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The outbreak of the pandemic saw most airlines making serious cutbacks to the services they supply onboard, and the food and drinks passengers have been offered on flights over the past few months have often not borne much resemblance to what was offered before Covid-19 was a thing.
Now that airlines are trying to get their schedules back on track and tempt people back into the skies, we’re seeing more and more carriers announcing the return of a little more “normality” onboard and Air France is the latest airline to confirm that passengers can expect to see improved service levels and offerings from this month onwards.
Short-Haul Economy Class
On flights lasting less than 2.5 hours, Economy Class passengers can expect a beverage service comprising water, coffee, tea, and fruit juice. Alcoholic beverages are also offered and, on select routes, a savory or sweet snack is being offered.
On all short-haul routes of over 2.5 hours, a savory or sweet snack is offered in addition to the usual beverage service.
Short- Haul Business Class
Air France has continued to offer a standard meal service in short-haul Business Class through the current crisis so the only thing that has changed is that, as of this month, the airline has resumed its wine and Champagne service in its short-haul Business Class cabin.
Long-Haul Economy & Premium Economy
Passengers in Air France’s Economy and Premium Economy cabins have continued to be offered a main meal and hot & cold drinks throughout the current crisis but, from this month, passengers on flights lasting between 6.6 and 8.5 hours are being offered a breakfast service in an Air France “Bon Appetit” bag.
On longer flights, Air France has continued to offer the “Bon Appetit” snack over the past few months and all long-haul routes of over 8.5 hours it has continued to offer its self-serve “my little gourmandises” gourmet box (a selection of sweet and savory biscuits) in the galleys.
Long Haul Business Class
Business Class passengers have continued to be offered a selection of 4 main meals on all long-haul flights since the pandemic struck but they can now also once again expect a post-take-off welcome drink (water, juice, or Champagne) and, depending on the length of the flight, a second hot or cold “gourmet meal” designed by one of the Michelin-starred chefs the airline has partnered with.
The self-serve “sweet/savory” gourmet basket has remained in place over the past few months but, on flights lasting more than 10hr30, passengers will also see the return of the fruit selection in the galley.
Amenity Kits Are Back
Per Air France:
“For additional comfort, Air France is pleased to reintroduce the comfort kit for customers travelling on board its long-haul flights in La Première, Business and Premium Economy cabins.”
I confess that I wasn’t aware that amenity kits were no longer being offered but, for those who have been missing out, this is probably good news.
Bottom Line
These aren’t particularly major or revolutionary changes that Air France has announced but that has a lot to do with the fact that Air France didn’t remove all that many service features when the pandemic struck (compared to the likes of British Airways, Air France didn’t cut much at all!).
Overall, the added meals, snacks, and breakfast items will no doubt be welcomed by flyers and I’m sure there will be more than a few Business Class passengers delighted to see the return of Champagne service on short-haul routes and the return of post-take-off Champagne on long-haul routes.
