Overnight flights they seem to do an express service, giving you most dishes at the same time so you can go to sleep sooner. Daytime flight each course is served separately.
Really appreciate your comments about where to sit based on whether you were traveling solo or with someone and which seats are next to each other so you can actually talk to your companion
Bonjour, great review as I'll be heading to France in December on Air France 🇫🇷 from Manila to Paris Charles de Gaulle starting December 08 , it's been more than 20 years since Air France last flew to the Philippines and were very happy to have them back, and I can't wait to try their Business Class as I already booked my ticket.
I watched this to suss out seat selection on AF for a last minute change with limited seats in Business. Great to see your seat. A scan of the cabin would help others who may not have a window option. Your review was informative. I found myself getting impatient with the pace.
Thanks again, Mel, for another great review. I'm trying to decide whether to take Air France on the overnight flight from LAX to Papeete in business next June. Based on your video, I may just book it. The hot cabin, though, is a concern....difficult to sleep!
People have mentioned to me that I could have asked the flight attendant to make the cabin cooler, so you could consider doing that if you encounter a similar problem. If you end up booking, let me know how it goes! 😄
Air France’s menu was not accurate on my CDG-SFO business class flight, and they did not load my preordered entree so I went without. Now AF charges $100 if you want to reserve a seat. No.
Great review. I suspect there was a problem with the a/c as almost all business class flights I've taken on European airlines the cabin temperature was fine. A hot, stuffy cabin overnight is very uncomfortable and not being able to sleep properly rather defeats the joy of having a flat bed. Apart from that, Air France looks a reasonable product and you certainly got a great deal.
I flew AF from Singapore to PCG in March 2023. I was disappointed with the service considering the reviews I had seen. The cabin crew were aloof and the meal wasn't that great. In fact the bread roll was so hard it broke my tooth!! Grew review, thanks for sharing ❤😊
I was allowed 1 personal item and 2 carry-on bags. They didn’t weigh my bags, but I think it does happen occasionally, though less often in Business than in Economy!
Great video and review, and spot on with so many of your comments! I usually prefer European or Asian airlines over American ones (for service, food etc.) but I must say the warm temperature on non-American-airlines flights is the factor that makes me think twice before booking with them. What's also odd is that most don't have individual vents either, though that would somehow alleviate the issue. That said, I do have a soft spot for AF for the food and the great service, they usually strike the right tone between being friendly and helpful while maintaining some of the more formal French etiquette. Regarding meal times, I'd be fine if they took time for the more formal longer dinner service (after all they're French) but you'd expect their express menu to include a hot main course option. Maybe some room for improvement here (at least they offer an express vs a longer dinner service). Sleep is also key to me when booking a red eye in a premium cabin and I'm sure for many other travelers as well. Hopefully AF will work on improving the items above (as also mentioned in your video). Thanks again for the great review!
Thanks for watching and for your comment. I feel the same struggle you do in that the European carriers are generally better on food and service, but the hot cabins just ruin the experience for me. Science shows that people sleep better when it's cool, so I wish this would change. I also agree with your comment on the food service - if only AF would offer an express meal with a hot course, I would be happy 😄
It might be because I'm European/French, and as such not addicted to A/C (😉), but I often find temperatures in planes to be too cold for me, I always board them with a sweater in my carry-on luggage. The last time I flew (to/from Greece last month) I found the temperature to be warmer, thus more at my convenience. But, to be honest, this was a short three-hour flight from Luxembourg (closest airport for me), sleeping was not an issue.
How do you think this seat compares to the Turkish Airlines 787 seats? I will be flying the exact same 6L next month. Last month I flew the Turkish 787 twice, and I hate to say that the seats were really uncomfortable for some reason, I had pretty bad back pain after a short sleep. Is the AF A350 version better in your experience?
Great review, the downside of paying the cheapest fare implies you do not get to select your favorite seat which is next to the window. However, AF is definitely one of the best airlines I could ever travel with. I flew AF for the first and only time but in Economy class from NYC to Paris. It was an amazing flight although I did not get a window seat. On my way to NYC, I took DL Airlines. An hour delay at Paris CDG and services were suspended 2 hours prior to my arrival. As someone needed medical attention, we were initially diverted to Canada before heading toward NYC. So what is your review on AA, DL or UA ??
Your Delta flight sounds like it was difficult! Fwiw, I have always been able to select my seat on Air France when I've purchased an award ticket. But if you're talking about basic economy, I'm not sure. I already posted a review of my recent United Polaris flight, so I hope you'll check it out. And I'm working on a review of my American Airline's flight right now, so stay tuned for that! :)
Although it’s very tempting to dine onboard the aircraft, anyone expecting a good sleep on a short flight must board with a full stomach. Delayed service are not what to expect but they happen either way. Also, cabin temperature is controllable by crew but if they’re not willing to do it, one must dress prepared for that reality. I agree that because of others issues not AF was disappointing. But departing out of O’hare I wonder if United would have been better…
I agree with you about eating dinner ahead of time in order to sleep, but since I was reviewing the product, I thought it was important to cover the main meal service. I have been on other short flights, and the cabin crew usually hustle to get the meal service in quickly. If Air France had simply accelerated the pace of their dinner service, I think it would have worked out much better. :)
Thanks for sharing! Did you ever ask if the cabin temperature can be lowered a bit? 😇 I also find it very hard to sleep in an overheated cabin ... even feel it difficult to breathe and be relaxed.
I probably should have, but I hate to be a pain 😅 Also it was so hot that they must have received other complaints. I’m glad you agree about overheated cabins - it was the worst!! 😰😂
Thanks to you we brought portable usb fans , it was hot! We were on the new a350 row 1 center , very spacious seats from BOS-CDG , you could sit two in the space the seat and the foot well. CDG-BOS row 10 , the aisle seats in 10 were similar to row 1 but the center seats were the same as in any row TBH. The food was meh in both directions , nothing to be excited about , in fact it was a massive let down due to other UA-camrs content. The wine and cheese were fantastic. The service on board was excellent.
@@MelsMilesandPoints the flt attendants on both legs were impressed I told I heard about the cabin temps - this was a few weeks ago so it was hot! Thank you again!
AF has two different A350-900 business class seat layouts. The A/C featured here was the older configuration. As you state, the newer configuration has extra legroom for the bulkhead rows 1 & 10.
I frequently ask cabin crew to adjust the temperature on long haul flights and only once have I been uncomfortable after that (Virgin Atlantic JNB-LHR and the crew effectively refused to adjust, even though many passengers were resorting to putting on fleeces on top of sweaters!)
Hi Mel - as usual, the videography, narration, and attention to detail were exquisite😊 I have been to France, and can attest that the French know food preparation - and eat dinner late - by American standards😄 The fact that your meal (though delicious) did not match the menu, and the staff "appeared" unaware, is a miss imo. TY for this🙏🏾
I think Air France does have a direct flight there that takes nearly 10 hours, so Business Class would be great if you are able. For award flights, if your timing is flexible, I see Business Class for 70,000 points which is pretty good for a flight of that length! 😃
very nice AF is much better than Iberia by the way what happened with Iberia did you loose your money or got it back did did you file a claim with better business bureau
To appeal, I have to go through the Spanish appeals process, and so far, the online system is just not cooperating. I’m likely going to just give up, but lesson learned - I’ll never fly Iberia again 😭
@@MelsMilesandPoints wow how much money did you lost ? do they offered you any voucher? or cash but report to BBB sometimes they help and on top of it that affect on their reputation
So far agreed. Hoping this experience will change my opinion. Generally on AF it's been the flight attendants. Terse and not very service oriented and I'm not even a little bit demanding. We'll see.
Nice video but your audio is VERY muffled and muddy. It's NOT my PC -- it has "theater quality" audio & speakers. (And I have perfect hearing). So -- your videos need a WAY different microphone. You camera work and post-production are VERY nice. BTW, you didn't explain that AF A-350's come in TWO business class "flavors" -- the older "Optima" seats (on this video) and the far better "Opera" seats on newer planes. AND, did you ASK the FA's to adjust the cabin temperature? (You didn't say). I've done that on AF flights and they've always immediately adjusted.
Sorry about the audio! I haven't heard that before, but I would definitely love to upgrade my microphone at some point. I did mention that the Air France's A-350 comes in two configurations, but I only detailed the configuration that was relevant for the review. Sorry if that was confusing. And yes, I should have said something to the flight attendant. I hate speaking up like that, but I will force myself next time for sure 😅Thanks for your suggestions! :)
Overnight flights they seem to do an express service, giving you most dishes at the same time so you can go to sleep sooner. Daytime flight each course is served separately.
That makes total sense! I just wish the whole meal service was timed to happen as soon as possible after takeoff.
@@MelsMilesandPointstotally could be sooner/faster.
Really appreciate your comments about where to sit based on whether you were traveling solo or with someone and which seats are next to each other so you can actually talk to your companion
I'm glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching 😁
Bonjour, great review as I'll be heading to France in December on Air France 🇫🇷 from Manila to Paris Charles de Gaulle starting December 08 , it's been more than 20 years since Air France last flew to the Philippines and were very happy to have them back, and I can't wait to try their Business Class as I already booked my ticket.
I'm excited for you!! Have a great flight! 😁
Very good review, and you have a nice voice. Music's good too.
Thanks so much! Glad you liked it!
I watched this to suss out seat selection on AF for a last minute change with limited seats in Business. Great to see your seat. A scan of the cabin would help others who may not have a window option. Your review was informative. I found myself getting impatient with the pace.
Have a great flight!!
Thanks again, Mel, for another great review. I'm trying to decide whether to take Air France on the overnight flight from LAX to Papeete in business next June. Based on your video, I may just book it. The hot cabin, though, is a concern....difficult to sleep!
People have mentioned to me that I could have asked the flight attendant to make the cabin cooler, so you could consider doing that if you encounter a similar problem. If you end up booking, let me know how it goes! 😄
Air France’s menu was not accurate on my CDG-SFO business class flight, and they did not load my preordered entree so I went without. Now AF charges $100 if you want to reserve a seat. No.
Sorry that happened to you. On my flight, the strangest part was that the flight attendant kept acting like the menu was accurate 😅
I like your reviews. You seem to be the only solo female I can find doing flight reviews
Thanks so much! 😁
Great review. I suspect there was a problem with the a/c as almost all business class flights I've taken on European airlines the cabin temperature was fine. A hot, stuffy cabin overnight is very uncomfortable and not being able to sleep properly rather defeats the joy of having a flat bed. Apart from that, Air France looks a reasonable product and you certainly got a great deal.
Yes, it definitely could have been a one time glitch. I hope so because you're right, that apart from that, it was a decent product!:)
I Like The Cuisine Aboard,A Beautiful Air Craft.Great Video And Info
Thank you!!
I flew AF from Singapore to PCG in March 2023. I was disappointed with the service considering the reviews I had seen. The cabin crew were aloof and the meal wasn't that great. In fact the bread roll was so hard it broke my tooth!! Grew review, thanks for sharing ❤😊
Oh boy, a broken tooth would have been traumatic! I'm so sorry you experienced that!
Hi! Thanks for the video! How many carry on luggage’s were you allowed? And did they weigh your carry on luggage?
I was allowed 1 personal item and 2 carry-on bags. They didn’t weigh my bags, but I think it does happen occasionally, though less often in Business than in Economy!
Thanks for a very nice review. Lovely calm voice, nice music and overall a perfect video. Thumb from me!
Thanks so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed it!
Great video and review, and spot on with so many of your comments! I usually prefer European or Asian airlines over American ones (for service, food etc.) but I must say the warm temperature on non-American-airlines flights is the factor that makes me think twice before booking with them. What's also odd is that most don't have individual vents either, though that would somehow alleviate the issue.
That said, I do have a soft spot for AF for the food and the great service, they usually strike the right tone between being friendly and helpful while maintaining some of the more formal French etiquette. Regarding meal times, I'd be fine if they took time for the more formal longer dinner service (after all they're French) but you'd expect their express menu to include a hot main course option. Maybe some room for improvement here (at least they offer an express vs a longer dinner service).
Sleep is also key to me when booking a red eye in a premium cabin and I'm sure for many other travelers as well. Hopefully AF will work on improving the items above (as also mentioned in your video). Thanks again for the great review!
Thanks for watching and for your comment. I feel the same struggle you do in that the European carriers are generally better on food and service, but the hot cabins just ruin the experience for me. Science shows that people sleep better when it's cool, so I wish this would change. I also agree with your comment on the food service - if only AF would offer an express meal with a hot course, I would be happy 😄
It might be because I'm European/French, and as such not addicted to A/C (😉), but I often find temperatures in planes to be too cold for me, I always board them with a sweater in my carry-on luggage. The last time I flew (to/from Greece last month) I found the temperature to be warmer, thus more at my convenience. But, to be honest, this was a short three-hour flight from Luxembourg (closest airport for me), sleeping was not an issue.
How do you think this seat compares to the Turkish Airlines 787 seats? I will be flying the exact same 6L next month. Last month I flew the Turkish 787 twice, and I hate to say that the seats were really uncomfortable for some reason, I had pretty bad back pain after a short sleep. Is the AF A350 version better in your experience?
I was on the A350-900 with Turkish, not the 787, so I'm afraid I can't weigh in on a comparison. I'll be hoping the AF seat is better for you 🤞🏼
Great video! I’m so surprised about the temperature issue- but the safety video was hilarious!
It was soooo hot!! 🥵😂
Great review, the downside of paying the cheapest fare implies you do not get to select your favorite seat which is next to the window. However, AF is definitely one of the best airlines I could ever travel with.
I flew AF for the first and only time but in Economy class from NYC to Paris. It was an amazing flight although I did not get a window seat.
On my way to NYC, I took DL Airlines. An hour delay at Paris CDG and services were suspended 2 hours prior to my arrival. As someone needed medical attention, we were initially diverted to Canada before heading toward NYC.
So what is your review on AA, DL or UA ??
Your Delta flight sounds like it was difficult! Fwiw, I have always been able to select my seat on Air France when I've purchased an award ticket. But if you're talking about basic economy, I'm not sure. I already posted a review of my recent United Polaris flight, so I hope you'll check it out. And I'm working on a review of my American Airline's flight right now, so stay tuned for that! :)
Excellent review. Very professional. Truly enjoyed it.
I'm so glad! Thank you!!
Although it’s very tempting to dine onboard the aircraft, anyone expecting a good sleep on a short flight must board with a full stomach. Delayed service are not what to expect but they happen either way. Also, cabin temperature is controllable by crew but if they’re not willing to do it, one must dress prepared for that reality. I agree that because of others issues not AF was disappointing. But departing out of O’hare I wonder if United would have been better…
I agree with you about eating dinner ahead of time in order to sleep, but since I was reviewing the product, I thought it was important to cover the main meal service. I have been on other short flights, and the cabin crew usually hustle to get the meal service in quickly. If Air France had simply accelerated the pace of their dinner service, I think it would have worked out much better. :)
@@MelsMilesandPointsI’m not saying your wrong. It’s just that it’s not customary in AF. There was something wrong. Competition is fierce in Chicago.
Thanks for sharing! Did you ever ask if the cabin temperature can be lowered a bit? 😇
I also find it very hard to sleep in an overheated cabin ... even feel it difficult to breathe and be relaxed.
I probably should have, but I hate to be a pain 😅 Also it was so hot that they must have received other complaints. I’m glad you agree about overheated cabins - it was the worst!! 😰😂
Thanks to you we brought portable usb fans , it was hot! We were on the new a350 row 1 center , very spacious seats from BOS-CDG , you could sit two in the space the seat and the foot well. CDG-BOS row 10 , the aisle seats in 10 were similar to row 1 but the center seats were the same as in any row TBH. The food was meh in both directions , nothing to be excited about , in fact it was a massive let down due to other UA-camrs content. The wine and cheese were fantastic. The service on board was excellent.
I’m so glad you brought a portable fan based on my trip report! A hot cabin is the worst! 😅
@@MelsMilesandPoints the flt attendants on both legs were impressed I told I heard about the cabin temps - this was a few weeks ago so it was hot! Thank you again!
AF has two different A350-900 business class seat layouts. The A/C featured here was the older configuration. As you state, the newer configuration has extra legroom for the bulkhead rows 1 & 10.
I frequently ask cabin crew to adjust the temperature on long haul flights and only once have I been uncomfortable after that (Virgin Atlantic JNB-LHR and the crew effectively refused to adjust, even though many passengers were resorting to putting on fleeces on top of sweaters!)
I should have said something, but it was so hot that I was assuming others were already complaining. Next time I'll definitely speak up! :)
Great review. was there a snack bar in the galley during the flight ?
Yes, but I'm usually too full from dinner to try anything 😅😂
@@MelsMilesandPoints hehe that’s ok I always like snacks after heavy meal lol 😂
Hi Mel - as usual, the videography, narration, and attention to detail were exquisite😊 I have been to France, and can attest that the French know food preparation - and eat dinner late - by American standards😄 The fact that your meal (though delicious) did not match the menu, and the staff "appeared" unaware, is a miss imo. TY for this🙏🏾
Thanks so much! 😊 Honestly, I found it amusing when the flight attendant insisted that it was red berry cheesecake 😅😂 But the heat…. 😰
@@MelsMilesandPoints lol😄
Hi Mel, what do you suggest about the Bangalore to Paris business class A350 -900
I think Air France does have a direct flight there that takes nearly 10 hours, so Business Class would be great if you are able. For award flights, if your timing is flexible, I see Business Class for 70,000 points which is pretty good for a flight of that length! 😃
great video as usual!!
Glad you enjoyed!😄
Great review. 😊
Thanks! 😊
Great evaluation
Thank you!!:)
What a deal with Bilt. Wish we had more A350 routes out of ORD.
Me too!!
No control of air vents is a deal killer. Sleep is the only reason to pay the premium!
I completely agree!
Why do most reviews almost always choose Aisle 6?
I usually try to get a window seat with a decent view of the engine 😍 but it's not always row 6 for me.
European airlines have warm cabins and often don't have individual air vents.
I’m flying KLM next week, so I hope they’ll be the exception 🤞🏼
Anything that you can lay flat on is good enough.
I definitely agree, but the heat was tough for me 😅😅
Definitely chic
I can't disagree!
very nice AF is much better than Iberia by the way what happened with Iberia did you loose your money or got it back did did you file a claim with better business bureau
To appeal, I have to go through the Spanish appeals process, and so far, the online system is just not cooperating. I’m likely going to just give up, but lesson learned - I’ll never fly Iberia again 😭
@@MelsMilesandPoints wow how much money did you lost ? do they offered you any voucher? or cash but report to BBB sometimes they help and on top of it that affect on their reputation
To sum up, you had a wonderful trip with Air France, didn't you ?! 😃😃😃
Overall, yes, but that hot cabin was tough for me 🥵😅😂
Clear is pretty much useless if you have PRecheck. The LAX delta Clear staff was just rude and on a power trip the last time I was at LAX
I agree! I often get selected randomly for a check and have to produce my ID anyway, so I really don't see the point.
Now they charge to reserve a seat and even to access the lounge.
Hmmm I travel with them on award flights and have never had to pay. What type of ticket did you have?
I love the A350-900, but not a fan of AF
Overall I like it, but why no individual air vents? 😭😭
So far agreed. Hoping this experience will change my opinion. Generally on AF it's been the flight attendants. Terse and not very service oriented and I'm not even a little bit demanding. We'll see.
Brutally honest suggest some nasty failures of the reviewed subject. Are there any?
Yes - the cabin was brutally hot 🔥
Amanity Kit is a joke!
😅😂
Short flight 😂
European airlines' aircraft are disappointingly lacking in individual air vents. Terrible.
I am always so nervous when I look up and realize they aren't there 😅
Nice video but your audio is VERY muffled and muddy. It's NOT my PC -- it has "theater quality" audio & speakers. (And I have perfect hearing). So -- your videos need a WAY different microphone. You camera work and post-production are VERY nice. BTW, you didn't explain that AF A-350's come in TWO business class "flavors" -- the older "Optima" seats (on this video) and the far better "Opera" seats on newer planes. AND, did you ASK the FA's to adjust the cabin temperature? (You didn't say). I've done that on AF flights and they've always immediately adjusted.
Sorry about the audio! I haven't heard that before, but I would definitely love to upgrade my microphone at some point. I did mention that the Air France's A-350 comes in two configurations, but I only detailed the configuration that was relevant for the review. Sorry if that was confusing. And yes, I should have said something to the flight attendant. I hate speaking up like that, but I will force myself next time for sure 😅Thanks for your suggestions! :)
@@MelsMilesandPoints Very gracious reply! Thank you.