I often compare the “big three” US carriers to one another in posts, as I find it interesting how the competitive dynamics have changed over time. In this post, I’d like to focus on Europe, and how I think one airline has really differentiated itself, at least when it comes to passenger experience.
I’ve often mentioned in passing how I think Air France has become Europe’s best airline. I’d like to take a bigger picture look at that, and especially reflect on just how much has changed in roughly a decade. The reason I’m bringing this up is because Lufthansa has just launched a new soft product, and claims that this will make it Europe’s best airline. If you ask me, overtaking Air France won’t be that easy, so let me explain why…
In this post:
Air France’s current state & trajectory are impressive
I just took a roundtrip flight to Europe in Air France business class, with both directions featuring the carrier’s new business class product. The experience was excellent, and what I also appreciate about Air France is how consistent the experience is. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten off an Air France flight disappointed, and I can’t say the same about some other European airlines.
As I took these flights, I couldn’t help but think back to a 2014 Air France media event I attended in New York, where the airline unveiled its new (at the time) first and business class.
Up until that point, I’d argue that Air France was almost behind its rivals in Europe — for example, Air France only introduced flat beds in business class well after Lufthansa and British Airways. What’s fascinating is how the dynamics have changed in the 12 years since then. Air France hasn’t just caught up with competitors, but I’d argue has surpassed them in a vast majority of ways.
I think the generally positive direction with passenger experience started in 2014 when those products were launched, but we’ve really seen the acceleration of positive change since 2018, with Ben Smith as Air France-KLM CEO, and Anne Rigail as Air France CEO. Though I’d argue that the third biggest contributor to Air France’s success might be Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr. 😉
Anyway, I digress. Let me share the areas where I think Air France is making it hard for other airlines to close the gap.
The best short haul experience across the board
It doesn’t matter what cabin you’re traveling in, Air France has the best short haul experience, on balance:
- Air France’s primary short haul aircraft is the A220, which is a joy to fly, especially thanks to the 2-3 layout, which is ideal whether in economy or business class
- Air France is further along with installing Starlink Wi-Fi on its short haul aircraft than competitors
- Air France continues to offer free drinks (including wine and beer) and snacks in short haul economy, unlike British Airways, Lufthansa, etc.
The best long haul first class experience
Even though not many people get to fly it, perhaps the product that Air France is most known for is its incredible La Premiere first class, and it creates quite the halo effect for the carrier. This product is just in a league of its own among European carriers, with what’s unarguably the world’s best first class ground experience, plus what’s arguably one of the world’s best first class onboard experiences (my updated rankings are coming soon, I just need to do the new SWISS Senses first class!).
Air France’s first class pricing has massively increased over the years, and it’s now the most consistently high priced first class product out there. While I don’t love that high pricing as a customer (obviously!), it’s a testament to Air France’s success, as the product is reportedly more profitable than ever before. It shows that if you go upmarket enough to differentiate yourself, people will pay a premium for it.
The best long haul business class experience
It’s hard to directly compare business class experiences between airlines, given how airlines almost always have several generations of seats in service. So I tend to think you judge an airline based on where they currently are, and where they might realistically be within the next year or two.
If you ask me, on balance, I’d say Air France has Europe’s best long haul business class product:
- A large majority of Lufthansa’s long haul planes are still in the 2-2-2 pre-Allegris configuration in business class, so that’s still highly uncompetitive
- British Airways has done a good job installing its new Club Suites business class, but at this point those seats are a generation behind in terms of technology (wireless and USB-C charging, bluetooth audio, entertainment screen quality, etc.)
- Air France has been taking delivery of new aircraft and retrofitting existing aircraft with latest generation reverse herringbone seats; remaining planes have previous generation reverse herringbone seats or staggered seats, and only a small number of A330s don’t have direct aisle access from all seats
While people could make a case for British Airways currently having a slightly more consistent hard product, I think the current A380 situation throws a big wrench in that, given the routes those planes fly. Let me put it this way — if I could only fly business class on one of the “big three” European carriers for the next five years, Air France would absolutely be my choice.
No strikes and good labor relations
Europe is known for its strong unions, and in the transportation sector, that tends to lead to a lot of strikes. Labor relations at Air France are as good as they’ve ever been. When’s the last time we saw industrial action at the airline that had huge impacts on passengers? Well, I don’t remember.
That’s quite a contrast to Lufthansa, where strikes are constantly on the horizon. That’s also partly because Lufthansa Group keeps setting up new subsidiaries in order to reduce labor costs. But I’d argue that operational reliability and not constantly having to worry about strikes is a very important factor that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Europe’s fastest Starlink Wi-Fi rollout
Air France was the first major global carrier in Europe to sign up for Starlink Wi-Fi, and the airline is also the furthest along with installing it. Air France expects to have the entire fleet with Starlink by the end of 2026. While I imagine that could slip somewhat, this is a way faster timeline than you’ll find at British Airways, Lufthansa, etc.
The most consistent service in Europe
Admittedly we all have different perceptions of service, and different preference. On balance, I find Air France staff — from ground agents to flight attendants — to be among the most consistently courteous of any airline.
Sometimes you’ll have amazing service on carriers like British Airways and Lufthansa, and sometimes it’ll be really underwhelming. Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but I’ve found there to be a smaller range in service quality at Air France. At a minimum, I’ve found the crews to be efficient, attentive, and polished, and at best, I’ve found them to be super engaging and charming.
The deliberate way that Air France is moving upmarket
I’m not suggesting that this is a pro or con of flying with Air France, but I think it’s interesting to note the extent to which Air France’s focus is on being premium rather than just growing at all costs.
When you look at Air France’s fleet renewal strategy, the airline is actually largely sticking to smaller planes. For example, while carriers like British Airways and Lufthansa are largely taking delivery of A321neos, Air France doesn’t have a single “larger” narrow body on order. For that matter, Air France-KLM’s A321neos are all going to KLM (since Schiphol has capacity issues) and Transavia (a subsidiary where unit costs matter a lot more).
Why? Well, Air France wants to focus heavily on capturing premium traffic. The logic here is pretty simple, which is that Air France is blessed with a very lucrative origin & destination home market, especially in the age of premium leisure. So rather than focusing on carrying cheaper connecting traffic, the airline wants to increasingly focus on point-to-point flying.
We also see this reflected in terms of the layouts of newly delivered and reconfigured aircraft, from the A350-900s with 80 premium seats (48 business class and 32 premium economy), to the 777-300ERs with 108 premium seats (four first class, 60 business class, and 44 premium economy).
Bottom line
While a lot of online discussions about airlines focuses on the things that aren’t going right, I also think it’s nice to sometimes look at the things that are going right. If you ask me, Air France has come a long way over the past 12(ish) years, as the airline has gone from being similar or even partly behind its peers, to coming out as a clear, premium leader.
Is Air France perfect? Of course not, and the airline industry is very complicated. But it’s a nice example of how small investments across the board can make for a meaningfully differentiated experience. Perhaps it’s also a nice example of how if you want to look good, it’s ideal to have Lufthansa as a competitor. 😉
Where do you stand on this — anyone else impressed by how Air France has slowly and steadily been able to transform itself in this way?
I feel like I live in a vacuum where I'm the only person on Earth who thinks BA is great.
If you're an Emerald, the lounge situation at LHR is markedly better than at CDG. You also have way more fleet consistency, no regional jets, and no RJ terminal. The First wing at LHR is literally seamless, and security at LHR is way simpler than CDG even for economy passengers.
BA is getting Starlink too,...
I feel like I live in a vacuum where I'm the only person on Earth who thinks BA is great.
If you're an Emerald, the lounge situation at LHR is markedly better than at CDG. You also have way more fleet consistency, no regional jets, and no RJ terminal. The First wing at LHR is literally seamless, and security at LHR is way simpler than CDG even for economy passengers.
BA is getting Starlink too, but their existing wi-fi is very fast, reliable, and often inexpensive. BA crews are generous with drink refills, and unless you're being catered out of CAI, the food is generally not bad.
Club World Suites are fantastic, and even when comparing it to the newest A350s on AF, other than tech (which is a big deal), you're splitting hairs on seat differences. Generally ex-US, BA sends you to better lounges than AF.
LP beats BA First. No question there, but I also think IB beats KL on basically every metric as well.
yes, you are wrong.
AF is not so great, especially within Europe, but economy class often does have a tiny ham sandwich for free
Not directly relevant to your point but as a regular and reasonably well-informed traveller who has a choice of airlines I avoid AF. Customer experience is important, but not as important as safety. If you look back over the last 10 or 20 years AF seems to have a lot more incidents and near-misses than BA, LH, KL, IB and SK for example
Just be careful that you aren't connecting to/from an Air France and a Hop-operated flight within Europe. It's not always obvious from the flight number but you'll notice when you have to make the painful schlep out to Terminal 2G.
I’m mostly with you.
You’re right about AF having the best overall product — including first class, network, and all of the items you list — but I would still rather fly Virgin Atlantic business class than any other European or U.S. premium product, because the food and service are on another level. I just feel good when I fly them.
Bottom line, given the choice, I would fly:
1) VS
2) AF
3) TK
Virgin Atlantic are a joke of an airline. Just yesterday they cancelled RUH after barely a year (full blown cancellation, not a suspension). They've also managed to axe GRU twice in the space of a couple of years, and the customer service is atrocious - 5 or six emails in and they still can't understand a simple request. Once they managed to take three weeks to deliver me a suitcase which hadn't even been loaded...
Virgin Atlantic are a joke of an airline. Just yesterday they cancelled RUH after barely a year (full blown cancellation, not a suspension). They've also managed to axe GRU twice in the space of a couple of years, and the customer service is atrocious - 5 or six emails in and they still can't understand a simple request. Once they managed to take three weeks to deliver me a suitcase which hadn't even been loaded on the flight in the first place (so it's not like it went to the wrong destination). Most of their staff that I've come across are genuinely nice people who are just way out of their depth when it comes to running a complex business.
I do think that they have a decent frequent flyer programme, but you've got to be really selective when it comes to redemptions on their own metal as an one-way from the USA to LHR in business class now comes with $700 of charges!!
I was just on Virgin Atlantic. Much of the aircrafts have those terrible business seats New Zealand has and the food was meh...Not consistent at all.
What’s really wild is the transformation of the aviation industry in the US vis-a-vis Europe. Going back ~10 years, it was widely accepted that virtually any major European carrier was better than the big 3 US carriers, particularly in business class. Now, if you consider the holistic experience (including business class lounges), the opposite is basically true. Delta, United and AA are basically all superior to the major European airlines with the possible exceptions of...
What’s really wild is the transformation of the aviation industry in the US vis-a-vis Europe. Going back ~10 years, it was widely accepted that virtually any major European carrier was better than the big 3 US carriers, particularly in business class. Now, if you consider the holistic experience (including business class lounges), the opposite is basically true. Delta, United and AA are basically all superior to the major European airlines with the possible exceptions of Air France and BA.
It's fine if you are US or Canada based and fly them Transatlantic.
However, if you are based in Europe, there is hardly anything premium about high J fares coupled with only cold meals on flights that can be over 2h. Also, operationally they can be hit or miss with IRROPS handling, and their consistency leaves something to be desired. And their Europe to Asia pricing is often silly.
If you don't count Turkish Airlines as a European airlines (or discount them due to the lack of First) I guess this would be a reasonable argument.
agree 100%
Much of their layouts are 2-2-2. AF is more consistent.
Does every post on OMAAT need to have a Ben Smith mention these days?
Turkish Airlines would like to have a word
Have you ever flown turkish airlines?! The product is nice, food is good but the staff is horrendous at all levels (ground and in the air).
TK cabin crew is one of the warmest ones out there.. And the food is great!
Agree. Turkish has horrible ground handling. And, I have yet to experience the warmth and friendliness of their flight attendants many seem to be thrilled about. Overall, AF beats Turkish by miles except for Turkish's superior short haul business meals and seat configurations.
In the last two years TK long haul crews have improved a lot (or I had luck that the best crew was on all my flights), but if they could extend such attitude on short and medium haul flights they could become a serious contender for the best in Europe.
I do think AF have improved, but their onboard catering in European business class is a disgrace. Even during the four hours from IST, where they compete against the airline with the best catering in the region, it was some miserable cold cuts and no espresso machine onboard (while Air Dolomiti can find space for them in Embraers). I also think they restrict drinks service on morning flights (though probably not as tightly as a...
I do think AF have improved, but their onboard catering in European business class is a disgrace. Even during the four hours from IST, where they compete against the airline with the best catering in the region, it was some miserable cold cuts and no espresso machine onboard (while Air Dolomiti can find space for them in Embraers). I also think they restrict drinks service on morning flights (though probably not as tightly as a few years back when I flew them from MAD and they had no sparkling water on offer!).
On the way there I had flown TK in Y, again for about 4 hours and on a very similar A320. They brought us a delicious hot meal, a couple of refills on the complimentary wine, and IFE screens were also available for all pax.
AF may be better than LH and BA, and of course KLM, but I don't think they are in a different league to TK, A3, LX, IB etc.
I should have mentioned that I don't consider P to be a meaningful product as it's only available on a few routes and it's invariably priced at a level that I couldn't justify buying a ticket even if I could technically afford it- paying thousands of euros to go to the same rubbish outstation lounge that I visit on €100 fares feels pretty off to me.
Unfortunately surcharges in J ex-Europe are now approaching $500 USD, comparable to BA at this point. Yikes
Air France excels when it performs well. The products, the refurbishments, and the experience can be great and I would agree, among the biggest European carriers, it is (almost) in a class by itself. But, like every other airline, things can and do go wrong. Mechanical issues are things I've experienced. Not unique to AF. CDG remains a challenging airport to navigate for connections though the more I travel to and from it, the more...
Air France excels when it performs well. The products, the refurbishments, and the experience can be great and I would agree, among the biggest European carriers, it is (almost) in a class by itself. But, like every other airline, things can and do go wrong. Mechanical issues are things I've experienced. Not unique to AF. CDG remains a challenging airport to navigate for connections though the more I travel to and from it, the more I get used to it. I'd argue the food in the new business class cabin could be a touch better. Overall though yes, it is a very good product.
Until something goes wrong…
Within the same few days earlier this month, I had TWO mechanical delays (flying business) resulting in misconceptions at CDG, and had a completely 100% inoperable new La Première suite from CDG to SIN.
I am Platinum, the Plat line “cannot” (be bothered) protecting you on the next available flight when you already know you’re so delayed you will misconnect, and you’re told the only way to work out a...
Until something goes wrong…
Within the same few days earlier this month, I had TWO mechanical delays (flying business) resulting in misconceptions at CDG, and had a completely 100% inoperable new La Première suite from CDG to SIN.
I am Platinum, the Plat line “cannot” (be bothered) protecting you on the next available flight when you already know you’re so delayed you will misconnect, and you’re told the only way to work out a connection is queuing up at the hopelessly slow and understaffed customer service desks in CDG. LH Group does this better for premium pax.
I will say that it is less of a fight with AF to claim EU261 compensation on these issues than other European airlines.
Then, never in my life have I had a COMPLETELY inoperable suite in First (and I fly at minimum twice a month on various airlines), but with AF I just did. An absolute joke for their flagship ‘best in class’ product. No power, movement, AV, window or light controls. After posting it on my insta story, I got responses basically saying every time someone flew the new LP product, at least one aspect was very broken.
Honestly, the bloggers can keep it. SWISS might not be as chic or exclusive, but at least works every. single. time.
The embarrassingly tight compensation offers and fights from Air France about a refund for the LP flight is a disgrace. It’s still ongoing.
I had one aspect (lights) of an LH Allegris F flight not working earlier this year and LH instantly refunded me 45% of the flight in CASH. We all know LH as tight, but it seems they’re at least taking faults in their new product seriously, unlike AF.
I am sure that when something goes wrong, and you have the kids in tow, you’ll be thinking twice about this post.
Air France usually gets a worse rep in PEY than they do in first and business class - I've yet to fly them firsthand so need to check them out, though everyone who's flown both and KLM PEY far prefer KLM. Would be curious to know if any readers have experience with Air France PEY.
AF might have good relationships with its union, yet it still uses CDG as its hub and the airport / ATC employees have their own agenda....
This works only if you're not considering Turkish European....
I've always loved Air France and more than ever I do agree that its product is excellent. Especially its premium products. That said, a bit of a year ago I had to fly Air France Economy for work from Washington to Paris. I use to travel AF Economy quite a bit and it always use to be a stellar product with great food. The food has definitely come down a significant notch, but at least...
I've always loved Air France and more than ever I do agree that its product is excellent. Especially its premium products. That said, a bit of a year ago I had to fly Air France Economy for work from Washington to Paris. I use to travel AF Economy quite a bit and it always use to be a stellar product with great food. The food has definitely come down a significant notch, but at least they still serve champagne in coach. But the food use to be so much better. This was an especially brutal come down as just the month before I was in AF First from CDG to Washington.. and that was fantastic. But yes, overall I'd agree with your assessment, but do think that on long haul at least the gain up front has come with a noticeable decline in the back. I had to fly home from that work trip on British Airways in Economy from London back to DC, and would absolutely say that was a better economy product than the AF product in economy.
100% agreed. It really isn't close in Europe. Air France for the win.
While "best" is subject to opinion, your characterization is fair and reasonable.
Worst premium economy class in Europe though
May I ask why? I know the hard shell seats were a problem for a while, but other than that I wasn't under the impression that there were any problems with it.