Air France or KLM

Kay_Gee

I'm looking to go see my friend who lives in Singapore next year, They can get me a next to no cost flight on either Air France or KLM. Alternatively I can go to Amsterdam, then go via Kuala Lumpa.on Malaysia Airlines.

I really don't want too many stops. So I'm thinking of going via Air France or KLM. I know they are the same company, but which one offers the better product/service in your opinion? Are there any pitfalls

I would be travelling in "La Premier" or "Business" on Air France or "World Business" on KLM

So which one would you prefer and why?

Voyager2002

Air France business class is very enjoyable, and the transit lounge in Paris CDG is fantastic. Some downsides: Paris CDG is a dreadful airport, and your transit will involve ridiculous amounts of time moving around between arrival and departure points. Once onboard the cabin is a little cramped when compared with the (few) other business class cabins I have experienced, and when the seats are fully upright they are rather uncomfortable. And the big one: Air France has a depressing safety record, and some of their (fatal) crashes resulted from errors that professional, properly-trained air crew would never have made.


I have only flown economy on KLM, but have always found them to be professional, reliable airline. I appreciate the Dutch sense of humour and the willingness of cabin crew to show their personalities. And Amsterdam Schiphol airport is highly functional: for transit it is probably the easiest and best-designed large airport in Europe.

Bear in mind that if you fly Malaysian airlines in business class you will earn a fair bunch of Avios, that you could later use for BA flights; hotels or even Amazon vouchers.

Kay_Gee

Thanks for your reply Voyager2002

Would I still qualify for the points if my friend has booked it and got it cheap? He told me to join something called Flying Blue.

I want to get there in one piece and not have a clinical approach, Would you say KLM is better for that? What is safety like on KLM?

Have you ever flown Malaysian airlines?

Voyager2002

Kay_Gee wrote: »

Thanks for your reply Voyager2002

Would I still qualify for the points if my friend has booked it and got it cheap? He told me to join something called Flying Blue.

I want to get there in one piece and not have a clinical approach, Would you say KLM is better for that? What is safety like on KLM?

Have you ever flown Malaysian airlines?

Flying Blue is the Air France/KLM frequent flying club. If you fly AF or KLM you earn points in it that you can redeem within the club, but they are not the same as Avios. Google will I am sure tell you what you can do with those points. Malaysian, but not AF/KLM, are part of the same scheme as British Airways.


My uninformed view is that safety on KLM is fine, but obviously Google is your friend. I have flown Air France many times and would not hesitate to do so again: I did have one dramatic experience when they landed in a typhoon after BA and another airline had diverted, but have no idea how dangerous it was. (Perhaps it indicates a dare-devil attitude on the part of the pilots, while the fact that they had to make twelve attempts before landing safely suggests that it was not routine. Anyway, that was back in 1982...)

eDicky

Flying Blue is the KLM /Air France frequent flyer program, you earn points on flights, the more for the higher price paid. We don't know how your friend will be obtaining the tickets.

KLM is nonstop to S'pore from Amsterdam, likewise AF from Paris. We don't know from where you will be originating, to comment on connecting flights. Malaysian will involve a transfer in Kuala Lumpur.

Kay_Gee

Thanks for your replies everyone!

I've looked at flying blue and I can get a few things! So it isn't too bad.

I'll be starting in Manchester. I've been googling things and going via Amsterdam looks the best. My friend suggests Amsterdam too as he says its more friendly and he thinks I'd enjoy it more than Paris.

Do I have to pay for anything on board? Or is it all inclusive. Do they cater for dietary requirements?

eDicky

Kay_Gee wrote: »

Do I have to pay for anything on board? Or is it all inclusive. Do they cater for dietary requirements?

You pay for nothing, and there's a full selection of special meals that you can order.

Amsterdam Schiphol airport is very pleasant and convenient for transiting, without the high pressure retail nightmare of British airports. The KLM lounge is spacious and relaxing if you have spare time between your business class flights.

If you put the KLM app on your phone, you can find it useful.

eschaton

Kay_Gee wrote: »

Do I have to pay for anything on board? Or is it all inclusive. Do they cater for dietary requirements?

What dietary requirements do you have?

Kay_Gee

Thank you

He was telling me about the KLM app, he was mentioning that in Amsterdam it will guide you to the gate from your arrival apparently.

I hate the whole make you walk through duty free like they do in Manchester. Apparently I can use the lounge in Manchester too.

If I want to see what Amsterdam airport has I don't have to go to the lounge straight away do I?

Apologies for all the questions, Furthest I've flown is Spain on a Thomson plane.

Kay_Gee

eschaton wrote: »

What dietary requirements do you have?

I am a celiac

eDicky

Gluten intolerant meal: ingredients used for this meal are selected for the absence of gluten. Unfortunately, however, we cannot guarantee that the meal is 100% gluten free.

https://www.klm.com/travel/gb_en/prepare_for_travel/travel_planning/special_meals/index.htm