Originally Posted by
graraps
I am guessing that the AVERAGE fare in the cabin you were in was substantially lower than the €816.07 oneway or €1540.61 return that's the CHEAPEST fare available in Affaires between Madrid and Paris (well, you may be able to save a couple of hundred Euros by flying Regional/Britair via Lyon, but that would be an even worse product!).
Indeed fares are the other side of teh coin. Such high European C fares with dismal service is absurd.
You take the example of the US, where F class fares are usually very low. Let me take the example of Asia. Had a HKG-SIN flight in F for some €500 with flat seats, AVOD, Dom Perignon and F class food. This is typical on many intra-Asia destinations e.g. ICN to BEI or HKG. For less than €300 (one-way) you can have a 3+ hours flight in Biz with great seats and service.
AF is trying (and failing) to get away with huge fares and dismal product.
A majority of European C pax are now longhaul C pax originating/going to foriegn countries, but hubbing in CDG, and they are not happy either.