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2.0 120 Reviews

Air France Complaints Summary

30 Resolved
90 Unresolved
Our verdict: When using services from Air France with a poor resolution rate, be vigilant. Understand the common pitfalls other customers have faced. Prepare thoroughly for any interactions with their customer service, and consider alternative solutions if your issues are not addressed satisfactorily.
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10:33 am EDT
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Air France Daylight robbery

Bad Bad Bad experience with Air France, I wrote a letter of complaint (see below) and to date have not heard back from anyone!

Darren Moore
39 Park Crescent
Hornchurch
Essex
RM11 1BJ
10th February 2009
To whom it may concern,
I am writing with regard to a trip I made to St. Petersburg on Wednesday 4th February 2009. We were holding a Conference in Russia starting on the evening of Wednesday 4th February 2009 and had booked 4 tickets from London Heathrow, catching a flight from Paris then onto St Petersburg. Due to the adverse weather conditions on Monday 2nd February several flights were cancelled from Heathrow and we were concerned about being able to catch the flight from Paris to Russia. I called up Air France at Heathrow and was told that I could fly to Paris Tuesday night, stop over and be on time for the connecting flight. Which I did, I purchased a late ticket from London Luton by Easyjet and flew into Paris at 9pm that night. When I arrived the next morning to check in at Charles De Gaulle I was told that I needed to go back to the ticket office, I was given no reason for this and this was giving me less time to check in. I managed to finally speak to a lady who could not understand why they had sent me there until I told her that I flew in the night before. After 10 minutes of talking and phone calls (the time is now 9am) the lady I was dealing with said ‘I’m sorry but I have to leave’ and passed me onto someone else. I then had to explain everything again (this is now nearly 9.10am). She then tells me that because I didn’t get the connecting flight from Heathrow, which at this point had still not arrived, they had to CANCEL my original booking and had to sell me a new ticket. This shocked and amazed me as I already had a ticket from Paris to Russia and back to Paris then onto Heathrow I didn’t need another ticket! Unfortunately as you can imagine time is now ticking and I had no other choice but to stump up the 1599.95 Euro’s for another ticket (daylight robbery) after she told me that she may not even have an available seat, which I took as a joke because I was already booked on the same flight. They rushed me round to the check in desk, which was about to close and checked me in. I ran to the gate and made the flight within 5 minutes. My colleagues did manage to get the connecting flight from Heathrow and arrived again with minutes to spare.
It wasn’t until I got to Russia and was talking to my colleagues about the food on the flight that I realised I had been sold a S Class ticket, this disgusted me as I had no idea and I was given no other option for economy where there appeared lots of empty seats, all I wanted to do was get to Russia!
One I arrived in St Petersburg I waited for my baggage which did not arrive, again I was disgusted this was beginning to become to journey from hell, and although I don’t claim to travel that much I have never received such a bad service, I then had to fill in more forms in Russia and was told that my baggage (along with my colleagues) would arrive on the next flight from Paris the following day. This was not acceptable as I had clients arriving for a cocktail reception that evening with the conference beginning on the Thursday morning and I had no other clothes to change into…
My baggage arrived at 8.10pm on Thursday 5th February.
There are a number of issues I would like to raise. Firstly, why did I have to purchase another ticket when I already had one and was told this would be ok, secondly why was I up sold to S Class which made my ticket even more expensive and thirdly why did my baggage not arrive when I was checked in half an hour before the flight took off. If they knew my bags would not make it why did someone not tell me and I would of taken it with me as hand luggage.
This was a terrible service from Air France and one that has put me off from travelling with you again. I enclose a copy of my electronic ticket that I would like a full refund for and my bank details with IBAN number so the money can be transferred straight into my account.

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salah Laasri
Monterey, US
Apr 23, 2011 9:25 pm EDT
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Hi There,
Just wanted to tell every body, do your self a favor, do not fly Air France, poor service, delay, and arrogant.
What else, forget Air France, travel with other air line companies. You may pay less and on the top get better service.
Thanks
S.L., California

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11:33 am EDT
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Air France 24 hour delay no hotel no food

DO NOT FLY AIR FRANCE

I had booked an Air France flight from London Heathrow to Delhi (India) departing on 17 Dec 2008 and returning on 17 Jan 2009. On 17th December 2008, I was travelling by Air France from London to Delhi. The journey involved a change-over of flights in Paris.

The flight from London Heathrow to Paris CDG was AF 1981. It was scheduled to leave at 06.40 (London time), and arrive in Paris CDG at 09.00 (Paris time). From there I was supposed to catch the connecting flight AF 148, scheduled to leave Paris CDG at 10.25 (Paris time), and arrive in Delhi at 23.00 (Delhi time) on 17th December 2008 night. But the flight from London to Paris, AF 1981, was delayed and it arrived in Paris at 12.21 (Paris time). This led to my missing the connecting flight, AF 0148, to Delhi on 17th December 2008.

My flight from LHR to Paris CDG (AF 1981) was delayed by several hours. I was told that the flight crew did not have the stipulated rest as was supposed to as the reason for the delay. Due to the delayed departure from Heathrow my connecting flight from Paris CDG to Delhi (AF 148) was missed. The Air France staff at Heathrow made a public announcement promising that flight from Paris CDG to Delhi (AF 148) is being delayed for us; so that passengers will be able to catch onward flight AF 148 to Delhi.

Surprisingly, when we reached Paris, Air France staff informed us that flight AF 148 had already departed. And that at no point of time they had communicated to their counterparts in LHR that flight AF 148 is delayed; for us to be able to catch it. It is disappointing to know that such a reputed airline does not operate transparently and just for their own convenience they had put so many passengers into trouble. So if the airline staff was aware that the flight AF 148 is not being delayed – they should not have flown me to Paris. The flight was destined to a non-EU country and therefore it was highly unlikely that passengers like me will have the right to enter Paris without having a transit/ Schengen visa.

When I bought the ticket from Air France, I entered into a contract with Air France which included the airline getting me to Delhi on the 17th Dec itself. I had no intention of entering or staying in France, and for that reason I had not gone through the trouble of getting a Schegen visa. It was Air France’s fault that they had delayed the LHR to Paris CDG flight because of which I missed my connecting flight. The immigration (police) officials at Paris decided not to grant me a (like many other fellow passengers) transit visa to stay overnight in a hotel in Paris.

It is also surprising that Air France staff at Paris CDG had poor communication skills. Paris CDG, being an international airport, the Air France staff should have been well conversant in English – most of Air France ground staff lacked the basic language skills. They were unable to understand the passengers and could not communicate properly.

I had left my house 3.30am (UK time) to catch my flight from LHR to Paris CDG. I had not eaten anything in the morning and just got a croissant in the flight AF 1981. Till about 4pm CET, we were left stranded at Paris CDG airport with no one providing us any food or water. Air France staff did not even realize that the passengers are hungry and thirsty and it is their responsibility to provide them the necessities. These are basic human understandings. These should have been provided without even anyone asking for it. The passengers had to fight for even these basics. I believe that the staff behavior was highly inappropriate. At last, when the Air France staff did manage to get a few sandwiches, most of it was non-vegetarian. Most of the passengers on the other hand including myself were vegetarian. I could not even get a sandwich to eat as the staff ran out of vegetarian sandwiches. Until about 10pm CET I had to survive on few chocolates I had in my handbag. The dinner we were provided was also very inappropriate. There was just a vending machine at the terminal where we were stranded but I did not have any Euros to use it.

Under such circumstances it is also the airline’s responsibility to provide calling cards to passengers so that the passengers could at the least inform their family members of the situation. My friends, family members and relatives in the UK as well as Delhi were so worried about my well being. The airline had very few calling cards which they soon ran out off. I could not get hold of a calling card.

My troubles did not end here. On my return flight (AF 147 & AF 1080) on 17 Jan 2009 my checked-in baggage was torn.

Under the circumstances specified above, as per EU laws, it is also the legal responsibility of Air France to inform me of my rights and information about where to complain. No such information was provided by Air France to me at any point of time.

For choosing to fly Air France, after paying for it, I was harassed in all possible ways. Stranded for approximately 24 hours in an airport with no blanket, no proper seating arrangement, nothing to eat or drink causing so much mental and physical stress to me in addition to the worries of my friends and family members. Additionally, we were moved from terminal to terminal by the security staff because of which we could not even rest properly at night. This was not only my worst ever flying experience but my worst life experience – thanks to Air France.

I lodged a written complaint to Air France Customer Service. I am still awaiting response.

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CA - Illfated flight
Braintree, GB
Dec 04, 2014 4:53 am EST

Hi, I was on the same flights LHR - CDG - DEL... did you finally get any compensation form the airlines?

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3:03 am EST
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Air France Overcharged and no baggage

I have recently used Air France for a trip to St Petersburg in Russia, and let me tell you something, never again! I have written a letter of complaint (see below) but to date have not heard back, If anyone else has had a similar experience and has either had a result or can give me any contact details then I would be eternally grateful. My mobile is [protected] or email at darrenmoore.[protected]@gmail.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10th February 2009
To whom it may concern,
I am writing with regard to a trip I made to St. Petersburg on Wednesday 4th February 2009. We were holding a Conference in Russia starting on the evening of Wednesday 4th February 2009 and had booked 4 tickets from London Heathrow, catching a flight from Paris then onto St Petersburg. Due to the adverse weather conditions on Monday 2nd February several flights were cancelled from Heathrow and we were concerned about being able to catch the flight from Paris to Russia. I called up Air France at Heathrow and was told that I could fly to Paris Tuesday night, stop over and be on time for the connecting flight. Which I did, I purchased a late ticket from London Luton by Easyjet and flew into Paris at 9pm that night. When I arrived the next morning to check in at Charles De Gaulle I was told that I needed to go back to the ticket office, I was given no reason for this and this was giving me less time to check in. I managed to finally speak to a lady who could not understand why they had sent me there until I told her that I flew in the night before. After 10 minutes of talking and phone calls (the time is now 9am) the lady I was dealing with said ‘I’m sorry but I have to leave’ and passed me onto someone else. I then had to explain everything again (this is now nearly 9.10am). She then tells me that because I didn’t get the connecting flight from Heathrow, which at this point had still not arrived, they had to CANCEL my original booking and had to sell me a new ticket. This shocked and amazed me as I already had a ticket from Paris to Russia and back to Paris then onto Heathrow I didn’t need another ticket! Unfortunately as you can imagine time is now ticking and I had no other choice but to stump up the 1599.95 Euro’s for another ticket (daylight robbery) after she told me that she may not even have an available seat, which I took as a joke because I was already booked on the same flight. They rushed me round to the check in desk, which was about to close and checked me in. I ran to the gate and made the flight within 5 minutes. My colleagues did manage to get the connecting flight from Heathrow and arrived again with minutes to spare.

It wasn’t until I got to Russia and was talking to my colleagues about the food on the flight that I realised I had been sold a S Class ticket, this disgusted me as I had no idea and I was given no other option for economy where there appeared lots of empty seats, all I wanted to do was get to Russia!

One I arrived in St Petersburg I waited for my baggage which did not arrive, again I was disgusted this was beginning to become to journey from hell, and although I don’t claim to travel that much I have never received such a bad service, I then had to fill in more forms in Russia and was told that my baggage (along with my colleagues) would arrive on the next flight from Paris the following day. This was not acceptable as I had clients arriving for a cocktail reception that evening with the conference beginning on the Thursday morning and I had no other clothes to change into…
My baggage arrived at 8.10pm on Thursday 5th February.
There are a number of issues I would like to raise. Firstly, why did I have to purchase another ticket when I already had one and was told this would be ok, secondly why was I up sold to S Class which made my ticket even more expensive and thirdly why did my baggage not arrive when I was checked in half an hour before the flight took off. If they knew my bags would not make it why did someone not tell me and I would of taken it with me as hand luggage.

This was a terrible service from Air France and one that has put me off from travelling with you again. I enclose a copy of my electronic ticket that I would like a full refund for and my bank details with IBAN number so the money can be transferred straight into my account.

I look forward to your reply

Regards
Mr Darren Moore

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Himanshu Parashar
, IN
Nov 29, 2009 12:22 am EST

My Baggage is still missing its more than 23days and Air France customer care not responding me and referring.

Please refer my mail sent on 4days back but no response from Air France Customer Care and operations team.

Thanks for your mail, But I have never told that I have no receipts,

Yes I can provide you few of receipts which I am having and few of receipts I can not provide for that this offered amount by you should be added
with my Claim amount.

Its Air France mistake due to that my baggage is missing and I will confirm my claim amount not Air France because I know what was and how much important things were in my missing Baggage. Please let me know the procedure to submit the Bills.

If I am not getting satisfactory Claim then I will have to take Media's and Consumer Forum's Help Today only.

I am not getting satisfactory amount. Request to respond me today only.

Thanks

I feel I need to take Media's Help now.

- Himanshu Parashar
[protected]

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2:20 pm EST
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Air France Don't use them!

My husband and I bought three tickets thru Expedia for Paris in April 2008. My husband bought a Delta ticket, and I bought the other two on Air France. They share the same carrier so we would be on the same flight. Come the flight date I was extremely ill with a flu. I was told Air France would waive the penalty for reissuing a ticket if I had a doctors note, and that I would need to show it when I rebooked to AF. Both Expedia and Air France confirmed, we would have flight credit until April 2009. I called Expedia, Air France and Delta to confirm we would have flight credit until April 2009. Two weeks ago, I called AF and a booking rep confirmed we had flight credit in their database for two tickets, in my name and my sons. She was ready to book our flight and I asked to hold off while we considered more dates. On Saturday 11/29/08 I called AF to book our flights. This time I got a nervous rep who said she needed to read the rules on this ticket. In short, I had the pleasure of speaking with a supervisor who claimed, of their 8, 000 Customer Service representatives, he was the only person one could speak with and there was no one above him. Our problem was that now AF was refusing to honor our flight credit. This indifferent, smug Frenchman on the line, was reiterating the rules from his book that we had no flight credit. He refused to provide any address or name for me to discuss this problem. Two hours later, Expedia decided to give us a full refund. My husband has spent around a half million dollars with Expedia in the past six years, and they acknowledged their resonsibility in the communication of the--suddenly changed-- rules. While Air France decided to make big ### of themselves, Im happy to say Delta did not. Delta is honoring my husbands flight credit. Interestingly, Air France is also keeping their share of his flight credit for the same flight. So in all, Air France is keeping $1454.40 of our money for nothing. Suffice to say, we will NEVER FLY AIR FRANCE! And we are not really interested in going to Paris anytime soon.

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Valerie
Valerie
, US
Oct 06, 2008 4:50 pm EDT

I would like to make you aware of my experience on your Air France Airlines. My party of 10 people (4 business class seats and 6 economy seats) had a terrible trip departing, connecting and returning on your airline. The personal were rude, unhelpful and spiteful.

To begin, Flight AF0007 on June 24, 2008 @ 19:10 was delayed. We were told (by the stewardess) that the connecting flight in Paris would be held since we were 10 people. At Paris a bus with a sign "Venice" on it was sent to speed us from one terminal to the other. We were told that personnel were supposed to meet us and provide priority status, so we could move more quickly through immigration etc. and get to the gate on time for Flight 1426 @ 9:50 to Venice. No one was ever sent to assist us.

We inquired numerous times if we could get to the gate more quickly, but we were told by the airport staff "Don't Worry" the connection would wait, especially since we were 10 people. Not one of the airport staff called and inquired for us, the just said "Don't Worry".

When we arrived at the gate the flight had departed. Personnel at the gate said they were never informed we were on our way. Then we were told by another employee that they never wait for passengers. I don't know if your policy is to wait for passengers that have landed and are en route or if you do not wait. (I guess your employees don't know the answer either). When we became upset, one employee actually had the nerve to say Next time they won't send a bus to the terminal- They will let us walk! Actually, sending a bus was useless since there was no one to assist in getting to the front of the extremely long immigration line.

Because we missed our connection to Venice, our plans for a prepaid tour bus and a boat ride and a tour guide was not possible before we had to board our cruise ship. So we lost our money for those excursions.

Upon our return to the United States Flight 1427 @ 12:40 in Venice was delayed again. When the delayed boarding time was finally announced there was still enough time to make our Paris connection. But then, they announced that 4 people didn't board the plane. We now proceeded to wait 45 minutes more for these people to arrive. So, do you wait for passengers or not? Now with the departure delay and the added 45minute delay for those passengers. We now would miss our connection in Paris AF0010 @ `15:55.

Previous to our arrival in Paris the airline had rebooked us on AF004 @ 20:45. Upon our arrival we found there was a flight @ 18:00 that was available. So we went to the Transfer Desk in order to get on the 18:00 flight. We were the 1st passengers to arrive at the Transfer Desk. The agent confirmed that there were enough seats on the flight for my family of 10. Again we needed 4 business seats and 6 economy seats. He did not know why they put us on the later flight @ 20:45 when there were so many seats available on the earlier flight@ 18:00 (maybe they didn't expect our flight to land at the time it did)

We asked to speak to the manager. At this point we were quite upset trying to explain why we had to move to the earlier flight. The Supervisor C/Rousseliere @ the Air France Transfer Desk did not want to switch us. She said we were already booked on Flight AF004 @ 20:45 and there we would stay.

We explained to the supervisor:

1) That my grandfather and his wife are in their 80's and the longer wait is too taxing on them.

2) We had 4 infants that had to be picked up from babysitters and the later flight would get us home too late to get them.

3) We required special meals and with all the delays we had not eaten for many, many hours.

She lied and said there were no seats available on the earlier flight. We told her the original agent said there were plenty of seats available. Her reply was "The agent was mistaken".

My grandfather and his wife, who were part of my party, saw the attitude of the supervisor and quietly moved to another agent. My grandfather had no problem switching to the 18:00 flight with 2 business seats. Then my sister and her father went to this agent to also get on my grandfathers' flight. The new agent was in the process of giving my sister seat numbers, when the supervisor ran over and told the agent not to give my sister seats. She told the agent to tell my sister there were no seats available on the plane. Obviously the agent had to obey her supervisor and didn't give my sister and her father seats.

After they denied my sister seats we asked how the elderly couple (My grandfather and his wife) got seats on the flight, since she said there were none. She lied again and said they were already booked from much earlier in the day. Obviously this was not true since they were on the delayed flight with me. The supervisor was not aware the elderly couple was from my family.

The supervisor then went back behind closed doors. The original agent who called the supervisor to help make the changes said "when people are insistent that Air France Policy is to not help them. They automatically do nothing to assist them".

For your knowledge the 18:00 flight had at least 2 or more business class seats available for my parents and numerous economy seats for the rest of my family. The flight was definitely not full. My grandfather asked the stewardess/steward and he counted himself.

Our 20:45 flight was also delayed. In total it took us 24 hours to get home to New York from Venice. We had not eaten in this amount of time because we require special meals that did not arrive to the planes. Since we got home so late, my grand children were not picked up on time. We also had to pay the babysitters an extra days pay for the 4 infants.

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gurpreet singh rai
Brampton, CA
Oct 28, 2010 3:54 am EDT
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i dont like that because bag is cost me more than 10, 000 dollar the purpse i go for i have every thing in that bag

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gurpreet singh rai
Brampton, CA
Oct 28, 2010 3:50 am EDT
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i lost my bag sinc more than 2 month and i dont get any clu from air france i did the claim but nobody call me back

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6:45 am EST
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Air France Disappointing treatment of a flying blue silver member

As a Flying Blue Silver member (FB no. [protected]), I booked our honeymoon to Mauritius, at a travelagency, with the remark that we wanted to fly a SkyTeam Airliner. On the travel papers, we received, this was confirmed ("you will fly with Air France"). When embarking at Charles de Gaulle, it appeared we were flying an MK flight (Air Mauritius). In the meantime, the same flight was an Air France flight, so I asked if this could be corrected, so I could collect the airmiles. Unfortunately the KLM-Airfrance Desk informed us that we could not be helped.

The return flight was even more frustrating, since we (indeed) were flying an Air France plain (AF 963), without receiving the air-miles. Again I mentioned this at the check in desk, showed my card, but did not receive any help or other gesture. Since being a Silver member, I would have expected more service and cooperation of an airliner like KLM Air France.

Since we expected we could use the miles, for a new years visit to New York, we had to deal with quite some frustration, that could have been solved easily. Very disappointing.

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garys6000
San Jose, US
Aug 11, 2013 3:16 pm EDT
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I just called Flying Blue USA to question the application of flight mileage on my most recent statement. Juan (no last name, no employee number) took the call at 3:11pm on Sunday August 11, 2013. He was totally discourteous and rude the entire call. I asked to speak to his manager and he refused. I asked again. He refused. He would not help me at all, was offensive, interrupted me and was of no help. I have never heard of a company not having an escalation policy to permit a customer to talk with a manager. Juan assured me Air France does not have such a policy and I would never be permitted to talk with a manager. I will never again fly Air France so I will not have to be humiliated by their personnel.

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Criss.AC
, CZ
Aug 29, 2011 8:55 pm EDT

Hello, I tend to disagree with your complaint.

As a frequent traveler, I believe you're familiar with the term of code-share, I will get to it in a second. You said you booked your trip with a travel agent, and your aim was to get to Mauritius. Between CDG and MRU there is indeed AF flying, but the reason you weren't given any air miles for your flight is that because you had a code-shared flight.

That means, your travel agent paid your ticket to MK (Air Mauritius), your money went to MK, but you were in an AF plane because there is a code-share agreement between the two airlines. And as far as I am aware, MK is not a Flying Blue partner.

But anyway, it could also be a human error. If you open your email and retrieve your electronic ticket, I am 80% sure that your flight would read MK operated by AF. If otherwise the flight there is not a MK operated by AF, but pure AF flight, then of course you are entitled to your air miles.

Hope my explanation made it a bit clearer.

Regards,
Cristian N. MORMOLOC

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5:41 am EST

Air France Flight delay and no meals

To begin, flight AF2652 on November 2403, 2008 @ 07:35 from Paris to Kiev was delayed. Flight was late for an hour (1) for leaving, so I missed my appointment due to the flight delay.
Flight duration: 3 h
Meal: None
Drink: Water
Although staff was very professional and friendly, obviously well trained and air stewards and stewardesses were lovely and were very nice, however, I'm disappointed that such – just water - an airline offers virtually nothing. I would expect on this route much more than a water.
I expected a much higher level of service from Air France, and I am quite disappointed. I will be informing my friends and family about this experience.
Just a reminder that we are your profit and should be treated fairly.
I would highly request you to consider my complaint.
Thanks for understanding this matter.
Sincerely,
Olga Poryadynska
Kiev, Ukraine

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Air France Travelling with pets

I'll just post the complaint I sent to Air France, their treatment of pets is deplorable
To whom it may concern

Dear Madam/Sir,

On 5th August, we (my husband, 2 kittens and I) were travelling with your company from Sofia to Paris and from Paris to Montreal (details about the flight provided at the end of the letter). I'm glad to say that the flight from Sofia to Paris was pleasant and that the flight attendants were helpful and professional. However, we are very unhappy with the service we received from the Air France staff in Sofia, the place from where the tickets were purchased, as well as with the conditions during the flight from Paris to Montreal.

Even thought the tickets were booked 2 months in advance, no one in the office in Sofia was able to inform me about the requirements concerning the transportation of pets in the cabin. Even after calling the main office three times, and once the office at the Sofia airport, I still couldn't receive reliable information. For example, once I was told that if I take a pet I would not be able to have any hand luggage. I regret to say that the staff at the Sofia office and at the airport is poorly trained.

Additionally, we specifically requested to book seats at the back of the plane or in front (in our class), and were surprised when during both flights we were travelling in the middle of the plane. This was not a problem during the first flight (Sofia-Paris) because the seat next to us was available and we could put one of the cages there and the other on the floor. However, during the second flight (Paris-Montreal) the plane was full and we were ordered by the flight attendant to put the cages below our seats. Even though, we followed all instructions as to the measurements of the cages, it was so tight between the front and our seats that we had to put our feet on the cages and stay like that for more than 7 hours. Given that my husband is 1.90cm, this was a very unpleasant experience. The flight attendants were extremely unhelpful and rude, and refused to provide any assistance.

We chose to have our little cats (both are around 3 kilos) with us in the cabin, because it causes less stress to the animal and the possibility of fatal accident is reduced. Due to the deplorable conditions in which your company transports pets, I was not sure that they will survive the flight even though they were with us. I find your attitude towards animals horrific. The fact that I paid EUR 300 to transport 2 cats and that there was no designated place for the cages is shocking. Following this experience, neither I nor a member of my family will ever use your services again, with or without pets. Also, we strongly discourage any of our friends to fly with Air France. I strongly believe you have to seriously revise your rules and procedures, and, above all, to train your staff.

Flight information: Sofia – Paris, flight: AF 2687, date: August 5; Paris – Montreal, flight: AF 348, date: August 5

Regards,

Stefania

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Air France Disaster

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to make you aware of my experience on your Air France Airlines. My party of 10 people (4 business class seats and 6 economy seats) had a terrible trip departing, connecting and returning on your airline. The personal were rude, unhelpful and spiteful.

To begin, Flight AF0007 on June 24, 2008 @ 19:10 was delayed. We were told (by the stewardess) that the connecting flight in Paris would be held since we were 10 people. At Paris a bus with a sign "Venice" on it was sent to speed us from one terminal to the other. We were told that personnel were supposed to meet us and provide priority status, so we could move more quickly through immigration etc. and get to the gate on time for Flight 1426 @ 9:50 to Venice. No one was ever sent to assist us.

We inquired numerous times if we could get to the gate more quickly, but we were told by the airport staff "Don't Worry" the connection would wait, especially since we were 10 people. Not one of the airport staff called and inquired for us, the just said "Don't Worry".

When we arrived at the gate the flight had departed. Personnel at the gate said they were never informed we were on our way. Then we were told by another employee that they never wait for passengers. I don't know if your policy is to wait for passengers that have landed and are en route or if you do not wait. (I guess your employees don't know the answer either). When we became upset, one employee actually had the nerve to say Next time they won't send a bus to the terminal- They will let us walk! Actually, sending a bus was useless since there was no one to assist in getting to the front of the extremely long immigration line.

Because we missed our connection to Venice, our plans for a prepaid tour bus and a boat ride and a tour guide was not possible before we had to board our cruise ship. So we lost our money for those excursions.

Upon our return to the United States Flight 1427 @ 12:40 in Venice was delayed again. When the delayed boarding time was finally announced there was still enough time to make our Paris connection. But then, they announced that 4 people didn't board the plane. We now proceeded to wait 45 minutes more for these people to arrive. So, do you wait for passengers or not? Now with the departure delay and the added 45minute delay for those passengers. We now would miss our connection in Paris AF0010 @ `15:55.

Previous to our arrival in Paris the airline had rebooked us on AF004 @ 20:45. Upon our arrival we found there was a flight @ 18:00 that was available. So we went to the Transfer Desk in order to get on the 18:00 flight. We were the 1st passengers to arrive at the Transfer Desk. The agent confirmed that there were enough seats on the flight for my family of 10. Again we needed 4 business seats and 6 economy seats. He did not know why they put us on the later flight @ 20:45 when there were so many seats available on the earlier [protected]@ 18:00 (maybe they didn't expect our flight to land at the time it did)

We asked to speak to the manager. At this point we were quite upset trying to explain why we had to move to the earlier flight. The Supervisor C/Rousseliere @ the Air France Transfer Desk did not want to switch us. She said we were already booked on Flight AF004 @ 20:45 and there we would stay.

We explained to the supervisor:

1) That my grandfather and his wife are in their 80's and the longer wait is too taxing on them.

2) We had 4 infants that had to be picked up from babysitters and the later flight would get us home too late to get them.

3) We required special meals and with all the delays we had not eaten for many, many hours.

She lied and said there were no seats available on the earlier flight. We told her the original agent said there were plenty of seats available. Her reply was "The agent was mistaken".

My grandfather and his wife, who were part of my party, saw the attitude of the supervisor and quietly moved to another agent. My grandfather had no problem switching to the 18:00 flight with 2 business seats. Then my sister and her father went to this agent to also get on my grandfathers' flight. The new agent was in the process of giving my sister seat numbers, when the supervisor ran over and told the agent not to give my sister seats. She told the agent to tell my sister there were no seats available on the plane. Obviously the agent had to obey her supervisor and didn't give my sister and her father seats.

After they denied my sister seats we asked how the elderly couple (My grandfather and his wife) got seats on the flight, since she said there were none. She lied again and said they were already booked from much earlier in the day. Obviously this was not true since they were on the delayed flight with me. The supervisor was not aware the elderly couple was from my family.

The supervisor then went back behind closed doors. The original agent who called the supervisor to help make the changes said "when people are insistent that Air France Policy is to not help them. They automatically do nothing to assist them".

For your knowledge the 18:00 flight had at least 2 or more business class seats available for my parents and numerous economy seats for the rest of my family. The flight was definitely not full. My grandfather asked the stewardess/steward and he counted himself.

Our 20:45 flight was also delayed. In total it took us 24 hours to get home to New York from Venice. We had not eaten in this amount of time because we require special meals that did not arrive to the planes. Since we got home so late, my grand children were not picked up on time. We also had to pay the babysitters an extra days pay for the 4 infants.

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paul walkins
Minneapolis, US
Feb 24, 2009 6:45 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Thanks for the heads up. Will never travel with Air France.

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Girish
,
Oct 06, 2008 1:32 pm EDT

Pathetic Customer Service!

To Whom It May Concern,

It will take more than 3 min to read my story; if you have time then here we start.

My name is Girishkumar Rudraiah. I am a citizen of India, located in Bangalore. Due to Business reasons it was required for me to
Travel Unites States of America on 13-Sep-08 and as per the schedule my connecting flight started from Bangalore to Paris, Paris to
Cincinnati, and Cincinnati to Providence. For your information this was my first International travel. I liked the service provided by both
Air-Delta and Air-France throughout my journey to US. Even I passed this message to my entire team and they were really happy. I
Reached US safely and things went really good while I was in United States. It was time for me to return back home and the date I
Had to start from US was 24-Sep-2008. This time my flight started from Providence to Atlanta, Atlanta to Paris, and finally Paris to
Bangalore. I was supposed to reach Bangalore on 25-Sep-2008, but that didn't happen.

Flight from Providence to Atlanta went fine. After reaching to Atlanta I was expecting flight to Paris will be on time but found there was
Delay for 6 hours. Flight#DL22. I still controlled my patience because I believed Air-Delta will take responsibility in case if we miss
Connecting flight from Paris to Bangalore. While traveling to Paris, Air-Delta Captain came to each of the customer and apologized for
the delay and said nothing to worry, air-delta will take care of us in good manner. You have to note this point.

As expected before I reach Paris-De-Gaulle my connecting flight#DL8461 to Bangalore was left, operated by Air-France. Okay, I knew
things went wrong but I still believed Air-Delta/Air-France will take care of responsibility. I was taken to a terminal not sure where
Exactly and had to meet Air-France Customer Service Desk. I expressed things happened and requested them to send me in the
Next flight to Bangalore ASAP, but the lady who was helping me said my next flight [AF192] will be only on tomorrow [26-Sep-2008]
At 10H50. My heart beat started increasing because this time delay was 24hours. I questioned once again is there any opportunity to
make it early, and the Customer Support Desk said it can happen only if I had Europe Visa. What an option?

I have only US Visa since my business was in that country, and I'm sure if we have to travel US it is not required to have Visa for any
other Country like Europe. Now starts the real drama. Went back to Air-France Customer Desk and ask them how and where to stay
for next 24 hrs. They immediately booked a room in Hotel and said I will be taken to France Police to get Transit Visa for 24 hrs. I
waited patiently for 3 hrs and it was already noon there. A lady carrying my Visa Application said it was rejected without any reason.
When asked her the reason, all she said was it is decision taken by Paris Police and nothing to do with Air-France Airlines. Even I
requested them to get me an opportunity to meet police so that I can explain things happen in the entire trip. Thinking, at least by this
way they may feel bad and grant me visa. But the lady just refused. She said we knew Paris Police won't give Visa. So why the hell
did they book Hotel ticket when things were knew to them?

Next, guidelines given by Air-France customer service desk to me for next 24hrs.
1. I need to stay within the space where Air-France Customer Service Desk is located.
2. I cannot cross the gate which is just 50m distance, so that I can make a PHONE CALL to my HOME and Inform them my
PROBLEM but there is no such option...BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE FRANCE [PARIS] VISA.
3. I was given Food coupons for lunch, dinner, and next day’s breakfast. But I still can't go out and reach restaurant since I DON'T
HAVE FRANCE [PARIS] VISA.
4. In the midnight if I feel hungry or my health is gone bad, there is none to take care of me or I'm not supposed to go out of gate and
ask for help. BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE FRANCE [PARIS] VISA.

I also met Customer Service Desk SUPERVISOR and explained things happened to me. All he said was, I HAVE CAME THROUGH
DELTA AIRLINES AND HE CAN ONLY HELP AIR-FRANCE CUSTOMER. WHEN asked him to connect me to Delta-Airlines via
Phone, he said that is not his problem. HE ALSO SAID, GO AND CALL YOUR INDIAN EMBASSY. Sir, I can't make a Phone call
because I have been instructed not to cross the gate as I don't have Transit Visa. Once again he just said, IT IS NOT MY PROBLEM.
The worst statement he made was, YOU WILL BE GIVEN FOOD COUPENS AS A COURTESY.

I spend rest of the time by sleeping on RED CARPET. I was given blanket which was 3/4th and didn't cover half of my body. It was
Freezing, still had to sleep. After 2AM there were none on the floor, except some people who had undergone the same problem like
me.

Its time for me to ask few questions.
1. Before I started to travel, why I was not informed by Delta Airlines that Air-France will help only Air-France customers though both
the airlines work together?
2. When I faced all these problem, what was Delta Airlines doing?
3. Why haven't you mentioned the problem that may occur while traveling on your website? If I knew it before, I would have never
Opted your airlines [both delta/air-France]
4. Why was I treated sub-standard, is it because I belong to Developing country?
5. I didn't miss the flight, it was Delta-Airlines fault and when the problem is yours why didn't you take necessary action?
6. I didn't had bath for 2 days, was forced to eat whatever Air-France authority had given..who is responsible for it?
7. Totally, 6 + 24hrs delay. Can there be frustration better than mine?
8. I was not allowed to make a phone call? Is this how you people provide service?
9. Because I didn't reach on time nor I made a phone call, my parents fall sick and were taken to Hospital? Who is responsible for
this? Should I ask Delta Airlines or Air-France?
10. For all these pain I faced, there was not a single person from both the airlines concerned about me.

After all these problem when I reached Bangalore, one of my check in baggage was missing. After one day I received the baggage but
there were missing items for more than $80. I logged the case and still haven't received a response.

While traveling to US I had so much expectation/respect on both the airlines, but now you people have reached to my trash folder.
Though it pains, I will share my experiences to all of them who travel frequently and I will request them not to go either
Delta/Air-France Airlines.

I'm not a frequent traveler. Whenever I think about this trip, I loose my temper and fail to work. This has dropped my performance.

I rather feel prison would be better than staying a night in Paris.

You may neglect my mail and concentrate on your daily work, but don't forget things won't be same always.

If you are looking to know more about me. Here is my information.

E-ticket#[protected]/70

Sabre Reservation Code: CXJCZR

Passenger First Name: GIRISHKUMAR
Passenger Last Name: RUDRAIAH

Issuing airline: DELTA AIRLINES INC

E-mail ID: girish1015@gmail.com

Thank you Delta Airlines, Air-France for providing such a wonderful customer service.

THE END.

ComplaintsBoard
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6:32 am EDT

Air France Discrimination re ethnicity

The head office showrooms for Air France in Rabat, Morocco, refuse to sell tickets to English speaking people. I was informed, in French, that if I can not speak French or Arabic then they will not sell tickets to me. So I did go to Lufthansa (and they NOT demand that I speak german) and they are happy to sell tickets to people that speak English. I fly long-haul every month, and have only used Air France service recently for 4 flights, because now that I understand that they do not want to sell tickets to people that speak English, there are plenty of other airlines that are happy to take care of us English-speaking people.

All I said was... "Good Morning"... and i was immediately told... "if you can not speak French or Arabic then we can not deal with you". So I walked out and bought my flights from Lufthansa. It is sad that they should have such a narrow minded way of thinking in this modern world, to practice such a policy. I do speak a little French but realized that I was not welcome, so just took my money somewhere else.

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YOUSEF ELHOUDIRI
,
Sep 06, 2008 7:37 am EDT

DATE 06/09/2008

As I understand the Air France services take complaints of Libyan arab Airlines as I claimed loss of my one of my laggage on my jurney from Tripoliu to Heathrow on saturday 30/08/2008 ON TH FLIGHT NO102.

They gave me the reference nUMBER which is AHL LHR LN 10136, also they give me in the claime the telephones which are ([protected] & [protected]), I tried many and many times to contact them and ask about my loss bagg and I could not find any response at the same time no body has contacted me on my phone which i had lift to the disk of loss baggage IN THE AIRPORT.

I would ask why air france take responsibility regarding this issue and not respecting the rights of the passenger/s WHO HAS LOSS THEIR LAGGAGE?

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE ALL RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO SEARCH WHERE MY BAGG AND TO BRING IT TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OTHER WISE i WIULL TAKE THE SITUATION FURTHER
TO THRESPOSIBLE ORGANISATIONTO TAKE MY RIGHT.

MY ADDRESS AGAIN: MR YOUSEF ELHOUDIRI
24 BROADLEY DRIVE, LIVERMEAD
TORQUAY, TQ2 6UE
DEVON
UNITED KINGDOM

MY TELEPHONES: 0044 [protected]/ [protected]

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8:37 pm EDT

Air France Hidden restriction & fees

Air France is the worst airline I have ever encountered, in addition to their shady sales practice, their have the worst customer service. Check out other complaints here before you even hear mine

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/air_france.html

My horror story is below.

Due to a family member’s sickness, I could not foresee myself being able to make the trip to Spain on March 17th – the original departure date. I called Air France on 3/11/2008 and 3/13/2008 and 3/17/2008 to cancel the trip but was informed the following unreasonable restrictions.

1. At the time of booking the flight, Air France informed me that in case I need to reschedule flight date I only need to pay $230 reschedule fee. They failed to inform the ticket is non-refundable, and for the worst, you cannot even exchange the ticket for a credit with Air France for which you can apply toward future travel with them. This restriction is a significant deviance from the mainstream air line practice that for them not to disclose to consumers at the time of purchase is very irresponsible.

2. Air France failed to inform customers at the point of reservation/purchase that any changes to the flight schedule must be made before March 17th original departure date or else the ticket will be treated as forfeited.

3. Trying to resolve the issue in an amicable manner, I tried to make compromises with Air France during my call with them on 3/11/2008, 3/13/2008 and 3/17/2008 by complying with their restrictions and reschedule the flight to an alternative future departure date. I requested to be rescheduled to ANY departure date that will cause minimal airfare difference between what I have already paid for vs what they will charge me for the new airfare. I was told by the reservation agent that ANY departure date they could reschedule me to will require me to pay $1, 500 for the new ticket in addition to the $230 penalty fee for making changes to my flight. In another word, I was left with no choice but to either forfeit the entire $520 airfare I’ve already paid for or else pay $1730 additional fee in order to use the supposedly $520 credit with them. A total of $2250 for flying to Madrid . (If I change the date again, I will have to pay more again).

I do not consider Air France practices to be fair in anyway to consumers (it’s more of a bait and switch sales practice) so consumers be aware, just save yourself the headache and trouble by staying away from them.

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3:52 pm EDT

Air France Kafka-esque refund runaround

Important info for fellow AirFrance abusees: the SECRET NUMBER for the AF refund department is [protected]. Fax is [protected]. This information is not published on their website for obvious reasons.

I am a business-class traveller to Paris with regularity. Don't usually take the time to write gripe letters and have never before posted on a complaint board. Most of the time, time is better spent in moving forward, not looking back.

AF is the exception to the rule. My first and last AF flight was in October 2007, Dulles-to-Paris. My route since has since been and forever will be BA to Heathrow, car service into Waterloo, Chunnel to Gare du Nord.

Never never ever again Air France!

It is June 2008 as I write this and I am still dealing with the refund request made for a Paris-to-Dulles return flight that AF cancelled in October 2007 when their flight attendants went on strike. Getting off the continent was a nightmare. CdeG airport looked like a refugee camp and AF staff were totally unhelpful, stunningly incompetent and gratuitously rude. Actually, I didn't mind nearly so much for myself -- a reasonably hardened business traveler -- as for the thousands of vacationers, elderly in velcroed shoes and couples with young kids from all around the world -- who were standing in the airport, simply stunned at their treatment.

AF failed to respond for months either to my emailed or mailed refund submissions or to American Express, to whom I submitted copies of my AF inquiries to dispute the full RT charge that AF had posted to my account. I eventually received a letter from Amex saying that, because AF had failed to respond to them within their time limit, they were crediting my account for the entire RT airfare. This actually was fair given that the actual cost of getting back to the US -- returning to the hotel from CdeG via taxi, another hotel night, taxi to train station the next AM, Chunnel to London, taxi to Heathrow and last-minute high-price BA ticket to get home -- in fact exceeded the total RT fare on AF.

Then, however, in April 2008, I received an email from Amex saying that AF had resubmitted the charge (for the full RT fare!) and asking for my response. Concomitantly, I received an email from AF -- a "do not reply to this automated email, " with an attachment that included no person's name, no address and no phone or email -- demanding that I explain why I was due a refund for my return flight from CdeG to Dulles on October X. They must have forgotten about the strike. I was dumbfounded. (AmEx is not blameless in this mess, but that's a different story. Would any cardholder be permitted to dispute a settled charge 6+ months later? Apparently, there is no statute of limitations on merchants' claims.)

I have again filed all paperwork and submitted claim forms, as AF has no record of previous submissions. Just received another anonymous AF email yesterday in which AF allows as to how it has my return trip refund under consideration, but advising that it will not reimburse for any costs of getting home that were significantly above and beyond their return fare because I could produce only COPIES of air and train tickets and hotel bills, not the ORIGINALS -- the originals, of course, having been submitted last October to the company on whose behalf I was traveling and which have long since been shredded in the accounting department.

I give up. The disputed amount is less than a rounding error in the world of business travel, and the company that actually bore these costs is more than fine with just letting this all go rather than waste more of my and their time. AF wins by wearing us all down. I have no more time for this other than venting through my first-ever complaint board posting, and the certainty that none of I, my family or my employees will ever again board an AF flight.

Bonne chance to all AF fliers; you'll need it!

Elle

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8:48 am EDT
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Air France Non assistance to persons in danger

Without going into excessive detail, as it's not really necessary, I found myself about to pass out from a severe diabetic crisis at a customer service desk in CDG in Paris. I asked for urgent medical aid, and was refused by the attendant. As I was about to pass out, the rage of the other travelers around me encouraged the AF agent to do something. He called, not a doctor, but a wheelchair attendant, whom he ordered to load me onto the plane for New York. I passed out before take off, and no one seemed to have noticed, but fortunately I awoke again from the coma somewhere over the Atlantic.

Article 223-6 of the French penal code, as well as the French constitution, declare that the right of a person in need to necessary aid must be respected. When I complained about this incident Air France responded that after a thorough investigation, they had found that I was lying...seeing my condition, the Air France agent had proposed I see a doctor, and that I had refused his offer of assistance. Even if this were true, ordering someone to load me onto the plane put other passengers at greater risk, because to save my life the plane might have had to make an emergency, unscheduled landing.

No consumer or legal organization has been able to contrast the power of Air France, not even the French Police, with whom I filed charges.

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12:00 am EST

Air France Tortuous seating and lack of consideration!

Flight AF 267 from Seoul to Paris, which I experienced on January 12, 2008, was extremely uncomfortable. The Boeing 777 used for this flight had a seating arrangement installed for economy that borders on the inhuman. It is patently not suitable for 10-12 hour flights. It was like a kind of torture.

I am not a large person. I am just 75 kgs and I'm under 6 feet tall, but what I was expected to fit into gave me practically not moving space at all. I don't even believe in such conditions when it comes to livestock animals, and yet here I was reduced to the same kind of confinement. I find it hard to believe that anyone else could find this restricted space acceptable. Why do people put up with it?

After arriving in Paris, we transfered to a flight to Nice on what I believe was an Airbus A320. This aircraft actually had leg room, by which I mean room for a pair of average legs plus some extra space for leg movement. This kind of aircraft would have been much better for the Seoul to Paris flight.

What made Seoul Incheon to Paris all the worse was the rude and inconsiderate passengers in the row in front of me, who were French, by the way, not Korean. As soon as these rude individuals sat down they inclined their seats as far back as they would go, and that's how they stayed for the duration of the flight. That reduced my space considerably. Sometimes the guy in front of my was bouncing on his seat as if to try and force it back further.

I had to get out to stretch at one point and upon my return I looked at the space I was expected to fit in by and I just couldn't believe it. I actually went and inspected other rows to check that my seating was not worse then everyone else's.

Does Air France use such a torturous seating arrangement because it's a Korean flight and because there is a mistaken belief that Koreans are smaller than Caucasians? It is true that the Japanese are smaller on average than Caucasians, and it might have once been true of Koreans, but it is not true of the average Korean anymore, especially the males. Air France needs to adjust its policy, not just for Caucasians like me flying out of Korea, but for Koreans, too.

On top of everything an incident occurred that could only be described as discrimination. My wife, who is Korean, was like me finding the confinement of the seating hard to cope with. By the way, she is somewhat smaller than me, and even she found it torturous. The woman in front of her ignored any protest. At one point, it got too much for my wife and she asked one of the stewards to get the person in front to put her seat up. The steward simply shrugged and did nothing. However, later, my wife noticed a steward asking a Korean passenger to put their seat up at the request of someone seated behind them.

Is there a special rule for French passengers and another rule for everyone else? It would seem so because, to add insult to injury, the rude people in front of us were not even made to put their seats up during meal service. Putting seats upright is usually a standard requirement on all airlines at meal times. Why does Air France not practice this policy? Do you have any idea how difficult it is to eat a meal when the person in front of you has the seat back as far as it will go?

Another issue that made flight AF 267 a draining experience was that the video screens on the seats were not of a consistent size. It seem completely random as to who got a good screen and who didn't. Some people had new larger screens while others like me, who presumably paid the same price for a ticket, got a tiny old fashion screen that was like watching an iPod. This only added to the resentment of the conditions I was expected to endure.

Air France has a monopoly on direct flights to Paris from Korea, so I presume the airline believes it can get away with anything. However, I suggest that Air France should rethink their seating policies and upgrade their fleet. I certainly won't be taking the direct route to Paris again on Air France until I hear that conditions are better.

To learn how to improve Air France need only look and learn from the Koreans. The flight back from Paris was magical with Korean Air compared to the torture of getting there with Air France. With Korean Air, people in economy have more space. The video screens were the largest I had ever seen and the viewing selections the widest range I have ever seen. There must have been about 20 to 30 movies to watch. The staff ensures seats are upright at meal times and were courteous at all times.

I won't go on because, quite frankly, what the French could learn from Koreans, in terms of customer service, transport and consideration of others, would fill an entire book.

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Antonio 76
Morris Plains, US
Jan 26, 2011 6:57 pm EST

Just had the harrowing experience of flying Air France on intercontinental trips. It is sad to see as an airline can prostitute itself to make extra money at the expenses of passenger comfort and health! Seats on tits planes are extremely cramped, adjust very little and extremely uncomfortable. Actually, it is impossible to find any comfortable position, I kept moving around all the time on my flights (each 8 hours plus) without being able to find any position that I could hold for longer than a few minutes! This reminds me of crucifixion! I had other problems with them and their obnoxious personnel but the uncomfortableness of the seats (bordering on torture) overshadows everything else! Needlessly to say, AF will no longer be on the list of airlines I chose for my frequent intercontinental flights! Shame on them!

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jjwwll
San Francisco, US
May 09, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

Have to agree. Air France has the tightest seating arrangment of which I am aware. There is just no wiggle room and it is tortuous and in a way, comical were it not so damn painful. No more Air France for me. BA or Virgin is the way to go for economy.

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mfl
Sydney, AU
Feb 08, 2009 11:37 pm EST

Last Christmas, I flew Air France, Hong Kong - Paris and return on their B777 - 300R in economy. never again, cramped narrow seating and very noisy - almost impossible to hear the movies.

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12:00 am EST

Air France Inconvenience due to flight delay!

I was on a Flight AF1275 on 28.01.2008 with connecting Flight AF0204. The Flight AF1275 was delayed because of which I missed my connecting Flight AF0204. The Flight AF1275 was scheduled to land at 09.20 hrs, actually landed at 09.50 hrs and by the time to reach the gate it was 10.05 hrs. I had to run to my next flight Gate and I was there at 10.25 hrs but the flight had gone. If the first flight is delayed for no fault of passenger, the second flight shall wait for the passenger coming from connecting flight especially when it is a matter of just 10-15min.

My complaint is basically for the alternative arrangement made for me inspite of better arrangement could have been very much possible. I have been ask to wait for 13hrs at CDG airport for next flight. I was suppose to go to Chennai, India. The new route which was given to me was Paris-singapore (13hrs waiting at CDG & 12.30hrs flight) and another flight Singapore-chennai (2.50hrs waiting at singapore & 4hrs flight). There was a flight Paris-Dubai at 13.30 hrs and there is good connection from Dubai to Chennai by other airlines. I requested a lot but he attending officer were so rude and non-cooperative. I was given just one Sandwitch and Cold drink coupon for 13hrs waiting at airport.

I not only missed my Business schedule in India but also lost one complete day. I shall be compensated fairly for the trouble caused to me for my no mistake (except choosing Air France to fly).

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12:00 am EST

Air France Poor service!

I received a letter from someone named Dejan Dumik regarding a letter of complaint I sent not too long ago. After a trip to Paris for business on Air France it was discovered that my luggage was not on the flight with me. Once I had reached my hotel I was told that the luggage would be delivered that evening. That did not happen. I was then told on the next day that it would come at noon. That did not happen. Then I was told it would come at 16:00 h. That did not happen. Then I was told it would be shipped to me and that they were “sorry” for the inconvenience. As I had another stop to make and I did not want to go shopping at H&M for 100 Euros worth of clothes to get me through my trip I went to the airport and picked up my bag. As a result I missed my scheduled train and had to stay in Paris another night. (It was to Germany and trains don’t run that often to certain countries.) Through my frequent traveling I was able to procure a deal with a hotel that was relatively inexpensive and I took a train the next day... no appointments missed. All of this came to around 100 Euros, which, according to the nice young lady that helped me at the Air France Baggage counter, was the amount that would be covered by Air France should I not get my luggage when I was told I would.

Dejan Dumik wrote me and told me about some obscure Article XV. That is unacceptable. When the largest, or one of the largest, airlines in the world bickers over 100 Euros there is a problem somewhere. Had the service run as it should have; had I received my bags when I was told I would receive them instead of getting the “run-around” I never would have had cause to write a letter or go to the airport to get my baggage. Now, Dejan Dumik has my receipts and has the nerve to tell me I can’t be compensated for my time or the inconvenience.

This airline sucks, and that's putting it nicely. If you have the choice between Air France and walking... I would advise walking... you'll be sure to arrive tired and hungry but with your luggage and a fresh change of clothes!

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Whataloadofjerks
, GB
Feb 10, 2018 7:09 pm EST

Air France flight 0228 CDG to Bs As left CDG two hours late. The flight was nothing special. Staff not pleasant and rude. When we arrived in Bs As the Captain apologised the arrival was a bit late and we disembarked the plane. We all went to the carousel to pick up our luggage. We waited and waited. We saw all the AF air crew walk by watching us waiting for our luggage. After an hour or so a fellow passenger came up to us all to say there was NO luggage at all loaded onto the plane. We were all incredulous at first but realised that perhaps she was right. Over three days have passed and we are still waiting for our luggage. No phone calls from anyone from AF, no emails, no nothing. Nothing at all. No mention of when we might receive the luggage or where it is. And their internet line for enquiries is no disponible ( not available, try again later) Try and phone them and you are up against a brick wall. Noone answers. We have wasted three days trying to find out if our bags are still in Paris or have gone somewhere else. NEVER again will we fly Air France. Their back up service is non existent, their attitude is a disgrace.

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Anna Marczak
, US
Sep 23, 2017 5:25 pm EDT

I flew only once and I am not sure if I want to fly again with AirFrance. My ticket was from Santiago de Chile to Warsaw. They registered in a system me and my baby but only to Paris. From Paris to Warsaw my baby dissapeared from the sistem. They had to print bording cards again. By accident I found out this problem and thanks to 5-hour break I was able to solve it. Another thing was a pushchair for a baby. They assured me that I will get it in Paris during my long break. I didn't get it and of course they didn't want me to help. I was with two bags and a baby, with only two hands and kilometers to walk up and down through the airport. After all I was so sweating that I went to the toilet to remove my T-shirt because I was so wet. Communication with some people from AirFrance was really strange. They talked to me in French and when I told them that I didn't know French and I was able to communicate in English, Spanish, German they carried on speaking French. Furthemore they changed my seat although I had a reservation and I got the same seat with another person plus my baby of course (3 in 1). I had also positive experience. Food was good, most flight attendants were nice and I reached the destination safe. However more wine on board would be necessary to forgot lack of standards. They should have also offered the possibility of a shower or some French perfumes (joke) to kill the smell of my body when I had to run from one shalter to another. I didn't get help from AirFrance in Paris but I got support from passengers traveling to Warsaw. For that I am very grateful. Passangers did your job, AirFrance. Such a shame.

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mommytov
Chicago, US
Jun 03, 2016 8:28 am EDT

I received a great vacation from my children for my 50th birthday. That was until I start coming home. I went on Delta/Air France website to pay for additional luggage. I received a message that servers were down. When I arrived at the airport (Marco Polo) I was shocked at the whole process. I had three bags. I was told the first one was free. They took the lightest and the smallest one. They said I had to pay for the other two bags. I expected this and told the lady at the desk I wanted to pre pay but the server was down. She ignored my comment. So she told me it would be 275 euro (comes out to $394.79 in US dollars). I told her I paid only $65 in the US going to Venice for one bag. I was told oh well you can leave your bags here. What choice did I have but to pay. Paying almost $200 for each bag was extemely high. I was told my bags were "over sized". They weren't over sized going to Venice just coming back. When I arrived in Chicago, the luggage came down the normal chute - no the over sized chute. I will not be using Air France again. Their staff also needs to be more friendly

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Jazira
North Bay, CA
Oct 28, 2013 2:54 pm EDT

Flight AF 0351

On September 6, 2013 I requested a wheelchair. I received an e-mail notice to call expedia because Air France did not have a wheel chair available. I called and the girl put me on hold and said she will try to see what she could do. She got back to me and said I will have a wheel chair all the way through to and from on my flights. When I got to the Airport it was confirmed that I did have a wheel chair all the way

When we were in Toronto waiting to board Air France I was sitting in my wheel chair. My husband told the attendant that he could push me up the ramp. All of a sudden this aggressive Air France staff comes down and says to my husband that his duffle bag is too big and he has to remove his items and put them in a plastic bag. My bag/suitcase was double his size so I said to the woman, 'what about mine' and she replied, ' Don't worry about it'. She grabbed my wheel chair and pushed me up the ramp leaving my husband behind. I was scared because I didn't know why she was picking on my husband. Maybe you can tell me why my husband's duffle bag was too large, but my suitcase and other passengers (carrying two duffel bags) were fine? This was targeted harassment to my husband from your staff abusing her power. My husband was totally humiliated in front of the other passengers

When we arrived in Paris a wheel chair was not available but I was on their list and they told me to wait. They also had a handicapped vehicle waiting and called my name so I knew they were aware of my needs. However they would not assist me in any way and left me sitting there. No one would help me even though there were wheel chairs available. So I hobbled up with a very swollen foot to the check through counter. They then brought me a wheel chair and put me to sit at the very back of the room and took the wheel chair away. My husband tried to ask them questions and he was yelled, yes yelled at and told to wait. Other passengers were also yelled at. Two women started crying saying that, ' your airline was doing this on purpose so they would miss their plane'. Another women asked a question but she never got to say her full sentence because they jumped on her yelling at her to WAIT. This woman in retaliation stuck her tongue out at your staff member. They refused to speak English.

I asked for a drink of water and they said no. Meanwhile there was a fountain behind me but I had no wheel chair because they took it away from me so I had no way of getting a drink. I was exhausted, very sore, my foot was swollen and I was in so much pain and they didn't care.

We arrived in Paris around 7am. Our connecting flight was at 9:15, so there was plenty of time for us to catch our next flight. At 9:10 again, my husband told your staff that our flight is leaving at 9:15 and again she yelled and said 'WAIT'. After a few minutes one of your rude staff member approached us and said that we had been refused permission to our connecting flight because we didn't have enough time to catch it.

We didn't have enough time because YOUR staff denied us access to the bus and handicapped bus. We then had to argue with her for our next flight because I said they will need to book us on Air Canada or what ever flight is available because we have family that has to drive two hours to pick us up in Prague.

Finally, we were told that we would be leaving 14:55 on flight no: OK761. We were given a paper with the information not a proper boarding pass. A staff came over and asked to see our boarding pass. We gave her the paper we were given and she started yelling and yes yelling at my husband saying, "I asked for your boarding pass this is not a boarding pass". At this point my husband was fed up and said to her, 'This is what they gave me, if you would just listen".

Eventually the handicapped bus came to pick me up. Even though there was a wheel chair close by they would not allow me to use it. I had to walk on my painful foot to the bus. Then I had to walk again from the bus to the terminal. I was the only passenger left in the original terminal and I was the only passenger in the terminal they brought me to. We were told in 10 mins a wheel chair would come. Yes, in 10 mins a wheel chair did show up but he had the wrong name. He refused to check to see if one was coming for me. He said it would be dangerous for him to take me up but I can take the elevator and request a wheel chair when I get to the second floor.

I hobbled to the lift and when I got to the second floor I asked a gentleman where I go to request a wheel chair. He pointed me to a gentleman behind a computer. I asked the gentle man if I could have a wheel chair and he said, 'What flight are you taking', I said, 'Czech Airlines', he said, 'Well then go ask them'. I asked if he would mind calling for me because I could not take another step, my foot was starting to bruise around my toes, and he replied with a, 'No'. My husband had to leave me sitting on a chair and go find someone to help us.

Would you please tell me why, not one of your staff, but all of them are so rude? I have never flown Air France and I tell you I will never fly Air France again, even if it's free. One lesson I learned from dealing with your airline is that next time I will bring my own wheel chair.

All I can say is thanks for nothing. I did not pay $2, 000 to be treated this way and nor did all the other passengers that day deserve to be treated like that. I would like a refund. I also would like to speak to someone about the incompetent and rudeness of your staff

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Smaragda Louw
,
Oct 10, 2007 12:00 am EDT

DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN TRAVEL WITH AIR FRANCE!

My 16-year old daughter was forced to wait for 10 hours at the airport for a connecting flight, after she had missed hers because the Air France flight was late. Showing total disregard for EU-regulations (An airline is under the obligation to get a passenger onto the next available flight to her destination - it does not matter which airline, and they are responsible for the costs involved, if they were the cause of missed flight).

She was treated with total contempt by the staff of Air France and was not even offered a cup of coffee. After I had written a letter of complaint to Air France, they sent a pathetic letter of apology and distanced themselves from the matter completely (funny you should apologize for something you haven't done) and accused the travel agent of not doing his job. NOT ONLY DO THEY TREAT CHILDREN WITH CONTEMPT, THEY ALSO TRY TO MISLEAD THEIR OWN CLIENTS!

The travel agent has now demanded an apology and some action. I hope I never have to use this pathetic airline again.

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Fred777
New York, US
Oct 29, 2011 5:37 am EDT

And now they're on strike.
The French: under worked and overpaid, probably time to send the Germans back in there to smack 'em around a bit.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/28/uk-france-airline-strike-idUSLNE79R01E20111028

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Jeremy Seaholm
Marlborough, US
Jun 26, 2011 8:04 pm EDT

I just recently went on a trip to the UK, and on the way home had a layover in Paris at de gaulle. Their boarding process was a cluster mess. (for lack of better words). Upon arrival, they lost or never loaded over 100 passengers luggage. Fun Fun! Now the waiting game begins for my 4 bags. I hate that airline so much!

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guillaume1306
Edinburgh, GB
Feb 22, 2011 11:45 am EST

Well, I have found this page after I typed "Air France bad service" into Google.
I just came back from Paris last night. I live in Scotland.

Bottom line: Me and 6 other people have been denied from accessing our flight because we were "too late".

They have called a coach just to let a 8 year old get on the aircraft. The coach was empty when she was picked up. A coach for just a 8 yo girl. They knew the parents would sue them if the little girl didn't turn up at the Edinburgh Airport, and that shows they were guilty trying to rush the boarding and get the plane in the air asap.

I have spent 20 hours stranded in Paris, I had to buy another flight, and afterward I have learned from Air France that I could buy a cheaper and quicker flight from their partners, but my ticket was obviously not refundable, so I have been billed twice for the same flight. Besides, they have lost my luggage and have no clue where it is at the moment.

I am not exaggerating when I say it has been the worst day in my life in terms of customer experience. The staff is incredibly rude, careless, and very badly mannered. I am originally French and I found their attitude very rude and upsetting too.

The fact they are French is not an excuse: As professionals, they have to provide professional standards. Especially a huge company like Air France should have very high global standards and provide their staff with a proper training. It is so obvious that they hire unqualified people with no experience in customer service. There is simply no room for rudeness in any professional customer services, French or not.

They couldn't care less about you especially when in a situation where you totally are in their hands. You just can not rely on them. Period. I am not going to write too much here, but I have proven from their own records, logged into their own computers, that I wasn't too late, I was at the gate at the right time and the conditions to allow me onboard were OK.

They have barely justified why I have been refused at the boarding gate, they just gave me the most vague details and then we had a useless conversation and went round in circles for ages because they kept saying I didn't do things by the book, that I wasn't in front of the boarding staff at 19.50 precisely.

I just stopped by to grab a sandwich and a can and for heaven's sake I told them I don't care because not only I was at the right place at the right time, proven on logs, and the fact I was not there at 19.50 on the dot in itself doesn't justify why I had to be stranded for 20 hours with no accomodation whatsoever, why we had to sleep on the floor or under benches when the place was taken over during the night by junkies and drunk homeless people seeking food in bins and fighting all night with the police trying to calm them down 3 times, why have I been billed twice for the same flight, why did they lost my luggage. I will not let them get away with it, I am going to fill a complain form and write a long letter to the management, hoping they are not as rude and as uselees as their colleagues.

I am determined to do something because what happened is totally unacceptable. I paid a fortune for the worst service I have experienced. If you want to make a website and let people knows about what Air France is really like, then I would happily help. I thought of making a website too to put pressure on them. Like copying their homepage and then change a couple of things to take the piss and make fun of them in a sarcastic way. Big companies like Air France would take such a site very seriously as they would be very worried for their reputation. I know they would do something and stop ignoring you if a spoofing site would be online. It could be a way to make things move. A website that gather all the complains together and show them online is a good idea too. Anyway, I definitely am not going to let them get away with it, and I will do whatever needs to be done to get a compensation for such a shameful service.

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Raymond72
, FR
Jan 01, 2011 7:15 pm EST

We arrived in France from Asia on Dec 19th. AF lost of luggage. We had them back more than a week later. Impossible to get an update between Dec 19th and 26th. Impossible to speak to a customer service officer when calling and the tracking system on their web site is never updated. Left France to Asia on Dec 29th. The weight of our suitcase was 32kg. AF has a new regulation by which the weight of your suitcase must not exceed 23kg otherwise there is an additional fee of 100 euros to be paid in cash upon checking-in. Upon arriving in France our suitcase was 23kg. Weight difference is coming from the clothes we had to purchase in France since AF had lost our luggage for a week (it is winter in Europe and we obviously had to buy clothes). The AF staff did not care and treated us with disrespect. Upon arriving in Asia, we waited at the luggage belt for 1 hour. After queuing an hour at the lost and found counter, we were told that our luggage is still in France... AF customer service is weak, one of the worse I have seen so far. I am a frequent traveler, Platinum on Flying Blue (which by the wayis not of any help when you are having a problem with AF... they simply don't care). The CDG hub is convenient when flying to Europe with AF, with a connection flight within Europe. But the poor customer service with both the airline and the airport is forcing passengers to look for alternatives outside France. What a pity.

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Potapov
, UA
Oct 21, 2009 12:18 pm EDT

Dear sirs!

Please be advised that flight Brazzavil – Paris BZV-CD6 from 9-10. oct. 09. had late arriaval to airport CDG (Paris).
It is reason of my late arrival to airport Barispol (Kiev) by flight AF 2852 of 9-10. oct. 09. and as continue my late arrival to VV 022 Borispol-Simferopol.
Represent clerk of Ukrainian company “Aerosvit” refused to restore my ticket to Simferopol.
I paid my cash money for this ticket.
At 10. oct. 09. in Borispol (Kiev) in the office of Aerosvit clerk explained me that your company Air France responsible for my late arrival and stamped my new ticket to Simferopol (photo attached).
I am a seaman and not rich man.
Who return me my money?
Ukrainian authorities of Aerosvit refused return me money.
It is not accordance with low of “IATA”.
Perhaps the PRESS around of aircraft will help.
Photos of tickets attached.

Best regards,
Chief engineer of m/v “FAS VAR” (“MCA MGM”)
O. Potapov

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12:00 am EST

Air France Lost baggage and Air France denial!

During my recent trip to INdia, I had bought a musical instrument veena and transported as a baggage in Air France. It did not make it to the airport and they had a list which said so. Now they are saying I made a claim after four days thanks to their wrong information about the airport timings in their consumer center.

I did not know that I had to make a claim immediately. I was not told by the Air France employee and I do not have past experience with it. When I called next day the customer service center also did not advice me of the same. They had wrong timings of the Boston airport baggage center as well in their database. These factors resulted in me in visiting airport twice and not having the ability to get in touch with anybody. The tonnes of calls left with the Boston airport air france baggage center was not returned. Eventually I filed a claim on Thursday which as four days after my arrival. Now the reply from Air France is you made a late claim and we are not responsible for your loss.

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12:00 am EDT

Air France No facility

My Sister Tejal Tandon flying on 24/10/07 through Air France from Vienna At to Paris Fr through flight No Af2639 which was delayed by 40mins from Vienna in which she had a connecting flight from Paris FR to Mumbai IN through flight No AF134 of 24/10/07 which was missed due to late flight which flew from Vienna AT to Paris FR.

There is no one to help her as my sister is sitting in Terminal 2B near paris de paris there is no Accommodation provided by the airline no meal given to her.

Please someone help my sister as she required Attention or we will be unwontedly have to take this matter to Consumer court.

You can call me on my cell No +[protected] / +[protected]

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Air France Rudeness, hostility, incompetence

Air France's employee rudeness is institutionalized. I had purchased confirmed reservations on a trip with multiple legs. Air France suddenly moved one of those legs forward by 1 day, without adjusting the other legs, so I would have shown up at the connecting airport one day late.

I caught the error immediately - then had to spend 8 hours on the phone over the next week, either on hold (45 minutes average time to get through to their so-called Customer Service) or talking to incredibly rude, arrogant and downright hostile incompetents. Eventually got through to a somewhat polite supervisor. This person demanded that I had to be issued new tickets - by the travel agency, since there was more than 10 days left. The agency told Air France that they should issue the new tickets. Eventually the Air France supervisor who directed me to go to a local airport Air France counter to get new tickets issued. When I got there - guess what?

1. They made me and my wife wait OUTSIDE their office (during posted office hours) because the supervisor was "training" an employee (in rudeness, no doubt).
2. Asked us to return in 10 minutes after she heard why we were there (standing outside, of course).
3. When we came back, the supervisor just hastily left.
4. The now-trained rude and hostile employee demonstrated here training on us, with a dazzling display of racist arrogance and hostility that would have left Inspecteur Clouseau speechless in admiration. She flat-out refused to issue the new tickets. She demanded that we send our tickets to some address in some other state. I asked for a copy of the memo that authorized that, so I had some basis for sending my tickets out to an entity who had promised nothing. She refused, saying it was an "internal corporate communication". I asked to speak to the supervisor who told her to do this - she said that person was an internal corporate superrvisor who would not speak to customers.
She told me that I was not Air France's passenger! (Because the ticket, though it said AIR FRANCE, was issued by a prominent global travel agency that probably does 40% of Air France's ticket sales!)

This airline needs to fire its Customer Service Vice-President. The natural rudeness of their employees is doing fine at showing off the quality of the airline and their nation without a highly-paid VP training them to do so.

75% of Air France staff I have had the misfortune to deal with so far, are hostile, rude, and utterly, totally clueless. There have been a very few decent flight crew, and that one supervisor, who seem to be in the wrong company.

This rudeness has GOT to be corporate policy, if it is not a national trait. Maybe they have schools (I mean "ecoles") where they teach gratuitous rudeness?

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B. Jepson
,
Aug 16, 2008 6:48 am EDT

I totally agree with you regarding the hostility and unpleasant attitude shown to customers by staff of Air-France. I can only come to the conclusion that it is a deliberate ploy that they are operating to lose as many customers as possible because they are disgruntled with their employers for some reason. A deliberate sabotage attempt to lose as much business as possible for Air France. I travel often, but only used them 4 times, and will avoid them as much as possible, so their plan is working. Take your business and your money to those that appreciate you. good luck.

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Air France - Stay away from Air France!

My experience: I had booked an Air France flight from London Heathrow to Delhi (India) departing on 17 Dec 2008 and returning on 17 Jan 2009. On 17th December 2008, I was travelling by Air France from London to Delhi. The journey involved a change-over of flights in Paris. The flight from London Heathrow to Paris CDG was AF 1981. It was scheduled to...

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Air France Flying and lying

If you're going to fly Air France, remember to bring a hidden tape recorder. That's because many of the promises you hear won't be honored.

I can only point to my own experiences as an example. On a recent flight from Pisa, Italy, to New York with a connection in Paris, the first lie was told in Pisa. The Pisa Paris flight was late, and both my family and some other Italians making the same connection feared missing it.

"Don't worry," said the agent at check in. When you arrive in Paris, there will be an Air France agent waiting for you as you debark, and a special minibus will take all of you to the waiting flight to New York." Wow. Three lies in one sentence. Needless to say, no agent was waiting, there was no special minibus, and the New York flight did not wait. I told the agent I was a type one diabetic, and that surprises tended to create problems. She assured me that a special message would be sent to Paris just for me. Another lie.

The plane hovered around a lot before landing, eating up another forty five minutes. As we disembarked, an Italian couple joined us in the race to the gate when we found no one there to help us, and no minibus. My wife, who has never traveled alone, was stressed looking after our two toddlers, and this couple became very helpful. After nearly another half an hour of brisk exercise, we arrived at a customer service desk. Feeling faint, I stressed to the agent that I could be in big trouble with the diabetes, and using a portable meter, measured a drop of blood in front of him. Seeing 45, when normal lower limits are 80, I employed him to call me emergency medical services. "When we finish re-booking the rest of these passengers," he said. My new Italian friends rolled their eyes, and said to me in Italian, "this is criminal...".

In fact, in Europe, refusing aid to someone who needs it, is. But one of the things that happens to some diabetics in crisis, like me, is a sort of apathy. I simply didn't care. Twenty or so minutes later, as I began to see colors, and the voices around me started to develop hollow echos, I began to panic. I begged him to call emergency medical aid a second time, and stressed to him that it really was an emergency. My slurred speech may have had some effect, but all he called was a wheelchair attendant, who sped me through the checkers, thankfully after grabbing me a sandwich at a fast food place, and onto the plane with a special elevator truck. Although I managed to eat the food, I still only came back to my senses after the plane was in the air. My wife and children were next to me, in tears.

Customer relations, aside from being only accessible by mail, informed me that they would investigate. Subsequently, they contacted me to say that as a result of their inquiry, they'd found that the agent at the customer service desk had suggested to me that he call emergency medical services, and I'd refused. The wheelchair attendant had asked me if I wanted to be seen by a doctor, and that also then, I'd refused help.

The Italian couple stayed by my side until we passed them in line waiting to be checked, because of the privilege afforded by a wheelchair, and saw and heard everything. They have promised to testify to the refusal of aid. It is only through this unexpected stroke of luck that I have a prayer of demonstrating the truth to the civil aviation authorities investigating this matter. Otherwise, as Air France probably knows through extensive experience (visible on the web, search Air France Complaints), it would have been just my word against theirs.

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אלה חדד
, US
Jun 07, 2023 4:46 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Hi,

I purchased a ticket yesterday and didnt receive any email confirmation for my booking.

I checked with my credit card and they say that there has been a ticket purchase.

Why didnt i get anything on my email?

please send me an approval to Elahaddad3@gmail.com

Thank you

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Francis Ndibui
Nairobi, KE
Jun 03, 2023 3:21 am EDT

My Name Francis Ndibui Booking number226919321. My Golf bag got lost in Paris but was later found and delivered to my house in Nairobi Karen.

One of the golf club Kit came broken into two pieces. I need to know how I can file a request.

Regards

Francis Ndibui

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aka_Him
London, GB
Jan 05, 2023 3:14 am EST

Dear Sir / Madam,

I hope you and your family are well.

I live in London and my flight from Punta Cana to Paris was delayed.

Is it correct that I must apply for mediation in France?

If so, which mediation bodies are available to me in France to use?

Thank you

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Charlafarish
, GB
Oct 22, 2018 12:08 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I got some presents and got back Hme and they were al damaged Iam not happy about it I want sonetmhing done about it it's hard job when u go on holiday and can't even bring presents back without them being broken they shouldn't be aloud to chuck people's cases about the way they do there not getting paid for that

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Dr. Emre Karagül
, US
Sep 03, 2018 8:02 pm EDT

sadfdsaf

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A.P.W.
, JP
Aug 06, 2009 8:40 am EDT

My parents, my mother being seventy one and my father being seventy six and suffering from Parkinsons disease quite badly were booked to fly from Narita in Tokyo to Manchester England via Paris France.
The flight time was 10:30 a.m. with the checkout closing at 9.30, unfortunately due to very heavy traffic and finding a way to wheel my father around Narita to the checkout counter meant that we arrived twenty five minutes after the checkout had closed, I completely understand that such companies have to run to tight scheduales but the treatment we received when we finally arrived at the checkout counter was totally idiotic to say the least, even though the check in counter had closed the flight was still in the process of boarding, as there was at least another thirty minutes before take off, absolutely no effort was made to try and get my parents to the plane before take off, I would like to add that I had completed internet check in twenty four hours before and so there would be no need to go through the check in procedure, the response from the staff was basically this, the check in is closed and you will now have to buy new flights, even if this was the case the way that we were told this with absolute no care or respect for our situation especially with my father being so ill and needed to be back in England for doctors visits. The only thing the staff seem to be bothered about was making more money by selling us more seats and having no thought or care to my parents situation. In my opinion, they had every opportunity and time to rush through my parents so that they could make their flight, but straight no from the off was all we got combined with give us another two thousand pound and we will fit you on the next flight.
I would like to add that yes, the tickets were non transfereable or refundable but if this company are quite willing to leave a sick man stranded with no money to pay for an extra flight and with zero concern for his situation then the whole event is an absolute disgrace.

My parents have now had to stay on with me for another four days causing considerable stress on both my parents as they needed to be back in England due to their health.
Two seats have now been booked for Sunday the 9th of August with B.A. at a cost of well over one thousand pounds, money which my father needs for for his hospital treatment and medication.

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btraven
Pittsburgh, US
Jul 17, 2009 7:43 pm EDT

I made a special trip to Heathrow to change my flight home to an earlier one. At the Air France counter I paid $250 to change the ticket. When I returned a few days later for the flight, I could not get a boarding pass from the computer so I went back to the counter. There I was told that I had been issued a paper, not an electronic, ticket, and that I "must have lost it." I said I had NOT been issued a paper ticket, only give a piece of paper with flight info and reservation numbers...much like the one I had received from my travel agent when I bought the original flight. The agents replied that their fellow agent was reliable, he would have given me a paper ticket. Two of the agents were aggressive and unpleasant about this; the other, an Englishwoman, was more sympathetic. By the same logic, I could argue that I am an experienced traveler who has lived abroad and made frequent trips to Europe and that I am very careful with my travel materials, carrying them all--hotel reservations, flight schedules, etc.--in a single bright transparent plastic envelope. Still, they wouldn't let me on the plane and I had to buy a new ticket home, at more than $1000, although from another airline.

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Jan O.
Somerset, US
Jan 27, 2010 1:59 pm EST

I am totally displeased with the horrible service and atmosphere with Air France. THEY ARE DESPICABLE AND FILTHY! The plane could not have possibly been wiped and cleaned for a decade. The filth and dust was building up and I use a CPAP machine and there is no way possible that I could afford to have that crap in my system.
I paid $1239.00 and I WANT MY MONEY BACK IMMEDIATELY! This service should be shut down. READ THE COMPLAINTS AND FOLLOW -UP. It was a very uncomfortable flight, parents with uncontrolled children who controlled them, the seats were hard and filthy and the atmosphere was repugnant. None of the attendants were courteous. These complaints need to be addressed immediately.
I do not ever read ANYTHING positive about this airline and I WANT MY MONEY BACK!

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laurencep
Boise, US
Dec 13, 2010 9:52 pm EST

On October 18th 2017 I flew Air France Business Class from New York to Paris CDG, then from CDG to Johannesburg, South Africa, on flight AF990.
I was carryinga hunting rifle in a locked metal case for which I had the keys. While at CDG airport, about 45 minutes before boarding AF990, I was called aside by Air France officials along with another US citizen also carrying a hunting rifle. We were driven to what seemed the opposite end of the airport to a baggage area. We both opened our rifle cases and after enduring over 35 minutes of Air France officials arguing about whether we could carry our ammunition and bullets tips for reloading purposes (not live ammunition) they took all our ammunition and bullet tips with no explanation. These items had a combined value of over $450 yet I received no receipt or explanation. I asked what danger there was in carrying 20 rounds plus the bullet tips (pieces of lead) in a locked metal case for which I had the key; I got no answer.
During the flight to Johannesburg I received a handwritten baggage check and was told by the purser that my items would be delivered to the address I had given them. The address was for the farm to which I was travelling in Namibia, my final destination.
On arrival in Johannesburg I had to catch a connecting flight to Windhoek in Namibia. For the duration of my stay in Namibia I tried unsuccessfully to find out what had happened to my items. I have contacted Air France at least 6 times with no cooperation. I have been told that "the file is closed". No one can tell me where my items were delivered or who signed for the parcel.
This situation is unbelievable. Why would they take my ammunition and bullet tips out of a locked metal case that was checked all the way through to my destination, and put them in a plastic bag?
Wat if these items have ended up in the hands of criminals or terrorists? Are airlines not supposed to be doing everything possible to improve security?
After 10 phone calls (usually with a 30+ minute hold time) they can still give me no answer. I have faxed a letter with details of this case twice; no one has responded.
In addition to this, even though I was flying Business Class, on the leg from NYC to Paris, we had no hot water on the flight - no coffee, no hot water in the bathrooms. Unbelieveable. If anyone ever mentions Air France to me, I will give them all the details of the "service" I have received from Air France and advise them never to us that carrier. If anyone would like details of my file numbner please let me know and I'd be happy to respond.

R
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rkbeura
, US
Nov 29, 2009 4:42 am EST

One simple suggestion " Just Avoid Air France !"
I have been making international travels quite a number of times by a number of Airlines in last 6 years. But AirFrance is the first horrible experience.
I will try to be short. They had overbooked the flight we (myself & my wife) were supposed to fly. That was a connecting flight on my way to India from USA. Even though we turned up in time at the counter, the lady(Mokdad Borka) at the counter told clearly, "The flight was overbooked & you are late !" I just couldn't believe it, whats the point of making the reservation if its "first come first serve" ?!.After arguing and reasoning with this lady and her supervisor ( Mr Salil Mustapha), I realized there is no point since they had already sold my ticket to someone else. And since their evening flight was not fully booked, they pushed me down to the evening flight. This trick they have played on many other co-passengers. And we had to wait for another 8 hours, inside the airport. It was very pain full perticularly for my wife as she has gastro issues.
Once I return to USA, after my vacation is over, I am going to take my Lawer's help to see what options I have to sue Air France.
But I am sure no one wants to get into all these. So one simple way is to "AVOID AIR FRANCE". The AirFrance people really "DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PASSENGERS". They don't even care to pretend they care. I have never seen such "RUDE" staffs in "any" other airlines.

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