Free wine and cheap seats make Air France a winner
Written: May 06 '09 (Updated May 06 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Smooth flights, free refreshments, inexpensive tickets.
Cons: Cramped seats, dealing with de Gaulle airport.
The Bottom Line: Flying on Air France offered us a nice alternative to driving to Paris...
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| knotheadusc's Full Review: Air France |
My husband Bill and I took a trip to Paris over the weekend. Even though we live within driving distance of the French capital, neither of us wanted to drive several hours and then have to figure out parking. We'd heard all of the horror stories about Paris drivers and knew it would cost us a pretty penny in gas and parking fees to drive to Paris. Luckily, Air France was offering a deal too sweet to pass up.
We scored two round trip tickets between Stuttgart and Paris for $235. Most of the fee consisted of taxes and fees, of course. For $235, we could get to Paris from Stuttgart in just over an hour and not have to worry about traffic or parking.
Checking in: Stuttgart
Checking in in Stuttgart was very easy. We were directed to use the automatic check in kiosk to print out our tickets, then handed over our luggage. Naturally, we were flying economy and aren't members of Air France's loyalty program, so our baggage allowance was limited to 20 kilos. Luckily, we came in well under that limit, since Air France charges 12 euros for every kilo over 20.
We were fortunate enough to be on a lightly populated flight. I was impressed that Air France thought enough to provide free newspapers in several different languages, including English, to help pass the time before boarding.
Checking in: Paris
Checking in in Paris was a bit more complicated. Charles de Gaulle Airport is pretty much a nightmare anyway. It's very busy and the layout is confusing. When we arrived at the check in kiosk, we found the area a bit of a disorganized mess. After we printed our boarding passes, we had to stand in a long line to drop off our luggage. Then, when we got to the gate, there was not enough seating. Hordes of people were standing around, waiting for their respective flights. Newspapers could be had, but there weren't any in English.
Boarding in Stuttgart
This was a breeze! Air France is lucky enough to rate a ramp at the gate, so all we had to do was just walk on board. Coming back was the same story.
Boarding in Paris
Naturally, because Air France is based in Paris, there are a lot of Air France planes that are higher on the priority list than our rinky dink flight to and from Stuttgart. We had to take a bus to and from the plane. Coming in wasn't so bad because the flight wasn't full, but going out took awhile because the flight was almost full. The flight was delayed by a couple of minutes because we had to wait for a few stragglers.
The seats
Both planes were fitted with rows of seats in a 3x3 configuration. Bill and I were lucky enough not to have anyone else sitting with us on the flights to and from Stuttgart. My seat was slightly cramped, but I was pleasantly surprised that the seatbelts on both flights were very long with lots of room to spare. I also had plenty of leg room, but then, I happen to be a short person with short legs. Leg room is rarely an issue for me. I noticed a tall lady sitting nearby with her knees pressed into the seatback in front of her and felt glad for her that the flight would be a short one.
The flight attendants
The flight attendants on Air France were friendly enough and professional. They delivered announcements in French and English and used a recording for German announcements. Right after we got off the ground, they gave everyone refreshments. Our flight out was in the late afternoon, so we got crackers and a choice of a beverage, including wine. Our flight back was around lunchtime, so we got a half of a ham sandwich and a choice of a beverage. The sandwich was pretty decent and most welcomed... best of all, it was included in the ticket price.
The flights
I can't complain about either flight. We had good weather for both, so they were pretty smooth. I was especially impressed by the landings on both flights. I barely felt it either time when the plane touched down.
Air France bus
Here's a tip for all you intrepid Paris travelers. Consider taking the train into Paris! Charles de Gaulle airport is about a 45 minute bus ride into the city. We arrived at about 5:00pm, and Bill was set on taking the Air France bus to the center. But first, we had to find the bus stop, which was confusingly located in a different part of the airport, yet labeled as if it were closeby. We probably spent a good twenty minutes looking for the bus stop, while the train station was very easy to find.
Once we got on the bus, which was packed and cost 7 euros a person, we spent about an hour in rush hour traffic. I think the bus ride from the airport to Paris was actually longer than the flight to Paris! It was a painful experience. When we got to the Montparnasse train station, we had to walk to the hotel through many throngs of people while lugging our bags.
On the way back, we took the train. Granted, to take the train, we had to figure out Paris' metro system, which was also kind of confusing. But the train was so much more pleasant. There was plenty of seating; we didn't have to deal with traffic; and it was cheaper! Best of all, we got a little impromptu concert when a guy with an accordion and his tambourine whacking son came into our car and serenaded us.
Overall
We had a very pleasant experience on Air France and would consider flying with them again.
www.airfrance.us
Recommended:
Yes
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