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Delta vs AirFrance vs KLM question/opinions
Posted on 3/31/24 at 11:52 am
Posted on 3/31/24 at 11:52 am
Saw some really cheap options going to Europe in December and a few of the flights going over are on either AF or KLM.
What's the TBs thoughts on either one and if it would be a good change up from flying DL? Delta was very good for us last year flying to / from FCO.
Also, considering the AF option as one of the flights is on an A350.
Looking to fly into LHR then out of CDG or AMS as part of a little multi-city option.
TIA
ETA: Home base Airport for me is MSP, but some connections out of ORD or JFK have the AF or KLM flight over to Europe as part of the options
What's the TBs thoughts on either one and if it would be a good change up from flying DL? Delta was very good for us last year flying to / from FCO.
Also, considering the AF option as one of the flights is on an A350.
Looking to fly into LHR then out of CDG or AMS as part of a little multi-city option.
TIA
ETA: Home base Airport for me is MSP, but some connections out of ORD or JFK have the AF or KLM flight over to Europe as part of the options
This post was edited on 3/31/24 at 11:58 am
8
Posted on 3/31/24 at 3:30 pm to SpartyGator
I’ve never flown Delta long haul business but I prefer KLM to Air France.
Posted on 3/31/24 at 5:19 pm to SpartyGator
KLM is solid, never flown AF.
As for multi-city tour Paris vs Amsterdam may be a matter of personal taste but when it comes to AMS vs. CDG there’s a clear winner and loser, and really they’re on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as effectively managed user-friendly airports.
Just saw this part, MSP isn’t home base for me (AMS is) but my parents live in Colorado so whenever I fly back to the States to see them I often fly AMS > MSP (and vice versa) to connect to DEN (as that is one city not directly served by AMS as far as I know) so I can attest it seems to be a well covered route from Schiphol.
That said because of the close alliance with Delta, my personal experience over here booking flights through KLM, 9 out of 10 times the Transatlantic haul to-and-from Schiphol is operated by Delta for whatever that’s worth.
As for multi-city tour Paris vs Amsterdam may be a matter of personal taste but when it comes to AMS vs. CDG there’s a clear winner and loser, and really they’re on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as effectively managed user-friendly airports.
quote:
Home base Airport for me is MSP
Just saw this part, MSP isn’t home base for me (AMS is) but my parents live in Colorado so whenever I fly back to the States to see them I often fly AMS > MSP (and vice versa) to connect to DEN (as that is one city not directly served by AMS as far as I know) so I can attest it seems to be a well covered route from Schiphol.
That said because of the close alliance with Delta, my personal experience over here booking flights through KLM, 9 out of 10 times the Transatlantic haul to-and-from Schiphol is operated by Delta for whatever that’s worth.
This post was edited on 3/31/24 at 5:24 pm
Posted on 3/31/24 at 5:43 pm to purpgold718
Thanks everyone. Good to know. Was curious since the last 2 Europe trips were DL based. I've also heard good things on KLM
Posted on 3/31/24 at 7:51 pm to SpartyGator
I flew Air France in business class to Paris last August and it was fine.
Posted on 3/31/24 at 9:10 pm to SpartyGator
quote:
business class to Paris last August and it was fine.
Fine and business class are not supposed to be in the same sentence.
Can you fly direct on the way back? You listed connecting airports strongly subject to winter weather, in December.
The A350 is, in my experience, inferior to the 787, and even the 777-2. I flew it on Singapore, and was just, meh. In premium economy, the armrests were fixed. I couldn't lay down, but the people in economy could move armrests and lay down (fifth freedom flight to MAN.) If it's A350 vs a non 777/787, sure.
One thing you may want to check is there are different earning rates for miles depending on who you book with vs. what metal you're flying on. For instance, UA codeshares with LH on IAH-FRA. If I book the LH flight number, on UA metal, I earn a different amount of miles than if I book the same flight on UA. Try using this.
ETA: European airlines are likely to feed you far more alcohol than US airlines if you ask.
This post was edited on 3/31/24 at 9:11 pm
Posted on 4/1/24 at 4:52 am to SpartyGator
I am in France now. We flew Delta and the European portion of the flight was operated by Air France. It was fine.
Posted on 4/1/24 at 6:12 am to LemmyLives
quote:
Can you fly direct on the way back? You listed connecting airports strongly subject to winter weather, in December.
Yes, there were quite a few direct flights. Some were in the same price range from MSP on DL. I was primarily curious about the partner airlines.
quote:
The A350 is, in my experience, inferior to the 787, and even the 777-2. I flew it on Singapore, and was just, meh. In premium economy, the armrests were fixed. I couldn't lay down, but the people in economy could move armrests and lay down (fifth freedom flight to MAN.) If it's A350 vs a non 777/787, sure.
I liked the 350 (flew it once on DL to Shanghai) but also thought the dreamliner was good too.
This post was edited on 4/1/24 at 6:15 am
Posted on 4/1/24 at 2:05 pm to SpartyGator
Business Class?
1. Delta
2. KLM
3. Air France
Comfort, food, service, reliability are better with Delta over the other two for your intended routes.
If you fly MSP (my personal favorite international hub in the US) -- Delta is the way to go.
If not business class, go cheapest ticket and shortest travel time. Nothing else matters.
ETA: I have flown all 3 airlines numerous times over the past 24 months for travel to Asia-Pac and Middle East regions. Sometimes my criteria are simply "Shortest Business class travel time", depending on my schedule and mood.
1. Delta
2. KLM
3. Air France
Comfort, food, service, reliability are better with Delta over the other two for your intended routes.
If you fly MSP (my personal favorite international hub in the US) -- Delta is the way to go.
If not business class, go cheapest ticket and shortest travel time. Nothing else matters.
ETA: I have flown all 3 airlines numerous times over the past 24 months for travel to Asia-Pac and Middle East regions. Sometimes my criteria are simply "Shortest Business class travel time", depending on my schedule and mood.
This post was edited on 4/1/24 at 2:11 pm
Posted on 4/1/24 at 2:20 pm to Floating Change Up
quote:
1. Delta
2. KLM
3. Air France
Ranking seems mostly agreeable. Granted I’m only flying some economy + bullshite at best and certainly not business.
But as mentioned since the Transatlantic flights I book the the US via KLM are usually operated by Delta (both ways) I can say from memory Delta is a bit better for long-haul/intercontinental flights but it’s been a while since I actually flew intercontinental with KLM (since most of my intercontinental flights are back to the US) - but I’ll get a refresher on my flight from Amsterdam to Osaka in 2 days - for comparative reference.
All that being said, I can say with certainty that for coach, KLM intra-EU flights are better than Delta intra-US flights (KLM will still give free booze on those flights).
This post was edited on 4/1/24 at 2:21 pm
Posted on 4/1/24 at 6:50 pm to purpgold718
quote:
flight from Amsterdam to Osaka
That route from Northern Europe (BRU-NRT) was quite nice, but I was on ANA. $5600 for a COACH ticket (one way, business was half the cost, but I wasn't allowed to book it.) Being that far North is sorta weird. Turning South and flying over the Kamchatka peninsula, was a bit off putting (cold war kid.)
quote:
intra-US flights
There is always Africa to raise the perception of intra-US flights.
Posted on 4/2/24 at 12:58 am to LemmyLives
So funny story amidst all this.
The missus was able to add KLM Premium Comfort (which from the looks of it seems kinda like Business Class-lite) for our return flight (Tokyo > Amsterdam) for only €300 for the both of us (she’s the one with KLM gold status - which I am on track to finally achieve myself in this year).
I was grateful for this upgrade but was really thinking how it would be a lot more convenient to have it for the way there (to Japan) to get some sleep and be able to hit the ground running upon arrival.
Alas we had checked and for the way there they wanted €1200 a head, which was more than the round trip flight so we said ok too rich for our blood.
But god bless my persistent lady, she started perusing FB groups to find hacks and tips to buy the upgrade from people giving it up, and we were able to snag it at €250 a head so we jumped on it.
Super stoked for this, will give a report on KLM Premium Comfort product after I land
The missus was able to add KLM Premium Comfort (which from the looks of it seems kinda like Business Class-lite) for our return flight (Tokyo > Amsterdam) for only €300 for the both of us (she’s the one with KLM gold status - which I am on track to finally achieve myself in this year).
I was grateful for this upgrade but was really thinking how it would be a lot more convenient to have it for the way there (to Japan) to get some sleep and be able to hit the ground running upon arrival.
Alas we had checked and for the way there they wanted €1200 a head, which was more than the round trip flight so we said ok too rich for our blood.
But god bless my persistent lady, she started perusing FB groups to find hacks and tips to buy the upgrade from people giving it up, and we were able to snag it at €250 a head so we jumped on it.
Super stoked for this, will give a report on KLM Premium Comfort product after I land
This post was edited on 4/2/24 at 1:20 am
Posted on 4/2/24 at 8:22 am to Floating Change Up
quote:
If not business class, go cheapest ticket and shortest travel time. Nothing else matters.
Pretty much. 15 years ago, there were noticeable differences in economy (AF food was much better than other EU carriers, for instance). The only real consideration I make, other than cost/time, is the seat config and whether or not there's individual AC vents (Lufthansa seems to be the worst at not having them.
Posted on 4/3/24 at 5:16 am to Bama Bird
Thanks everyone. Sounds like KLM is likely the better option.
Each plane is a 3-3-3 or a 3-4-3 configuration. Sorry I'm not good enough for business class yet
Each plane is a 3-3-3 or a 3-4-3 configuration. Sorry I'm not good enough for business class yet
Posted on 4/3/24 at 6:01 am to SpartyGator
Af and KLM are both fine products
Posted on 4/4/24 at 8:57 pm to Bama Bird
quote:
seat config and whether or not there's individual AC vents (Lufthansa seems to be the worst at not having them.
I got absolutely f@*cked not getting any airflow in biz on the A380 from IAH-FRA. I had individual air from FRA-JNB on a different trip. The bulkhead is something I always avoid, since that's where the basinets are, and you'll get moved last minute. The mid-business separators are almost as bad, as I've learned.
Posted on 4/7/24 at 9:00 pm to SpartyGator
KLM
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