Airlines in Detail (A-G)

Opinions and Discussions

Various opinions, questions, and discussions about the main airlines used by travellers.

Aeroflot
If there’s one airline whose poor image is now a thing of the past, it’s Aeroflot! Yet it has nothing in common with the old Aeroflot, whether in terms of safety or service. And given the prices offered, you actually get a good deal for flying from Europe to the former USSR or Asia. In short, Aeroflot is a airline to recommend to those who don’t want to spend too much and aren’t overly demanding about services.

Air Canada
Air Canada remains a good airline, but perhaps better suited to a Canadian audience than a European one. On the transatlantic route, it only offers average interest compared to the competition, including Air Transat.

Air China
Air China is a fairly good-value airline that can be recommended for travel to China and its neighbours.

Air France
Air France has undergone quite a few changes in recent years. Some things have improved to varying degrees, particularly in terms of service, even if a recurring tendency to strike has led some of the public to turn away from "Air Grève" (Air Strike), as it’s now nicknamed. That said, when it’s operating, Air France offers a fairly good quality-to-price ratio in all classes for most destinations, especially considering the advantage of direct flights and quality French-speaking service overall. It’s also interesting for travel from the provinces, with direct flights or good connections to Paris (by train or plane). In short, unless you’re looking for the cheapest option possible, it remains a viable airline for many countries.

Air Transat
Air Transat is a "holiday airline" and should be used—or considered—as such. As a result, it offers a very good deal for travelling to the "South" from Canada, as well as on the Europe-Quebec route, particularly with its many seasonal direct flights from Paris and the provinces.

AirAsia
AirAsia, with its various "sub-brands," is an excellent airline for those wanting to travel around Asia or extend a transcontinental connection in the region. Even if it’s not well-known to the general European public, it’s increasingly becoming a "reference" among travellers or those familiar with Asia, particularly Southeast Asia. In short, it’s an airline to prioritise.

Alitalia
A mediocre airline (with ongoing financial problems) in every respect, but it can still be useful occasionally for parts of Europe, especially from the provinces.

American Airlines
A carrier that has seemingly declined in quality in recent years, and whose main appeal now lies in its vast network across the Americas, though it remains most interesting in its home country. In short, it’s not necessarily the first airline to prioritise.

Austrian Airlines
Though not the first airline that comes to mind, Austrian remains a good airline with an attractive value. It can be recommended for those looking to fly primarily to the Middle East, the Caucasus, certain destinations in Eastern Europe, or even Asia.

British Airways
An airline that still offers a fairly good deal for its extensive network, or even more so off-season or for departures from the provinces. However, be careful with London airports if you have a connection, as the cost of transfers can cancel out any potential savings on the flight.

Brussels Airlines
A "decent" airline at best, struggling to recover from past difficulties. Nevertheless, it can still be suitable for travel to Africa and Europe, especially for those living in northern France and the Benelux.

Cathay Pacific
Cathay is a "luxury" airline, very appealing for flying to Asia or the Pacific in the best conditions across all classes, once you’ve decided to spend a little or treat yourself. That said, you can easily find other high-end airlines (Qatar, Emirates, Etihad, Malaysia) sold at lower prices on the same routes as Cathay.

Delta Air Lines
A "decent" airline that can be interesting for travel to the United States and "possible" for the rest of its network across the Americas and the Pacific.

EasyJet
Low-cost airlines should be taken for what they are: a simple, no-frills mode of transport that allows you to travel at unbeatable prices, provided you’re (very) flexible with your plans and travel light. Seen this way, EasyJet, like most of its competitors, is highly recommended. Otherwise, be prepared for disappointment, including with prices...

Emirates
Like other carriers in the region (Qatar, Etihad), Emirates stands out and ranks among the best in the world. It’s an excellent airline in terms of quality-to-price ratio, highly recommended for those travelling to the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific, or even the eastern/southeastern part of Africa (despite the detour via Dubai). It’s also the top-tier option for direct flights from Nice or Lyon.

Etihad Airways
Like Qatar and Emirates, Etihad truly stands out and ranks among the best airlines in the world. It excels in every respect (and is quite young, having been founded in 2003) and is highly recommended for those travelling to Asia, Australia, or the Middle East.

Eva Air
Eva Air is an interesting airline, but in recent years, it has been overtaken by many of its European and especially Middle Eastern competitors. That said, it remains a good option for travelling around the Pacific, particularly if you’re looking to fly business class at a good price.

Finnair
Little by little, Finnair is carving out a place for itself among airlines sought after from France. Thanks primarily to good prices and service, it’s highly recommended for all its flights to India, Bangkok, China, Japan, or Korea. However, it’s far less interesting for many of its European routes due to the detour via Finland, which significantly extends flight times.

Gulf Air
Though it’s now surpassed in almost every way by other carriers in the region, the airline still offers a borderline interesting deal thanks to its competitive fares. It’s therefore worth considering from Paris for those wanting to travel, particularly to India, without being too demanding but in decent conditions and without spending too much.