For years I’ve been trying to fly on the Airbus A318 and for years I have failed. Once it was due to a flight cancellation. Once due a schedule change. This time it was due to a last-minute equipment swap.
Airbus A318 Continues To Evade Me, This Time On Air France
In reviving my options to get from Amsterdam to Tunis, I chose Air France, which required an overnight in Paris before a 7:00am connection to Tunis. While that was flight was set in stone, I had six flights to choose from to get from Amsterdam (AMS) to Paris (CDG).
While I always love KLM and would have enjoyed flying the Dutch airline again, even on a short flight, I chose Air France because its 1:55pm flight was operated by an Airbus A318, the only Airbus A320 family aircraft I have never flown.
It’s a mini version of the A320 and never did particularly well, but Air France continues to operate the aircraft (so does SkyTeam partner Tarom). I’d like to fly the aircraft before it is retired (and with new Airbus A220s in the Air France fleet, I’m not sure it will be all that long) and scheduled the Air France flight just to try the aircraft.
But as I approached the gate to board, I noticed my “A318” looked a bit too big. Indeed, I pulled up my flight on FlightAware and found that my A318 had been swapped for an A319, an aircraft I fly on all the time.
Although greatly dismayed, the later Air France flight was operated by an A321 and KLM uses 737s on the route, so it made no sense to try to switch. Ironically, the day before and day after my flight it was operated, as scheduled, by an A318.
Onboard, I found my seat in row one and at least expected a nice lunch after takeoff. In European business class, you only get an economy class seat with a middle seat blocked, but can generally expect a decent meal onboard, particularly on a mainline aircraft.
But nope, apparently Air France is still engaged in some degree of COVID-19 cost-cutting because instead of being served a small cold meal, I was offered a small package of cheese biscuits and a small packet of chocolate orange candy.
Pretty disappointing considering KLM would have at least served a little box of food and Lufthansa and British Airways would have offered a much heartier meal.
CONCLUSION
Air France disappointed me by swapping out the A318 on my flight to Paris then failing to serve a meal onboard. While the A318 vs. A319 issue is meaningless to most passengers, do keep in mind that if you pay up for business class on Air France, you won’t fed on a key hub-to-hub flight.
image: Kiefer
I’m so glad I got to fly on one with Frontier many years ago. And the only reason I did was because my United flight from ABQ to DEN was cancelled, so they put me on Frontier on an A318 (when they still flew them). Fun little ‘bus.
And a hot cookie too, right?
Might have even had a wrap back then
I, too, have been wanting to fly aboard an A318 but have concluded that it will not be possible. If one does so, it’s mainly to check it off a list because it’s so similar to an A319.
Surprised you never flew the JFK-LCY route. For the fun of it
It’s a big regret I have.
(Though not as bad as not booking a flight on an ATA L-1011 flight, NW DC-10 flight, AF A380, or especially flying Concorde when I had the chance)
Ah, COVID: the universal excuse to make moves that you never would have gotten away with before.
I flew it a few times between CDG and HAM. It’s a fun little bird, but here in Europe AF is known for its last minute swaps on short haul routes (that is the whole point of A320 aicraft family, adjust to passenger demand). I once got “downgraded” from an A321 to an A318 on AF….Flying the A318 is fun in the rows towards the back as it makes you realize how small it is….Curious to see that you did not get a full meal, last time I flew AF in September on European short haul, I got a proper cold meal…maybe its due to route/timing?
I got lucky a few years ago. My A318 flight on AF from CDG to FCO held. As someone else said, not too different from an A319, but fun to check off the list nevertheless.
Maybe your luck will change if you schedule a flight on Tarom? Time’s running out!
I wish that instead off flying the AMS-CDG route, you had taken a train instead and reviewed that option, for a change. To meet the EU climate goals, trains are supposed to become the primary option for shorter distances. Just a thought…
Stay tuned, I’ll be sharing about intercity train travel from Paris to Mulhouse/Basel in an upcoming trip report. We flew one direction and took a train back.
I like planes, but I love trains. Look forward to this trip report.
So did the A318 have 2 FC rows like the 319 or 3 like the A320? Or did other airlines configure them differently than AA?
And what are you missing? Get a life.
Lol. Good one, Max.
Had the best smoked salmon breakfast on KLM up front AMS to EdI!
As the only Airbus to land in the heart of London, the A318 will always have my vote.
The AF 318 doesn’t have the seatback hooks for your jacket. Otherwise, it’s pretty much the same, and the computers don’t let you enjoy the sport-coupé performance. If you want that, by the way, keep booking flights CDG-AMS and maybe you’ll get a long final to the Polderbaan with some good gusts necessitating a windshear escape G/A.
Find it hilarious you think you should be fed on a 40 minute flight time leg. I certainly wouldn’t expect to, regardless of section I was in.
I do based on years of experience…
Not my point. Just because you have, doesn’t mean you should. I know we’re not going to agree, but i don’t expect to be fed or even served drinks on a 40 minute flight, regardless of route and regardless of past experience.
I’ve flown on an A318 a few times, and all I can think of is what an ugly plane it is (to my eyes).
Also, those snacks… kinda look good?
TAROM still has four A318’s in operation… at least until 2023 when the new B737’s get delivered. I know for a fact that at least the daily, Bucharest, RO – Amsterdam, NL & retour route is assigned to a baby-bus.
I don’t know how much time you have left considering that AirFrance too has stated, once the new A220’s arrive they will scrap the A318 baby-buses.
To their credit, those chocolate sticks are delicious.
My first Airbus flight was an A318, PEI-BOG, we arrived at the airport early, doing the check-in they asked us, “do you want to take this early flight that’s already here, will depart in 15 minutes or you would like to wait your schedule flight” we we’re originally going to take an A320 but the A318 was with available seats and we took it, same day we did later BOG-CUC, so the stopover was longer, but we were going to wait some hours at BOG no matter what
Lucky you!