The worst flight I ever had was on Air France. Part of the fun of flying is looking out the window, and that's a strain, particularly on the latter. To make your sleep extra cozy, you also get Coz-z-z pillows and thick blankets. One thing to note, if you happen to be riding business class on the Boeing 767-400, the center seats will come with open dividers ideal if youre traveling with family or your partner. On the newer Safran Seats, guests can enjoy a 17.3-inch 4K touchscreen monitor. The airport wasalready unpleasant, crowded, and prone to industrial action (again, Italian), and the recent terminal fire has only exacerbated that situation. Curved glass ceilings allow bright sunlight to filter in the daytime as well as views of the runway in the distance. 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. Paul, Salt Lake City, New York City, and Seattle. Depending on the aircraft, you could get one or two dedicated lavatories for business class guests on Air France. All of the staff are friendly and accommodating. But while Virgin Atlantic partners withDelta, they arent a SkyTeam member. Both airlines had good food, but I thought . A noise-reducing headset is also available on the seat but the monitor has Bluetooth capacity so you can use your headset if you like. That way it can become an around the work in first class trip! The overall feeling is of cozy efficiency rather than being necessarilystylish or polished. We will be booking business class tickets. See more about our ethics policies here. In either case you can use the Skyclub and AF lounges. If lounges are important to you, its hard to do better in business class than the Virgin Clubhouses. On their 777-300 aircraft, the La Premire cabin only contains 4 exclusive suites in a 1-2-1 layout. 60 Airbus A220-300s have already replaced the smaller Airbus A318. If you booked on a partner's website, see link below for what you will earn. Look forward to the Upper Class review Nick. FWIW, I flew Delta out of Paris recently and overheard the purser telling a passenger that the Paris station did not have the highest of reputations. 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). Our family is pretty good fliers although we have never flown 9 hours straight. The airline manages the Air France Vaccinations Center in the 7th arrondissement, Paris. Have fun in Aukland and I hope you enjoy your trip as much as I did! Tiffany - I have lots of AA miles, and lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards, SPG miles. What a steal between the US and Europe! The main difference is that Delta has staggered seats in the window rows, and the seats closest to the windows offer a little more privacy, while AF has the reverse herringbone configuration. 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. Everyones intestinal process is their own and varied greatly. The 777-300 has the most seating variation. Out of the 9 hubs it has, Atlanta is the largest in terms of departure numbers and total passengers. Kinda like when United was digesting Continental and it was always a crapshoot. For those that have flown is their a major. Connecting to Wi-Fi is easy. Theres a power outlet for your devices and fast Wi-Fi in the lounge too. Its going to make your trip extra comfortable thanks to its fully private doors, spacious legroom, and stylish design. I'd initially chosen Seat 1A, but was involuntarily moved to the last row in the middle-most of three seats. Do NOT put in a Flying Blue (or other loyalty program number) as this can cause problems. Air France Business Class Dining. I mean, look at these bowls: KLM business class breakfast bowls. However, if you want to stream content, the Stream Pass costs 30 Euros or about $32. I have had great service and horrid on these airlines and basically any airline :), The wine served with the meal is better on Air France. With me it's up to the seating arrangements. For mains, guests get to choose from four including vegetarian, meat, or seafood choices. KLM 747 upper deck business class other configurations have direct aisle access. I am looking to book some flights to Israel for next year and am curious the difference between the Delta One Suites and Air France Business Class. To which I said sure as long as you refund me my business class fare) And then flying back via Delta which I have to say was superb, from the meals, to the seat, to the flight attendants. 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. However, you can count on all business class seats to fully recline, making for a comfortable sleep, especially on long-haul flights. These are the basics to know before flying either airline. The current Air France promo that provides for refundability of the ticket price is only for flights through June 30, 2022. Booking your Air France Business Class ticket directly through airlines can be costly. While first class guests receive Carita Paris amenity kits, the business class kits are brandless but still look quite trendy. Overall it my favorite airline. So much is the luck of the draw these days. So business class it is! Just head to the Delta App or your booking, and choose from the various options of mains, drinks, and dessert. Guests are also entitled to two checked-in baggage, each weighing up to 70 pounds or 32 kilos each. I guess that means no status next year. The lowest tier for surfing or emails starts at $6.95 per hour and climbs to $12.95 per hour plans. Air France has a full refund policy in place within certain dates. All Air France planes are scheduled to have the new product by the summer of 2017. Recently returned from Kiev flying r/t on Austrian 767 biz . Simply referred to as Delta, the latter airline is a legacy carrier and among the major ones in the United States. (Just a tip, the cappuccino is excellent!). A points consultant is the right person to talk to if you want to experience luxury travel for cheap! Do You Need A Travel Power Adapter For France? Thanks so much Tiffany! Nice post! Criteria Delta 777-200 Air France 777-200; Cabin Arrangement: 1-2-1 Herringbone: . I know they are partners, and their fares are the same. 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 I hope that this is helpful. Image Credit: Delta. The new product only has four seats across. The airlines cancellation policy entails that the tickets fare conditions determine flight cancellation. Fixed now! As we learned last week, leveraging Deltas partners is the best way to not get screwed when redeeming SkyMiles, sowhen reader Nolan asked the following on the Ask Lucky forum recentlyI was excited to answer: The improvement in partner products is ahuge boon to the SkyMiles program. (CST #2143630-50) |, Get Exclusive Travel Hacking Tips That I Only Share With Email Subscribers. This has been managed by both Air France and KLM. 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. Air France delivers one of the best on-air dining experiences inside their business class cabin. Delta lets you pre-order meals ahead of time online or in their Delta App. SINGAPORE AIRLINES . Frankly DL's reverse herringbone business class on their A330 (which is used on many US-Europe routes) is probably only surpassed by the new AF Business Class. The major downside to Alitalia, of course, is the hub at Rome Fiumicino. So it can even be that granular. Or the crew might even be a mix. If Air France is Fashion Week, Virgin Atlantic is Spring Break. As for ticket modification and flight change, the fare conditions related to your ticket determine this. In terms of the soft product, KLM has quality catering, andby far the best dinnerware. I had a rather unpleasant flight on a discount Air France brand's plane (Joon, now a discontinued brand). It had a great amount of thoughtful detail clearly explained. The kit contains an eye mask, ear plugs, Clarins lotion, Clarins lip balm, a toothbrush with toothpaste, and socks. We noticed the there are two business class options from Atlanta nonstop to Paris. Their crappy old planes, the seat layout where you cannot look out the windows so you spend your time staring at another person because you are angled facing that person, the truly awful meals for a business class product. That's probably the best starting point. 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. @ Sergey -- I actually haven't flow Aeroflot yet. Oh, AF offers a glass of champagne before take off. She called the Executive Platinum line to make the bookings (and she did it on the first call!). Air France is the only airline to offer a Business class service in France. 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. Wonderful posts and responses. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. 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. The Points Universityteaches you how to earn points and exchange them for luxury hotel bookings and fantastic first or business class flights! The service and food were outstanding on the outbound flight from LAX-CDG, but the business cabin was almost empty. It has fantastic food, a beautiful cabin, as well as impeccable service. There is a USB port to power up your phone. Delta One Business Class Amenity Kit Someone Somewhere. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. If you are on a long-haul flight, you will be served complimentary champagne and drinks in every class. Delta will give you credit, not a refund in most cases. However, this doesnt apply to Basic Economy fares. As for in-flight entertainment, the airline offers Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) in every cabin on long flights. The service and food on the return 777 was awful. Yes, its a bit impersonal and more businesslike, but they do everything with a smile and will gladly help with whatever you need. Image Credit: Delta Air Lines, Delta Air Lines Delta One Business Class Overview. You get free access if you only want to use messaging apps. We earn Skymiles when we book on Delta even when the flight is on a partner airline, but I believe that if you book directly with the partner airline, you don't. I was very pleasantly surprised. Jack - Many thanks for your thoughts. 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. We will be booking business class tickets. We've flown a number of times on Delta, Air France, and KLM and I feel that plane amenities and customer service are comparable on all our flights. AF's older PE seats (still in their 777's, for instance) are the dreaded clamshell. One thing you can count on when you get onboard the Delta One is that youll get beautiful and stylish seats. However, Alitalia flies to dozens ofdestinationsfrom Rome,including many of the smaller cities in Southern Europe, and award space is typically quite good. We noticed the there are two business class options from Atlanta nonstop to Paris. 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. 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. As Ive mentioned before,Alitalia isan Italian airline. The airline has partnered with other international carriers like Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, etc. The older cabins might feature an 18.5-inch touchscreen monitor. It just sets the mood for the dining experience. Both airlines operate globally, and they offer luxury and comfort irrespective of the type of fare class. Your personal space serves as an office, restaurant, entertainment lounge and bedroom. 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 was just wondering if one had nicer planes and better customer service than the other. You can still (usually) earn towards status when flying partners. Sadly, I wasn't the one who made the bookings (my sister did). This review is of the inaugural to Toronto. I'm sure Nick will be along shortly to tell us all why Delta is better than all other options ;). She said she had used AAdvantage miles because she travels a lot for work. Once transformed into a bed, the seat measures 76 inches in pitch which can sleep persons as tall as 6 feet and 4 inches. Image Credit: Delta. One on Air France that flies a 777-300ER. Definitely a consideration when looking at your overall routing. Get a full 180-degree flatbed on board the Delta One. Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles are some of the easiest points to earn since they partner with so many bank partners. He claimed this because his wife was seated away from him. Great report and great style of writing. Seriously, though, Tiffany-- fantastic post. I personally enjoy transferring through Amsterdam's Schiphol airport much more than Paris Charles de Gaulle. 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. Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs replaced Boeing 747-400. Affording Air France. Hope this helps! As long as you avoid the oldest products on each carrier, you really cant go wrong with any of these options. Reply. Air France offers a variety of seating options in business class, so it is important to choose the seat that best meets your needs. Delta's business class seat (left) vs. Air France's business class seat (right). Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. I will typically choose Delta if given an equal choice, mainly because my FF status will play towards upgrades and my app works. 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. You get 2 dedicated FA for the cabin, they take drinks and menu orders (no trolley service), there's a tablecloth, food comes on a platter, metal cutlery, porcelain dishes, the food . Do you have a favorite? Business class passengers each have a personal 16-inch high-definition touchscreen. 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. Delta offers convenient center seats with adjustable privacy dividers for traveling with your spouse or partner. Aboard the Boeing 777-200 and certain 777-300, the seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. One on Air France that flies a 777-300ER. Air France is one of the few carriers that advertises the ability to purchase lounge access (subject to availability) for Premium Economy passengers. Avoid it at all costs because all around its not worth paying much more than a domestic first/business class fare. Fortunately, Business Class Experts is able to find you affordable airfare as low as $2,700/ticket so you can travel in comfort without breaking the bank. Totally agree on the AF 7 across. what about the food selections on either airline. Maybe it's the esthetiques. 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. Delta's new product is better IMHO. Delta Air Lines, Inc. is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. I did find that, for all hour KLM flights, my stranger-seatmates were delightful. Monthly subscriptions begin at $69.95. Oh well. Although, I've found most of their flight attendants to be bored and uninterested (or as Lucky says, they are "going through the motions.") Welcome to your private Delta One business class suite. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Wonderful posts and responses. Theyve partnered with Someone Somewhere, a Mexico-based brand. 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; Depending on the plane, business class guests get one or two lavatories. @ Fabio -- Thanks! Air France offers one of the most prestigious and luxurious cabins in the air right, the Air France La Premiere. I could be on an old (is there any other kind) KLM craft. These airlines feature redesigned business products to deliver comfortable and stylish new seats and superb amenities while ensuring a lavish journey for their passengers. Guests on Delta One also receive access to the Delta Sky Club when flying out of cities like Los Angeles, Detroit, Atlanta, Seattle, or New Yorks JFK. Guests on Air France business class receive priority check-in, boarding, and even custom inspection lines, especially in Paris CDG. We went through some bumpy skies, especially over the equator, and it was refreshing not to be awakened with seat belt announcements, which are common on Delta. Delta Air Lines Delta One Business Class. Id pay more to enjoy nonstop flights. I liked the Delta Suites the best, but have flown them only that one ForLa Premire (Air Frances foremost first-class product), the first-class menu is designed by Guy Martin. Despite facing such uncertainty, they continued excellent service, a real great team.). In 52 countries on 6 continents, Delta serves 325 destinations as its carrier flies as many as 200 million passengers in a year. If you happen to have a T-Mobile or Sprint line then you get an hours worth of free Internet when you fly on Delta. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. These were miles I already had sitting in my account from a cancelled trip Austin - Amsterdam roundtrip at the start of the pandemic. Well this is an interesting matchup! Booking confirmation usually bears these conditions. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. Qantas, Lufthansa, Air France all do a nice job maybe top 20 not top 10. While Delta also has fantastic seats, Air Frances new seats on their business cabin have the added edge of being beautifully chic! I was in pain by the end of the flight. Looking for a NYC - AMS flight in early August. delta flies the airbus A330 and AF the airbus A350. The French carrier has a fleet size of 213 aircrafts, including widebody and narrowbody ones. SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIR LINES. Although they operate a slew of different business class products, Air France's 777 business class ( except the ATL-CDG 3-class 777) offers a reverse herringbone layout that's worth spending your hard-earned points on. 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). I tend to go Delta, but prefer Air France. Food was soso. Thats why Im trying to figure out the difference. Noise from the galley can still come through. Being in Chicago there there are so many choices w/ 1 daily flight on AF, KLM, Altalia, & Virgin and there is relatively zero competition from connecting traffic. You can expect a width of 21 inches and a pitch of 77 to 78 inches, providing plenty of room to lounge and sleep. So connections from London are limited, and not terribly convenient. Aboard the Delta One cabin, guests can pre-order meals from 30 days up to 24 hours before their flight. She called the Executive Platinum line to make the bookings (and she did it on the first call!). This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. I have flown AirFrance a few times and swore never again. 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. Apparently, there is some delay in cabin refurbishment. Clear, funny and to the point. I booked (3) seats Paris - Houston for 66,500 Air France KLM Flying Blue miles + $383.17 apiece. You can pick seats, always through the Air France site, sometimes in the Delta app. If I make my reservation through Delta, I presume I could use the skyclub. 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. Thus, privacy is unparalleled. @ bobbieddie -- What miles do you have at present? But if you fly via Atlanta, there are currently 4 flights to Paris (2 operated by Delta and 2 by AF)