Open from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., premium business guests can enter for free but theres also an option to purchase entry for 60 Euros or about $70. This was true on all four flights, so I'd hazard it's part of the corporate culture. Criteria Delta 777-200 Air France 777-200; Cabin Arrangement: 1-2-1 Herringbone: . I would say Virgin Atlantic Upper Class is the one to go with, or if unable, KLM is a good plan B. Alitalia isn't too bad, but with the staggered, narrow seats, it's not comfortable for either a day or night flight (but their soft product is definitely better than other SkyTeam airlines (I'm looking at you, Delta and Air France. Frankly DL's reverse herringbone business class on their A330 (which is used on many US-Europe routes) is probably only surpassed by the new AF Business Class. Delta First Class is a premium first class service offered on domestic routes. Only got snacks on Delta. I've flown both airlines in business. 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). Maybe the EU is less litigious, but for whatever reason, it was a pleasant surprise to have common sense prevail. Air France flies the A350-900 model, which it configures with 34 business seats in a 1-2-1 layout. Peter is the editor of France Travel Blog. New Air France business class with reverse-herringbone lie-flat seats. Air France wins this hands down thanks to their chef-curated meals and impeccable service. You make me want to have some skypesos to burn. Delta One seats feature a family-friendly or companion-friendly center aisle. Going to Asia, Korean Air and Delta's own metal (flights to Tokyo and Hong Kong via Seattle) present good options. But when you've no choice, you have to put up with it. 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. Monthly subscriptions begin at $69.95. I believe there are some lingering A330s with angled-flat seats, but those still arent a terrible option as a worst-case (at least their angled flat seats are only six across, Air France). Selected movies are available too in Hindi, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. Or does it really matter at all? Air France Business Class Cabin Configuration. If Air France operates a short-haul flight from Paris (CDG) to Nice (NCE), its business class seats are simply economy seats with the middle seat blocked off. Can't believe I missed that (and that no one else caught it either). BA, American, Delta, Air Canada perhaps need to rethink their offering. I generally shop by price and fly main cabin, so in the big picture, it doesn't matter. 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. Anyway, back to KLM, I found the FAs to be extremely pleasant, knowledgeable, and eager to keep the passengers happy. Just go to the partner's website and add your Delta FF# to the itinerary. I'm sure Nick will be along shortly to tell us all why Delta is better than all other options ;). In addition, if your baggage item is beyond the weight limit for your fare, without exceeding 32 kg/70.5 Ib, there is a mandatory fee to be paid at the airport. The service and food on the return 777 was awful. On long-haul flights, people on Main Cabin and Comfort will get blankets and pillows, and they will receive basic amenity kits including toothpaste and toothbrush, earplugs, eyeshades, and towelette. Diarrhea isnt what she was necessarily referring to. I personally enjoy transferring through Amsterdam's Schiphol airport much more than Paris Charles de Gaulle. 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 Ive found both to be excellent carriers. Fingers crossed that no one is in the 'F' seat next to me. On the newer Safran Seats, guests can enjoy a 17.3-inch 4K touchscreen monitor. Booking your Air France Business Class ticket directly through airlines can be costly. Does Air France give preference to their own FF members and those that booked with them, as far as allowing seat assignment choices? The flight entertainment system has many channels of audio, video, music, and games. My husband and I have status on Delta but are flying Air France and Virgin Atlantic on two different itineraries this year. My preferred airline is Delta. Perhaps not as impressive. Two Adults and one three year old child. All of the programs listed have at least decentbusiness class products, with some really solid options depending on the aircraft and configuration. Thanks SO MUCH for the post! 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. Instead, take your pick from this amazing list of travel credit cards to get the most points value for every use. The airlines in-flight catering is excellent. I feel it is hype over substance. How do you feel it compares to the other partners? But I also live on the West Coast, and I like going to Europe. I was not happy. If fares are the same, I would base my decision on terms and conditions. I have been flying with them whenever possible when booking a trip anywhere and have never been disappointed. Tiffany - I have lots of AA miles, and lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards, SPG miles. Image Credit: Air France, Air France A350 Business Class. 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. Based on your West Coast experience, what airline would you choose for this itinerary based on ease of finding and booking award space preferably in F or business? I have no idea. Both airlines had good food, but I thought . Well this is an interesting matchup! For those that have flown is their a major. Now, THIS, I remember ! Review: EgyptAir Lounge Cairo Airport (CAI), Lufthansas Boeing 787 Business Class: Exactly As Expected. While first class guests receive Carita Paris amenity kits, the business class kits are brandless but still look quite trendy. Throughout the space, freestanding buffets with drink and food options are in strategic spots. No checking in on the Delta app, though I suppose if you use the AF app, then you may be able to. I have a love/hate relationship with Air France. Air France also operates an A380 with an older first class cabin while SWISS operates an A340 with an older first class cabin. If youre looking to stay connected during the flight, Delta has several options for Wi-Fi. This has been managed by both Air France and KLM. On every flight, you have the option of watching a wide variety of movies from English to French to Spanish. It's night and days between the two! The seat is upholstered in beautiful leather with spacious storage, amenity kits, and a large IFE. 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. Id pay more to enjoy nonstop flights. I seem to remember that used to be true. Featured user comments Read user reviews for Air France Boeing 787-9 (789) Submitted by SeatGuru User on 2020/01/19 for Seat 12J However, you can also control the screen using a handheld remote stashed in one of the armrests. time because they are twice as expensive on my route. Connecting to Wi-Fi is easy. Reply. Food, drinks, amenities are similar. this is a matter for sites like Flyertalk and Points Guy, and also for travel vloggers like Paul Lucas and Jeb Brooks. Watch out for the AF aircraft with 2-3-2 seating in business class. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. So much is the luck of the draw these days. Premium Economy: Price. We earn Skymiles when we book on Delta even when the flight is on a partner airline, but I believe that if you book directly with the partner airline, you don't. Get a full 180-degree flatbed on board the Delta One. On the other hand, Delta One is also a strong contender if you want a world-class business cabin. There are storage areas for your shoes, small gadgets, and other small items. Lets break down the similarities and differences between their business cabins in this Air France Business Class vs. Delta One Business Class comparison. They serve meals and drinks from a cart to help speed things along. To which I said sure as long as you refund me my business class fare) And then flying back via Delta which I have to say was superb, from the meals, to the seat, to the flight attendants. These are the basics to know before flying either airline. Never thought that would happen! We noticed the there are two business class options from Atlanta nonstop to Paris. These airlines feature redesigned business products to deliver comfortable and stylish new seats and superb amenities while ensuring a lavish journey for their passengers. 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 . Tiffany - enjoy your style and posts. Yes, Air France business class offers lie-flat seats, perfect for when youre ready to sleep. In front of each seat is an 18.5-inch monitor with a multitude of shows and movies for entertainment. The Delta One Suites are the best Delta offers because you can close a little door. The Air France Premium Economy products is closer to economy class than it is to businesscompetitors on the same routes offer more spacious seating and more upgraded meals. Image Credit: Air France, Air France Boeing 777. Sure the soft product and food on the partner airlines is better (although the service and food are slightly worse on VS or at best no better than DL) but not drastically so. Delta and Air France both offer several fare classes, much to the convenience of passengers. Even if the you have flown an airline multiple times, there can always be the "one off day." Do You Need A Travel Power Adapter For France? The seats measure 78 inches in pitch and about 21 inches wide. Totally agree on the AF 7 across. In 2019 alone, the airline carried 46,903,000 passengers. To upgrade from a lower class of service, such . The seats include excellent legroom including a big footwell. 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 addition, when onboard Delta, you dont have to worry about missing the news, and social media banters. The soft products, which are also sound, can stand some minor improvements here and there. Theyve partnered with Someone Somewhere, a Mexico-based brand. The cost in delta skymiles is much more for delta one than AF business class. Review: read my review of Delta's Business Class in a Airbus A350 here. My experience with KLM has also been stellar. Hopefully you wont be disappointed with either one. On the one hand, their flight attendants are fabulously, nearly uncomfortablystylish. Overall it my favorite airline. Air France delivers one of the best on-air dining experiences inside their business class cabin. Image Credit: Delta Air Lines. It might not be as extra friendly but its highly professional. She called the Executive Platinum line to make the bookings (and she did it on the first call!). I'd give Delta the edge here. Thank you very much. My family is considering a trip to Paris in August. So connections from London are limited, and not terribly convenient. Whether you choose one or the other, both these airlines will ensure youll have a fantastic flight wherever you head off to. so I settle for the old AF Boeing 777. I would like to go to both Rome and London at some point, so it will probably be either Virgin Atlantic or Alitalia (Although I would also like to visit Amsterdam and Paris). Maybe it's the esthetiques. As a side-sleeper, I find the seats perfectly comfortable for sleeping, but they might feel narrow if you prefer to sleep on your back. As of the time of writing, the airline is still waiving change fees on tickets originating from outside of North America. It just sets the mood for the dining experience. Having trouble even getting KLM award space to show up on Delta's site. The biggest issue, however, is that the old Air France business class product is dated and uncomfortable. Look forward to your thoughts. Delta also offers about 1000 hours of free entertainment, including TV series and movies, via the Delta Studio system. Absolutely correct. For in-flight catering, shorter domestic flights have a selection of coffee, snacks, tea, and bottled water in the economy, while those who board higher classes may enjoy complimentary wine, soft drinks, beer, and juices. 60 Airbus A220-300s have already replaced the smaller Airbus A318. On Air France the flight to Europe will be covered by the EU261 rules, on Delta it will not be. It is a beautiful little town with a beautiful landscape. I was very pleasantly surprised. Thanks so much Tiffany! Maybe the EU is less litigious, but for whatever reason, it was a pleasant surprise to have common sense prevail. There is no clear winner when it comes to Air France vs Delta. ), Nick: "Seriously, though, Tiffany fantastic post.". If the price is your biggest factor when making the decision on which class to fly in, you should probably choose to fly Economy. Air France A350-900 routes. The best seats are typically the ones that have the most legroom and are located near the aisle. And yes, YouTube videos can help. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 BY AU POINTS & AWARDS CONSULTING SERVICES LLC. So lets go through the four main transatlantic options when redeeming Delta miles. Air France Business Class Dining. AF main meal leaving Paris was excellent but the smaller one prior to landing was odd. It has fantastic food, a beautiful cabin, as well as impeccable service. Its a multi-course experience, beginning with starter options like vegetable salad, bread rolls with French butter, seafood, or Foie gras. Stop applying for credit cards with high-interest rates and bad deals for points. I saw a post recently from one of those mega frequent flyers who was flying Zurich to LA, he swore that the attendants on one side of business were nice and on the other side were surly. @Tiffany: Great post even if you're infringing on my SkyTeam beat here ;-) What I'd add would be: -Air France's catering is of a bit better quality than KLM, Alitalia or Virgin Atlantic (and if you're harping on KLM's dinnerware, you're forgetting AF has Christofle cutlery) -Air France's service is not just stylish, but actively warm/personable -CDG is the worst, but that's not entirely AF's fault (after all, Terminal 1 which is the -Air France's catering is of a bit better quality than KLM, Alitalia or Virgin Atlantic (and if you're harping on KLM's dinnerware, you're forgetting AF has Christofle cutlery) delta flies the airbus A330 and AF the airbus A350. If you like to accumulate Skymiles, I'd also be concerned about whether you'll earn those if you book directly on Air France. Yes. The mains are then served, usually a choice between meat, seafood, or poultry. Not to derail the thread, but Kerouacs timeline is obviously his own individual one. Guests can also request coffee or pastries if they opt to skip breakfast. SINGAPORE AIRLINES . The fuel surcharges can be a bummer on Virgin, but the others are pretty reasonable. Aircraft in the Delta and their respective age. And it mightve been just enough people on the plane- not necessarily everyone. Should Parc des Princes Become An Official Travel Attraction? All the seats lie flat and come with a pull-out table for working and dining. The new 777s have outstanding AVOD and all the charging plugs you could want, though they're over your shoulder. Thats why Im trying to figure out the difference. 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 has a fantastic business section, but you can somehow fail to note the difference between economy and business class when it comes to Lufthansa. As long as you avoid the oldest products on each carrier, you really cant go wrong with any of these options. Meals aboard Air France are noteworthy, both in presentation and taste. A white tablecloth is laid out first a simple but often overlooked touch in other business class cabins. To really be able to compare, we need to know if the Air France plane is the 777 or the A350. As for baggage policies, it depends on the ticket you buy and whether you have purchased some exclusive reward programs like a Delta credit card or the Medallion elite status. If you want something more robust, you can purchase The Stream Pass or The Surf Pass. I'd give Delta the edge here. I have the Delta credit card, so that also inspires me. . On the return, you could fly on QF from AKL-SYD-HKG and then HKG-LAX/JFK (and then pay for a flight from JFK-LAX) on CX. (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. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Leading the pack is our neighbor to the north, Air Canada, with an absolutely superb 2.89/3. Oh well. However, you can count on all business class seats to fully recline, making for a comfortable sleep, especially on long-haul flights. But if you fly via Atlanta, there are currently 4 flights to Paris (2 operated by Delta and 2 by AF) 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. I guess that means no status next year. For information on refunds, visit their website. Or is that a gay thing like Lucky Ben and The Points Guy? Other amenities include ten shower suites, each with a Dyson hairdryer and thick towels. I know my preference but that is only one factor in the selection. However, this doesnt apply to Basic Economy fares. So probably an even better product then the current New World Business Class. Air France Business Class Bed. It is headquartered in Tremblay-en-France and is a subsidiary of the Air-France-KLM Group. The latest seats on the Boeing 777-200ER have sliding doors and lie flat seats creating a pod-like feel for guests. During long-haul flights, a second meal service (breakfast) is served about 90 minutes before landing. The reconfiguration is being done by aircraft type in the following order: At present, the new business class is available between New York and Paris, along with flights AF72 and AF69 between Los Angeles and Paris. 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. You should upgrade "bellisimo" to "bellissimo". In general I believe if you are ticketed Delta One, First Class, BC, etc you can use the lounges for all sky team members. But Ive received great service with Air France also. Theres a power outlet for your devices and fast Wi-Fi in the lounge too. @ Sergey -- I actually haven't flow Aeroflot yet. Delta One Business Class Amenity Kit Someone Somewhere. I am still eager to try VS and Alitalia (which I have only taken intra-Europe), and hope I'll have a chance to fly Korean before Delta severs its alliance completely. 8/10. The seat isreally comfortable,as are the pillow and duvet. Join Date: Sep 2009. Welcome to your private Delta One business class suite. Fortunately, Business Class Experts is able to find you affordable airfare as low as $2,700/ticket so you can travel in comfort without breaking the bank. If youre going to Paris I might still choose Virgin Atlantic and a connection over old Air France business class, but for smaller European cities youll be looking at multiple flights. I was unceremoniously rebooked into a middle seat on a777 leaving three hours later. So depending on the route, the exact time of the flight and connection, you could end up flying with either. The airline is one of the largest in the world. 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. I could go on but you get the drift. Being AF I expect good food but I will be skipping that trying to sleep. Image Credit: Delta. That way you can drink even more champagne and enjoy the experience more ;) so that may be a possibility for you. @ bobbieddie -- What miles do you have at present? That is why it is hard to ask people for their opinions about airlines. They also offer free in-flight Wi-Fi for basic messaging over WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. Dave makes an excellent point ! Just a small tip of advice: do NOT fly AF B. However, its the highest and most premium cabin offered on long-haul and international routes. The meal service starts shortly after takeoff. Great rundown. 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. Seat. The airline's long-haul fleet consists of Airbus A330 and A350 plus Boeing 757 and 767-300/400 aircraft. (CST #2143630-50) |, Get Exclusive Travel Hacking Tips That I Only Share With Email Subscribers. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Wonderful posts and responses. Beware that the KLM 747 Combi has an inferior AVOD system with low-res screens and no USB charger (though there is AC charging). They are the only airline on this list to offer an onboard bar in business class, and they have the best selection of in-flight entertainment. Since then, more have been added. It has been the only French vaccination center since 2001 that is certified International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001. The operation as a whole? Two Adults and one three year old child. I will typically choose Delta if given an equal choice, mainly because my FF status will play towards upgrades and my app works. I hope that this is helpful. Best Business Class Airline Seats 2022 1 Qatar Airways 2 Delta Air Lines 3 Singapore Airlines 4 ANA All Nippon Airways 5 JetBlue Airways 6 British Airways 7 Japan Airlines 8 Oman Air 9 Etihad Airways 10 Gulf Air Best Business Class Airline Lounges 2022 1 Virgin Atlantic - LHR 2 Qatar Airways - DOH 3 Turkish Airlines - IST 4 Singapore Airlines - SIN To create a full experience, Delta provides headphones to go with the entertainment system. She said she had used AAdvantage miles because she travels a lot for work. Image Credit: Air France. Just head to the Delta App or your booking, and choose from the various options of mains, drinks, and dessert. Theres also a handmade eye mask inside the kit. Some guests might feel its impersonal, but its only because there are a lot of guests attendants have to handle. There are salads, pastries, cheeses, and more for you to indulge in. Moreover, a rowdy group of AF non-rev people were having a party, and they did not invite me. I flew British Airways to Paris in business class with my wife and daughter. It was a combination of a horrible catering choice (Lentil salad at the beginning of a 9 hour flight) and an inconsiderate person in front of me who put his chair on recline for the entire time. You can grab delicious coffee, print, or work at the last minute inside the business center, or indulge in some shut-eye inside their sleeping areas. Virgin is the best if you're going to the UK (especially Heathrow and Manchester). Although, it all comes down to how many miles you have/how many miles your willing to spend. Any tips on how best to do that? Lavatories designated for Delta One Business passengers can vary depending on the plane. Qantas, Lufthansa, Air France all do a nice job maybe top 20 not top 10. Beware that the KLM 747 Combi has an inferior AVOD system with low-res screens and no USB charger (though there is AC charging). I have flown AirFrance a few times and swore never again. I did find that, for all hour KLM flights, my stranger-seatmates were delightful. 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 $. Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM. Nicks photo of Air France business, which makes it look much nicer than it actually is. Avoid it at all costs because all around its not worth paying much more than a domestic first/business class fare. Air France says that its premium economy seat provides 40 per cent more space than in economy, and the fixed-shell design means that you won't encroach on the space of the person behind when. I'm going to be very careful booking AF in the future. Really loving Tiffany's contributions - always great analysis and a talent for communicating clearly even quite convoluted matters. @ Ben -- I love first class! All meals are served in trays and stylish Alessi tableware. (Old rule was that the credit is valid for one year from the date of original purchase of the tickets.) This hasn't been true for me recently. @ RakSiam @Bgriff -- Oh, absolutely, and Delta has a very nice business class as well! But the Virgin Atlantic seat is fully-flat, and they offer a legitimate turn-down service with pajamas, a mattress pad, etc. Staying in the Basic Economy with no elite status or an airline credit card means you will incur fees for checked luggage wherever you fly. The new seats convert into lie-flat beds measuring 78.7 inches in length and 22.4 inches in width. However, Alitalia flies to dozens ofdestinationsfrom Rome,including many of the smaller cities in Southern Europe, and award space is typically quite good. I've flown the ER many times; from NY as well as Cincinnati/CDG. Delta One includes lie-flat seating for different aircraft, and direct access from all the seats on all the different types of aircraft with the exception if Boeing . You can also lower the armrest of the seat to give you extra width. © 2023 France Travel Blog. The Airline operates a combination of fleet, including Boeing widebody jets and Airbus, on long-haul routes. The worst flight I ever had was on Air France. Air France Vs Delta. I have no idea what model planes, but I found them all to be very uncomfortable (both the seats themselves as ell as the space) and the crew (ground and air) less friendly than Delta. 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). I'd initially chosen Seat 1A, but was involuntarily moved to the last row in the middle-most of three seats. These lavatories are nothing special except for, All seats aboard business class cabins lie flat, measuring. Etihad has also committed to revamping the lounges and ground experience,so it will get better. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. I am flying out of LAX tonight on AF69 (777-300ER) business class, and found it still has old 2-3-2 configuration. Planes depend on the flight. Almost all, however, are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration while rare sub fleets still carry a 2-3-2 arrangement.