On October 24, 2018, I had the opportunity to fly with Air France for the first time. My last-minute flight from Amsterdam to Madrid was an experience that ultimately led me to write a detailed review of the airline. Often, these reviews are written following a disastrous experience, but in my case, it was quite the opposite.
Departure
My flight was scheduled at an ungodly hour, 6:45am, which meant I had to be at the airport at 4:45am. My journey to the airport was an adventure in itself, but that deserves another article entirely. I had barely slept, being awake for 43 hours straight, except for a few hours of sleep on the plane and short dozes here and there while waiting at the airport.
Check-in and Baggage
It was my first time with Air France, a typical European airline in terms of baggage policies: one carry-on bag and one personal item, not exceeding a combined weight of 12 kg. Being a carry-on-only traveler, I had to adapt, as my suitcase exceeded this limit. I ended up adding checked luggage online for 30 euros, saving 10 euros compared to adding it at the airport.
Check-in went smoothly and without any issues. The service agents were incredibly friendly, even at 4 in the morning. Their energy at that early hour is something I still don’t understand.
The Flight
The economy class flight on Air France doesn’t offer many frills. Business class passengers enjoy refreshing towels, a meal, and free champagne, even on short intra-European routes. In economy class, I received a sandwich, a cookie, and a drink on each segment of my flight (there was a stopover in Paris).
I fell asleep before even taking off towards Paris and woke up just long enough to eat my sandwich. The flight lasted about an hour. Once at Charles de Gaulle Airport, I headed to my gate, double and triple checking that I was in the right place.
Gate Change
Unfortunately, the gate number changed without me noticing. When I showed up at the boarding gate, I was told that the flight was to Lisbon, while I was waiting for Madrid. Completely exhausted after 26 hours without sleep, I headed to customer service.
The service agent confirmed that my flight had already left and the gate number had changed. Understanding my situation, she changed my flight to the next departure at no additional cost and assured me that my luggage would be transferred and waiting for me in Madrid.
Waiting at the Airport
With several hours to kill before my new flight, I regretted not having explored the Air France lounge. These lounges offer showers, free wifi, a buffet, and drinks for a reasonable cost. It would have allowed me to rest more comfortably and freshen up before continuing my journey.
The New Flight
The following flight went without incident. The flight attendants were courteous and served us a sandwich and a cookie on the two-hour flight to Madrid. I appreciate this snack service, which American airlines would do well to imitate.
Arrival in Madrid
Upon arrival in Madrid, I discovered that my luggage had stayed in Paris. I filled out the necessary paperwork with slight pessimism, expecting never to see my suitcase again. However, to my great surprise, my luggage was delivered to me the next morning.
Conclusion
Despite a few inconveniences, my overall experience with Air France was positive. The customer service was excellent, and the airline kept its promises by delivering my luggage quickly. I highly recommend Air France and will not hesitate to fly with them in the future.
