@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) He is the chef ofLe Grand Vefour,a 3-star Parisian restaurant. For those that have flown is their a major. Food was soso. 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. Your companion can drink dine with you. I generally shop by price and fly main cabin, so in the big picture, it doesn't matter. These are simple lavatories (certainly no showers) but they do provide additional toiletries to make it dedicated to premium guests. Fingers crossed that no one is in the 'F' seat next to me. It was announced on 16 September 2011 that orders for 50 Airbus A350s and Boeing 787 with 60 options have been made. For the last (and shortest) of these flights, KLM switched equipment, moving from a 777 with new World Business Class to one with old (Northwest product). Two Adults and one three year old child. Delta is one of the biggest airlines in the United States. To create a full experience, Delta provides headphones to go with the entertainment system. The worst flight I ever had was on Air France. Service, efficiency, food, priority check-in, passport, luggage, lounge access, toilet cleanliness will be the same. Delta lets you pre-order meals ahead of time online or in their Delta App. AF's older PE seats (still in their 777's, for instance) are the dreaded clamshell. Excellent! Anyway, you should probably listen to Tiffany because she knows WAY more than I do, but I thought it might be helpful to provide my itinerary I took last December over Christmas. I'm flying Virgin Atlantic in Upper Class in two weeks and will have a trip report to share with all of you! I would easily choose to fly DL business class over AF, LH or BA business class. Compared to the previous lounge, this ones larger with a four-door entrance thats hard to miss. Booking your Air France Business Class ticket directly through airlines can be costly. The pouch is a soft herringbone-patterned zip crafted from 96% recycled material and complemented by a signature red zipper. Air France Vs Delta. The second option being Delta about a 767-400ER. That is why it is hard to ask people for their opinions about airlines. You get free access if you only want to use messaging apps. Business class passengers each have a personal 16-inch high-definition touchscreen. And yes, YouTube videos can help. Sorry, I know this is not Tiffany answering (and I'm sure her reply with be x10000 better than mine), but I want to share what I would picked in the past. 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. If you pre-ordered, the attendants will confirm that your orders are loaded. Some guests might feel its impersonal, but its only because there are a lot of guests attendants have to handle. Delta has Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Comfort, Premium Select, Delta First, and Delta One. Breakfast is served an hour or so before landing with a selection of hot entre and drinks. For instance, a Business Class return trip from New York to Paris can cost over $6k. Its built with spacious seating areas, an extensive buffet service including hot and cold food options, as well as a great selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. 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. It is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. Air France offers a variety of seating options in business class, so it is important to choose the seat that best meets your needs. 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. Look forward to the Upper Class review Nick. In terms of the soft product, KLM has quality catering, andby far the best dinnerware. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. Look forward to your thoughts. The airport wasalready unpleasant, crowded, and prone to industrial action (again, Italian), and the recent terminal fire has only exacerbated that situation. The best seats are typically the ones that have the most legroom and are located near the aisle. Air France is the only airline to offer a Business class service in France. 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. Maybe it's the esthetiques. Criteria Delta 777-200 Air France 777-200; Cabin Arrangement: 1-2-1 Herringbone: . Sleeping amenities such as a pillow and blanket are already on your seat. 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. I'd initially chosen Seat 1A, but was involuntarily moved to the last row in the middle-most of three seats. Delta One business class guests receive top priority when it comes to ground services. DLOne has fflatbed seats, good food /service. Lets break down the similarities and differences between their business cabins in this Air France Business Class vs. Delta One Business Class comparison. As Ive mentioned before,Alitalia isan Italian airline. Counted among the top-tier lounges across the United States, youll find Delta Sky Club lounges to be stylish and fresh. Kinda like when United was digesting Continental and it was always a crapshoot. If youre craving something stronger, youll find self-serve liquor as well. 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. Image Credit: Delta. It's very different from Delta domestic first class, where most will not even exchange a quick hello. In the meantime, Alitalia is probably my overall favorite option for redeeming SkyMiles to Europe. It's very different from Delta domestic first class, where most will not even exchange a quick hello. On the one hand, their flight attendants are fabulously, nearly uncomfortablystylish. I was not happy. The service and food on the return 777 was awful. That's why I'm trying to figure out the difference Posted by Bets L'Occitanie, France 06/27/22 03:00 PM 9020 posts Then it's the same plane. What seats are available and what are they next to. If youre lucky enough to grab the new seats, please do. Direct return to LAX. The airline manages the Air France Vaccinations Center in the 7th arrondissement, Paris. Any additional tips/recommendations would be greatly appreciated. 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 $. Despite facing such uncertainty, they continued excellent service, a real great team.). All seats in Air France business class cabins lie flat. Appetizers go first alongside your drinks. Their crews areabsolutely not as polished as some,but I dont think they care. I am looking at a flight in September from Atlanta to Paris and can fly either with Delta or Air France business class, yes they code share. In front of each seat is an 18.5-inch monitor with a multitude of shows and movies for entertainment. 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. The AF 777 business layout is the herringbone pattern, almost identical to the Delta product on the A330. I really enjoyed your previous posts. Delta First Class is a premium first class service offered on domestic routes. 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. Although the Delta One suites are a strong contender, this one goes to Air France. But while Virgin Atlantic partners withDelta, they arent a SkyTeam member. Did visit lounges in Atlanta and LA. Have fun in Aukland and I hope you enjoy your trip as much as I did! Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs replaced Boeing 747-400. Diarrhea isnt what she was necessarily referring to. Premium Economy: Price. Image Credit: Delta Air Lines. Etihad has also committed to revamping the lounges and ground experience,so it will get better. Privacy Policy: We hate spam and promise to keep your email address safe. That way you can drink even more champagne and enjoy the experience more ;) so that may be a possibility for you. Avoid it at all costs because all around its not worth paying much more than a domestic first/business class fare. Before Covid-19, Air France still had 4 different business class versions, but now, as the A380 & A340 have left the fleet, only 3 remain. Air France wins this hands down thanks to their chef-curated meals and impeccable service. For mains, guests get to choose from four including vegetarian, meat, or seafood choices. Air France has always been my first choice, then Delta. I am (most unhappily) seated in such a section on an AF from ATL to CDG tonight. Best 5 Jazz Clubs in Paris. On the other hand, Delta One is also a strong contender if you want a world-class business cabin. Delta Airlines is said to operate the largest Boeing 767, Boeing 757, and Boeing 717 fleets in the world. Made from recycled plastic, guests have praised it for being extremely comfortable and perfect for sleeping. 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. 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. There's also other factors like itinerary and price. Nicks photo of Air France business, which makes it look much nicer than it actually is. Videos will show you, that the AF seats angle away from the aisle, the partition encircling the pod doesn't close entirely, leaving room to enter and exit. One on Air France that flies a 777-300ER. Curious to know which option is better. ultra-premium trip aboard La Premiere cabin, top-tier lounges across the United States, Air France has a new premium business class lounge at their hub airport in. So the comment about IROPS with AF turns out to align with my experience. I have a love/hate relationship with Air France. The fees amount is determined by the trip. 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. But if you fly via Atlanta, there are currently 4 flights to Paris (2 operated by Delta and 2 by AF) Also if you fly via JFK, there are 6 AF/DL flights to Paris, 4 operated by AF and 2 operated by Delta. TravelDos and DontsAs a Tourist in France, Gordes Travel Guide: Tips for Visiting Gordes, First Time in France: Best 7-day Itinerary, Barge Cruises in France: Why You Should Take One, Best Travel Blogs about Paris You Should be Reading. 4. I was seated next to a friend of the pilot, who was brought meals and drinks from (the empty) First Class cabin. American and United come in last, but both still boast great systems, scoring 2.44/3 and 2.40/3, respectively. 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.) On 20 November 2009, Air France introduced the A380 with service to New York citys JFK Airport from the French capitals Charles de Gaulle Airport. 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. Fingers crossed that no one is in the 'F' seat next to me. All Air France planes are scheduled to have the new product by the summer of 2017. Depending on the plane, business class guests get one or two lavatories. Overall it my People discount Delta because the lack of "prestige" airline partners like Lufthansa, Cathay, Singapore, Emirates, the perceived lack of availability of premium award space, and a previously broke award calendar. Peter is the editor of France Travel Blog. On long-haul flights, the Surf Pass costs 8 Euros ($8.55). Free mobile message is also available on iMessage, Whatsapp, and Facebook Messenger through their onboard network. I've flown both airlines in business. 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. What really impressed me, though, is that KLM turns off the seat belt light upon reaching cruising altitude and does not turn it back on until final approach. 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. I personally prefer Delta overall. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. We noticed the there are two business class options from Atlanta nonstop to Paris. Air France, it is the flag carrier of France and one of the most popular airlines in Europe. so I settle for the old AF Boeing 777. what about the food selections on either airline. 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. Another note, it would be worth it to find cheap fares from AUK-NPE for a night. 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. Theres also a handmade eye mask inside the kit. Second that! @Anthony I more than agree and will Virgin has the cool factor that neither SQ, LH, CX and EK have. Just go to the partner's website and add your Delta FF# to the itinerary. Meanwhile, Delta One is technically Deltas business class offering. 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. It would be delta one vs AF airbus 350 business class. 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. Delta will give you credit, not a refund in most cases. I've flown the ER many times; from NY as well as Cincinnati/CDG. Perhaps not as impressive. I hope that this is helpful. Air France business or first class prices for my destinations have typically been less expensive (connecting flight itineraries). Its going to make your trip extra comfortable thanks to its fully private doors, spacious legroom, and stylish design. 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. These lavatories are nothing special except for, All seats aboard business class cabins lie flat, measuring. Delta's business class seat (left) vs. Air France's business class seat (right). 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. Delta and Air France both offer several fare classes, much to the convenience of passengers. If you booked on a partner's website, see link below for what you will earn. Air France's newest aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is outfitted with 276 seats. AF main meal leaving Paris was excellent but the smaller one prior to landing was odd. Virgin is the best if you're going to the UK (especially Heathrow and Manchester). If you fly from Miami, only AirFrance operates that code share flight. Before then, however, lets look at their background. It uses Airbus A320 family aircraft on short-haul routes. Air France delivers one of the best on-air dining experiences inside their business class cabin. Overall it my favorite airline. Chances are that you will be boarding either Air France or Delta soon. Air France also has a better rebooking offer (generally free) than Delta, it's a covid era offering. Even if the you have flown an airline multiple times, there can always be the "one off day." Air France Business Class Cabin Configuration. Although I tried their Prem Econ onboard the 777 it's kind of better in terms that it is cheaper, you still get champagne, entertainment, and a seat that reclines well for a day flight (or night if you are like my wife who can Just a small tip of advice: do NOT fly AF B. I booked a roundtrip flight on KLM for the outbound (Dusseldorf - Amsterdam - Los Angeles), and Air France on the inbound (Los Angeles . Next to the shower is a relaxation pod where you can take a nap. AF356 leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 1415, arriving in Toronto at 1745, a flight of around seven hours and thirty minutes . You can pick seats, always through the Air France site, sometimes in the Delta app. Delta and Air France both offer several fare classes, much to the convenience of passengers. For any tickets purchased this year, if you later cancel the flight, you get full credit for the amount you spent, valid through 12/31/23. There is Wi-Fi available (for a fee) on almost every flight. 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. Thats why Im trying to figure out the difference. I was very pleasantly surprised. Business Class is found mostly on international routes and planes that are configured for long-haul travel. After the merger, Airbus aircraft from Northwest was added to the fleet. https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/how-to-earn-miles/airline-partners. I flew British Airways to Paris in business class with my wife and daughter. The seat isreally comfortable,as are the pillow and duvet. Your personal space serves as an office, restaurant, entertainment lounge and bedroom. He claimed this because his wife was seated away from him. 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. Learn more about our points consulting services! Delta Air Lines domestic first-class seats onboard the Airbus A220. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. For the return, I had a late connection from Rome. Delta's new product is better IMHO. On occasion, you might spot high-end toiletries stocked here. Deli spread at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LHR. Rest of Europe I'd say KLM because of the better seats than AF (though I'd say AF once refurbishment is completed), the strong regional network (especially in Scandinavia and the UK), Schiphol being a better airport than CDG and FCO combined and tge Delft houses which are a reason to fly in itself. Delta cabins are as comfortable as they come. This review is of the inaugural to Toronto. The biggest issue, however, is that the old Air France business class product is dated and uncomfortable. if you do some Google, Air France's premium econ seats are pretty well reviled. Seriously, though, Tiffany-- fantastic post. I very much enjoy reading it and all of your posts before. However, on the A330-300, the center aisle only has partial dividers. I'd initially chosen Seat 1A, but was involuntarily moved to the last row in the middle-most of three seats. Delta Air Lines, Inc. is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. The "Delta One" seat on the 767 was way too cramped but it looks like they have a nicer product on other a/c. Moreover, a rowdy group of AF non-rev people were having a party, and they did not invite me. The 777-300 has the most seating variation. Booking confirmation usually bears these conditions. 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 also love how KLM has continued their pre-deregulation tradition of giving passengers a last drink on the house. If you thought the dishes were fun. The newer IFEs comes with over 350 films, mostly French titles, including an array of TV shows, documentaries, podcasts, and music. However, there is currently an increased sign-up bonus on the personal and business Delta Amex cards, which makes it relatively easy to pick up a bunch of SkyMiles quickly. Their Delta One business class is a premium cabin with excellent seats and plenty of storage. Beware that the KLM 747 Combi has an inferior AVOD system with low-res screens and no USB charger (though there is AC charging). These kits are handmade and contain items from eco-conscious brands like a dental kit from Humble Companies and skincare essentials from Grown Alchemist. My preference? Does Air France give preference to their own FF members and those that booked with them, as far as allowing seat assignment choices? On Air France the flight to Europe will be covered by the EU261 rules, on Delta it will not be. Avoid it at all costs because all around its not worth paying much more than a domestic first/business class fare. If you want something more robust, you can purchase The Stream Pass or The Surf Pass. Hopefully you wont be disappointed with either one. 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 There is no clear winner when it comes to Air France vs Delta. Also if you fly via JFK, there are 6 AF/DL flights to Paris, 4 operated by AF and 2 operated by Delta. Sleeping on the Delta One is made extra comfy thanks to premium. KLM doesn't operate the 787 yet at the moment, but when they do (the inaugural is in late october), they'll have the Zodiac seats on board - the same as the new AF product, in 1-2-1. The fuel surcharges can be a bummer on Virgin, but the others are pretty reasonable. Its fleet size is 750 as of December 2020. Definitely a consideration when looking at your overall routing. Answer 11 of 15: I have not flown to France in years and now doing my homework. Although I tried their Prem Econ onboard the 777 it's kind of better in terms that it is cheaper, you still get champagne, entertainment, and a seat that reclines well for a day flight (or night if you are like my wife who can only sleep in an airplane seat of its in the nearly upright position.) Answer 11 of 15: I have not flown to France in years and now doing my homework. However, Delta for many is the preferred domestic airline, and as Tiffany mentioned, presents many great options when redeeming to Europe. All of the staff are friendly and accommodating. KLM's business class seat on their flagship 787-9 is almost exactly the same. A tailor-made Business cabin For travel within France, there is three types of fare: Business Leisure: non-refundable ticket, modifiable for a fee of 70; Business Flex: refundable ticket, modifiable at no extra cost; I feel it is hype over substance. (Old rule was that the credit is valid for one year from the date of original purchase of the tickets.) But Ive received great service with Air France also. I may buck the trend here, but I HATED Virgin Atlantic. Else, you will get one or two checked bags free regardless of what fare you book, depending on your combination benefits. Is the flight just sold-out on miles, or is Delta hiding non-Delta inventory? 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. I have flown Air France, on the sloped sleeper seats. Seat. Both Air France and Delta offer premium passengers excellent lounge access including perks like priority boarding and check-in. The French carrier has a fleet size of 213 aircrafts, including widebody and narrowbody ones. Then it's the same plane. The soft products, which are also sound, can stand some minor improvements here and there. You can also lower the armrest of the seat to give you extra width. It's much better :-). Its topped off with dessert including Deltas famous sundae. These newest seats convert to a 2 metres (6.5 feet long) flat bed. Air France Business Class A350-900 details. Moreover, a rowdy group of AF non-rev people were having a party, and they did not invite me. Some newer Delta aircraft also has doors. Air France and Delta Air offer two of the most premium business cabins flying in the air today. The newer cabins are more stylish and now feature sliding doors to give guests absolute privacy. I was just wondering if one had nicer planes and better customer service than the other. I booked (3) seats Paris - Houston for 66,500 Air France KLM Flying Blue miles + $383.17 apiece. Once you start with those vlogs, the almighty Youtube algorithm will take you way, way down the rabbit hole into the whole world of folks who fly business & first and post about it for a living. All the seats lie flat and come with a pull-out table for working and dining. 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. Air France is a top choice for people planning transatlantic travel. As for in-flight entertainment, the airline offers Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) in every cabin on long flights. One on Air France that flies a 777-300ER. You can still (usually) earn towards status when flying partners. I am flying out of LAX tonight on AF69 (777-300ER) business class, and found it still has old 2-3-2 configuration. You just have to go to the Air France website to make your choice, and it's been at no charge. Being AF I expect good food but I will be skipping that trying to sleep. The most basic cabin is economy class followed by premium economy, then business class and finally first class, also. Also, their blankets are scratchy, which might seem petty, but is a pretty-much a deal-breaker for me. Delta FAs are great too, so I'd call it even. Air Frances newest seats are modern and chic perfectly capturing the impeccable style the airline embodies. Its composed of two floors and capable of accommodating up to 570 passengers at one time. Expect the attendants to be professional and prompt in catering to your needs. Has anyone recently. Does Air France give preference to their own FF members and those that booked with them, as far as allowing seat assignment choices? Hope this helps! 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.