Air France has just revealed plans to launch a new route to the United States, and it seems like a logical enough addition.
Continue reading: Air France Launching Paris To Las Vegas Airbus A350 Flights As Of April 2026
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
On paper it's not surprising. But there is obviously a decline in tourism in the US from foreign countries. Maybe there are just about enough people willing to splurge on overpriced restaurants and hotels in Vegas?
French and Germans like going to Nevada and Arizona in the summer. I wonder what lounge Air France will use in Las Vegas.
Curious comment. There are a number of *decent* hotels in Las Vegas that are below $200 per night. Even right on the Strip. And, there is affordable dining. If one wants upscale dining, that's available as well (with commensurate pricing).
Worth looking at this as an option for ex U.K. passengers to avoid the APD and the times are good too.
I know its all about market research and I am viewing this from the USA side, not the European side.
As AF and KLM are so interchangeable from the USA for both paid booking and award space availability perspective (connect in CGD or AMS), I wish they would stop having the same US cities, and open up a few more east coast cities. Example, they both fly to IAD, but none to PHL or BWI.
Ben, when do you update your statistics? Words written, miles flown, etc?
You forgot the "resort fees".
Pool seating fee. Parking fees. Cover charge. Amenity fee.
$50 minimum bets.
Cheating odds.
These days, I only go to Vegas with OPM.
Given current trends, I find LAS to be a very curious choice for this service. Particularly using an A350. The place is losing market share and it's not because Orange Man offends the world. It's because private equity owners are greedy and have jacked up prices on everything such that it's a lousy value. Only whales are really welcome, yet anyone who's an actual whale isn't that interested in Vegas anymore. For the rank and file who actually pay Vegas' bills, they are thanked with overpriced hotel rooms, overpriced dining, tightened "perks" that are supposed to pass as comps (but don't), and fees....fees....fees! The resort fees are my favorite confiscatory bit of theft. An extra $50/day for garbage wifi that you'd get for free at the Hampton Inn Duluth Airport. Plus: access to the air conditioning, elevator and toilet! And this is only the beginning. Gambling? Frankly, you can now do that in lots of places that don't treat you like a sucker.
Vegas just isn't worth visiting anymore and the word is out. AF is about 4 years late with this service, which would be in the process of being eliminated by now if they had started it post pandemic.
Since when does Delta have a Sky Club in Las Vegas? Regardless, Air France seems to prefer its own clubs. Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, and Miami all have both Sky Club lounges and Air France lounges.
Presently KLM passengers have no access to a Lounge in Terminal 3
There is The Club only used by Aeromexico
Delta departs Terminal 1 and they have no Lounge
Las Vegas is also awful and I have been 3 times when younger. Never again. The only positive was seeing Cirque du Soleil when were not so established.
I'm curious: How much would a JV inform or drive these kinds of decisions, beyond the airline themselves. Like, I'm sure KLM/AF look at demand patterns as a whole, but would DL and Virgin be a part of the conversation, sharing data and advising the choice? (I've long been curious how the JVs work—curious beyond what I find explained in the basic introductions online.)
I agree, for individual visitors. But the conference market there is HUGE, and a whole other set of economics.
A bit of a surprising add, even with just 3 weekly. The LAS market is shrinking, not growing. Not quite the destination it used to be, and travel to the United States is down. I don't see a lot of local traffic boosting demand for CDG-LAS. This is probably catering to local LAS originating traffic, and connecting opportunities from LAS via CDG. The 787-9 feels like a better suited plane for this route, over the A359. I don't see this route succeeding, honestly.
Yes, but the French are more sophisticated culturally and unlikely to be clamoring for mediocre surf-and-turf.
Unless the gateway to the National Parks has been torn down due to recent government cuts, that is.
AF also has its own lounges at SFO, JFK, IAD, and IAH. In Houston, despite not having a Delta lounge, there is both an AF and KLM lounge. (I believe the MIA one may have closed, though).
Delta doesn't have a lounge in Vegas, so that probably wouldn't be the most logical choice.
I grew up in Las Vegas and remember the $.99 breakfasts and $5 steak dinners LONG ago gone.
Vegas (and Reno for that matter) grow and became a success because you really can't day trip there, unlike say Atlantic City. The casinos and hotels are screwing people and those people are voting with there pocket books. GOOD !
I am booked on a new business class configuration Air France A350 in mid-Jan (48 biz seats), CDG to LAS.
Fly into Denver and fly out of Las Vegas or vice versa. It would be an incredible trip. You'd need 2 1/2 weeks to do it properly.
Visitors from Paris, and elsewhere in France, weren't ever going to Las Vegas just to gamble in casinos - there are plenty of casinos in Europe. It's more a starting point for the wonderful National Parks within driving distance - Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Sequoia, Joshua Tree etc.
I'm wondering who the target demographic for this is... I guess Vegas is pretty cheap by EU urban standards, tho it's also pretty downmarket (as America goes really) for European travelers, so maybe that's a draw. Interesting, anyway.
Going the other way, is southern Nevada generating a lot of leisure traffic to Europe? My first guess (based on economic conditions) would be no...
Following on from the mediocrity of the Hot Towel article, might I suggest another mediocre topic to stir the imagination of the reader? ….
The AF A350 business class cabin is configured with a staggered single row of ‘inboard’ (odd numbers) and ‘outboard’, (even numbers) widow aisle seats. This Is not standard form. One notes that you expressed a preference for the AF even numbered window seats.
Personally, I favour the reverse herringbone configuration vis-a-vi the BA A350 window seat layout, having flown it so many times.
Possibly this topic will not have legs as so few of your readers will have experienced these seats?
Yes, omarsidd, LA is very “Cheap” by any thinking person’s “Standards” …. I am not talking dollars or cents now, don’t you know old bean …. 🙂