James768 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2000, 112 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 5554 times:
At the end of this year I have the opportunity to fly to South Africa, and am able to do it in Business Class if I choose KLM or Air France. Can people give me an idea of the good and bad points of each of the offerings. I think AIr France will be an A340 or 773, KLM will be 747. The fares are roughly the same.
KL565 From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 45 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 5531 times:
I would go Air France, I have flown on KLM WBC to Nairobi on the B772 and from DXB to AMS on the MD11. In the KLM fleet only the new a/c have the new WBC seats (B772 & A332) the rest of their fleet have classic WBC. They both are not great but I have heard good things about Air France new B/C. Just make sure the a/c type when you book to see if it has the new seats.
HB-IWC From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, RR: 76 Reply 3, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 5464 times:
I presume you are flying into JNB, where AF will operate a daily B773ER and a thrice weekly A343 later this year. Both fleets have been reconfigured with the new business class (NEV) and I find the seats comfortable enough. KLM flies a daily B74E/744 into JNB, which still features old style C-class seats and rather limited IFE. However, KLM also flies a daily B772ER into CPT, which has the new C-class with a truly great IFE, although I am not wild about the seats themselves. Seat wise, I would pick Air France, overall.
There are however other considerations to be made. Both KLM southbound flights are daylight flights, whereas Air France only operates overnight sectors. As a hub, AMS is to be preferred over CDG any day of the week. Catering wise, on the other hand, I feel that AF beats KL hands down, although I do realize that that is a very subjective observation.
There is of course the compromise solution: as most AF and KL fares can be combined anyway, why don't you fly out on one carrier and fly back on the other?
Alaskaqantas From New Zealand, joined Dec 2005, 900 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (6 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 5186 times:
note- I haven't flown on any of these seats. But I have been reading up on them and looking at pictures and such.
I would go with AF. If you look at the pictures of the two different seats AF wins hands down, now I'm not saying the KLM's seat is crap... I mean any business class seat is going to be better then economy, thats just fact, but one business class seat will be better then the other.
I have heard good things about Air France and would check them out first! Any way you go I hope you have a safe, fun and enjoyable trip in your business class seat!
~Cheers-
~~Kyle H.
to some people the sky is the limit, to aviation enthusiasts, its home!
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From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2000, 112 posts, 
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From Venezuela, joined Nov 2004, 1246 posts, 
no WBC seat like upper deck window on a B744 with the window sills and the private aircraft feeling that an upper deck gives you.
From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Dec 2005, 900 posts, 
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