Premium Economy tickets from Paris-Orly, that include checked bags, lounge access (w/Corsair), more seat space and width are available at extremely low prices. While Corsair sells tickets at €592, Air France charges €580 for their premium economy product. Flights at the lowest fare are available all the way through June 2021.
Air France and Corsair have both lowered their already very cheap price by another €100!
Worldwide travel restrictions are in place to slow the spread of Covid-19. We strongly recommend gathering detailed information about the travel and quarantine restrictions that apply to your desired origin and destination.
A good start is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website. It provides current updates on a country’s immigration policies. Even better, the Covid-19 Travel Regulations Map is one of the most useful tools you can find.
Air France plans to use a Boeing 777 on these flights, with a 2-4-2 pattern in premium economy. Corsair schedules an Airbus A330, with pictures of the hard product (see title) resembling more of a low-end business class than actual premium economy.
By the way, this isn’t our only deal from Paris:
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Both airlines offer similar fare rules. Flights are available at this fare until September 20, 2020. It is restricted to the following travel periods:
- September 1 – December 11, 2020
- December 30, 2020 – February 5, 2021
- February 23 – April 16, 2021
- May 4, 2021 – June 24, 2021
Further, a minimum stay of at least three days or one night from Saturday to Sunday applies. Corsair tickets show way better availability than Air France flights.
Google Flights is the fastest and easiest way to gather all possible flight dates. You can consult our flight search to see what online travel agencies have to offer, but we recommend booking directly with Corsair or Air France.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Mileage
While earning opportunities with Corsair are severely limited, Air France issues its tickets in booking class A. This is quite an attractive booking class, with most SkyTeam partners crediting 100% or more of your travel distance:
- 12,772 RDM + 2,128 MQD on Delta SkyMiles
- 9,366 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 9,366 Miles on GOL Aéreos Smiles
- 8,514 Miles on Aeromexico Club Premier
- 8,514 Miles on Aerolíneas Argentinas AerolíneasPlus
- 8,514 Miles on CSA OK Plus
- 8,514 Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 8,514 Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 8,514 Award Miles + 100 Tier Points on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 8,514 Miles on Korean Air Skypass
- 8,514 Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 8,514 Miles on Air Europa Suma
- 8,514 Award Miles on Etihad Guest
- 8,514 Award Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- 4,258 Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
You can also get 2,000 – 3,000 miles at FlyingBlue, as well as 40 XP.
Cover Picture: © Corsair