Air France's plan is to initially retrofit 12 Boeing 777-300ERs with new business class seats. God help you if you ever experience any disruptions or IRROPS on Air Franceas soon as anything deviates from the 'norm'/going by the book they do not have a CLUE. The majority of these cabins have chairs measuring anywhere from 19 to 22 inches in width in a 1-2-1 configuration. Really loving Tiffany's contributions - always great analysis and a talent for communicating clearly even quite convoluted matters. 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. 8/10. I prefer Delta's business class, though. Air France is the better airline for cabin experience in economy if it is a mainline Air France flight. Booking confirmation usually bears these conditions. Also, their blankets are scratchy, which might seem petty, but is a pretty-much a deal-breaker for me. 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. Air France is a top choice for people planning transatlantic travel. Guests receive pre-flight champagne and snacks. Almost all, however, are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration while rare sub fleets still carry a 2-3-2 arrangement. Has anyone recently. I could be on an old (is there any other kind) KLM craft. Excellent! No, Delta First Class is different from Delta One. How you use the space is up to you! We flew BC with Delta (domestic), KLM and AF (both transatlantic and within Europe).last year. But the Virgin Atlantic seat is fully-flat, and they offer a legitimate turn-down service with pajamas, a mattress pad, etc. 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. I tend to go Delta, but prefer Air France. For messaging on Facebook or WhatsApp, its free. -CDG is the worst, but that's not entirely AF's fault (after all, Terminal 1 which is the non-SkyTeam terminal is just as horrid), and AF's lounges in CDG are very, very strong Totally agree on the AF 7 across. On the seat are a few goodies waiting for you. The second option being Delta about a 767-400ER. Virgin is the best if you're going to the UK (especially Heathrow and Manchester). I was just wondering if one had nicer planes and better customer service than the other. I am (most unhappily) seated in such a section on an AF from ATL to CDG tonight. The Delta One Suites are the best Delta offers because you can close a little door. I could go on but you get the drift. Headphones are on the seat as well. 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. Avoid it at all costs because all around its not worth paying much more than a domestic first/business class fare. Depending on the aircraft, you could get one or two dedicated lavatories for business class guests on Air France. Etihad has also committed to revamping the lounges and ground experience,so it will get better. 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. Selected movies are available too in Hindi, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. 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 . I'd initially chosen Seat 1A, but was involuntarily moved to the last row in the middle-most of three seats. Here, the menu includeshors doeuvre,bread basket,entres, and cheeses, with a dessert cart includingpetit fours,pastries, and tartles. Being AF I expect good food but I will be skipping that trying to sleep. I should note that those flights were not in business class, which of course is likely more comfortable than "steerage" LOL Of course, now, who knows. A code share flight can be operated by either, so buying from one company rather than the other does not guarantee you fly with them. And yes, YouTube videos can help. Delta, Air France, and KLM all have good service, but there are just differences between the three airlines. Image Credit: Delta Air Lines. 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 Clear, funny and to the point. Seven-across business class seating is just embarrassing nowadays, particularly in an angled-flat seat. Delta offers convenient center seats with adjustable privacy dividers for traveling with your spouse or partner. Now, THIS, I remember ! Not only is it not lie flat, but there is basically no personal stowage for passport, phone, etc and the amenities bag is a joke. Although the Delta One suites are a strong contender, this one goes to Air France. For drinks, Delta has a good roster from top-quality champagne and wine to common liquor like Peach Bellini and Grey Goose Vodka. The gourmet meals are a highlight in the cabin as it comes with curated dishes by world-class chefs. Any additional tips/recommendations would be greatly appreciated. As Ive mentioned before,Alitalia isan Italian airline. Air France has a full refund policy in place within certain dates. You should upgrade "bellisimo" to "bellissimo". document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Wonderful posts and responses. Delta FAs are great too, so I'd call it even. If it's only Delta One, not the suites, you aren't in a completely enclosed space. 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. Direct return to LAX. Delta First Class is a premium first class service offered on domestic routes. I'd give Delta the edge here. I'd give Delta the edge here. I able to compare the two last year with Virgin on the flight to Manchester (old plane, crap seating and running out of choices to eat and being told that if I really wanted beef that they'd get me a beef stew from coach. 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. Overall it my favorite airline. Regarding food, I honestly think it all comes down to your personal preference. It uses Airbus A320 family aircraft on short-haul routes. I would fly Delta just so you don't have to deal with the possibility of a strike. Air France also operates an A380 with an older first class cabin while SWISS operates an A340 with an older first class cabin. 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? Can't believe I missed that (and that no one else caught it either). Nolan just asked about partners, and I didn't want to get into the pricing algorithms again in this post. Its loyalty program is called Flying Blue. Alitalia is poised to get some hand-me-downs a makeover from Etihad, which will result in a more stylish cabin, Wi-Fi, and some updates to the catering. best way to not get screwed when redeeming SkyMiles, pre-deregulation tradition of giving passengers a last drink on the house., flexible points currency such as American Express Membership Rewards or Starwood Preferred Guest, increased sign-up bonus on the personal and business Delta Amex cards, Alitalia Will Be Replaced By ITA As Of October 15, 2021, Bankrupt Alitalia Introduces New Employee Uniforms Again, Alitalia Will Shrink Fleet, Cut Free Food & Drinks, And More, Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. 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. So, before booking, here is what you need to know about how they compare. The service and food were outstanding on the outbound flight from LAX-CDG, but the business cabin was almost empty. The new 777s have outstanding AVOD and all the charging plugs you could want, though they're over your shoulder. There are also amenity kits and excellent gourmet meals. In the meantime, Alitalia is probably my overall favorite option for redeeming SkyMiles to Europe. 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. Delta now uses an amenity kit provided by. Your email address will not be published. I'm flying Virgin Atlantic in Upper Class in two weeks and will have a trip report to share with all of you! -Air France's service is not just stylish, but actively warm/personable There are storage areas for your shoes, small gadgets, and other small items. Is the flight just sold-out on miles, or is Delta hiding non-Delta inventory? Air France business class is ideal if you want to travel in luxury but dont want to spring for an ultra-premium trip aboard La Premiere cabin yet. Only got snacks on Delta. No checking in on the Delta app, though I suppose if you use the AF app, then you may be able to. All seats in Air France business class cabins lie flat. 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. Thank you, Tiff, for a good analysis without the "Oh-I-must-fly-first-class-only " attitude! Just go to the partner's website and add your Delta FF# to the itinerary. I have flown DL pretty much exclusively the past decade or so, but just returned from four long flights on KLM -- LAX-AMS-CPT-AMS-JFK -- and was extremely happy with the experience. 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. Air France and Delta Air offer two of the most premium business cabins flying in the air today. ), Nick: "Seriously, though, Tiffany fantastic post.". Paul, Salt Lake City, New York City, and Seattle. In 52 countries on 6 continents, Delta serves 325 destinations as its carrier flies as many as 200 million passengers in a year. However, you can also control the screen using a handheld remote stashed in one of the armrests. The brand of goodies in the goody bag differs, AF being Clarins. However, Delta for many is the preferred domestic airline, and as Tiffany mentioned, presents many great options when redeeming to Europe. If youre actuallygoing to London, then Virgin is a great choice (probably the best choice when redeeming Delta miles). Great rundown. Guests are also entitled to two checked-in baggage, each weighing up to 70 pounds or 32 kilos each. It also has a solid IFE and quality soft service. Image Credit: Delta Air Lines, Delta Air Lines Delta One Business Class Overview. Each meal is handed on a tray with real ceramic tableware and cutlery. Breakfast is served an hour or so before landing with a selection of hot entre and drinks. These newest seats convert to a 2 metres (6.5 feet long) flat bed. Business class sits directly behind the exclusive, four-seat La Premiere first-class cabin. @ Ben -- I love first class! Image Credit: Air France, Air France A350 Business Class. This class of service offers significantly more comfort and amenities than standard Economy, Premium Economy, and Domestic First Class, which usually include: Double the seat pitch (legroom) compared to Economy Tiffany - enjoy your style and posts. Fingers crossed that no one is in the 'F' seat next to me. Fingers crossed that no one is in the 'F' seat next to me. The newer cabins are more stylish and now feature sliding doors to give guests absolute privacy. On the newer Safran Seats, guests can enjoy a 17.3-inch 4K touchscreen monitor. If the spa is open, guests can get a 20-minute Clarins spa treatment. Lets break down the similarities and differences between their business cabins in this Air France Business Class vs. Delta One Business Class comparison. Even their short Euro flight had a decent meal. The flight entertainment system has many channels of audio, video, music, and games. Their Delta One business class is a premium cabin with excellent seats and plenty of storage. Air France Business Class Cabin Configuration. 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. I have flown Air France, on the sloped sleeper seats. Tiffany, KLM's business class seat on their flagship 787-9 is almost exactly the same. I'm SkyTeam Elite+ (via my Delta status) and I can pick any seat in my ticketed cabin on an Air France flight, even when I've purchased it through Delta's website and it's a Delta marketed flight (ie, it has a Delta flight number, though the actual metal is Air France.) One on Air France that flies a 777-300ER. Thanks so much Tiffany! And, of course, I observe their policies on cancellation, refunds, etc. But when you've no choice, you have to put up with it. Delta One seats feature a family-friendly or companion-friendly center aisle. Air France A380 Business Class However, Air France is in the process of reconfiguring their entire longhaul fleet, and the new business class looks lovely. I think business class to Europe on partners is really the sweet spot for Skypesos. I had a rather unpleasant flight on a discount Air France brand's plane (Joon, now a discontinued brand). Hopefully you wont be disappointed with either one. The mains are then served, usually a choice between meat, seafood, or poultry. 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. She called the Executive Platinum line to make the bookings (and she did it on the first call!). The most basic cabin is economy class followed by premium economy, then business class and finally first class, also. Other amenities include ten shower suites, each with a Dyson hairdryer and thick towels. I was seated next to a friend of the pilot, who was brought meals and drinks from (the empty) First Class cabin. This center distributes vaccines for global travel. However, for other status perks, like an upgrade, you either can not get one, or are at the back of the pack behind the AF status holders. Absolutely correct. That way you can drink even more champagne and enjoy the experience more ;) so that may be a possibility for you. After taking your order, the dinner meal will be served soon after takeoff. Jack - Many thanks for your thoughts. Air France is working to convert all Business Class seats to the fully flat, all-aisle-access setup soon. However, you can count on all business class seats to fully recline, making for a comfortable sleep, especially on long-haul flights. Also, my AmEx card gives me priority boarding on Delta flights. Air France, it is the flag carrier of France and one of the most popular airlines in Europe. I may buck the trend here, but I HATED Virgin Atlantic. Similarly, if Air France operates a long-haul flight from Paris (CDG) to Denver (DEN), its lie-flat seat is also called business class. Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles are some of the easiest points to earn since they partner with so many bank partners. It's almost AF J service with Delta domestic First class seat. 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. Anyway, back to KLM, I found the FAs to be extremely pleasant, knowledgeable, and eager to keep the passengers happy. Maybe it's the esthetiques. My family is considering a trip to Paris in August. Review: EgyptAir Lounge Cairo Airport (CAI), Lufthansas Boeing 787 Business Class: Exactly As Expected. 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. Do NOT put in a Flying Blue (or other loyalty program number) as this can cause problems. These are the basics to know before flying either airline. Aboard the Delta One cabin, guests can pre-order meals from 30 days up to 24 hours before their flight. There's also the overlooked Air Europa for Skyteam although there may be a good reason why they are overlooked Nice article! I was very pleasantly surprised. When we booked, Air France had cut business class award rates to and from Miami (MIA) by 25% - dropping the final cost as low as 39,750 miles for a one-way flight. This review is of the inaugural to Toronto. @ Chris -- There's likely just not space, unfortunately. I am flying out of LAX tonight on AF69 (777-300ER) business class, and found it still has old 2-3-2 configuration. Air France flies the A350-900 model, which it configures with 34 business seats in a 1-2-1 layout. Therefore, the airline intends to put more Airbus A220 on its domestic network. It's very different from Delta domestic first class, where most will not even exchange a quick hello. With simple touchscreen navigation, its easy to find the movies and shows you want. 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. You can pick seats, always through the Air France site, sometimes in the Delta app. Delta has Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Comfort, Premium Select, Delta First, and Delta One. Of the three, KLMs in-flight food and lounge at Schiphol were the best of the three. Have fun in Aukland and I hope you enjoy your trip as much as I did! It is a beautiful little town with a beautiful landscape. @ bobbieddie -- What miles do you have at present? Delta has officially announced that there will be no change of fees on tickets in certain fare classes on flights originating from North America. I have flown DL pretty much exclusively the past decade or so, but just returned from four long flights on KLM -- LAX-AMS-CPT-AMS-JFK -- and was extremely happy with the experience. While first class guests receive Carita Paris amenity kits, the business class kits are brandless but still look quite trendy. Air France's 777-300ERs feature three seating configurations. These airlines feature redesigned business products to deliver comfortable and stylish new seats and superb amenities while ensuring a lavish journey for their passengers. I did find that, for all hour KLM flights, my stranger-seatmates were delightful. 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). AF356 leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 1415, arriving in Toronto at 1745, a flight of around seven hours and thirty minutes . Air France has always been my first choice, then Delta. The lowest tier for surfing or emails starts at $6.95 per hour and climbs to $12.95 per hour plans. Theres also a handmade eye mask inside the kit. The new partnership provides customers with more convenient flight schedules and a shared goal of ensuring a smooth and consistent travel experience, whichever airline people fly. Can you share what websites you used to make your bookings - did you use Asia Miles website, already have miles in an account, or transfer miles when you had secured your flights? As a SkyTeam member, youll also receive access to other premium airport lounges offered by partner airlines in various cities all over the world. Food is served over white tablecloths in real ceramic dishes and silverware. Tiffany; Aboard the Boeing 777-200 and certain 777-300, the seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. How do you feel it compares to the other partners? On the other hand, the economy section of AF is well-upgraded but not very comfortable, whereas Lufthansa has a great economy class. They also offer free in-flight Wi-Fi for basic messaging over WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. I would easily choose to fly DL business class over AF, LH or BA business class. I feel it is hype over substance. For those that have flown is their a major. If fares are the same, I would base my decision on terms and conditions. Maybe the EU is less litigious, but for whatever reason, it was a pleasant surprise to have common sense prevail. It would be delta one vs AF airbus 350 business class. As long as you avoid the oldest products on each carrier, you really cant go wrong with any of these options. The pouch is a soft herringbone-patterned zip crafted from 96% recycled material and complemented by a signature red zipper. 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. If youre looking to stay connected during the flight, Delta has several options for Wi-Fi. 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. There are pastries, yogurt, salads, or an omelet. Any gastroenterologist can affirm people can definitely move materials faster than that. In addition, when onboard Delta, you dont have to worry about missing the news, and social media banters. Delta and Air France both offer several fare classes, much to the convenience of passengers. The cost in delta skymiles is much more for delta one than AF business class. Lavatories designated for Delta One Business passengers can vary depending on the plane. Do you prefer Airbus A350 to Boeing 787? Featured user comments Read user reviews for Air France Boeing 787-9 (789) Submitted by SeatGuru User on 2020/01/19 for Seat 12J 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. Diarrhea isnt what she was necessarily referring to. We will be booking business class tickets. Kinda like when United was digesting Continental and it was always a crapshoot. This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity. I'm going to be very careful booking AF in the future. @ Fabio -- Thanks! If the price is your biggest factor when making the decision on which class to fly in, you should probably choose to fly Economy. Great report and great style of writing. Its not as personalized as you would find in premium first class cabins but its a lot more attentive as opposed to a regular premium economy. 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). Should Parc des Princes Become An Official Travel Attraction? My experience with KLM has also been stellar. I was not happy. Its composed of two floors and capable of accommodating up to 570 passengers at one time. 60 Airbus A220-300s have already replaced the smaller Airbus A318. I was in pain by the end of the flight. I seem to remember that used to be true. A points consultant is the right person to talk to if you want to experience luxury travel for cheap! This was the one with first class and 58 business-class seats spread across two cabins, with the smaller minicabin in front and the larger cabin behind it. A sub fleet of the 777-300 might still carry the old 2-3-2 configuration, often those flying over the Caribbean or Indian Ocean. I did find that, for all hour KLM flights, my stranger-seatmates were delightful. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. 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. The 777 is older. Answer 11 of 15: I have not flown to France in years and now doing my homework. There is no clear winner when it comes to Air France vs Delta. I've flown the ER many times; from NY as well as Cincinnati/CDG. This is bad above and beyond the angled flat beds. The seatingconfigurationisunique, but if you can sit in the single aisle, and away from the bar, the seats are moreprivate. If Air France is Fashion Week, Virgin Atlantic is Spring Break. But the KLM lounge people rearranged things and got me in 1A again, which, for a day flight, was fine even in the older seat, with more legroom than the new one would have afforded. 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. I don't want to transfer and load up CX or KrisFlyer and then not be able to get the flights. Planes depend on the flight. In general I believe if you are ticketed Delta One, First Class, BC, etc you can use the lounges for all sky team members. Air France delivers one of the best on-air dining experiences inside their business class cabin. Sleeping on the Delta One is made extra comfy thanks to premium.