Would you fly Air France?
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Would you fly Air France?
Lots of talk on here about poor training on AF. This has lead some people to say that in the light of AF449 and other incidents, they would not fly with AF.
So, if you found some good value flights would you fly Air France? The route is medium hall across the Mediterranean.
So, if you found some good value flights would you fly Air France? The route is medium hall across the Mediterranean.
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I would fly Air France if there wasn't an alternative airline. However I would rather use BA or Virgin or quite a few others.
Air France seems to have too many bits of bad luck for my liking, like the Concorde crash, the A340 in Canada and the A330 in the South Atlantic.
I still can't understand why the senior pilot was in bed a few hours after takeoff, or why the pilot flying pulled the stick back when the plane was stalling. But of course I'm not a pilot so how could I know.
Air France seems to have too many bits of bad luck for my liking, like the Concorde crash, the A340 in Canada and the A330 in the South Atlantic.
I still can't understand why the senior pilot was in bed a few hours after takeoff, or why the pilot flying pulled the stick back when the plane was stalling. But of course I'm not a pilot so how could I know.
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No. For different reasons.
I have twice flown to the USA with Air France/Delta. Seat allocation was a shambles, cronic overbooking making the check in like a scrum and half the staff at CDG were on strike. Oh yes, one of the aircraft, an AF 767 was a complete shed inside with broken trim and collapsed seat cushions.
The connection between ATL & MCO was a Delta L1011. It was all cattle class. The centre overhead bins had been removed presumably to save weight. It was like sitting in a cathedral! The air conditioning pipes were dangling from the ceiling.
This was back in 2000 & 2001 but never again with AF or through CDG. If you remember a couple of years later part of the roof of the terminal at CDG collapsed.
Edited to add:- In case you think I am too fussy I have flown to the USA with KLM/NW, Lufthansa, BA, Eire Lingus and Virgin with no issues.
I have twice flown to the USA with Air France/Delta. Seat allocation was a shambles, cronic overbooking making the check in like a scrum and half the staff at CDG were on strike. Oh yes, one of the aircraft, an AF 767 was a complete shed inside with broken trim and collapsed seat cushions.
The connection between ATL & MCO was a Delta L1011. It was all cattle class. The centre overhead bins had been removed presumably to save weight. It was like sitting in a cathedral! The air conditioning pipes were dangling from the ceiling.
This was back in 2000 & 2001 but never again with AF or through CDG. If you remember a couple of years later part of the roof of the terminal at CDG collapsed.
Edited to add:- In case you think I am too fussy I have flown to the USA with KLM/NW, Lufthansa, BA, Eire Lingus and Virgin with no issues.
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Would you fly Air France?
I'd fly with other carriers going similar routes if I can do so. There are a large amount of incidents in recent years pointing towards automation complacency above and beyond the average and a culture that does not learn sufficiently rapidly.
And I think you'll find that you mean AF447.
And I think you'll find that you mean AF447.
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Two experiences with Frog Air, AMS/CDG in an A321 ... Not a long enough journey to say good, bad or otherwise and CDG/SIN in a B777-300 ... 10 across ecenomy seating ... no thank you very much.
Whatever the route would suggest trying Swiss just for starters
Whatever the route would suggest trying Swiss just for starters
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Oh yes, one of the aircraft, an AF 767 was a complete shed inside with broken trim and collapsed seat cushions
I've been turning over the idea of visiting Madagascar for some years. Choice seems to be Air Madagascar, Air France or via Nairobi with a long connection on to Kenya (however I fly from London to Nairobi non-stop).
I've been tempted to try "Madair". Any flying within Madagascar would have to be Madair so why not go the whole hog and use them from Paris. But then I have to go via Paris!
I've been tempted to try "Madair". Any flying within Madagascar would have to be Madair so why not go the whole hog and use them from Paris. But then I have to go via Paris!
I've used AF to fly BHX - CDG - DAM and back. Usually on a full A320. Service was good, food was good with no delays. However CDG airport is a nasty place. Delays being 'processed' at various gates is not a pleasant experience with very rude security personal. Mind you that's the same at most airports these days.
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There nickname of Air Chance has not been earned without reason, and dates back for many years (in my own case back to early 70,s and a memorable 707 flight). Would not use them, or CDG, unless they were the last flight out of some place, where there was to be a bloody regime change !.
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Up until my last two AF/CDG trips in November 2013 I would have agreed with the "NO" voters here. I did BIO - CDG - ABZ and return. I was pleasantly surprised at the improvement all round especially the transport between terminals, in my case G to E. Going Shengen to non Shengen was no problem. Flights, crew and service all acceptable.
I've had worse on various other major airlines.
I've had worse on various other major airlines.
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My only Experience of AF was JNB-CDG on the (at the time only a few weeks old) A380. I was in economy, but it was a damn good flight. The upper rear cabin was almost empty mind you so perhaps I was just lucky. My mother flew them to JFK not long ago and while she had no major complaints, she preferred other airlines.
We both agreed that Transiting CDG was awful. Horrible, cold, soulless airport, filled with miserable staff and overpriced everything. One to avoid in the future.
We both agreed that Transiting CDG was awful. Horrible, cold, soulless airport, filled with miserable staff and overpriced everything. One to avoid in the future.
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Yes CDG, I do not have a good word about it. Driving in to return a rental is chaos, the check-in area is a nightmare as are the mostly miserable and unhelpful staff.
On arrival, from immigration until driving well out from the airport perimeter roads the same thing.
On a recent AF transatlantic, premium economy, we were airborne for well over an hour in smooth conditions before we were offered anything.
On arrival, from immigration until driving well out from the airport perimeter roads the same thing.
On a recent AF transatlantic, premium economy, we were airborne for well over an hour in smooth conditions before we were offered anything.
Thread Starter
Strange - I asked the question because of concerns over the ability of AF to get into scrapes that other airlines seem to avoid. Yet most people are more concerned over the facilities at CDG.
My experience of CDG when transferring with AF previously is pretty good - clean, smart, light, comfortable, with short security queues and does not feel like Heathrow or Manchester - a shopping centre with runway attached.
My experience of CDG when transferring with AF previously is pretty good - clean, smart, light, comfortable, with short security queues and does not feel like Heathrow or Manchester - a shopping centre with runway attached.