Air France. Is it bad?
 

I have read some negative things about this airline. What are your recent experiences?
Thanks.

All airlines will have negative comments. As to Air France it's improved quite a bit (not in seating and comfort) since I first flew with them in 1999.

I flew to CDG the last of September 2005 on Air France out of Houston. The seats on the 777 were very close. I sat in the aisle seat directly behind the exit row. I was miserable. The flight attendants were not too bad, but if the seatbelt sign is on, DON'T STAND UP!! A lady went to the bathroom and was severly scolded. The problem was that the seatbelt sign stayed on a good part of the flight. So don't have too many drinks. About mid flight on the return trip, the toilets were horribly smelly. The flight attendants sprayed often, but it didn't help much. So try not to sit near the bathrooms. We were over one hour late on the flight back to Houston. NO explanation.

Hi franchophile :)

Tribi, we have flown AF sooo many times, they were never bad flights ( if you discount the fact that coach has no leg room on any plane, anywhere)..
But the best thing about AF, for us, is that it arrives in Paris :) and we get home every time too :D

Of the transatlantic jumbo jets, the worst ones in my experience are the B777s flown by Delta and Air France. Seating is horribly tight in coach class.

Often, seating is 3 x 3 x 3 with 2 aisles. Leg room is adequate for midgets, but not for guys like me who barely measure 6 feet. By today's standards, I am close to the average male height.

I watched one man, who at 6'8", suffered extensively on a flight from Atlanta to Paris. He rode most of the way standing up near the galley. When we landed, he somehow wedged himself into his seat. But it was all he could do to fit in the space.

He asked if he could sit in the flight attendant's jump seat which had more leg room. But I am not sure the flight attendant really understood him.

Hi Scarlett, yes, I agree as long as you depart and arrive in one piece, that's a good airline.

Scatcat I was scolded on an American Airlines flight by a male flight attendant for doing the same thing as what that other lady did on the AF flight. I know, I know, but, it was an emergency in my opinion. Blame it on the time I wasted during the security check. I doubt the flight attendant would've liked the other alternative.

No airline is great. I use airfrance because I can go directly to Paris, the drinks are great, the food palatable at times where most are bad.

Pitch on AF's 777 is about the same as most other airlines in the world. If you find AF tight, you'll find the same elsewhere.

About seat belt sign, I'll let wally34949 on the Airline board read this thread. He's insisted on dozens of posts on Fodors.com that only US airlines like to keep the seatbelt signs on.

And for my very long report on my 12/2005 flight IAH-CDG on its 777-300 (different model than the 777-200 that scatcat was on), read here:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34730280

rkkwan, I really wanted to say that I am impressed with your extensive aircraft and airline knowledge. I've read your numerous posts for over a year or so and they are very helpful. Thanks!

Anyways, most of the negativity about using AF is actually about transferring at CDG. Not really about AF itself.

And there's been dozens of threads about CDG on this board. Do a search and you'll find plenty.

My dad and stepmom recently returned from a trip to Egypt using AF. Nothing bad to say at all.

As much as I hate Air France's frequent flyer program, I do love this airline. Good service, great food, and if you're doing one of those insane Air France connections at deGaulle, they are the best at making sure you can manage a totally insane connection...