Transavia, the low-cost airline from Air France

Did you know that Air France has its own low-cost carrier? Meet Transavia, the French subsidiary of the Dutch company Transavia, founded in 2007 and fully owned by the Air France-KLM group. Its mission is straightforward, compete with established low-cost airlines and target a younger demographic looking for affordable travel without compromising on service quality.

The strategy to win over this crowd is simple, a wide range of destinations at highly competitive prices. By offering fares roughly 40 percent lower than Air France, the airline provides access to over 120 destinations across France, Europe, and the Mediterranean basin (Bastia, Barcelona, Lisbon, Madrid, Dublin, Naples, Santorini, Luxor, and more). These flights operate as regularly scheduled medium-haul trips and charters from Paris-Orly, Nantes, Lyon, Montpellier, and recently, from Toulon, Rennes, and Toulouse.

Strong values and recognized commitment

Transavia manages these routes with a modern fleet of 71 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The airline is currently pushing to accelerate its environmental transition, with reducing its carbon footprint and eliminating single-use plastics listed as top priorities for the coming years.

The company also remains focused on its core identity, specifically service quality, approachable crew members, and innovation. This focus has earned the airline consistent recognition, including being voted the 2nd best European low-cost airline in 2023, receiving the "Best Brand 2022" label from Capital magazine, and winning the 2019 Skyscanner Traveller Trust Award.

Transavia is frequently noted for its intuitive digital tools and transparent service, which make booking, checking in, and flying a straightforward experience.

Beyond just flights

Transavia also offers additional services beyond air travel, including hotel bookings, taxi arrangements, transfers, and car rentals. These offerings help the airline strengthen its footprint in the European travel market.

Discover all offers
https://www.transavia.com
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Reviews of Transavia

Summary of 9 reviews
3.3/5
Average rating
+23 recs +25 -2 Score weighted by contributor expertise level: a recommendation from a level 3 member counts as 3.
Total recs

Average ratings by criterion

Customer service
3.3/5
Reliability
3.3/5
Value for money
3.3/5

A successful first experience

Flying is definitely not our usual way of getting around when we travel. Since Greece and Athens aren't exactly within easy driving distance, a group of friends and I opted for Transavia for both the flight there and the flight back. On the way out, a small delay at departure didn't cause any issues with our arrival in Athens. On the return flight, the captain pointed out the places we were flying over, sometimes with a lot of detail. It was the first time flying for both my wife and my daughter, and the cabin crew really took great care of them. A certificate signed by every member of the crew was given to them as we got off the plane. We will choose Transavia again without hesitation for our next flight of a similar length.

37
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Standard comfort with prices that aren't always great

I regularly fly with this airline to get to the South of France (Toulon-Hyères) or occasionally around Europe. As an Air France subsidiary, Transavia is relatively reliable. I have rarely had any problems on my flights. The fares are quite reasonable if you travel without luggage. On the other hand, the prices almost double with a checked bag. For pets, I also find it expensive (€50 per trip), with no dedicated space at all. But the airline does accept them, unlike EasyJet. So, the train is often cheaper for traveling within France. Transavia is still practical for short-duration trips. The comfort is acceptable and the staff is generally pleasant.

15
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Very good but a bit pricey from Nantes

I took a flight from Nantes to Lanzarote with Transavia and overall everything went well: smooth boarding, flight on time, pleasant staff. On the other hand, I found the price quite high for a so-called low-cost airline, especially since you have to add a supplement for a checked bag. That said, the departure from Nantes was very convenient for me.

17
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Decent

An airline that claims to be the low-cost version of Air France, but offers pretty much the same flights, on the same planes, for prices that are barely any lower. The little differences: you have to pay for your meal, your checked baggage...

6
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Air France's low-cost carrier, really?

This airline belongs to Air France and is presented as the low-cost version of the parent company. So yes, you have to pay for your meal, you have to pay for checked bags, and you have to show up early to be sure you can bring your carry-on into the cabin (even if it meets the size limits)... but the prices are not always lower than those of traditional airlines. Compare the prices!

9
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For heading south :)

Really good for Morocco and Sicily.

6
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Completely incompetent

In April, I had a round trip ticket for two from Paris to Djerba. We were in the check-in line and the pilot decided to stop check-in for us and 25 other people. The plane took off without us. After talking to the ground staff, our ticket was cancelled (airport taxes were supposed to be refunded later).

It has now been eight months that I have been trying to get this refund. Transavia tells me that the ticket was refunded to an account that does not belong to me, at a bank that has never been mine. It is truly impossible to come to an agreement, or to get someone on the phone (they do not have a number), it is a dead end.

This is a ghost company that responds from Prague to mail sent to Ivry. This company is to be avoided if you want to travel with any peace of mind.

6
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The best low-cost airline for Marrakech

To me, this is the best low-cost airline for Marrakech. Better service than EasyJet and Ryanair for prices that are often identical (with EasyJet), and you can find flights at convenient times, which is not always the case for cheap flights.

2 daily flights departing from Paris, and now flights to Marrakech departing from Nantes and Marseille.

5
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"Low Cost" flights to Algeria?

Positioned as the low cost brand of Air France, Transavia is one of the few airlines that serves Algeria from France (and yes, the lack of competition on this busy route remains a mystery). Taking advantage of the weak competition, the airline applies prices that have nothing low cost about them (e.g., €500 for a round trip in summer). And watch out, at that price, you are only entitled to one carry-on bag. Do not think about bringing a large carry-on that will "pass," it will be checked, and if it has to go in the hold, it will cost you a lot extra.
Aside from this "small detail" regarding the prices, it was a rather positive experience: planes on time, fairly clean, and courteous staff.

6
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