Air France
Jun 18th, 2006, 02:29 PM
#101
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Air France agents have golden fingers and are very frosty to non-French speakers. They refuse to help you with your luggage and sit there as though they're doing you a favor. As for asking for any help in seating or whatever they are so cold unless you are a local then they break out in smiles.
Jun 18th, 2006, 04:29 PM
#102
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I agree with the cramped seat comment. Someone in front of my husband had her seat so far back he got very uncomfortable. He asked her please to put it up a bit and she REFUSED...my Rick Steves bag that supposedly was a carryon for under the seat didn't fit (it fit on AA)...BUT
Our meal in economy was fabulous...and the wine was gratis and for me that made the difference. I also liked the back of seat game panel..and access therein to the movie.
Our meal in economy was fabulous...and the wine was gratis and for me that made the difference. I also liked the back of seat game panel..and access therein to the movie.
Jun 18th, 2006, 04:33 PM
#103
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Regarding the cramped seating, on all of our Air France flights if there was a pig who won't put his/her seat up during meal service, the flight attendants made sure to notify them. Otherwise, they would feel fine as ever to leave their seat reclined thereby making the person in the rear have to deal with a tray table sticking them in their stomach. Of course, I read that some AF flight attendants choose to look the other way and not say anything.
Jun 19th, 2006, 04:22 AM
#105
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I had the same problem on a transatlantic flight on another airline. Passenger reclined seat as far back as it would go. I ask could they move it back slightly so that I still had feeling in my legs, they too refused.
I ended up having to go to the toilet VERY often and so banged the back of their seat ALOT. They got the message and reclined their seat to a pitch that was agreeable to both of us.
I ended up having to go to the toilet VERY often and so banged the back of their seat ALOT. They got the message and reclined their seat to a pitch that was agreeable to both of us.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 04:50 PM
#106
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Wow, I just stumble on this website today and read so many bad experiences with AF, this really sucks as my trip in a couple of weeks with AF. I hope it will be better for me. I will comment how it went later. thx!
Jun 23rd, 2006, 09:51 AM
#107
In terms of carry-on, Air France is exactly like just about every other [non low-cost] airline -- when the flight has plenty of seats, they don't care how much carry-on you have. When the flight is full, they are extremely strict. Unfortunately, Air France-KLM is now the most successful airline in Europe and the load factor is quite high -- so don't expect many carry-on restrictions to be overlooked.
Personally, I have always appreciated the no-nonsense approach of the flight attendants on Air France, but perhaps in more challenging circumstances than a mere transatlantic flight. They absolutely know what to do to get passengers to respect seat assignments, problematic seat backs, people wandering around where they shouldn't be or not buckling up when they should -- but I have seen them in action a lot more in places like Kuwait, Vietnam, or a lot of the African countries. On a USA-France flight, they finally feel as though they can relax.
Personally, I have always appreciated the no-nonsense approach of the flight attendants on Air France, but perhaps in more challenging circumstances than a mere transatlantic flight. They absolutely know what to do to get passengers to respect seat assignments, problematic seat backs, people wandering around where they shouldn't be or not buckling up when they should -- but I have seen them in action a lot more in places like Kuwait, Vietnam, or a lot of the African countries. On a USA-France flight, they finally feel as though they can relax.
Jun 23rd, 2006, 10:16 AM
#108
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Thanks Kerouac
Maybe the complaints that we've read about were deserved by the passenger. I'm typically respectful of airline personell and don't plan to change any time soon. I guess when they say "1 bag" they mean "1 bag"
BS
Maybe the complaints that we've read about were deserved by the passenger. I'm typically respectful of airline personell and don't plan to change any time soon. I guess when they say "1 bag" they mean "1 bag"
BS
Jun 23rd, 2006, 01:02 PM
#109
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I've never had any problems with AF flight attendants, either, I think they are quite good. As for Bob's question, I don't know which post above says that (it's a long thread) but their carryon practices aren't particularly more restrictive than any other airline I fly, and are better than some (like BA). So not sure what you are referring to. Yes, they mean one bag carryon, that is pretty typical nowadays. The cramped seating comment doesn't make any sense to me. Yes, their seats are small, but they are the same size as most airlines now in the economy section, so they are no smaller than most any other choice a person has. I can't think of any airline I've flown to Europe with more space, except once AA when they did have more leg room. AA has decided to do away with that perk, however, so I think they are like anyone else now (not sure, but I don't like them anyway, unless no other choice). You don't get more space in BA, Virgin, etc., IMO, and I've flown them all across the Atlantic.
I don't think any airline is getting less restrictive on carryons, only more.
I don't think any airline is getting less restrictive on carryons, only more.
Jun 26th, 2006, 09:01 AM
#111
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Well, I flew Air France Boston to Egypt in January and will be flying them again in October to Athens. I see I have a choice: laugh or cry. I've been chuckling, reading the thread (but sensitive to those who had miserable flights.) We're taking AF to avoid Alitalia and the terrible, unsafe Milan airport.
But we only have 50 minutes to make our connection in Paris on the return trip. Perhaps, CherylB who just flew Athens-Boston can tell me what her experience was. Are the gates for the connecting flights close? We know we won't make it if we take the shuttle bus.
Thanks.
But we only have 50 minutes to make our connection in Paris on the return trip. Perhaps, CherylB who just flew Athens-Boston can tell me what her experience was. Are the gates for the connecting flights close? We know we won't make it if we take the shuttle bus.
Thanks.
Jun 26th, 2006, 09:15 AM
#112
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Hi NDesco
I have a similar flight interval in Paris. 50minutes. I checked with AF and found a diagram of the airport and discovered that we arrice just 3 gates from our departure gate. We shall se.
BS
I have a similar flight interval in Paris. 50minutes. I checked with AF and found a diagram of the airport and discovered that we arrice just 3 gates from our departure gate. We shall se.
BS
Jun 26th, 2006, 10:28 AM
#113
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BOS flights arrive at 2E now. You then need to go through immigration. Then walk across the TGV/Sheraton to 2D, where all ATH flights depart from.
50 minutes is very tight. It's certainly doable, but it mostly depends on whether your flight from BOS is on time or not.
50 minutes is very tight. It's certainly doable, but it mostly depends on whether your flight from BOS is on time or not.
Jun 26th, 2006, 10:29 AM
#114
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NDesco,
ATH-CDG flights are scheduled to arrive at 2C and CDG-BOS flights are scheduled to depart from 2E (but Air France can change that). There's always the possibility of having to bus to or from the aircraft and terminal at CDG. When arriving from a Schengen country and connecting to a international departure, you'll also need to go through passport control. 50 minutes is very tight. Is there a later departure to BOS in case you misconnect? Good luck!
ATH-CDG flights are scheduled to arrive at 2C and CDG-BOS flights are scheduled to depart from 2E (but Air France can change that). There's always the possibility of having to bus to or from the aircraft and terminal at CDG. When arriving from a Schengen country and connecting to a international departure, you'll also need to go through passport control. 50 minutes is very tight. Is there a later departure to BOS in case you misconnect? Good luck!
Jun 26th, 2006, 01:09 PM
#117
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50 minutes I think is very tight. When we flew NYC-CDCG,the arrival terminal was changed. We're shuttled to the terminal, then pass through immigration. We had a 3-hour layover and but actual waiting time was just for 30 minutes. The other option which was a 45-minute layover, fortunately, we did not get.
