CrazyCelt

I'm flying through CDG next week. I'm thinking of purchasing an à la carte option that AF offers on my long haul flight originating in CDG.
Does anyone have experience with the quality/value of these meals? Was thinking about the Le Nôtre choice. Thanks.

Goldorak

They are good and definitely good value for money IMO.

CrazyCelt

Thanks Goldorak.

orbitmic

I'll admit that personally I would never pay for them, mostly on the grounds that AF long haul Y meals tend to be perfectly all right and that I do not see the point of paying for something which is already included in the ticket price. That said, why not, if there is a menu you particularly fancy and you do not like the (limited) uncertainty of regular menu choices, go for it...

olivedel

However, I can tell you that it will skip you from the upgrade list in case your flight is fully booked and if you are from the 1st passengers meant to be upgraded (confirmed by AF reps).

SDQBound

This. I was told the same once. Similar to special meals, an à la carte meal will prevent you from being upgraded. I'm just wondering if this would be the case for Y -> W upgrade, since you can also order the same à la carte meals when flying W.

I wish they had them in Longhaul flights departing from the U.S. The Y/W meal is horrible.

arkangel

Be aware that, unless it's changed recently, if you purchased your ticket from DL(006 stock), you won't be able to order an à la carte meal. This was what I was told last summer when flying in W. Don't know why. Just another example of the "seamless" DL/AF experience!

CrazyCelt

Yep. Seamless is right. Ha. I saw I wasn't upgraded on the Delta segment of my weekend 'AF flight.' I called and learned I was not even on Delta's upgrade list. They did it manually.

Ok. So now I'm on the waiting list - for one of TWO remaining seats in a 24 seat FC cabin. That's wonderful, isn't it. I'm so terribly grateful.

Furthermore, I'm on an AF PE ticket (A). So I asked what fare code DL assigned to the DL segment. Turns out Delta assigned this 'A' fare a 'Q' ... Can you believe it?

Yep seamless - and transparent - is right.

olivedel

Was the flight coded as AF? If so, this has been the case forever.

vgb2001

Interesting. Is that a rule? I have a TATL ex-US flight in W coming. Y has been zeroed for weeks, while W, J and P are quite open. Being ST elite + I'm sorta of hoping (jut a little) that a bunch Y will be oped up to W and I have a shot for a W to J op up. I do have a special meal request in though. Should I get rid of it if I want a (slim) shot at op up?

Goldorak

This "rule" is for obvious reasons : op-ups are usually proceed during the hour before departure and so, in case of special meal, they can't adjust the catering for these pax. So ordering a special meal or a "à la carte menu" will indeed prevent you to receive any upgrade.

JeffMIA

I noticed that AF offers upgraded meals in economy on long-haul flights originating in Paris. There are several choices (La Notre, Italian, Ocean, Traditional) and they range from 16 to 38 euros. Does anyone have any experience with these options? Is it that much better than the regular meal? It seems the only thing worse than a bad airline meal in coach is paying for a bad airline meal in coach.

bostontraveler

I have and loved it. Flying in coach is a drag-- this was a lot of fun. I did the French menu and really enjoyed it.

San Gottardo

Just wondering whether "Special meals prevent upgrades" also applies to Kids' meals. I have experienced upgrades W -> J when traveling with kids, and they had children meals ordered.

In any case the children meals are the same in all classes: I have seen mine getting the same three little sweet bun sandwiches, pasta-under-aluminium-foil, orange juice-with-a-funny-straw, KIRI cheese in all classes, from Eco to Business (and actually I believe also in Premiere, but I took Premiere only once with one of my kids). All the upgrade would change is the seat number to which this exact meal is served, but the meal seems to be identical. Which defeats the argument of "too short for the catering people to adapt"

Who knows more?

JeffMIA

Thank you; I think we'll give it a try.