and the planes aren't always super well maintained, though that surely varies from flight to flight. For my part, I have never really been convinced by Air France, and unless you have lost all sense of taste, you will want to skip their food.

Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

4
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Air France as a last resort

Hello everyone!! I am a pretty frequent traveler (4 to 5 long-haul flights and 2 to 4 medium-haul flights per year) and honestly, I only take AF as a last resort!! Why?!! The service leaves a lot to be desired (flight crew is not friendly and incredibly arrogant, and don't even get me started on their meals!!!); the prices (most of the time they are more expensive), strikes, and flight cancellations without any explanation, etc! Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

4
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Never had any issues until now

Of the few airlines I have taken during my trips abroad, I have never been disappointed by Air France. The service is impeccable and the staff is smiling and friendly. On the other hand, Iberia was catastrophic. Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

4
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Poor support during strikes

We left Pointe-a-Pitre (already 1 hour late for takeoff) and arrived at Orly at 7 a.m., only to have to wait until 11 p.m. !!!!!!!!! to finally take off for Bordeaux! That day, there was an air traffic controller strike, which we had known about since we were in Guadeloupe. We had to wait without any help from Air France, who were completely overwhelmed. Even if we were their passengers, the strike did not come from them! They made us board two different planes, wait for almost 2 hours in each, only to eventually make us get off, retrieve our luggage (and then tell us, at the end of the day, that since we were coming from a long haul flight, we should never have had to retrieve and recheck that luggage (x2)!!!!). There was no support at all: no water or meals offered, contradictory information, and this was after nearly 40 hours without sleep, with the jet lag on top of it. Given the price of the ticket, we expected more from such a "highly rated" airline. While the staff is well qualified, it would be nice to see them a bit more smiley and approachable during long haul flights. By making "drastic cuts" to save money (at least in economy class), the service is reduced to the strict minimum! You almost have to beg to get a little water, even though they tell us in the brochure: drink up! A bad mark for Air France :( Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com
3
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