I have experienced first-hand Air France’s onboard catering, and I can say that it is particularly good both in business class and also in economy class. However, there was a shortfall in the catering in premium, which is Air France’s premium economy, which needed addressing, and the airline has addressed it with its latest service update. A second tray meal will be served on premium economy long-haul flights.
In this post:
- Air France Premium introduces second tray service on long haul
- Second meal offering in Air France Premium Class
- An upgrade, but not exactly premium
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Air France Premium introduces second tray service on long haul
The common knowledge is that Premium Economy is a blend of Economy and Business Class.
Generally, it picks up the seat features more from economy than it does from business class, and the catering more from business class than it does from economy.
The seat offers more recline and space, but it is more similar to an economy seat than a business class one. Well, in the catering division, food is much closer to what is offered to business class passengers.
However, on Air France long-haul flights the second meal service was exactly the same as economy classes for premium cabin passengers, that is (Premium Economy for Air France).
That is about to change as Air France is introducing a second tray service for Premium Economy passengers on long-haul flights above seven hours.
This was somewhat of a shortfall that Air France had in its Premium Economy service. Something that puts it below other premium economies that you would find in the aviation industry.
The second tray service is replacing the Bon Appetit bag, which previously Premium Economy shared as a second meal service with Economy Class.
Second meal offering in Air France Premium Class
While the first meal remains untouched and it’s a full service, what is offered as a second meal depends on the flight duration and the time of departure.
Of course, any flight to be eligible for a second meal in Premium Economy will need to exceed 7 hours, as already said.
However, for overnight flights the second meal will be a continental breakfast with warm bread if the flight exceeds 10 hours.
For daytime flights, the second meal will be a cold club sandwich with a side of salad only if the flight exceeds 10 hours.
An upgrade, but not exactly premium
Now, we can all agree that is an upgrade above the Bon Appetit bag previously offered. However, it is not exactly the gourmet experience that Air France is describing in its press release.
Also, that 10-hour cut off means that many destinations will not be getting any warm bread with their breakfast. The same goes for the side salad on daytime departures.
Air France offers fantastic catering aboard its flights, even in Economy Class; however, it does feel like they’re being a little bit stingy, trying to cut costs as much as possible, even while introducing an upgrade to the service in Premium.