Air France - where are the peanuts?
Written: Mar 28 '00 (Updated Mar 29 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great food, friendly personnel
Cons: No hot towels before the meals, poor web appearance in English
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| 401402's Full Review: Air France |
What have all domestic airlines that fly any distance up to 3 hours in common: the peanuts!
There are some other similarities too, I am sure, even with European Airlines like Air France. But in the rare case that you might be very keen of the obligatory 30 grams of peanuts during your flight between Atlanta and Orlando you should consider taking some with you before boarding with Air France, especially on short-distance flights within Europe. The flight I took between Paris and Berlin (and back) takes one hour and twenty minutes. Just about enough to write this article…
“What?” – a small airline review to take this long? Not quite, because I had to manage my salad, cooked veal meat slices, potato salad, fresh bagel-like bread (whole wheat) with French butter and cheese first. On top, there was a piece of nice, farmer’s stylish cherry cake and wonderful rich (not American like) and strong coffee, plus chocolate bar – delicious!
Sounds familiar from your domestic flight experience? I certainly don’t think so. Comes the question across” Why, the heck, do we swallow that?” – I mean, the peanuts issue. Some show that short distance flights don’t have to be that way.
Personnel
The speed at the check-in desks and counters at the airports is usually pretty impressive with Air France. Fluent in at least three languages and very active in communication (actually they don’t just stand around as personnel at other airlines but approach you directly in the middle of the hall), folks at this airline are fun to deal with.
Airports
The big airports in France (I know Charles de Gaulle and Orly in Paris, Basel/Mulhouse in Alsace and Lyon-Satolas) are very modern, clean and very well labeled as well. One thing about terminal C at de Gaulle: if you need to make your way to the restroom, passing hundreds of passengers to be boarded (and usually you might be in a hurry then) you might discover that you have to run the whole way back to find the other gender’s place because they are each located at both ends apart.
Despite of this potential for little accidents (or big ones alike) my experience with French airports and personnel has always been very positive. Another plus is certainly the great French coffee, food and perfumes you can find at the airports.
Important: the speaker systems at these airports are very clear and loud enough to catch your information (provided in all languages of destination and departure location plus related languages).
On board
The flights I took with Air France were operated with newer aircraft, not older than about 10 years old. Restrooms were always clean and smelled fresh, even after pretty long distances. The time to serve food after take-off was incredibly fast too. Although they do not have the individual entertainment options in coach class yet, traveling on board of Air France is relaxing due to really good food and wine selection.
Summary
One remark about their web site: it has been under construction for quite some time now (English site) and the numbers for Newark and JFK are incorrect, the site builds slow and the information offer is not overwhelming. Remains the hope that they will focus on this issue a bit more to offer better service online. Other than that: Air France impressed me not only with their off-line support but quality of personnel and pricing. The only thing I missed at their flights (just because I would expect that from the French after I lived there for 5 years) is the hot towel before (Cathey Pacific would even serve it afterwards again) the meals. Only for the proof that even short distance flights can be relaxing and even tasty, I would recommend them as one of Europe’s best airlines for economic travel right among KLM and British Airways. Not as luxurious as Crossair but very reliable and friendly.
After all: it’s not always peanuts!
Flight experience
Basel (CH) – Lyon (F), round-trip 1998
Paris (F) – Port Louis (Mauritius), round-trip 1998
Newark, NJ – Paris, round-trip 2000
Paris – Berlin (Germany), round-trip 2000
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
401402
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