Couldn't price with the stopover, but booked 8 for the family :-)

 

Does anyone know if this sale ends any time soon (or how to find out)?

I ask because I heard an Air France ad on the radio suggesting the sale ended on Sept 18

 

OP:

 

Sometimes these things are extended, but sometimes not. Best to book if you have an interest.

 

Many of these destinations ex various Canadian cities are now matched on AC/Star Alliance.

 

Thanks for posting this. I just cancelled the Delta flight out of Boston and moved the trip out of Toronto. It�s an easy jaunt to Toronto to for the flight and it saving me several hundred dollars.

 

Looks like it is still active (on KLM to AMS anyway).

 

It�s still available on AF too, just more limited dates now as people have grabbed up the AF fare over the KLM fare.

Out of Montreal (don�t know about YYZ), the KLM jet is old: 2x2x2 config while AF is using their new 777s. Flew the new 777 last year in Biz and it was fantastic. Also, for the regional connections KLM�s jet has 17� width seats in biz class. AF is 18�. We just booked 3 of these seats in June for a Greek island cruise starting in Athens. Purposely found dates that the AF metal was available, to mainly avoid those 17� wide regional seats from CDG to ATH. That�s a 3-hr. Flight. 17�? No thanks.

 

It is still alive, but not as wide open as it was.

The last purchase date has been extended to Oct 04.

 

Too bad it's not from U.S. west coast.

 

according to the link quoted above, YVR-CDG-YVR on AF with Z fare is 0(zero) RDMs, and 60 XP on Flying Blue, Explorers level.

 

I agree that KLM seems to switch out equipment much more than AF. I also think the CDG lounge is nicer and has better food than the AMS KLM lounge. The wines are a tad better too in the AF lounge.

Onboard, KLM has really sweet, kind service with amiable flight attendants. True on both long haul and regional flights. They're always in a good mood and so friendly. AirFrance service is more up tight and professional. But I've never had unkind service on AirFrance. They're usually friendly but not chummy chummy like they are on KLM. They're there to do a job and do it professionally. But it is obvious that they stick to a strict professional code for service.

Before COVID, KLM had good hearty food. None of their food has ever been "gourmet" but it was tasty and homey and pretty filling. They have wonderful salt and pepper shakers and cutlery/dishes. However, after COVID, all of their long haul food has not been good. It's obvious they've cut costs. It's worse than Delta's food post-COVID. Prior to COVID, Delta had the best food of the SkyTeam airlines (IMO). I've had a cod and a duck on Delta that were truly gourmet. But that was prior to COVID. Since COVID, they've switched caterers and the food has bordered on disgusting -- and much smaller portions which is OK since I normally can't eat any of it anyways. And i've tried their chicken, beef, pasta, lamb post-COVID -- all of it disgusting. AirFrance has gone back to their pre-COVID catering so the food tastes like AF food did pre-COVID -- just that the portions are smaller. I never thought AF food was amazing but it's definitely better than Delta's and KLM's long haul biz food is now.

On the regional EU flights, I love the soft product of KLM. Both AF and KLM serve cold food on regionals, every flight in Europe. And KLM's food is better than AirFrance's regional food. KLM food is more aligned with the North American palate. The AF cold regional food is very...um...."French" and not always pleasing to the North American palate. They would serve things that Americans would just consider "weird" but the items are very common in France, so I think it's a matter of taste. Also, it's easy to get a G&T on KLM regional but AirFrance many times only has catering with wine and champagne. No spirits. :-( And the flight attendants are just so much fun on KLM.

But for regional EU flights, AirFrance easily wins the hard product. Their 18" wide seats beat the beegeezus out of those 17" wide seats in Biz on KLM regional.

And then, if you evaluate transfer hubs, AMS easily wins. CDG is a cluster-pluck and so ungodly difficult to connect through.

 

I wouldN't agree on your last point. Transfers at CDG nowadays are probably smoother than AMS: you have priority line for immigration, security (where needed) and of course the wonderful lounges.

 

Really?!? When i land at AMS i don't have to be driven through a series of buses and concourses like a rat in a maze. In AMS i just walk quietly to my gate (yeah, can be a bit far from intl to regional but it's an enjoyable walk and great exercise! At CDG, when traveling on both regional and long haul, I have to often deboard to a tarmac and take a bus. Don't think i've ever done that at AMS -- just enter the jetway.

 

Lowest I'm seeing for next June from YVR is $2394. The price drops to $2255 from YYZ but as a Californian I am disinclined to transit there due to the costs of positioning flights.

However I am liking the pricing for the YUL-ATH nonstop. How is the hard product?