Sometimes all you need is to get where you’re going at the best possible price. And if where you’re going is Paris or Polynesia, a French airline you’ve probably never heard of has you covered.
French Bee, a long-haul, low-cost airline flies between Newark and Paris Orly and between San Francisco and Paris Orly. It also offers flights to Reunion Island in French Polynesia.
Roundtrip economy fares on French Bee’s Newark-Paris route start at around $300. You’ll want to bump up to French Bee Premium unless you want to feel like a sardine packed into the back of the plane. At just under $1,000, a French Bee premium ticket is cheaper than the premium economy on traditional carriers, but it is a bargain that comes with trade-offs. And it’s nowhere near the Finnair Business Class experience.
There are no custom cocktails, privacy panels or fluffy designer bedding sets on board. There also are no multi-course meals or fine china, no lie-flat seats and no noise-canceling headphones. French Bee premium seats are comfortable enough and offer generous recline, but they don’t lie flat. They are also configured 2x3x2, so someone is guaranteed to get a middle seat in every row.
And you must fly through Newark’s Terminal B, which is still waiting for its renovation and is nothing like EWR’s revamped Terminal A.
Why French Bee Is So Cheap
French Bee packs more seats into its Airbus 350s than the average airline: 411 across coach and the 35-seat Premium cabin. If that sounds like a lot of seats, that’s because it is.
While the Airbus A350 has a maximum capacity of 440 passengers, most airlines configure the plane with 350 seats or fewer so passengers have a little more room to spread out. The 376 French Bee coach seats are configured 3-4-3, ensuring lots of middle seats.
The 32 inches of legroom is actually a bit more than traditional carriers, but seats are just 16 inches wide. Even at 5 feet tall, I’ll tell you it’s a tight fit.
The Premium Seats
On a flight with plenty of open seats, French Bee’s premium cabin can feel like a bargain.
French Bee’s premium seat leans back far enough back to forget it’s not a lie-flat. There are adjustable headrests and footrests and pillows and blankets in line with economy standards. Each seat comes with a USB port and power outlet. The seatback entertainment system on 12-inch seatback monitors offers movies, TV, games and access to external flight cams, one of my favorite features. Passengers are also offered tablets stocked with magazines.
The main issue with French Bee’s premium cabin is that 36-inch pitch. It’s 10 inches less than the pitch you might remember from Norwegian Airlines’ late, lamented premium cabin. If everyone sits upright, 36 inches of pitch can be comfortable for a petite traveler like myself. But even I am cramped and uncomfortable on a full flight when the passenger in front of me is fully reclined.
If you’re a tall traveler, you’ll want to book Row 1, which offers unobstructed legroom.
Food and Drinks
If you’re looking for a multi-course menu with wine pairings, you won’t find it on French Bee, not even in premium. Meals are pretty standard—think entree, salad or fruit, bread and a dessert. However, there is one luxury touch in Premium: free-flowing Champagne from Nicolas Feuillatte, the Épernay-based house founded in 1972.
As someone who eats a largely vegetarian diet, I selected vegetarian meals. 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. But dishes on the return from Paris felt like a warm, delicious extension of the city. There was a main course of polenta and peppers for dinner and savory pastries—one with spinach and another with cheese—just before landing.
The Fine Print
French Bee Premium fares are fully refundable, which makes them particularly appealing to flyers who need flexible schedules. Fares include two checked bags, but not lounge access. You can buy into shared lounges at Newark and Orly for $37 each way.
French Bee does not participate in TSA PreCheck, but priority security screening and boarding are included in the price of premium tickets.
The Bottom Line
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.
