Air France left us with a long list of complaints and a sour taste in our mouths. Our journey began with a chaotic bus transfer to the plane, which seemed to be lost in the airport maze. Then, the real surprises started:
Firstly, we were denied access to the Business Class Lounge at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) – despite being Business Class passengers. This was an astonishing move, especially given the hefty price tag of our tickets.
Secondly, the food, advertised as Business Class fare, was an insult to our taste buds. The dishes were unappetizing and even the ice cream couldn’t redeem them. It was like Air France had intentionally designed a menu to cause culinary disappointment.
And lastly, the cabin temperature felt like a sauna. Despite our repeated pleas, the air conditioning remained stubbornly hot. This discomfort turned our flight into an endurance test.
It’s clear that Air France has lost sight of what true customer service entails.
A Fee For Nothing?
Things got even worse at Guarulhos Airport. Air France charged us an extra €100 for each of our teenage children travelling in Economy Premium, claiming they needed special assistance from the flight crew. The absurdity of this charge is evident when you consider our children were only a few meters away from us in Business Class on the same flight.
They received no special attention, and the fee was a blatant attempt to squeeze more money out of our pockets. Even worse, we were forced to wait for everyone to deplane in Paris before we could leave – a ridiculous scenario given our kids were already by our side. This delay almost cost us our connecting flight to Malta.
Air France’s logic is beyond baffling. We were penalized for flying in a premium class and were treated with disrespect. It seems they’ve prioritized profit over passenger satisfaction and common sense.
A Few Bright Spots, but Overall Disappointment
There were a few glimmers of positivity. The food, while not particularly healthy, was edible, and the flight attendants were pleasant.
However, the experience was largely overshadowed by the disappointing service, the excessive fees, and the disregard for our well-being. It seems Air France is more interested in milking its passengers than in offering a quality travel experience.
British Airways: A Seat That’s Not Worth the Ticket
British Airways, sadly, falls short of expectations too. We’ve endured numerous uncomfortable journeys with them, and our latest experience confirmed their coach seats are the most uncomfortable we’ve encountered for international travel.
The lack of legroom is infuriating, especially when the person in front of you reclines their seat, nearly hitting you in the face. The tight space makes it impossible to open a laptop or even enjoy a meal comfortably.
Delayed Flights, Missed Connections, and Missed Opportunities
Our last flight with British Airways was a nightmare. We had to wait on the tarmac for nearly 45 minutes to board a flight that was already 2.5 hours late. This delay led to a missed connection, a 2.5-hour wait to re-book, a one-hour hotel wait, and an hour-long bus ride in chilly temperatures. The hotel even ran out of food.
British Airways, it seems, has become a master of the delayed flight. This experience, coupled with their uncomfortable coach seats, has cemented our decision: we’ll be avoiding them in the future.
