So lets go through the four main transatlantic options when redeeming Delta miles. I hope that this is helpful. Look forward to your thoughts. Air France's newest aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is outfitted with 276 seats. Passengers can view this on setback touchscreens on most of the airlines major aircrafts. They also offer free in-flight Wi-Fi for basic messaging over WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. As for the 777-300ER as well as the A350, the newer staggered layout in a 1-2-1 arrangement is present, which means each person gets aisle access. Seven-across business class seating is just embarrassing nowadays, particularly in an angled-flat seat. Nolan just asked about partners, and I didn't want to get into the pricing algorithms again in this post. 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. Alitalia has a great lie-flat business class, with a staggered seating configuration: Alitalia business class seat ugly, but comfy. Get business class award alerts like this one sent straight to your inbox with Thrifty Traveler Premium! I don't remember Delta offering the champagne. Sadly, I wasn't the one who made the bookings (my sister did). Image Credit: Delta Air Lines. You can also lower the armrest of the seat to give you extra width. 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. Founded in October 1933, Air France serves at least 36 destinations in France and operates internationally scheduled passenger services. Dave makes an excellent point ! Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. Am starting to collect Citi Thank You Rewards as well. It was announced on 16 September 2011 that orders for 50 Airbus A350s and Boeing 787 with 60 options have been made. I did find that, for all hour KLM flights, my stranger-seatmates were delightful. Delta has recently extended the life of credit vouchers. Instead, take your pick from this amazing list of travel credit cards to get the most points value for every use. The airline's long-haul fleet consists of Airbus A330 and A350 plus Boeing 757 and 767-300/400 aircraft. Also, AVOD is available from prior to the flight until engine shutdown at the arrival gate. I'm going to be very careful booking AF in the future. Lavatories designated for Delta One Business passengers can vary depending on the plane. I was seated next to a friend of the pilot, who was brought meals and drinks from (the empty) First Class cabin. For the return, I had a late connection from Rome. Frequent travelers who require more data can also go for a monthly subscription starting at $69.95 for international flights. The lowest tier for surfing or emails starts at $6.95 per hour and climbs to $12.95 per hour plans. Air France Business Class A350-900 details. The operation as a whole? Both airlines operate globally, and they offer luxury and comfort irrespective of the type of fare class. Inside Delta Airlines EMBARRASSING Business Class Suites Once transformed into a bed, the seat measures 76 inches in pitch which can sleep persons as tall as 6 feet and 4 inches. The Delta One business class cabin is made for business travelers and anyone who wants to be comfortable during their travels. Since they codeshare, you may not get a choice. It uses Airbus A320 family aircraft on short-haul routes. The kit contains an eye mask, ear plugs, Clarins lotion, Clarins lip balm, a toothbrush with toothpaste, and socks. Beware that the KLM 747 Combi has an inferior AVOD system with low-res screens and no USB charger (though there is AC charging). travlermb says: June 19, 2017 at 7:28 pm. Hope it's better this year as I'm going with KLM on the outbound flight and Virgin on the flight back to the States. However, for surfing and streaming, the plan starts at $6.96 to $12.95, respectively. Delta One seats feature a family-friendly or companion-friendly center aisle. Delta One Suites vs. Air France Business Class - Tripadvisor Delta has Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Comfort, Premium Select, Delta First, and Delta One. I feel it is hype over substance. This was true on all four flights, so I'd hazard it's part of the corporate culture. All Air France planes are scheduled to have the new product by the summer of 2017. The seat is upholstered in beautiful leather with spacious storage, amenity kits, and a large IFE. On Air France the flight to Europe will be covered by the EU261 rules, on Delta it will not be. You should upgrade "bellisimo" to "bellissimo". Excellent! Totally agree on the AF 7 across. Its major hubs include Atlanta, Los Angeles, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. If you can find award space on one of the reconfigured aircraft I wouldnt hesitate to recommend Air France, but the old product is probably best avoided, at least for night flights. Avoid it at all costs because all around its not worth paying much more than a domestic first/business class fare. SeatGuru Seat Map Air France Travel light and free by using your hard-earned points! The airport/transfer experience. Affording Air France. So depending on the route, the exact time of the flight and connection, you could end up flying with either. Delta First Class is a premium first class service offered on domestic routes. If youre looking to stay connected during the flight, Delta has several options for Wi-Fi. For information on refunds, visit their website. However, for a more robust connection, you can go with. A points consultant is the right person to talk to if you want to experience luxury travel for cheap! Business class sits directly behind the exclusive, four-seat La Premiere first-class cabin. So the comment about IROPS with AF turns out to align with my experience. Only got snacks on Delta. These were miles I already had sitting in my account from a cancelled trip Austin - Amsterdam roundtrip at the start of the pandemic. 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. Two Adults and one three year old child. The cost in delta skymiles is much more for delta one than AF business class. For drinks, Delta has a good roster from top-quality champagne and wine to common liquor like Peach Bellini and Grey Goose Vodka. How do you feel it compares to the other partners? Tiffany - enjoy your style and posts. As a side-sleeper, I find the seats perfectly comfortable for sleeping, but they might feel narrow if you prefer to sleep on your back. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 BY AU POINTS & AWARDS CONSULTING SERVICES LLC. Oh, AF offers a glass of champagne before take off. @RakSiam the DL 767s aren't great compared to their A330s. How you use the space is up to you! If you pre-ordered, the attendants will confirm that your orders are loaded. I could be on an old (is there any other kind) KLM craft. Ive found both to be excellent carriers. 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. Both Air France and Delta offer premium passengers excellent lounge access including perks like priority boarding and check-in. American and United come in last, but both still boast great systems, scoring 2.44/3 and 2.40/3, respectively. I arrived at the boarding gate for CDG-LAX while the A380 was still there, but I was told I was too late and nothing could be done. There's also other factors like itinerary and price. Air France is the better airline for cabin experience in economy if it is a mainline Air France flight. If you don't happen to be flying from Paris, Air France is a partner in SkyTeam alliance, which has lounges in most major airports. Join Date: Sep 2009. Of course, theres coffee. Flight review: Air France A350-900 business class Air France is a founding member of the SkyTeam international airline team. I hadn't flown DL in forever and don't collect their miles, but bought one of their relatively inexpensive business class fares to Madrid and found it to be quite good. She called the Executive Platinum line to make the bookings (and she did it on the first call!). 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. It has been the only French vaccination center since 2001 that is certified International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001. I'd give Delta the edge here. Here, the menu includeshors doeuvre,bread basket,entres, and cheeses, with a dessert cart includingpetit fours,pastries, and tartles. Diarrhea isnt what she was necessarily referring to. Some newer Delta aircraft also has doors. Appetizers go first alongside your drinks. Sure the soft product and food on the partner airlines is better (although the service and food are slightly worse on VS or at best no better than DL) but not drastically so. 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. -Air France's service is not just stylish, but actively warm/personable I'd initially chosen Seat 1A, but was involuntarily moved to the last row in the middle-most of three seats. It's deliberately misleading, you still get sky priority security, advance seat selection, lounges, boarding, +1 bag (light ticket has 0 bags if you don't have status), etc. Aboard the 777-200, you get a single but bigger lavatory for business class. Seriously, though, Tiffany-- fantastic post. Air France Business Class Seats. All rights reserved. Wonderful posts and responses. You can expect great service from the staff and crew. On the newer Safran Seats, guests can enjoy a 17.3-inch 4K touchscreen monitor. If you happen to board specific planes like the A350, Boeing 777-200LR, or A330-900, you can indulge in full-height doors for the utmost solitude. 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. Privacy Policy: We hate spam and promise to keep your email address safe. 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. I was seated next to a friend of the pilot, who was brought meals and drinks from (the empty) First Class cabin. 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 . These lavatories are nothing special except for, All seats aboard business class cabins lie flat, measuring. what about the food selections on either airline. The Delta One Suites are the best Delta offers because you can close a little door. 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; Also if you fly via JFK, there are 6 AF/DL flights to Paris, 4 operated by AF and 2 operated by Delta. Image Credit: Delta. My guess is that my experience wouldn't necessarily be replicated on another day. Anyone have experience with either or both of them? I arrived at the boarding gate for CDG-LAX while the A380 was still there, but I was told I was too late and nothing could be done. We noticed the there are two business class options from Atlanta nonstop to Paris. Air France Premium Economy: What to Know and How to Snag a Deal Thanks SO MUCH for the post! You can tell if your flight will have the new business class by looking at the seat map if you see seven seats across (gag), thats the old product. Some have 2 while others may have 3. I loved this post! Virgin is the best if you're going to the UK (especially Heathrow and Manchester). If you know youll be redeeming your miles soon, this is a great way to bolster your account balances. Thus, privacy is unparalleled. Air France has always been my first choice, then Delta. You really have to look at specific plane models which seat guru can help you with. Do NOT put in a Flying Blue (or other loyalty program number) as this can cause problems. 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). I seem to remember that used to be true. Business class seats differ greatly depending on the aircraft. But I also live on the West Coast, and I like going to Europe. These are the basics to know before flying either airline. I often try to fly Premium Economy and while I hate to tell the airline employee, my experience with Air France has not been good in that class. One on Air France that flies a 777-300ER. Do note the booking class, as if your booking class isn't listed in the charts you won't earn at all. 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. But Ive received great service with Air France also. This center distributes vaccines for global travel. As maddening as the program is, we probably redeem more Delta miles fortransatlantic tripsthan any of the other major programs, so SkyMiles can certainly come in handy. Air Frances drinks menu is also extensive with premium liquor, an excellent wine list, cocktails, beer, as well as champagne. The biggest issue, however, is that the old Air France business class product is dated and uncomfortable. I was very pleasantly surprised. And it mightve been just enough people on the plane- not necessarily everyone. 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. Image Credit: Air France. AF premium economy Vs Delta Premium select - FlyerTalk Forums Air France and Delta are outstanding airlines that have gotten their business product down to pat. Relax in privacy on selected aircraft Delta puts privacy front and centre on its newest and newly-refurbished aircraft, offering a sliding privacy door at your modern business class suite. Swiss recently added the Boeing 777 to its fleet, which features a re-designed cabin interior with top comfort and visual appeal in all three classes. Nicks photo of Air France business, which makes it look much nicer than it actually is. The Delta One business class lavatories are nothing special compared to other lavatories on the plane. Great report and great style of writing. Review of Delta Business Class - BusinessClass.com Delta One Suites vs Air France Business Class - Rick Steves 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. Image Credit: Air France, Air France Boeing 777. The irony is that finally Delta has caught up in terms of its seat in its Business Elite with a full-sized pillow and duvet and REALLY comfortable seats, which unlike Virgin you have more choice than either go to bed or sit up straight, plus the signature Delta friendliness of its flight attendants. I know my preference but that is only one factor in the selection. Best 5 Jazz Clubs in Paris. However, Alitalia flies to dozens ofdestinationsfrom Rome,including many of the smaller cities in Southern Europe, and award space is typically quite good. Second that! @ RakSiam @Bgriff -- Oh, absolutely, and Delta has a very nice business class as well! By the time we were approaching Paris, the smell from all the Lentil gas in the plane was overwhelming. The Airline operates a combination of fleet, including Boeing widebody jets and Airbus, on long-haul routes. I did find that, for all hour KLM flights, my stranger-seatmates were delightful. The latest seats on the Boeing 777-200ER have sliding doors and lie flat seats creating a pod-like feel for guests. She said she had used AAdvantage miles because she travels a lot for work. 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 $. No, Delta First Class is different from Delta One. Which Delta Partner Has The Best Business Class To Europe? All of the programs listed have at least decentbusiness class products, with some really solid options depending on the aircraft and configuration. Fingers crossed that no one is in the 'F' seat next to me. The meal service starts shortly after takeoff. There are salads, pastries, cheeses, and more for you to indulge in. Soon after settling in your seat, an attendant will hand out the menu and offer welcome drinks. The worst flight I ever had was on Air France. Delta One Business Class A350. Booking confirmation usually bears these conditions. 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. The newer cabins are more stylish and now feature sliding doors to give guests absolute privacy. Image Credit: Air France, Air France business class. As a business class passenger, you get priority check-in and boarding, allowing you to zip through long economy lines. Made from recycled plastic, guests have praised it for being extremely comfortable and perfect for sleeping. Similarly, if Air France operates a long-haul flight from Paris (CDG) to Denver (DEN), its lie-flat seat is also called business class. Air France and Delta Air offer two of the most premium business cabins flying in the air today. Air France also has a better rebooking offer (generally free) than Delta, it's a covid era offering. This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity. It all depends on availability, return flights, etc. Delta's business class seat (left) vs. Air France's business class seat (right). 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. The seats themselves are essentially the . Our family is pretty good fliers although we have never flown 9 hours straight. Head to https://squarespace.com/trektrendy to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code TREKTRENDYJoin me on the new Delta One suite. I mean, look at these bowls: KLM business class breakfast bowls. That's probably the best starting point. 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. Direct return to LAX. DLOne has fflatbed seats, good food /service. Professional and attentive, the service on Air France business cabins is great. Id pay more to enjoy nonstop flights. You can connect to the free Wi-Fi aboard the business cabin provided you only need to use Facebook Messenger or any messaging app. Your personal space serves as an office, restaurant, entertainment lounge and bedroom. New Air France business class with reverse-herringbone lie-flat seats. Out of the 9 hubs it has, Atlanta is the largest in terms of departure numbers and total passengers. Clear, funny and to the point. On their 777-300 aircraft, the La Premire cabin only contains 4 exclusive suites in a 1-2-1 layout. In 2019 alone, the airline carried 46,903,000 passengers. Air France Business Class Dining. Reply. @ bobbieddie -- What miles do you have at present? Air France operates several different Boeing 777-300ER interior configurations, but this flight was operated by the airline's most premium-heavy aircraft, featuring four seats in the La Prmiere-branded first class section and a whopping 58 business class seats. My preferred airline is Delta. The layout varies depending on the plane. Top Places For Live Jazz Music, Top 10 Tips To Help You Study Effectively While Traveling. Never thought that would happen! So, does everyone discount DL because there's no availability? He is the chef ofLe Grand Vefour,a 3-star Parisian restaurant. 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. 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. Guests receive pre-flight champagne and snacks. He has traveled to France many times and is ready to share the knowledge in this travel guide for France. Just go to the partner's website and add your Delta FF# to the itinerary. This was true on all four flights, so I'd hazard it's part of the corporate culture. Face-off: Best Business Class IFE - Air Canada, American, Delta, United I seem to remember that used to be true. Next comes Delta at 2.76/3. Its worth the extra cash or points if youre traveling on a longer route. The seats include excellent legroom including a big footwell. Air France, KLM, Delta and Virgin Atlantic have launched their expanded joint venture offering a greater choice of routes and loyalty options when travelling between Europe, the U.K. and North America.. Sadly, I wasn't the one who made the bookings (my sister did). Extra narrow aisles, tiny leg room, etc on an 8 hour flight, they were using a Joon plane on a non-joon flight for whatever reason. Counted among the top-tier lounges across the United States, youll find Delta Sky Club lounges to be stylish and fresh. Some guests might feel its impersonal, but its only because there are a lot of guests attendants have to handle. Wonderful posts and responses. I very much enjoy reading it and all of your posts before. It's night and days between the two! World's Best Business Class Airlines 2022 | SKYTRAX I won't go too in-depth with this part of the comparison but I can't neglect it either. You just have to go to the Air France website to make your choice, and it's been at no charge. Before its merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008, Deltas fleet comprised solely McDonnell Douglas and Boeing aircraft. 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. Air Frances newest seats are modern and chic perfectly capturing the impeccable style the airline embodies. Virgin Atlantic is an unbelievably fun airline. Air France vs. Delta Business Class Have recently asked question as reply to Paris trip report, so forgive the repetition, but perhaps will get additional input in this forum. But the Virgin Atlantic seat is fully-flat, and they offer a legitimate turn-down service with pajamas, a mattress pad, etc. 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. Air France Business Class A350-900 review - Monkey Miles Image Credit: Delta Air Lines. The Delta 767s still have the "straight ahead" layout which I kind of like, pictures online will illustrate that for you better than I can describe it but your feet end up in the space between the seats in front when you're fully reclined. Despite facing such uncertainty, they continued excellent service, a real great team.). Air France offers a variety of seating options in business class, so it is important to choose the seat that best meets your needs. Absolutely correct. 4. Jack - Many thanks for your thoughts. I can see the flights when I search by $ amount, but no amount of changes can make it appear when I click on miles - regardless of the cost in miles. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Yes, Air France business class offers lie-flat seats, perfect for when youre ready to sleep. 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. Passengers not left wanting aboard Air France 777-300ER We flew BC with Delta (domestic), KLM and AF (both transatlantic and within Europe).last year. It's much better :-). Your email address will not be published. On the return, you could fly on QF from AKL-SYD-HKG and then HKG-LAX/JFK (and then pay for a flight from JFK-LAX) on CX. And, of course, I observe their policies on cancellation, refunds, etc. I hope that this is helpful. 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. -When you say KLM's service is "adorably Dutch," what you mean to say is "indifferent, gruff, borderline German". This is one of those times where knowing what type of plane you're flying in is important. Going to Asia, Korean Air and Delta's own metal (flights to Tokyo and Hong Kong via Seattle) present good options. Since DL has 2 cabins, it would be a version of first class. 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. In this post, I will be discussing how they differ in services rendered. Its followed by a cheese plate. Expect the attendants to be professional and prompt in catering to your needs. For in-flight catering, shorter domestic flights have a selection of coffee, snacks, tea, and bottled water in the economy, while those who board higher classes may enjoy complimentary wine, soft drinks, beer, and juices. Also, AVOD is available from prior to the flight until engine shutdown at the arrival gate. Flight Review: Air France Business Class on the Airbus A350, Paris to Miami As for codeshare flights and being switched from one to the other, at the time of booking you can see who is flying the metal, so if you have a strong preference, you can manage it. Seats aboard the. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Wonderful posts and responses. You can expect a width of 21 inches and a pitch of 77 to 78 inches, providing plenty of room to lounge and sleep. I booked (3) seats Paris - Houston for 66,500 Air France KLM Flying Blue miles + $383.17 apiece. But in my opinion, another possible way you can go to AKL is to fly EY from LAX-AUH and then AUH-LHR again on EY (or BA if you want to try different first class) and finally LHR-SYD-AKL on QF. First Class: Air France Vs. SWISS - Live and Let's Fly All seats on Delta One Business Class lie flat. I was just wondering if one had nicer planes and better customer service than the other. The major downside to Alitalia, of course, is the hub at Rome Fiumicino. Service, efficiency, food, priority check-in, passport, luggage, lounge access, toilet cleanliness will be the same. Review: Air France Business Class, Paris - Houston 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. Everyones intestinal process is their own and varied greatly. I liked the Delta Suites the best, but have flown them only that one