Air France’s New Buy-On-Board Experiment
Ladies and gents, Air France is mixing things up a bit. They’ve been on a roll lately, pouring some good ol’ euros into enhancing the passenger experience, mainly the swanky seats. But now, rumors of a little service shake-up are emerging from the world of short-haul flights.
Will Economy Flyers Have to Pay for Food & Drinks?
The whispering started with Air France’s cabin crew union letting slip about an upcoming experiment. Our trusted SkyTeam participant is itching to play around with the service offerings on short jaunts, particularly in 2025. The stage? Paris to Helsinki or Lisbon. That’s where the game is on for a few months between April and June.
In this trial, expect the basics to be laid down—free coffee, tea, orange juice, or Coke, plus your choice of a savory or sweet biscuit, depending on the sun’s position. Let’s say you want a bit more than a biscuit to satisfy those grumbling stomachs… then you’d need to cough up some cash (or rather, a card swipe) to get your hands on extra treats and drinks. Did someone say flight attendant commission? Yep, they’ve lined up a 10% cut for the crew, which saw an 86% yay from union reps. Kudos to the democratic spirit!
Timing’s everything here. Well, especially when they’re clocking how these changes affect service speed. They’ve picked long-ish Europe routes, ensuring attendants can do their Oprah impression “You get a drink! You get a snack!” while cruising at 36,000 feet.
Traditionally, economy passengers weren’t exactly living the life of Ryan, but they did get complimentary service. A cookie for quick hops under 2.5 hours and a fresh sandwich for slightly longer jaunts. Drinks, including the boozy ones, have been free. But that status quo could soon change.
A Peek into the Future of Air France’s Economy Service
So what’s my two cents about this flight food fiasco? Look, none of us are thrilled when airlines pull out the “reduced service” card, although this is just a little test—chill, let’s see where it goes. Stand at ease, Air France is no slacker when compared to its frugal rivals in the economy cabin game.
If we dive into the nitty-gritty, British Airways often lands you a humble package of free water and bites, while Lufthansa has relied on water to soothe the thirst of its short-haul economy patrons.
Even if Air France goes through with these tweaks permanently, it would still be offering a level of service miles ahead of the pack—British Airways and Lufthansa could take notes. Think of it as similar to flying economy stateside, where non-alcoholic drinks and a small snack are all you’re getting.
A deep dive into customers’ desires and Air France’s balancing act—yes, who wouldn’t love to keep the wine and sandwiches just rolling, but let’s see where they land with this money-saving maneuver?
Sure, not everybody’s on board with giving things up, but a handful might fancy more food variety, for a price. Meanwhile, Lufthansa’s been pondering a return to more free goodies on short-hauls, though whether their budget agrees is another tale.
The Bottom Line
In the spring, Air France is set to roll out a culinary pilot program on economy short hauls. No stress—all non-alcoholic drinks and a light snack keep rolling, but with the added chance to spend on extras.
Will this trial reshape Air France’s strategy? Too soon to say. But whatever happens, the French national carrier will still sidestep British Airways and Lufthansa for their service, no doubt there.
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What do you think about Air France’s new plan to sell products on board?