AF was my preferred airline for the better part of 8 years because of their excellent service on their JNB-CDG and CDG-ORD routes. While our flight out of CDG would inevitably be delayed, it usually was a matter of efficiency in that AF would rather leave 30 minutes late with a late pax than having to spend 45 minutes unloading and searching for the pax luggage.
Colleagues always complained that their luggage was missing or delayed or was damaged, but other than one specific incident (which involved baggage handlers returning after a strike), my luggage was always on the flight I was on.
Cabin service was brilliant compared to some other airlines, and after learning French, it was even better. AF stopped being my preferred airline after I moved continents because I had to connect via CDG, which added another 3 hours to every journey.
S.