Find cheap French Bee flights

French Bee is a long-haul, low-cost French carrier that connects France with several destinations at a discount. If you know what to expect before booking a ticket, a flight with French Bee can save some substantial cash better left for a fancy Parisian dinner in the Marais or for some luxury shopping along the Champs-Elysees. Just remember that for tall travelers like myself, there are some comfort sacrifices that can affect the journey. Here’s how I prepared for and maximized my flight.

Low-cost everything

Low-fare airlines are able to charge lower prices because they include fewer perks, and instead, they charge for each thing you choose to add to your experience. And as a newer airline, the staff do not have a long history with the airline and therefore are paid less. This means that the savings get passed onto you. As the traveler, you can cherry pick the comforts you want for the trip.

Buying the base ticket

There are three fares to choose from, and none of them includes a traditional, lie-flat business class seat. The cheapest is the Base fare, which strips everything away (you cannot even carry on any bag and have to pay to check one). Next is the Smart fare, which is just a small percentage higher in cost, but lets you check a bag for free, carry a smaller one into the cabin and enjoy a free meal on the plane.

The Premium fare is often five times the cost of the Basic ticket, but adds the most perks like seat assignments, carry-on and checked bags, inflight meals and priority boarding. While seats have more legroom in a smaller premium cabin, you still have to pay for some of the best legroom seats.

What else do you pay extra for on French Bee?

Pretty much everything! But, I was not surprised given how low some of their roundtrip airfare is from the West Coast to Paris. Still, I found it interesting to see how many people on board didn’t realize they had to pay for the meal and fumbled for their credit cards (they must have booked a basic fare and not paid attention). Traditionally, long-haul flights include meals, even in economy, but that’s not a guarantee on French Bee.

Other fees include being charged more for a window seat than an aisle (Premium passengers can choose one for free though). Premium passengers do not get two things for free: lounge access and an amenity kit (although everyone on the plane gets an eye shade and earplugs). All passengers can pay extra for these, no matter what fare they bought.

If you want to buy the cheapest ticket, I recommend checking to see if your credit card (or if you have Priority Pass) would give you access to another lounge in the departure airport before forking over extra for access via French Bee.

While I avoid paying Basic fares on most airlines, I like that French Bee lets those passengers pay extra for an extra-legroom seat. That’s the equivalent of a cheap upgrade offer, which is great if you just want to get some shuteye without eating inflight. Basic and Smart fares can also pay extra for priority boarding.

If you really want a Premium seat, but don’t want to pay the fee, follow my lead. I used the PlusGrade program and scored a discounted seat by placing a low-enough bid up to seven hours before departure. At the gate, I was notified that I scored an aisle in the Premium cabin for a third less than what it would have cost although I missed out on the airport benefits that came with that fare.

If you want to add on a bunch of extra services like early boarding and meals, the bundled packs are a tempting offer. I like how you can curate the amenities you prefer (checked bag plus meal) or (extra legroom seat with amenity kit) and get a discount for these bundles. But, word of advice: these must be purchased in advance as once you are on the plane, the prices are higher.

What do you get for free on French Bee?

All seats have inflight entertainment screens with Hollywood movies, international sitcoms and music. It’s a great way to pass the time, especially on a day flight.

Is it worth paying for Premium Class?

Tall (or fidgety) travelers will be glad they paid extra for the Premium fare. This is often similar in price to standard economy class on other network airlines, and I find it to be an incredible bargain if you traditionally do not pay for business class.

The seats are in either a 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 setup (depending on the aircraft) with greater recline than economy (which is in a tight 3-4-3 layout, ouch) and more legroom plus a footrest. The headrests adjust in four different directions for more comfort, but for me, it’s not enough to get sound sleep (more like an on-and-off doze). But, then again, I often have trouble falling asleep on planes, even in business class.

I appreciate the extras on board like a welcome drink and that the meals come on larger trays with a few extras like a cheese plate. But, make no mistake about it. The quality of the food is more like economy class, and it is served in similar tins rather than china. At least, the bar is open throughout the flight, and each seat has a pillow and blanket waiting for them. There is no open bar or pillow in economy class unless you buy one from the inflight store.

Where does French Bee fly?

French Bee operates all of its flights from Paris Orly airport using new Airbus A350 aircraft. From there, they fly to Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, Punta Cana and San Francisco. The carrier also flies to Tahiti via the U.S. West Coast and nonstop from Paris to the Reunion Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Important tips and tricks for flying French Bee

This French airline participates in TSA PreCheck. Be sure to provide your Known Traveler Number when making a reservation or when checking in for the flight to bypass the longer security queues. Unfortunately, my flight from Newark did not have access to a terminal that uses PreCheck.

If you don’t want to pay extra for a mystery meal that you may not like, the airline allows passengers to bring aboard their own food if they prefer. This can be a huge win for families or picky eaters. I had to chuckle when I read the notice from the airline that said please don’t bring smelly food on the flight “out of respect for other passengers.” It goes on to specify that food in sauces, soups, and soft or creamy cheeses are also not permitted. Way to go, French Bee. I wish other airlines had that notice!

If you did want to buy food or drinks on the plane, I am impressed that the buy-on-board menu is not as overpriced as other airlines. For those rushing to board the flight or if the airport stores are closed, don’t fret. You won’t get too price-gouged on the flight.

French Bee planes are incredibly dense with seating capacity, and boarding lines can be long. If you are interested in paying for any additional fee, priority boarding may be the one because you won’t have an issue finding space for a carry-on bag.

Onboard Wi-Fi is available for a modest fee, and it comes in bundles based on how much you need for speed and data. Take it from me, avoid opening social media apps that suck the data right out of your plan in minutes. If that happens, kick back with a movie or watch the tail camera that shows an aerial view of the plane, which is most interesting during takeoff and landing.