This was published 2 years ago
Airline review: Air France Airbus A318 economy class, Paris to Florence
By Ute Junker
Air France is phasing out its Airbus A318s.
THE ROUTE
Flight AF1066 from Paris to Florence
THE AIRCRAFT
Airbus A318. A smaller version of the A320, the airline is phasing out its A318s in favour of the new Airbus A220.
THE LOYALTY SCHEME
The Flying Blue program operated by Air France and KLM also includes other carriers such as Kenya Airways and AirCalin. Points are calculated on fare prices; passengers with entry-level Explorer status earn four miles per euro spent. Air France is part of the SkyTeam alliance.
CLASS
Economy seat, 10C (aisle)
DURATION
One hour 45 minutes
CARBON EMISSIONS
104kg according to the Air France carbon calculator. Each fare from France includes a small sustainable fuel contribution in the price. Travellers can also choose to participate in the Trip and Tree reforestation program.
FREQUENCY
The schedule changes with the season but there are generally about five flights a week.
HEALTH
Passengers are required to wear a mask in the airport and on the plane.
CHECKING IN
Online check-in opens 30 hours before the flight, so I have printed my boarding pass before I arrive at the airport. However, I still have to print my baggage tag. Attaching the tag and scanning my bag using a handheld scanner isn't quite as easy as it sounds, but once the bag has been sent, it's an easy pass through security.
THE SEAT
Seats are 18 inches (45.7cm) wide with 32 inches (81.2cm) pitch. I have paid an extra $30 for an exit-row seat, which has a generous amount of leg room.
BAGGAGE
Air France's entry level fares do not include checked baggage, but I have chosen a fare that includes 23kg of luggage as well as one carry-on and one personal item, up to a total of 12kg.
ENTERTAINMENT
There are no seatback screens on this flight, but Wi-Fi is available for those who can't stand to be disconnected for a couple of hours. The most basic "Surf Pass" is five euros; for the higher-speed "Stream Pass", designed for streaming videos and music, the cost is 15 euros. The "Message Pass", which lets you use messaging apps such as WhatsApp, is free.
SERVICE
The staff offers a friendly welcome and efficient service. When a passenger complains about the seatbelt sign still being on halfway through the flight, preventing people from using the toilet, the attendant goes and speaks with the captain, who turns the sign off shortly after.
FOOD
It's a quick jump rather than a long flight, so no surprise that the snacks are fairly simple. Staff come through straight after take-off offering a biscuit and a choice of drinks including coffee, tea, juice and water.
ONE MORE THING
Charles de Gaulle airport is notorious for delays due to flight connections – transit passengers often find themselves sprinting from one gate to the next. So it's not that much of a surprise when our departure is delayed by half an hour as we wait for connecting passengers. Our captain keeps us informed about what's happening, and we make up most of the delay during the flight.
VERDICT
Nothing to complain about on this well-managed short-haul flight.
OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE
★★★★
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