I took advantage of a cheap fare offered out of Algeria last weekend to confirm two trips in first class on Air France. But will Air France honor the tickets?
Flying Air France First Class on the 777-300ER was the best overall first class experience I have ever had. While Air France Business Class is a perfectly reasonable product, there’s a huge gulf between business and first and the entire experience, especially the ground product in Paris, is something very special.
Although an older product, I’ve long dreamed about flying the A380 in First Class as well, especially as Air France is one of the last A380 first class products I have not tired. Although there is some question as to whether the A380 will ever fly again, I think the answer is yes and that demand will come roaring back in the fourth quarter.
Anyway, rather than decide whether to take the luxurious four-seat 777-300ER in first class once again or take the A380, I just booked both.
There are already reports that Air France is downgrading these tickets from first class to business class. My trips, in November 2020 and January 2021, have not yet been touched. Sadly, it is likely only a matter of time.
Still, downgrading to business class would be an interesting change of pace. Last time Air France has seller’s remorse about first class, it simply cancelled tickets.
> Read More: Air France Cancels My First Class Reservation…96 Hours Later
This time around, Delta issued the tickets, not Air France. Air France would have to take over the tickets and re-issue them from Delta’s 006 stock to its own 057 stock. Is it possible? Absolutely…I would not put it past Air France.
Should it happen? Fares out of Algeria have always been historically cheap. For years Air France had a very reasonable r/t fare from Algiers to Beijing filed and the current one-way tickets from Algeria to Portland and Houston were around for a month before they were pulled last Sunday morning after the deal was posted on Flyertalk and picked up by several blogs.
CONCLUSION
I’ll wait to see what Air France does with my tickets before talking about how I will proceed. Any talk of legal action is vastly premature…so save the comments. I do shake my head that three days have gone by. Imagine giving consumers the same flexility to unilaterally modify or cancel tickets…even now (especially now).
Mine has already been changed to biz. Got an email from Expedia saying it was canceled and re-ticketed but my Expedia page still shows the same flights. However, I got an email from AF confirming my flights and showing J to Paris and then Z to Houston. The e-ticket number on Expedia still shows the original 006 but my AF booking now shows a 057 e-ticket number. I think they did take over the reservation and re-issue.
So for those with downgraded tickets, what would you recommend? Cancel for a full refund, EC261, or fight for the ticket in F?
I’m thinking about it and will have a detailed post on it, likely tomorrow. Very disappointing move.
Same here. Just got a email saying I was downgraded to business class. I was really looking forward to taking my family in first class on air France. CDG-LAX
I booked through Priceline and my ticket was downgraded. What’s the best way to go about canceling especially with the lack of response from companies currently?
My also for an email from Priceline and AF about the downgrade. I do see Business D instead F on Delta app but however my seat number is not changed. I still see 1L but ticket number has been changed to 057.
Sorry about the typo “ I also got an email”
But it seems seat now says “requested” next to first class seat assignment.
The part of your post I am the most interested is in how you came to the conclusion that demand will come roaring back in the 4th quarter?
The only way I ever see travel coming back is for a vaccine or proven effective therapy for this virus. Otherwise people will still be scared (rightfully) to do any unnecessary travel as outbreaks will still be happening late next year. Even when we have a vaccine or therapy it will still take 1-2 years to ramp up the economy again enough to see even close to the demand we had Pre-Covid19 given the strains and stress so many have had to endure. Other than Emirates, I imagine the A380’s days are numbered as such.
Finally, If you’re basing this on 9/11 as a model for recovery I would say the two are not even close in devastation that this is going to have on psyche and economy.
Maybe I’m wrong…totally wrong. It would not be the first time. But I think we are going to see cases dramatically drop over the summer and people are going to get out and start flying again before we relapse in the winter again with the next strain.
One way that would help is to provide home antibody testing for everyone. It’s pretty established now that 25%-50% of the people who have the virus never even knew. We might be shocked at how many have immunity come summer/fall and can safely start to travel. This could be the start of getting a portion of the population out and working/traveling.
Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with AF Le’ Premiere!
It’s only one state, and we’ve been hit by a double whammy of the virus and energy prices cratering, but see what our State Comptroller has to say about the speed of the recovery.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2020/04/01/texas-reeling-into-recession-from-double-blows-of-coronavirus-oil-slump-comptroller-glenn-hegar-says/
Sorry to break it to you, but this isn’t going to be a snap-back recovery. Maybe antibody testing or these chloroquine trials end up changing the game, but otherwise, no business anywhere is going to be in a rush to start hiring again with the threat of more months-long lockdowns returning in the winter.
I think we’ll all be fine. It’ll be crazy for a little bit. There will be a racial reckoning, a president will lose an election and try to end democracy as we know it. People will try to overthrow the government. Schools will get shot up. Cities will be drowned. War will break out in Europe. Women will lose body autonomy. But that’s it. It’s just a flu from Wuhan.
Lol!