I’m flying to Paris for a weekend trip, two months from now. I checked air fares, and found two options: Air France and US Airways. Both airlines fly nonstop from my city (major east coast city) to Paris (Charles de Gaulle airport), at times an hour apart, at fares a few bucks apart.
What’s people’s experiences with Air France and US Airways across the Atlantic? How’s the service, food, seats, and other factors?
I’m NOT flying out of New York or Miami. (Air France flights from Paris to New York or to Miami were cancelled several times in December and early January for security reasons.) So as far as I know, the security issues are not relevant.
No experience with US Airways internationally, never even flown them domestically, but I’ve flown Air France Chicago to Paris. The Airbus 330, which is the most likely equipment for that route, has 33-34 inch pitch in coach, which is pretty darn good. Air France seems to be an average carrier, and no, the legroom isn’t any different in coach than most any other airline, they run with 31 inches of pitch in Tempo (coach) class on longhaul routes, so you’ll probably have a couple more inches of legroom on US Airways. However, the food is likely to be better on Air France. They come around with baskets of these AWESOME bread rolls during meal service, mmmmm. Air France also offers complimentary beer, wine, and cocktails in coach, while on US Airways you’ll be paying for alcoholic beverages. If its any matter to you, Air France has the filthiest fleet of aircraft in the world on the outside. They don’t seem to wash their planes as much as other carriers. The interior of the aircraft is always extremely neat and clean though. Service-wise, on US carriers the flight attendents are usually pretty old and not very attractive, since Europe routes are very high demand routes to work and flight attendants with the most seniority snatch these routes up first. Air France will have younger, prettier flight attendants, if that makes a difference to you. I’d say you’d get pretty equal standards of service either way though. I always find it kinda fun to fly with non-US carriers, but those 2 to 3 inches of extra legroom make a WORLD of a difference. I’d say toss a coin!
Air France has good food. However, I will NEVER, ever fly with them again. I had a horrible experience with them a few years ago, in which they promised me money for taking a later flight, then changed their mind about the amount. The rudeness and inefficiency was mind-boggling. You will be fine, IF nothing goes wrong.