Keep overlooking as far as Air Europa is concerned ;-). Honestly, what we did was have a payed revenue fare on AA from ORD-JFK (I live in Chicago, so that is why we flew out of there) and then connected on CX to HKG after a nice overnight in NYC. what about the food selections on either airline. Despite facing such uncertainty, they continued excellent service, a real great team.). This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity. Image Credit: Delta Air Lines. And yes, YouTube videos can help. We noticed the there are two business class options from Atlanta nonstop to Paris. As long as you avoid the oldest products on each carrier, you really cant go wrong with any of these options. The seat is upholstered in beautiful leather with spacious storage, amenity kits, and a large IFE. Image Credit: Delta Air Lines. No, Delta First Class is different from Delta One. As for codeshare flights and being switched from one to the other, at the time of booking you can see who is flying the metal, so if you have a strong preference, you can manage it. There are also amenity kits and excellent gourmet meals. The 777-300 has the most seating variation. Totally agree on the AF 7 across. Direct return to LAX. @ Ben -- I love first class! She said she had used AAdvantage miles because she travels a lot for work. Air France A350-900 routes. Definitely a consideration when looking at your overall routing. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. Lavatories designated for Delta One Business passengers can vary depending on the plane. Some have 2 while others may have 3. However, Alitalia flies to dozens ofdestinationsfrom Rome,including many of the smaller cities in Southern Europe, and award space is typically quite good. Its worth the extra cash or points if youre traveling on a longer route. One thing you can count on when you get onboard the Delta One is that youll get beautiful and stylish seats. Delta One Business Class Seats. Diarrhea isnt what she was necessarily referring to. Thank you, Tiff, for a good analysis without the "Oh-I-must-fly-first-class-only " attitude! The airlines in-flight catering is excellent. Air France offers one of the most prestigious and luxurious cabins in the air right, the Air France La Premiere. These newest seats convert to a 2 metres (6.5 feet long) flat bed. Business Class is found mostly on international routes and planes that are configured for long-haul travel. All my recent Air France transatlantic business flights have been in a Boeing 777, not the A350. If you happen to have a T-Mobile or Sprint line then you get an hours worth of free Internet when you fly on Delta. Air Frances service is fantastic. And it mightve been just enough people on the plane- not necessarily everyone. Delta will give you credit, not a refund in most cases. You can pick seats, always through the Air France site, sometimes in the Delta app. Air France is working to convert all Business Class seats to the fully flat, all-aisle-access setup soon. Both airlines had good food, but I thought . Before its merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008, Deltas fleet comprised solely McDonnell Douglas and Boeing aircraft. Schipol is acomparativelyeasy airport (though they could really stand to invest in some moving sidewalks), so if thats a concern for you Id consider choosing KLM over the other airlines on this list. However, you can also control the screen using a handheld remote stashed in one of the armrests. Although I tried their Prem Econ onboard the 777 it's kind of better in terms that it is cheaper, you still get champagne, entertainment, and a seat that reclines well for a day flight (or night if you are like my wife who can Just a small tip of advice: do NOT fly AF B. You can connect to the free Wi-Fi aboard the business cabin provided you only need to use Facebook Messenger or any messaging app. Am starting to collect Citi Thank You Rewards as well. Founded in October 1933, Air France serves at least 36 destinations in France and operates internationally scheduled passenger services. In 2019 alone, the airline carried 46,903,000 passengers. Even their short Euro flight had a decent meal. Air France has better safety videos. Their current amenity kit is a beautiful chevron zip pouch containing a dental kit, Clarins skincare items, an eye mask, and socks. I'd give Delta the edge here. What a steal between the US and Europe! The KLM food is OK -- tending toward being over-prepared with mouse-like side-dishes and casseroles, but it was perfectly fine, and in huge quantities. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. AF's older PE seats (still in their 777's, for instance) are the dreaded clamshell. Recently returned from Kiev flying r/t on Austrian 767 biz . I have flown Air France, on the sloped sleeper seats. As we learned last week, leveraging Deltas partners is the best way to not get screwed when redeeming SkyMiles, sowhen reader Nolan asked the following on the Ask Lucky forum recentlyI was excited to answer: The improvement in partner products is ahuge boon to the SkyMiles program. If the spa is open, guests can get a 20-minute Clarins spa treatment. But the Virgin Atlantic seat is fully-flat, and they offer a legitimate turn-down service with pajamas, a mattress pad, etc. I hadn't flown DL in forever and don't collect their miles, but bought one of their relatively inexpensive business class fares to Madrid and found it to be quite good. Guests receive pre-flight champagne and snacks. Air France business or first class prices for my destinations have typically been less expensive (connecting flight itineraries). Business class sits directly behind the exclusive, four-seat La Premiere first-class cabin. Meanwhile, I could not get anyone to refill my water. Privacy Policy: We hate spam and promise to keep your email address safe. The Air France business class seats are back with a brand new look. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. Personally, I am a major fan of Oneworld, so I would recommend CX for LAX-HKG and then fly QF for HKG-AUK via SYD or MEL (but SYD would be better for a premium passenger connecting). All of the staff are friendly and accommodating. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. One on Air France that flies a 777-300ER. Moreover, a rowdy group of AF non-rev people were having a party, and they did not invite me. New Air France business class with reverse-herringbone lie-flat seats. When: January 2022; Route: Atlanta to Paris; Flight: AF 681; Seat: 2E; Flight Time: 9 hours; Booked with: 55k FlyingBlue Miles and $226; Booking Air France Business Class with points. Your companion can drink dine with you. In terms of comfort they're about the same; If you're a real entertainment buff then you might find the Delta One screens on the 767 a little bit small and distant. Premium Delta Sky Club lounge access is available with access to partner lounges across the world. Air Frances newest seats are modern and chic perfectly capturing the impeccable style the airline embodies. (CST #2143630-50) |, Get Exclusive Travel Hacking Tips That I Only Share With Email Subscribers. Image Credit: Delta. The biggest issue, however, is that the old Air France business class product is dated and uncomfortable. The second option being Delta about a 767-400ER. if you do some Google, Air France's premium econ seats are pretty well reviled. Image Credit: Air France. 6 Things You Should Know About Surfing Before Heading Out In The Ocean, 6 Awesome Travel Locations For All Golf Lovers, Essential Camping Equipment Everyone Needs, Useful Tips That Will Make Your Next Outdoor Adventure More Exciting, Hot Air Balloon Rides in Paris: Why You Should Take One, South of France Money-Saving Tips for Students, What To Do On a Romantic Weekend in Paris, Where to Eat the Best American Food in Paris, How to Host the Perfect French Dinner Party, 4 Cities in France That Are Perfect for Shopping, Marketing your Travel Website or Holiday Home: Tips and Tricks, The Best Travel Bags For Your Next Holiday In France, Why the Transport System of Paris is One of the Best, Paris Travel Blog: The Ultimate Paris Travel Guide, Must-Experience: 3 Fabulous Flower Festivals in France, Study in France: What Books I Read in College. I was seated next to a friend of the pilot, who was brought meals and drinks from (the empty) First Class cabin. This was true on all four flights, so I'd hazard it's part of the corporate culture. Air France Business vs First Class The cabin in business class is extremely private, with only four large seats, larger than the Business class cabin, significantly upgraded dining and amenities such as pajamas, separate first class lounges, and transfers in luxury vehicles. Tiffany - enjoy your style and posts. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. Delta also offers about 1000 hours of free entertainment, including TV series and movies, via the Delta Studio system. The newer cabins are more stylish and now feature sliding doors to give guests absolute privacy. I think business class to Europe on partners is really the sweet spot for Skypesos. Eachof these SkyMiles partners are distinctive, and I do love how the character of each airline isreflected in the service and product. Aboard the Boeing 777-200 and certain 777-300, the seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. I flew British Airways to Paris in business class with my wife and daughter. Each seat has several universal power outlets including a USB port, storage areas, a sleek blue and white color combination, a huge touchscreen monitor with an entertainment controller, a reading lamp, and on occasion, a personal air vent. This is another area where Air France has promised to improve its service. For messaging on Facebook or WhatsApp, its free. differences between first and business class, Quick Glance: Air France Business Class vs. Delta One Business Class, The Details: Air France Business Class vs. Delta One Business Class. Its composed of two floors and capable of accommodating up to 570 passengers at one time. @ Fabio -- Thanks! That is why it is hard to ask people for their opinions about airlines. The service and food were outstanding on the outbound flight from LAX-CDG, but the business cabin was almost empty. Thats why Im trying to figure out the difference. Its topped off with dessert including Deltas famous sundae. Seriously, though, Tiffany-- fantastic post. Out of the 9 hubs it has, Atlanta is the largest in terms of departure numbers and total passengers. The seats measure 78 inches in pitch and about 21 inches wide. The worst flight I ever had was on Air France. It is a beautiful little town with a beautiful landscape. However, its the highest and most premium cabin offered on long-haul and international routes. In general I believe if you are ticketed Delta One, First Class, BC, etc you can use the lounges for all sky team members. My experience with KLM has also been stellar. It's almost AF J service with Delta domestic First class seat. Look forward to the Upper Class review Nick. The soft products, which are also sound, can stand some minor improvements here and there. Air France and Delta are outstanding airlines that have gotten their business product down to pat. A noise-reducing headset is also available on the seat but the monitor has Bluetooth capacity so you can use your headset if you like. Oh well. Totally agree on the AF 7 across. They also provide a pillow and blanket to make your night extra comfy. Its not the best but comes with decent performance. If youre craving something stronger, youll find self-serve liquor as well. The majority of these cabins have chairs measuring anywhere from 19 to 22 inches in width in a 1-2-1 configuration. The mains are then served, usually a choice between meat, seafood, or poultry. Breakfast is served an hour or so before landing with a selection of hot entre and drinks. Looking for a NYC - AMS flight in early August. KLM doesn't operate the 787 yet at the moment, but when they do (the inaugural is in late october), they'll have the Zodiac seats on board - the same as the new AF product, in 1-2-1. https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/how-to-earn-miles/airline-partners. However, if you need something for surfing or streaming, you will need to purchase access. What really impressed me, though, is that KLM turns off the seat belt light upon reaching cruising altitude and does not turn it back on until final approach. Image Credit: Air France, Air France business class. I know they are partners, and their fares are the same. Air Frances drinks menu is also extensive with premium liquor, an excellent wine list, cocktails, beer, as well as champagne. I would say Delta has a faster service than KLM or Air France. Or the crew might even be a mix. As maddening as the program is, we probably redeem more Delta miles fortransatlantic tripsthan any of the other major programs, so SkyMiles can certainly come in handy. If you like to accumulate Skymiles, I'd also be concerned about whether you'll earn those if you book directly on Air France. I was in pain by the end of the flight. The major downside to Virgin Atlantic is London Heathrow. BA, American, Delta, Air Canada perhaps need to rethink their offering. It's due to the amount of miles required for Delta that my flights are now in AF or Virgin Atlantic, both Sky Team members that charge many fewer miles or $. The planes will be totally reconfigured nose-to-tail, and will feature 369 seats, including: 48 business class seats 48 premium economy seats 273 economy class seats Plus, this month only, enroll in my FREE 5 lesson course that has helped others book over $4MM+ every year in free travel using points. Air France also has a better rebooking offer (generally free) than Delta, it's a covid era offering. A choice of champagne, wine, juice, or just plain water, along with light bites. On long-haul flights, the Surf Pass costs 8 Euros ($8.55). Hope it's better this year as I'm going with KLM on the outbound flight and Virgin on the flight back to the States. On every flight, you have the option of watching a wide variety of movies from English to French to Spanish. Also, my AmEx card gives me priority boarding on Delta flights. You will findAir France Magazine, the airlines official in-flight publication, in Business cabins and lounges andLa Premire. I have flown AirFrance a few times and swore never again. Even if the you have flown an airline multiple times, there can always be the "one off day." For the return, I had a late connection from Rome. Best For: Which Airline Class Should You Book? So the comment about IROPS with AF turns out to align with my experience. delta flies the airbus A330 and AF the airbus A350. Jack - Many thanks for your thoughts. Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. You get 2 dedicated FA for the cabin, they take drinks and menu orders (no trolley service), there's a tablecloth, food comes on a platter, metal cutlery, porcelain dishes, the food . Made from recycled plastic, guests have praised it for being extremely comfortable and perfect for sleeping. Should Parc des Princes Become An Official Travel Attraction? On the one hand, their flight attendants are fabulously, nearly uncomfortablystylish. Aboard the 777-200, you get a single but bigger lavatory for business class. Since they codeshare, you may not get a choice. Delta FAs are great too, so I'd call it even. Whether to relax or get some work done, the new Business seat boasts new features to enhance your travel experience: 17.3-inch 4K screen, noise . Air France and Delta Air Lines are two of the biggest carriers in the aviation world. It might not be as extra friendly but its highly professional. As a single traveler, I generally prefer private pods, though I far prefer those on DL A330s (which face out on the sides) to DL 777s (which seem similar to VS). Image Credit: Delta Air Lines. Of the three, KLMs in-flight food and lounge at Schiphol were the best of the three. The 777 is older. Only got snacks on Delta. I may buck the trend here, but I HATED Virgin Atlantic. Delta One Business Class A350. Their crappy old planes, the seat layout where you cannot look out the windows so you spend your time staring at another person because you are angled facing that person, the truly awful meals for a business class product. I have heard people complain about Delta and always wonder why. Its loyalty program is called Flying Blue. The most basic cabin is economy class followed by premium economy, then business class and finally first class, also. Air France has a fantastic business section, but you can somehow fail to note the difference between economy and business class when it comes to Lufthansa. However, Air France is in the process of reconfiguring their entire longhaul fleet, and thenew business class looks lovely. If youre looking at travel between North America andEurope, SkyMiles are still one of the best options once you factor in availability and overall cost. We went through some bumpy skies, especially over the equator, and it was refreshing not to be awakened with seat belt announcements, which are common on Delta. In short: replace AF premium economy by Delta premium select. The older cabins might feature an 18.5-inch touchscreen monitor. Air France has La Premire, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy. Booking confirmation usually bears these conditions. I mean, look at these bowls: KLM business class breakfast bowls. Extra narrow aisles, tiny leg room, etc on an 8 hour flight, they were using a Joon plane on a non-joon flight for whatever reason. Everyones intestinal process is their own and varied greatly. People discount Delta because the lack of "prestige" airline partners like Lufthansa, Cathay, Singapore, Emirates, the perceived lack of availability of premium award space, and a previously broke award calendar. On other aircraft, you might find the movie selections to be a bit sparse. I'd initially chosen Seat 1A, but was involuntarily moved to the last row in the middle-most of three seats. The interior features 30 lie flat Business Class seats, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 225 standard Economy seats. Do note the booking class, as if your booking class isn't listed in the charts you won't earn at all. If you booked on a partner's website, see link below for what you will earn. ), Nick: "Seriously, though, Tiffany fantastic post.". These airlines have been around for a long while, and thats why Im sure that youll be having a great time when you get to board to your destination. I want to do LAX-AUK in Aug 2016 with SO's in China, HKG, MEL on outbound. Image Credit: Air France. Curious to know which option is better. Business class cabin seats have just four large seats and are larger than the first class cabin, making it one of the most private sections of an airplane. Strike action is occasionally a risk with French companies, and I also find they're a bit "shruggy" if something goes wrong. You can also check in up to two bags, max 70 pounds or 32 kilos each. I was not happy. This is one of those times where knowing what type of plane you're flying in is important. It has been the only French vaccination center since 2001 that is certified International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001. You'll think you booked with one and end on a plane run by the other. I arrived at the boarding gate for CDG-LAX while the A380 was still there, but I was told I was too late and nothing could be done. If you are on a long-haul flight, you will be served complimentary champagne and drinks in every class. Delta has recently extended the life of credit vouchers. These seats fully recline, provide ample storage, feature a great IFE, and have excellent amenity kits. I was unceremoniously rebooked into a middle seat on a777 leaving three hours later. Tiffany - I have lots of AA miles, and lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards, SPG miles. It is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. That way it can become an around the work in first class trip! The cost in delta skymiles is much more for delta one than AF business class. Its built with spacious seating areas, an extensive buffet service including hot and cold food options, as well as a great selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Delta is one of the biggest airlines in the United States. DLOne has fflatbed seats, good food /service. I want to go back to South Africa again, and would happily use KLM, but options seemed to be better for VS, ergo my seeking out this site. The current Air France promo that provides for refundability of the ticket price is only for flights through June 30, 2022. Committed to Air France's mission to provide passengers superior comfort, the new Business seat draws on the 3F concept: Full Flat, the seat converts into a 2-meter long (6'5"), fully flat bed. As a business class passenger, you get priority check-in and boarding, allowing you to zip through long economy lines. I arrived at the boarding gate for CDG-LAX while the A380 was still there, but I was told I was too late and nothing could be done. Formerly calledHop!,Air France Hop operates most of its regional domestic and continental scheduled services with a fleet of regional jet aircraft. Delta's snack (left) vs. Air France's snack (right). Absolutely correct. If you get hungry in between, theres a small self-service area where you can grab beverages and light snacks if you fancy. What seats are available and what are they next to. I also find Delta Economy better but Air France's business has better food (especially now from what I hear), In flight service in coach varies on both. While the service can be adorably Dutch at times, the overallexperience is still great. Now, THIS, I remember ! For drinks, Delta has a good roster from top-quality champagne and wine to common liquor like Peach Bellini and Grey Goose Vodka. The irony is that finally Delta has caught up in terms of its seat in its Business Elite with a full-sized pillow and duvet and REALLY comfortable seats, which unlike Virgin you have more choice than either go to bed or sit up straight, plus the signature Delta friendliness of its flight attendants. Since then, more have been added. Take this amazing class and start making your travel dreams possible! Its fleet size is 750 as of December 2020. This review is of the inaugural to Toronto. Maybe the EU is less litigious, but for whatever reason, it was a pleasant surprise to have common sense prevail. Delta has officially announced that there will be no change of fees on tickets in certain fare classes on flights originating from North America. The Points Universityteaches you how to earn points and exchange them for luxury hotel bookings and fantastic first or business class flights! I have no idea. The service and food on the return 777 was awful. If youve ever had food intolerances (lentil salad can be made with some fermented items) youd know just how fast some things can affect a person. @ bobbieddie -- What miles do you have at present? There is Wi-Fi available (for a fee) on almost every flight. It's very different from Delta domestic first class, where most will not even exchange a quick hello. I'm going to be very careful booking AF in the future. She called the Executive Platinum line to make the bookings (and she did it on the first call!). You really have to look at specific plane models which seat guru can help you with. Wonderful posts and responses. The second meal, or breakfast, is served an hour or so before landing. Going to Asia, Korean Air and Delta's own metal (flights to Tokyo and Hong Kong via Seattle) present good options. There's also other factors like itinerary and price. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. For instance, a Business Class return trip from New York to Paris can cost over $6k. As soon as you settle onboard, you get pre-flight drinks before takeoff and youll be handed a menu as well. Videos will show you, that the AF seats angle away from the aisle, the partition encircling the pod doesn't close entirely, leaving room to enter and exit. The seatingconfigurationisunique, but if you can sit in the single aisle, and away from the bar, the seats are moreprivate. Headphones are on the seat as well. The business class in the A380 was no longer up to today's standards, unlike the business class that's installed in the Boeing 787-Dreamliner and Airbus A350, which is modern and comfortable. Tiffany, Or does it really matter at all? As a SkyTeam member, youll also receive access to other premium airport lounges offered by partner airlines in various cities all over the world. Fingers crossed that no one is in the 'F' seat next to me. Seven-across business class seating is just embarrassing nowadays, particularly in an angled-flat seat. I am (most unhappily) seated in such a section on an AF from ATL to CDG tonight. It all depends on availability, return flights, etc. Also if you fly via JFK, there are 6 AF/DL flights to Paris, 4 operated by AF and 2 operated by Delta. I will note though that you left off Delta themselves, which can still be available at the Tier 1 number of miles on many TATL routes if you book well in advance. This was true on all four flights, so I'd hazard it's part of the corporate culture. For those that have flown is their a major. Oh, AF offers a glass of champagne before take off. In addition, when onboard Delta, you dont have to worry about missing the news, and social media banters. Image Credit: Air France, Air France A350 Business Class. Delta One Business Class Amenity Kit Someone Somewhere. I could go on but you get the drift. I've flown the ER many times; from NY as well as Cincinnati/CDG. As for in-flight entertainment, the airline offers Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) in every cabin on long flights. I asked about an upgrade to First for my trouble and delay, but AF said it was not possible, even though that cabin turned out to be empty. (My flight in the suites was noisy because during the flight the crew got word that France was going into lockdown and our flight would be the last for many months.