This claim is pursuant to a previous claim made on 4th September 2022, with reference number C-*******, on basically the same topic as this one, and to which I still have no reply. In brief, I am convinced that there is a problem with your payment page which needs to be addressed.

When I book tickets with Air France, I use a Lloyds Bank US Dollar debit card. This card works perfectly, and there are vastly more than adequate funds in the account to pay for 2 business class tickets from Cairo to Paris return. And yet - I get a "card declined" error every single time that I try to pay for a ticket. The last time this happened, I gave up in exasperation and went to a friend that I have rather neglected, Expedia, and in 2 to 3 minutes I was booked, using the same card, on exactly the same itinerary, the exact same seats that I had chosen, and I believe for a couple of bucks less than I would have paid you. This has been going on for over a year, and I have made many complaints to your Cairo station and to Air France in Paris. I have spent a great many hours, and considerable funds on the telephone trying to speak to your service hotlines.

I have also spent as much time and money talking to Lloyds, who insist that they have NEVER declined my card in regard to an Air France payment.

Here is the explanation proffered by the bank:

When I click on the PAY button on your site, your software should automatically transfer me to a Lloyds Verify popup window, into which I will enter my details and security code, and I am then transferred back to the merchant for final payment confirmation. According to Lloyds, the Air France system is "non-compliant with this protocol", and it does not trigger the Verify procedure. The transaction then stalls - AT YOUR END.

I assure you that I do not have a pop-up blocker installed: the Lloyds Verify pop up works perfectly for every transaction I ever make, up to and including buying a packet of bonbons on Amazon: and this on 2 desktops, 2 laptops, and 2 tablets.

I have achieved Platinum status: I note this not with pride, but more to remind you that you have a "Platinum Service Line", which also entails an international phone call, and which is as dysfunctional as your payment page. Why would I, having spent the appropriate amount of money flying with you to achieve this status - along with my wife - spend 45 minutes and sometimes longer on hold to your hotline in order to unscramble the mess that you have made?

Actually, does Platinum offer any benefits at all? I note en passant that the last time I travelled with you, at both Cairo and CDG you boarded Group 2 pax ahead of or simultaneously with Group 1, let alone people with actual seats in the Business Class cabin, and elite status.

I want you to understand how very angry I am. This has gone on for far too long: I love your onboard experience which is why latterly I have flown almost exclusively with Air France, but your admin and ground experience is eventually going to drive me into the arms of your competition - unsatisfactory as most of it is. But I am feeling the need to punish you somehow. I am not asking for any compensation pecuniary or otherwise: I am asking you to acknowledge the existence of a problem, to promise to fix it - and then to actually fix it.

In colloquial vernacular, I am simply asking you to get your merde together....

PS:

When attempting to actually send this missive to you on your form content, I got the following message:

"Sorry, something went wrong..."

So it is my turn to be sorry, but I am now heading off to Flyertalk to post it there. Perhaps it will catch someone’s attention at Air France…..