French bee highlights features of its premium economy service

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French bee highlights features of its premium economy service

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Simple Flying | Simple Flying

By Sky Industry News

Dec 28, 2024

French bee, a low-cost airline based at Paris Orly Airport, has carved out a niche in the long-haul market with its budget-friendly intercontinental flights. Known for its high-density economy class seating, French bee also offers a premium economy option for passengers willing to pay more for additional comfort.

Established in 2016 as French Blue and rebranded in 2018, the airline operates an all-Airbus A350 fleet. According to ch-aviation data, it includes four A350-900s with an average age of 6.8 years and two A350-1000s averaging three years old. Cirium's scheduling data indicates that French bee scheduled 220 passenger flights in December 2024, providing 92,566 seats and covering 458 million available seat miles (ASMs). The most frequented destination is Roland Garros Airport in Réunion.

French bee's approach allows passengers to choose services they want on long-haul routes, differentiating itself by offering a premium economy cabin. This section provides more than just extra space; it comes with additional features such as a welcome drink upon boarding and increased luggage allowance.

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The Airbus A350-900 aircraft feature premium economy seats arranged seven abreast (2-3-2), while the larger A350-1000 uses an eight-abreast layout (2-4-2). Premium cabins accommodate five rows of seats at the front of the plane. The A350-900 can hold up to 35 premium passengers compared to 40 on the A350-1000. These configurations result in total capacities of 411 and 480 passengers respectively.

French bee describes its premium seats as having "measurements straight out of a dream," offering a seat pitch of 36 inches and width of 18 inches—providing more legroom than standard economy class seats. Features include reclining capabilities, integrated rests for legs and feet, adjustable headrests with four positions, and entertainment systems with touchscreens.

Premium passengers enjoy perks like priority check-in and boarding along with two checked bags each weighing up to 23 kg or approximately 50 lbs. Tickets are flexible too; Premium Smart fares allow changes for fees while Premium Flex tickets offer fee-free changes or refunds.

A cost comparison using a March flight from Paris to Newark shows minimal fare differences between higher-tier economy tickets and premium options—€424 ($445) for Premium Smart versus €564 ($591.50) for Premium Flex—with demand keeping availability limited.

Simple Flying reviewed this service earlier this year during a Los Angeles-to-Paris flight, noting positive experiences despite some shortcomings in food quality.