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Offering several weekly flights to some of France’s favourite vacation destinations, French bee has garnered a host of positive reviews over the past few years, notably for its good value for money. But what’s the deal? Milesopedia takes a closer look.
French bee, a subsidiary of the Dubreuil group, is a French airline specializing in low-cost long-haul flights. Operating Airbus A350s, it offers attractive fares to destinations such as the United States (New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and San Francisco), Canada (Montreal), Reunion, and Tahiti (Papeete).
Of course, as a low-cost airline – similar to Transavia France and easyJet – French bee offers an à la carte travel model that provides passengers with complete flexibility. On board, additional services, such as meals, cabin baggage, or checked baggage, are available as options for an extra charge.
This economic model allows each traveler to customize their experience according to their needs and budget. Those who wish to save on these services can travel light and use the savings to enjoy their destination more. Meanwhile, those who prefer comfort similar to traditional airlines, such as Air France, can add all desired services. This flexible approach allows French bee to maintain very competitive base fares on its long-haul flights while giving everyone the freedom to create their ideal trip.
Unlike other low-cost carriers like Ryanair, however, all seats on French bee aircraft are equipped with individual screens for watching movies and TV series.
French bee’s fleet consists exclusively of Airbus A350 XWBs, aircraft introduced into commercial service in January 2015. With three variants – the A350-800, A350-900 and A350-1000 – these aircraft can accommodate between 250 and 440 passengers.
The A350 XWB stands out for its energy efficiency, reducing fuel consumption by 25% compared to aluminum aircraft currently used on long-haul flights. In addition to its economic performance, it offers increased comfort thanks to optimized personal space and 18-inch wide seats in economy class. So there’s ample legroom.
Currently, the French low-cost airline serves seven destinations from Paris-Orly.
French bee allows its passengers to select the fare best suited to their needs, while offering different levels of flexibility to change or cancel their flight, as well as a range of additional benefits.
Although some credit cards offer robust travel insurance when purchasing tickets (among our favorites are American Express cards), it is recommended to select the fare class at the time of booking carefully. Indeed, a change of mind on the part of the traveler does not constitute a valid reason for an eligible claim with insurers.
Changeable (from $90) and non-refundable
If you are traveling in Economy class, you can request an upgrade to Premium class. This provides access to a more intimate cabin, a wider seat with additional legroom, an enhanced meal, a comfort kit, as well as priority boarding and service.
The price? From 375 CAD per flight segment if the upgrade is offered during online check-in or at the airport (subject to availability). It can really be worth it for a long-haul flight!
French bee offers a fast-track service, available only at Orly Airport, allowing you to access a priority lane during security control. From 30 CAD for a one-way trip and per passenger, you save time and enjoy a smoother experience, especially during peak periods. This service is neither changeable nor refundable.
As French bee is a low-cost airline (like Transavia, Ryanair and easyJet), there are very few free services offered on board, unless you have opted for the higher fare classes, such as Smart and Flex.
Smart and Flex tickets in economy class include one complimentary hot meal, while Smart and Flex tickets in Premium class include two complimentary hot meals, accompanied by wine and champagne. Unlike Air France, which offers its Premium Economy passengers menus created by renowned chefs, French bee offers simple meals, called basic.
These vary depending on the departure airport but generally include a starter, a hot dish, a piece of cheese, a dessert, and a biscuit. Juices, sodas, alcoholic beverages, and hot drinks are provided as paid options.
French bee also offers a variety of à la carte meals, ranging from “Gourmet” meat or fish menus to specific options such as gluten-free, vegan, or kosher meals. Fares range from $40 to $45, depending on the destination and meal type, and reservations are available up to 48 hours before the flight.
There are televisions on board French bee aircraft. Indeed, all seats have an individual 25 cm screen for watching movies and series. Note, however, that the selection is rather limited; there are only about twenty films available.
French bee also offers various packages to get Wi-Fi on board its aircraft with iZiWifi, for a small additional fee:
Passengers who have opted for the Light option obtain a free carry-on bag (12 kg). However, they must pay an additional fee for any other luggage.
Although French bee airline tickets are already cheaper than those of other major airlines, such as Air France, Air Canada, and Lufthansa, there are various ways to save even more, particularly by using Google Flights and booking directly with the low-cost carrier.
To get the best airfare, Google Flights proves to be a particularly effective tool. Thanks to its “Explore” feature, one can easily (and quickly!) identify the most affordable dates.
Contrary to what many travellers may think, there is no ideal day or time to book a flight. Air ticket prices depend mainly on fluctuations in supply and demand.
Google Flights does, however, offer forecasts based on historical data, enabling us to identify periods when fares are most advantageous. It also offers a calendar detailing the most affordable dates.
Fares displayed on third-party booking platforms such as Expedia or Skyscanner are generally comparable to those offered directly on the French bee airline website.
However, it should be noted that booking directly with the airline often offers significant advantages, especially in case of issues. Indeed, when a flight is canceled or rescheduled, intermediaries are sometimes reluctant to take responsibility.
The Covid-19 crisis highlighted this difficulty, with many passengers encountering obstacles in obtaining refunds from third-party platforms.
Unlike the low-cost carrier Transavia, which participates in Air France‘s loyalty program, Flying Blue, French bee is not associated with any loyalty program.
Nevertheless, the airline offers the French bee Good Deals card, a digital card to download to your phone that allows you to receive exclusive good deals and promotional offers. However, there’s a small catch: to be able to receive the offers, you must subscribe to the airline’s newsletter.
The onboard experience with French bee aircraft may not be as comfortable as with Air France or Air Canada planes, but its value for money is nevertheless unbeatable. If you plan to travel light, without too much extra luggage, the French airline remains, in our opinion, a pleasant (and above all, affordable!) option.
Savings this way:
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