A budget-friendly French airline’s current flight prices are the ultimate cure for post-Olympic FOMO.
Like most Americans , I was glued to my seat for the 19 daysthe Olympicstook over news insurance coverage and myTikTok feed . While I wo n’t say that watching elite athletes compete motivated me to start my rugger or canoe slalom calling , it did have meplanning trips to Parisand Tahiti , the island land site of the Games ' surf events .
A fast lookup constitute that roundtrip flights from myhome drome of San Franciscoto Parisaveraged $ 1,746over the past year , and escape to Papeete , Tahiti came injust under that at $ 1,535on average — not really a toll I ’m able to make up if I want to have money for snorkeling excursion and daily baguettes .
Look beyond the traditional tenacious - haul carriers , and you ’ll find the airline industry ’s cost - saving hole-and-corner — low - toll airlines likeFrench bee . This airline offer one - direction tickets from Newark to Paris - Orlystarting at $ 110 , San Francisco to Tahiti at$302 , and Miami to Paris at$275 , constitute a trip to these Olympics - urge places less expensive . It can keep prices low because of its a la menu pricing model , lease you compensate for just what you ’ll really use .
Photo by Pushan Bhowmick for Thrillist
I ’ve flown French bee to both Paris and Tahiti — it was corresponding to flying on United or American Airlines , and much better than other budget carriers like Spirit or Frontier . I especially appreciated the air hose ’s extremely customizable reservation experience .
Gallic bee offers nonstop flights between Paris - Orly and Newark , Miami , Los Angeles , and San Francisco , as well as to Papeete , Tahiti from San Francisco . If you have some flexibleness in your travel plans , you ’ll have the expert probability of book the gloomy fares . Head to the airline’slow - fare calendarto see when the bum flights are available . You wo n’t find day-by-day flight on French bee , but sight of option are uncommitted .
The flashy ticket will be in the thriftiness section , with two fare options : Basic and Smart . Basic fares admit a hold - on old bag up to 26 pounds . Smart menu get you an extra 50 - pound checked bag and an in - flight repast .
Papeete, Tahiti|Darryl Leniuk/Photodisc/Getty Images
Within the economy section , you’re able to sit in the larger area toward the back of the plane or pay a little surplus ( starting at $ 45 ) for a tail end in the " Cozy Cabin . " Having sat in both area of economy , I would recommend the Cozy Cabin , as it had few rows , and I find the serve more heedful . You also have easy approach to a public toilet from this section , which is essential for a long flight .
There ’s no first or business family on French bee . Premium is the highest level of Robert William Service , adding on a 2nd assure bag , a bite , and gratuitous drinkable armed service .
Premium tag also get extra legroom ( 36 inch versus 32 in economy ) and a footrest . antecedency embarkation and luggage speech are include in this fare grade . The 2 - 3 - 2 Premium seat layout works well for couples ( thriftiness is 3 - 4 - 3 ) .
Shakespeare and Company in Paris’s Left Bank|Photo by Pushan Bhowmick for Thrillist
How a la carte pricing works
Gallic bee ’s highly customizable reservation experience lets you keep your budget in bank check . If you want to select an extra ascertain bag or priority boarding but do n’t need all the other extras , you could buy those servicing severally , even on a Basic just the ticket . You might want to contribute priority baggage service for $ 20 if you have a miserly connection .
count for a way to relax before your Paris departure ? Purchase drome lounge access for $ 55 . I used the French bee drome lounge at Paris - Orly , and while not as telling as the massive waiting room of other international carriers like the Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul , this lounge propose plenty of seating , a survey of the tarmacadam , and a few tasty hot dishes like chicken tikka masala .
The cost for some of these conveniences , like checked baggage , increase when you lend them within 48 hours of flight of stairs metre , so it ’s best to reserve them when you reserve or at least a few days out from departure .
All classes of service on Gallic bee let in in - escape entertainment and a power wall plug with a USB porthole . My kids peculiarly savour being capable to watch the live feed of the woodworking plane ’s nozzle camera .
What it’s actually like on the flight
When traveling with a pocket-sized carrier like French bee , you ’ll require to remember that there will be fewer agent available at hindrance - in , and thing might move slower than you are used to with the heavy airlines . We arrived for our Paris escape at the time suggested by the air hose , but the check - in counter was n’t even open , and we had to wait while nearby Air France counters were to the full staffed .
When fly on the San Francisco to Tahiti itinerary , the plane arrive from Paris , and Paris rider continuing on to Tahiti must go through customs and immigration before re - board the plane . We get on the sheet at the anticipated meter but had to wait for these passengers to fall before we could take leave , make a 90 - minute delay in our passing time , which is less than ideal when starting your journey . I would have prefer to wait at the gate .
While these delays were a bit trying at the moment , the flight experience itself was on par with an economy ticket on other airline . You wo n’t get the flying chef experience ofTurkish Airlines’business class . Still , they tender a number of different repast choices ( reservable in advance ) , including alternative for kids — and you’re able to never go wrong with mini éclairs .
