This Budget Airline Can Get You to Paris for Half The Price of the Most Popular Flights

Had anyone else ventured on this airline I’d never heard of? As I scanned Reddit posts online, I quickly discovered an overwhelming amount of critical comments from disgruntled customers, warning all readers to steer clear of French Bee. One previous passenger called out the flight crews: “Their flight attendants are all young and inexperienced (like, ALL of them…).” Another described an uncomfortable flight, dubbing French Bee the “worst airline of all time.” But even then, $500 is $500, and since my flight option was a red-eye, I figured I’d spend most of the journey sleeping (one can always prepare with the best ways to sleep on a plane and hope for the best).

Despite the online commentary, I took a chance and decided to proceed.

Like other budget airlines, French Bee follows the à la carte model. You book a cheap flight, and tag on your add-ons. Carrying a personal item? That’s an extra cost. Picking your seat? That’s another cost. It’s about $20 per add-on. Even with a few of these tagged on, you’re still paying way less than usual. The airline started transporting travelers in 2016, and now offers flights from major U.S. hubs like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Miami to Paris and back, as well as flights to and from French territories far from the motherland including Tahiti and Réunion Island.

As soon as I stepped on the plane, I noticed how new the interior of the aircraft was — presumably a benefit of an airline just shy of its first decade in existence. Though there were complaints online about cramped, smaller seats, I felt perfectly comfortable. The other thing I noticed was the courtesy of the staff on board. Before the passenger next to me even attempted to tuck away her suitcase overhead, a steward approached and insisted on doing it for her, despite it being standard procedure that flight attendants are not supposed to help lift luggage. Throughout the flight, the crew was more polite and friendly than most flights I’ve been on. The only noteworthy difference in service was that water was the only complimentary beverage. Any other drinks required payment (those damn add-ons!). Beyond that, we enjoyed a full meal as usual, and the flight went smoothly.

We landed with no delays at Paris Orly Airport, where French Bee is based. Orly Airport is smaller, less chaotic, and a bit closer to the city than the larger Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (where Air France is based). Perhaps I got lucky with my flight, or perhaps French Bee has been steadily improving its services to compete with juggernaut airlines, but the lesson for me is to not believe every review you read online.

You do typically get what you pay for, but every once in a while, it’s worth taking a chance on a different, less expensive option. You never know what awaits you.