Yay or nay?
Discover what the internet is saying about French Bee.
Upgraded Reviews scanned the web to find out what real users are saying about French Bee.
See the highlights below and decide for yourself!
Table of contents
- ✅ Pros
- ❌ Cons
- ⚖️ Summaries
- 💸 Top Discount
✅ Pros
“French Bee also offers a surprisingly comfy Premium Economy seat in the front of the plane.”
“If you preferred to read, iPads loaded with both English and French magazines and newspapers were offered for use during the flight as well.”
“Premium-economy flyers receive a blanket and pillow, along with a basic amenity kit consisting of socks, an eye mask, earplugs, headphones, toothbrush and toothpaste.”
“The seats are well-padded and have flexible headrests.”
“While rates always fluctuate, French Bee fares are consistently competitive — particularly if your dates are flexible and you can book on their website directly.”
“I managed to get about six and a half hours of pretty good sleep.”
“French Bee’s sale fares are remarkably low, from US$172 (A$254) for a one-way ticket from New York to Paris.”
“Each seat on this flight measured in at 18 inches wide – not the widest, but much better than the cramped, 16-inch-wide seats you’ll find back in economy.”
“The website is very intuitive for finding information quickly.”
“The A350 is quiet, high-tech, and features perks unusual for budget carriers.”
“The retractable footrest was a nice reprieve, too.”
“French Bee is a low-cost carrier that doesn’t compromise on essential comforts.”
“French Bee was proactive in giving me the details of my flight via email and letting me check in ahead of time.”
“French Bee Premium fares are fully refundable, which makes them particularly appealing to flyers who need flexible schedules.”
“Drinks and snacks are priced reasonably.”
“Their fare is competitive, especially for long-haul flights.”
“The boarding process was fast.”
“Each option is a bang for your buck.”
“French Bee’s premium seat leans back far enough back to forget it’s not a lie-flat.”
“Economy class Smart and Flex tickets include one free hot meal.”
“Booking early can fetch you the best deals.”
“On this journey, I stuck to the included meals. But French Bee also offers a rather affordable a la carte menu, where I could have pieced together a nice drink and snack combo in lieu of the full meal.”
“A carry-on and personal item are included in the price of every French Bee ticket. Even the basic fare. This is a massive distinction from other low-cost airlines.”
“Overall, the seats were comfortable for a long flight.”
“Before departure, the crew offered pre-departure beverages, including orange juice and water.”
“The plane is new and very comfortable.”
“It took me less than four minutes to go through security, and I was airside within eight minutes of being dropped off at the airport.”
“In-flight entertainment is available for each seat with some child friendly programming.”
“Duty-free items – perfume, cosmetics, watches, souvenirs – are available for purchase.”
“Wi-Fi is available for purchase at various speeds and megabyte limits.”
“French bee also offers various packages to obtain wifi inside its aircraft, for a small extra charge.”
“You can order individual Premium services on the French bee website in economy class.”
“The pillow is a nice touch.”
“One interesting thing about French Bee is that it offers a bidding system for upgrades to its premium economy cabin.”
“I was so happy to board the plane with cold air conditioning blasting.”
“French bee also offers a variety of à la carte meals, from “Gourmet” meat or fish menus to specific options such as gluten-free, vegan, or kosher meals.”
“The USB charger and headphone jack were nice as part of the seatback screens.”
“Economy class on French Bee offers standard comfort.”
“On a flight with plenty of open seats, French Bee’s premium cabin can feel like a bargain.”
“While the premium cabin is fantastic, their economy seating is also super comfortable! There’s genuinely room to breathe, and you’re not crammed arm-to-arm against fellow passengers.”
“Flights tend to depart later in the day, which is great because a) there’s less traffic at the airport, b) you’re more likely to get a full night of rest, and c) you have more time at your destination.”
“For a low cost carrier airline, the food wasn’t that bad or terribly priced.”
“Most of the time, there are almost no delays with this flight.”
“Every seat has an individual 25 cm screen for watching movies and TV shows.”
“Luggage allowances are generous, especially for smart and premium fares.”
“The seat reclined very far back and the entertainment system was large with great screen resolution.”
“My seat had a USB port and there were two universal power outlets located between my seat and my neighbor’s.”
“They have friendly staff.”
“The in-flight experience is designed for passenger comfort, with ample entertainment options.”
“Each seatback has a touch-screen entertainment system with a wide array of films and TV shows.”
“Each seat in the ECO cabin has its own 25 CM screen, perfect for watching films and TV series. You can also listen to music.”
“The most surprising part of this entire experience is that the seat reclined nearly 7 inches, which in theory makes for a comfortable sleeping experience.”
“Bassinet seats are available (we saw one in use on our overnight flight) .”
“French bee allows its passengers to select the fare best suited to their needs, while offering different levels of flexibility to modify or cancel their flight, as well as a range of additional benefits.”
“This is the lowest price to travel between the US and Europe.”
“There is no need to provide any extra details, and no questions about the US Visa at the booking time.”
“Early in the flight, the crew passes out small pouches containing eye masks, headphones, and socks—always a nice touch.”
“There are changing tables in bathrooms.”
“The cost of certain services is more competitive, and if you prefer, you can pay in instalments on their website.”
“The prices are so competitive for travelers to New York.”
“French Bee claims to be the only airline with a fleet comprised 100 per cent of Airbus A350s, the aircraft designed to deliver 25 per cent less fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat.”
“They are always at your service, with great diversity.”
“Checking in for the French Bee flight was a breeze at San Francisco (SFO) Airport.”
“The terminals are very easy to use, and there’s always an agent around to help you.”
💸 Top Current Discount
❌ Cons
“The choice is rather limited; there are only about twenty movies available.”
“I opted for the emergency seats to have extra room, and those were the most expensive, at around 40 EUR ($44). If no seat is chosen, you will be assigned a random seat at check-in.”
“If you’re looking for a multi-course menu with wine pairings, you won’t find it on French Bee, not even in premium.”
“The paid onboard WiFi isn’t great.”
“The meal is not included in the BEE LIGHT fare in ECO class.”
“The fare out of Newark was better forgotten: a sweet bun that was too sugary for my taste and a basic pasta in red sauce before landing.”
“The basic ticket doesn’t include carry-on.”
“The main issue with French Bee’s premium cabin is that 36-inch pitch.”
“Food and drinks not included in basic economy tickets, which is clearly a bigger issue with small children.”
“While the airplane offered WiFi, the cost was so expensive it gave me a good laugh.”
“Unfortunately, dinner was not on the menu for me. Due to some dietary constraints, I had pre-ordered a gluten- and dairy-free meal at the time of booking. However, the flight crew had no record of my order.”
“Limited programming for children for in-flight entertainment. There were only six options total on our flight.”
“The food was decent but subpar compared to most airplane meals when considering flavors.”
“For a long haul flight, this plane certainly had the most narrow seats and reduced legroom I’ve ever experienced.”
“French bee offers simple, basic meals.”
“French Bee has no app, so this mobile link was what I got to track my flight’s progress.”
“You have to pay exorbitant fees to check baggage, so you need to know how to travel light with your kids (carry-on luggage only) in order to still get a good ticket deal.”
“My main issue was with the lack of foot space.”
“Extra narrow seats in economy, which makes it even harder to keep your little ones from getting into other passengers’ space.”
“There is no TSA PreCheck for French Bee flights.”
“With French Bee’s Basic category, you only get to bring on the plane one personal item that fits under the seat in front of you.”
“At just 16 inches in width, French Bee’s economy seats are narrower than the norm (typically 17–18 inches wide).”
“The food flying French Bee Premium fell far short of gourmet cuisine.”
“Travelers are first shown a very low price, but that’s only for a painfully no-frills “Basic” ticket. From there, French Bee piles on the fees and upgrade options.”
“The tray table was nothing special and wasn’t particularly big.”
⚖️ Final Say
Read the summaries of what reviewers think about French Bee below.
“French Bee is legit. I strongly recommend looking into the airline if you want affordable fares — but don’t want to compromise comfort or be nickel and dimed for literally everything.”
“Despite being a low-cost carrier – especially back in economy – French Bee offers a surprisingly comfortable Premium Economy experience with French Bee Premium seats. The seat isn’t as fancy with as much legroom as you’ll find on other long-haul flights, but it’s a big improvement over what you’ll get at the back of the plane. And the service, additional amenities, and value of these seats mean travelers looking to get to Tahiti or Paris in some extra comfort should give it a look.”
“Overall, the experience felt more like a domestic flight in the U.S. (with many passengers ditching their masks despite French requirements to wear one) than an international long-haul one. But that might be enough for some value-seeking travelers who simply want to get to France at the lowest price point. As for me, I think I still prefer a more full-service experience, even if I do end up paying a bit more for it.”
“The experience on board French bee may not be as user-friendly as on board Air France or Air Canada, but its value for money is unbeatable. If you’re planning to travel light, without too much extra baggage, the French airline remains – in our Review – a pleasant (and above all, affordable!) option.”
“French Bee is going to be on the bottom of my wish list for flying to Europe—except when it beats the competition, pricewise. And since international airfares have become so exorbitant at many times of the year, it’s highly probable that French Bee’s genuinely low rates will persuade me to fly with the fee-frenzied, tush-mushing carrier again in the future.”
“I would consider flying on the airline for a future trip across the pond. Its a-la-carte model is perfect for any passenger, as the experience is completely customizable. As I did not use WiFi during the flight, I am not able to speak about connectivity. I also did not use the entertainment system for anything other than the live camera feeds or the inflight map.”
“French Bee is the airline that I officially recommend for flights between Paris and New York.”
“In conclusion, if you like to gamble with your travel plans and experience extreme stress, book French Bee so you can save a few bucks. By the time you get hit with additional unavoidable hidden fees, you may well have ended up paying more than with a traditional carrier. Also, be sure to learn French so you can navigate the website outside of the US and then call French Bee HQ when you inevitably encounter issues. But hey, at least they fly a brand new beautiful A350, albeit with 10 seats across.”
“The low-cost carrier French Bee offers some cheap fares for U.S. travelers heading to Paris or Tahiti this year or next, but it also comes with a no-frills style you can expect from budget airlines. Despite that, French Bee’s new fleet of planes, seatback entertainment, and carry-on allowance make it a little better than your typical low-cost carrier if you want to take advantage of its low fares in 2024 or beyond.”
“The single best thing about flying French Bee between the U.S. and Paris is landing at Paris Orly instead of Charles de Gaulle, which is almost guaranteed to be an unpleasant experience. With prices starting at $300 roundtrip, it’s a deal that’s priceless. If you’ve got a little extra money to spend, book yourself a Premium seat and prepare for your perfect trip to Paris. I will always say oui to spending less than $1,000 to wake up rested in Paris.”
“Traveling with French bee offers a blend of affordability and comfort. Whether you’re jetting off on a business trip or a vacation, this airline is worth considering for your next journey. Safe travels!”
“I recommend that you French bee for these reasons: Flights are all operated on modern aircraft, the A350-900 or A350-1000. Some airlines have a fleet of more or less recent aircraft. With French bee, there are no nasty surprises. It is a French airline, and the departure from Orly 4 is convenient for many travellers.”
“If we were choosing between French Bee and another airline and the prices were the same, then no. But if we could get a great ticket deal on French Bee, then yes, because getting discounted tickets makes a huge difference when you’re buying tickets for an entire family! While there are definitely downsides to flying French Bee with kiddos, if the price is right, they can be mitigated by bringing your own food and drinks, extra forms of entertainment for your children, and practicing your light packing skils.”
“The overall experience was excellent. As someone who has been on hundreds of flights all over the world, I do recommend that you book your low-cost flight between Europe and the US with French Bee.”
“The poor pre-flight customer service is maddening and the pet policy needs a review, but the flight itself is worth more than I paid.”