Here’s what you can expect on French bee, the new low-budget air carrier that flies direct from Los Angeles to Paris-Orly Airport.
French bee, a low-budget airline from France has launched a new direct route from Los Angeles to Paris-Orly beginning April 30th. Just in time for summer, travelers who want to visit the City of Light now have a more affordable option to choose from.
Currently, there are three nonstop weekly flights from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Paris-Orly International Airport (ORY) and that will go up to six flights per week starting in July. This will be the third U.S. route for the air carrier. Last summer, the airline announced a new route from Newark to Paris.
“As summer travel demand surges for international trips, we are thrilled to expand our U.S. network and add Los Angeles as our third nonstop route to Paris,” Marc Rochet, President of French Bee, said in a statement. “Affordability continues to be a top factor for our customers as well as our new Airbus A350 fleet, which makes long-haul travel efficient and comfortable.”
What to Expect When Booking With French Bee
The first thing to note is that the route flies in and out of the regional airport, Paris-Orly International Airport (ORY), and not Charles De Gaulle (CDG), Paris’ main airport. While Paris-Orly is smaller and less crowded, it’s easier to get to the city from Charles De Gaulle airport because there are express trains. From Paris-Orly International Airport, you will have to switch trains; however, there are alternative modes of transportation such as shuttles and taxis.
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Like most low-budget airlines, the basic fares are designed to be à la carte so you can pick and choose what makes the most sense for your journey. This means that a basic ticket does not include many of the things that might be included with an economy ticket on a larger airline, such as seat selection or a checked bag, so make sure to read the details. The good news is that all French Bee tickets can be changed without a fee and there are no limits on the number of times a ticket can be changed. Only the Premium tickets are refundable but will incur a $65 fee per flight.
What Does It Cost and What’s Included?
Fares from Los Angeles to Paris Orly start at $321 each way for a one-way basic economy (nonrefundable) ticket that does not include a checked bag or a meal. However, one 26-pound carry-on luggage is included, so if you can manage to pack light this might be a good option for you. During the booking process, you can add services such as a snack or meal, priority boarding, checked baggage, and more, for additional fees.
The Smart ticket includes all the offerings of a Basic ticket plus one 50-lb checked bag and an in-flight meal. The Premium fare includes all the offerings of a Smart ticket plus one additional 50-lb checked bag (for a total of two checked bags), Premium seating, two premium meals, beverage service, priority boarding, and priority luggage delivery at baggage claim. Seat selections on Basic and Smart tickets cost an additional fee–anywhere from $20 for a standard seat to $45 for a seat near the emergency exit (which offers more legroom).
French Bee’s fleet includes four Airbus A350-900 aircraft and one A350-1000 aircraft. There are 411 seats divided into two classes. The all-leather seats include adjustable headrests, USB and electrical ports, and in-flight entertainment on individual HD touch screens.
Other Things to Know About Flying With French Bee
Additional add-on services include access to the Prime Class lounge at Paris-Orly 4. The private lounge includes complimentary WiFi, snacks, and beverages. It costs about $30 per visit to the lounge. French bee also offers three different in-flight Wi-Fi packages which cost anywhere from $4/flight for 10MB to $29/flight for a 200MB plan.
Unfortunately, French Bee does not offer a loyalty program at this time. If you are a frequent flier and wish to earn miles, it might be worth booking your trip to Paris on an airline where you can earn miles, especially since it’s a long-haul flight.