The airline is moving more toward rewarding those willing to book 150 days in advance.
Just two months ago, FCF wrote about the latest First Class EasyUp Fare evolution to Europe, which included Air France.
We said that Air France would not offer new lower First Class fares to Paris unless competition got much fiercer. (Air France does not even offer First Class award redemption unless you have elite status in its mileage program.)
First Class Fares to Paris Drop Up to 25% Last Month
Well, the Air France wall is cracking. August fares to Paris were still high, $6,700 to $9,600 (a drop of $600 to $800 from April), but now fares start at $5,300. Not many years ago these fares were all over $10,000.
In short, Air France has matched other airlines on the route.
New Air France First Class Fares to Paris
[table_opt id="5426" style="gray-header" alignment="thcenter" rows="tdcenter"]
Air France First Class Fares
to other European Destinations Remain about the Same
Two months ago, the lowest First Class fare on Washington, DC-London (150-day advance-purchase) was $4,416 and $4,523 on New York-Rome, both via Paris. The lowest fare to Europe now via Paris is to Madrid ($4,338) and to London ($4,386); both carry a 150-day advance-purchase requirement.
The Future of First Class to Europe
We think this is as low as Air France will go, as it doesn’t offer a First Class cabin to Paris from every U.S. gateway, so seats overall are not in great supply. Moreover, the U.S.-Europe First Class cabin is an endangered species. As such cabins are getting scarcer across the board.