I can I say I found that I did not feel as exhausted or jet-lagged after my flight as I have on other transatlantic jaunts. That made for a tight squeeze with my backpack laid on its side to one side of it and my small purse to the other.Īs TPG has reported, certain Airbus aircraft, including the A350, are supposed to provide a better flying experience for long-haul flights thanks to better cabin pressurization and humidity. ![]() You might find the legroom to be limited, though, because the under-seat area is split in half by a movable metal leg rest. I did appreciate the expansive seatback pocket which was large enough to store the amenity kit, a water bottle, my iPad, laptop and any trash. It measured 18 inches wide with 36 inches of pitch and an adjustable headrest. I thought the premium economy seat was comfortable enough. Economy seats are 10 abreast in rows with a 3-4-3 configuration. I was glad I had arrived extra early for my flight.įrench bee's A350-900 premium economy cabins have 35 seats laid out in five rows of seven seats each in a 2-3-2 configuration. Unfortunately, French bee does not participate in TSA PreCheck, nor was Clear available, so it ended up taking me around 45 minutes to get through security. She also told me that Gate 203, where we would be departing, was at the very end of the terminal so I should give myself extra time to walk there.Īfter a quick check-in process, I took my place in the snaking TSA security line upstairs. passport and vaccination card before weighing my carry-on bag to ensure it was less than 26 pounds. Within five minutes, the gate agent had checked my U.S. I was able to use a check-in lane for premium economy ticket holders, which did not have a line. Perhaps that will change after the airline has been in operation at LAX for a little while. Luckily, I saw the check-in counter right away as it was the first one, closest to the entrance. Travelers flying out of LAX should note that French bee is not identified on any signage upon first walking into the Tom Bradley International Terminal, also known as Terminal B. (Photo by Caroline Tanner/The Points Guy) He noted that the airline, which already flies four Airbus A350-900s and a recently delivered A350-1000, will put another A350-1000 into service before the end of the year and commence operations to its next U.S. "We think we will have a very good summer and need to continue to grow," Rochet told TPG. " best value for money if you want to travel in good condition," the airline's CEO, Marc Rochet, told TPG at the airline's headquarters near Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) shortly after landing.Īlthough he winced at the characterization of the airline as a low-cost carrier, Rochet admitted travelers should not expect the "best luxury service." Instead of high-paying luxury travelers, the airline's new and existing services aim to capitalize upon demand from tourists and families traveling together who want to save money ahead of what is already promising to be an expensive summer travel season for both domestic and international air travel. French bee's inaugural Los Angeles-Paris flight ![]() That said, if price is the main consideration - and it might be for more travelers as summer airfares continue to skyrocket - the entrance of French bee might be a welcome development for budget-conscious flyers looking to get from the West Coast to France in the next few months.įor more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. And, as I experienced aboard the 10-hour and 50-minute inaugural flight on April 30, the relatively young carrier still has some growing pains to work out. While convenience is certainly a factor, the main selling point, so to speak, is probably the fact that French bee undercuts competitors' fares by about half, with round-trip basic economy fares starting at $554 in May.Īs with all experiences, though, you get what you pay for, so passengers looking for a more premium experience might be disappointed. West Coast travelers now have one more option for flying to Europe thanks to a new non-stop route from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) launched by low-cost airline French bee this past weekend.
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