Air France wants to attract medium-haul passengers

EXCLUSIVE - On board services, rates, seats. To attract 20 million passengers a year, the national company changes everything. Le Figaro is aware of these changes will be implemented on April 1.

Air France commits the battle against the inexorable progression of low-cost airlines and reveals the heart of its strategy to develop its medium-haul network from Charles de Gaulle Airport. For that measures correspond to passengers' expectations, the company has consulted thousands. Result, improved service on board and on the ground, processing fee schedules and new chair. These measures concern 20 million passengers a year, 80 destinations operated by 70 Airbus and the chartered planes smaller from its subsidiary Hop! .

Lower prices

To carry out this reform, Air France has seen big: more than 10,000 people were interviewed in nine European countries. In a few years, attitudes have changed. Now the price but also the purchasing facilities of tickets, boarding, booking changes, etc. are major points in the choice of a company.

Premium Eco passengers previously installed with Business customers will now be placed at the forefront of the economy cabin, behind the curtain of Business class. In addition, the Premium Economy class changes its name to Eco Flex. If they lose the real meal tray, passengers retain access to the course Sky Priority: priority queue for registration and boarding, as well as for safety and police checks.

Moreover, besides the new headquarters and improved service in all classes, the Air France fares were revised downwards. For example, Flex tickets to Rome will fall by 21% to 699 euros to Barcelona from 13% to 648 euros and Zurich 8% to 579 euros. Eco Flex will be divided into three quota seats characterized by booking classes called Y (the most expensive), M and B in order to graduate the price according to the filling of the aircraft.

But the big news of the reform is called Go-Show: Day off and on site at the airport, passengers can ask to travel on another flight if places are available, regardless of the price paid in Eco Flex. As subscribers, they will enjoy total flexibility with access to the last seat and a reduction of 40% from the full price Eco Flex. Examples: Geneva to Zurich or 514 euros to 554 euros.

Regarding the rear of the cabin, no significant change to the restrictions notes, except their name. Mini Mini Eco become and remain the basic travel, not changeable and non refundable, no choice of seat and free luggage; Classic, renamed Eco Classic, are subject to change 70 euros with luggage, seat selection and press.

Birth Hop! Air France

It remains to be seen how these innovations, from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, will focus with flights from Orly and province where they were previously operated by Air France and Hop !, its subsidiary mainly dedicated to short haul. Now all come under the single name Hop! Air France. Unless the shuttle, which is strictly Air France.

Even when we asked about the consequences of this differentiation between Orly and Roissy brands: curiously, Hop! has adopted when creating a pricing structure incompatible with that of its parent company. It does not meet the same rules to combine flights each other or to the same restrictions (length of stay, obligation to spend the night from Saturday to Sunday on-site, etc.).