Air France

LIN-ORY-FDF return. Premium Economy is a great compromise between business and economy especially with AF B777s which squeeze 10 rows across in economy and is unbearably claustrophobic especially on the Caribbean routes when they cram in 468 passengers in a B777-300ER (more than a B747). Premium is great service excellent (same service and food as business). Premium seats very comfortable slide forward rather than recline pitch 36" on their B777-300ER Caribbean routes (other routes it is 38") but the width and armrests make a huge difference and the TV screens same as business. Entertainment system is old and needs modernising however. Having travelled in the past in AF business I wouldn't recommend it (slanting flat bed is rubbish!) but would definitely travel premium again. Well done AF great staff attitude improvement in the last few years too.

AF256 CDG-SIN. The return flight was a bit better due to a more pleasant set of crew although I do feel the level of engagement with passengers is lacking and crew members just doing the minimal task of serving the 2 meals quickly and then disappearing in between meal service which makes up a good part of the long flight. The real problem with AF is their planes - just not comfortable for long haul - cramped seating 3-4-3 in a 777 aircraft in a full flight feels suffocating crowded very unpleasant and the inflight entertainment needs a major upgrading - small screen with blurry images that keeps hanging and limited selection. There is also no extras like an ice cream after main meal or selection of snacks and fruits in between meals. In fact the food served is terrible one of the worst ever experienced. I was left very tired and hungry. The scrambled eggs served for breakfast was so overcooked and heated it was like puddle of yellow mud with a small sausage looking awkward in the mess. I think it gives the impression of no care given. That about sums up my experience with AF. Until they improve on the service and product best to look for other options.

JNB-CDG 4th February. Short haul is pleasant enough and efficient (though avoid Paris Charles de Gaulle if at all possible Orly is a delight). Long haul (A380 economy) was a short haul experience on a long haul flight. I found the seats were thinly padded and barely reclined food short-haul standard. Where the French no doubt find the cabin crew efficient and focused as a Brit I found them professional but stand-offish and unwelcoming. No > concept at check-in of spreading the passengers round the cabin to give everyone a bit more space. An uncomfortable and not particularly pleasant flight.

CDG-MAN-CDG Economy A321. Both legs on-time. Domestic flight configuration with seats not reclining but decent legroom. Good choice of newspapers upon boarding snack and beverage service - sufficient for a one-hour-flight. Surprised that wine and even gin tonic were available on the short flight! Cabin crew professional and friendly. Ticket fare rather competitive. Would fly AF again on short-haul flights.

HAV-CDG Economy. 2 adults (couple). "Due to full flight" we did not get adjacent seats which couldn't be changed - well nobody made a serious effort neither at check-in (2 hrs prior to boarding time) not at the gate. Aircraft an 747-400 which was pretty worn-down. No choice of food offered for dinner. Friendly cabin crew. Long-haul in economy AF is just a 3* airline so don't expect too much.

AF 422 CDG to BOG. AF 423 BOG to CDG. SEAT 01F/3K. A340. In business for all flights. This was my second Business Class flight in a month with AF having travelled LCY-AMS-BKK. BKK-CDG-LHR in late November 2103. The staff are always accommodating and friendly the food good and plentiful the seats on the A340's comfortable and all flights were on time. My biggest complaint for a very long haul flight is that the IFE is not good enough for the price the Business traveller pays for the entire package. It is lacking functionality and lacks any decent programming content. Simply not on par with BA/Virgin etc. I had browsed most of the IFE on my previous return long flight BKK to CDG and to my horror same old so called entertainment system on both legs of CDG-BOG and BOG- CDG. Looking forward to a trip to Lima Peru in March but not with Air France.

MVD-EZE-MVD - C class Boeing 777. Surprised for a short flight. Great check in and well mannered staff on board staff all good and smooth.

TLS-CDG-DUB-AMS-TLS. Two of the four flights were late for no obvious reason. Luggage was lost on the way to Dublin and it took AF 12 hours to send the luggage despite frequent flights between CDG and DUB. Delay on DUB-AMS resulted in unscheduled overnight in AMS. Unfriendly and indifferent staff all the way. AF/KLM makes no effort to get passengers on their next flight if the incoming flight is delayed. Got a hotel voucher in AMS for a hotel which is up to one hour away from the airport (40min waiting time for the bus + 15 min to get there). You also have to queue twice when you lose your connection: once to get your new boarding pass and again to get your hotel voucher. And finally I got numerous messages that my baggage was lost on AMS-TLS as well despite the fact that I found it eventually on the conveyor belt. Silver status on AF/KLM is worth nothing as I got seats in the last row or middle seats allocated.

DEL-CDG with connection within Europe return. The long distance flights were excellent especially the daytime return flight to Delhi. The lounge in CDG is excellent and the food on the flight was superb better than any other airline I have taken in years. Seat although not totally flat was comfortable and the entertainment system was good. Crew were professional. The European flights were without personality operated by Hop! with no real food or service. Long distance AF I found better than Lufthansa or Emirates business. But I find that economy is the acid test most first world airlines have good long distance business class it's economy short haul where they lose it.

Flight 1904 CDG (Paris) to FCO (Rome) January 16 2014. I was unable to select a seat on the Air France website or by phone. However during my short layover in Paris the ticket counter person gave me a nice seat (10A). The seat was above-average and I was able to sleep comfortably during most of the flight. The FAs were competent. The complimentary snack they provided was good: sandwich and small bottle of wine.