My husband and I bought three tickets thru Expedia for Paris in April 2008. My husband bought a Delta ticket, and I bought the other two on Air France. They share the same carrier so we would be on the same flight. Come the flight date I was extremely ill with a flu. I was told Air France would waive the penalty for reissuing a ticket if I had a doctors note, and that I would need to show it when I rebooked to AF. Both Expedia and Air France confirmed, we would have flight credit until April 2009. I called Expedia, Air France and Delta to confirm we would have flight credit until April 2009. Two weeks ago, I called AF and a booking rep confirmed we had flight credit in their database for two tickets, in my name and my sons. She was ready to book our flight and I asked to hold off while we considered more dates. On Saturday 11/29/08 I called AF to book our flights. This time I got a nervous rep who said she needed to read the rules on this ticket. In short, I had the pleasure of speaking with a supervisor who claimed, of their 8, 000 Customer Service representatives, he was the only person one could speak with and there was no one above him. Our problem was that now AF was refusing to honor our flight credit. This indifferent, smug Frenchman on the line, was reiterating the rules from his book that we had no flight credit. He refused to provide any address or name for me to discuss this problem. Two hours later, Expedia decided to give us a full refund. My husband has spent around a half million dollars with Expedia in the past six years, and they acknowledged their resonsibility in the communication of the--suddenly changed-- rules. While Air France decided to make big asses of themselves, Im happy to say Delta did not. Delta is honoring my husbands flight credit. Interestingly, Air France is also keeping their share of his flight credit for the same flight. So in all, Air France is keeping $1454.40 of our money for nothing. Suffice to say, we will NEVER FLY AIR FRANCE!! And we are not really interested in going to Paris anytime soon.

I'll just post the complaint I sent to Air France, their treatment of pets is deplorable
To whom it may concern

Dear Madam/Sir,

On 5th August, we (my husband, 2 kittens and I) were travelling with your company from Sofia to Paris and from Paris to Montreal (details about the flight provided at the end of the letter). I'm glad to say that the flight from Sofia to Paris was pleasant and that the flight attendants were helpful and professional. However, we are very unhappy with the service we received from the Air France staff in Sofia, the place from where the tickets were purchased, as well as with the conditions during the flight from Paris to Montreal.

Even thought the tickets were booked 2 months in advance, no one in the office in Sofia was able to inform me about the requirements concerning the transportation of pets in the cabin. Even after calling the main office three times, and once the office at the Sofia airport, I still couldn't receive reliable information. For example, once I was told that if I take a pet I would not be able to have any hand luggage. I regret to say that the staff at the Sofia office and at the airport is poorly trained.

Additionally, we specifically requested to book seats at the back of the plane or in front (in our class), and were surprised when during both flights we were travelling in the middle of the plane. This was not a problem during the first flight (Sofia-Paris) because the seat next to us was available and we could put one of the cages there and the other on the floor. However, during the second flight (Paris-Montreal) the plane was full and we were ordered by the flight attendant to put the cages below our seats. Even though, we followed all instructions as to the measurements of the cages, it was so tight between the front and our seats that we had to put our feet on the cages and stay like that for more than 7 hours. Given that my husband is 1.90cm, this was a very unpleasant experience. The flight attendants were extremely unhelpful and rude, and refused to provide any assistance.

We chose to have our little cats (both are around 3 kilos) with us in the cabin, because it causes less stress to the animal and the possibility of fatal accident is reduced. Due to the deplorable conditions in which your company transports pets, I was not sure that they will survive the flight even though they were with us. I find your attitude towards animals horrific. The fact that I paid EUR 300 to transport 2 cats and that there was no designated place for the cages is shocking. Following this experience, neither I nor a member of my family will ever use your services again, with or without pets. Also, we strongly discourage any of our friends to fly with Air France. I strongly believe you have to seriously revise your rules and procedures, and, above all, to train your staff.

Flight information: Sofia – Paris, flight: AF 2687, date: August 5; Paris – Montreal, flight: AF 348, date: August 5

Regards,

Stefania

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to make you aware of my experience on your Air France Airlines. My party of 10 people (4 business class seats and 6 economy seats) had a terrible trip departing, connecting and returning on your airline. The personal were rude, unhelpful and spiteful.

To begin, Flight AF0007 on June 24, 2008 @ 19:10 was delayed. We were told (by the stewardess) that the connecting flight in Paris would be held since we were 10 people. At Paris a bus with a sign "Venice" on it was sent to speed us from one terminal to the other. We were told that personnel were supposed to meet us and provide priority status, so we could move more quickly through immigration etc. and get to the gate on time for Flight 1426 @ 9:50 to Venice. No one was ever sent to assist us.

We inquired numerous times if we could get to the gate more quickly, but we were told by the airport staff "Don't Worry" the connection would wait, especially since we were 10 people. Not one of the airport staff called and inquired for us, the just said "Don't Worry".

When we arrived at the gate the flight had departed. Personnel at the gate said they were never informed we were on our way. Then we were told by another employee that they never wait for passengers. I don't know if your policy is to wait for passengers that have landed and are en route or if you do not wait. (I guess your employees don't know the answer either). When we became upset, one employee actually had the nerve to say Next time they won't send a bus to the terminal- They will let us walk! Actually, sending a bus was useless since there was no one to assist in getting to the front of the extremely long immigration line.

Because we missed our connection to Venice, our plans for a prepaid tour bus and a boat ride and a tour guide was not possible before we had to board our cruise ship. So we lost our money for those excursions.

Upon our return to the United States Flight 1427 @ 12:40 in Venice was delayed again. When the delayed boarding time was finally announced there was still enough time to make our Paris connection. But then, they announced that 4 people didn't board the plane. We now proceeded to wait 45 minutes more for these people to arrive. So, do you wait for passengers or not? Now with the departure delay and the added 45minute delay for those passengers. We now would miss our connection in Paris AF0010 @ `15:55.

Previous to our arrival in Paris the airline had rebooked us on AF004 @ 20:45. Upon our arrival we found there was a flight @ 18:00 that was available. So we went to the Transfer Desk in order to get on the 18:00 flight. We were the 1st passengers to arrive at the Transfer Desk. The agent confirmed that there were enough seats on the flight for my family of 10. Again we needed 4 business seats and 6 economy seats. He did not know why they put us on the later flight @ 20:45 when there were so many seats available on the earlier flight@ 18:00 (maybe they didn't expect our flight to land at the time it did)

We asked to speak to the manager. At this point we were quite upset trying to explain why we had to move to the earlier flight. The Supervisor C/Rousseliere @ the Air France Transfer Desk did not want to switch us. She said we were already booked on Flight AF004 @ 20:45 and there we would stay.

We explained to the supervisor:

1) That my grandfather and his wife are in their 80's and the longer wait is too taxing on them.

2) We had 4 infants that had to be picked up from babysitters and the later flight would get us home too late to get them.

3) We required special meals and with all the delays we had not eaten for many, many hours.

She lied and said there were no seats available on the earlier flight. We told her the original agent said there were plenty of seats available. Her reply was "The agent was mistaken".

My grandfather and his wife, who were part of my party, saw the attitude of the supervisor and quietly moved to another agent. My grandfather had no problem switching to the 18:00 flight with 2 business seats. Then my sister and her father went to this agent to also get on my grandfathers' flight. The new agent was in the process of giving my sister seat numbers, when the supervisor ran over and told the agent not to give my sister seats. She told the agent to tell my sister there were no seats available on the plane. Obviously the agent had to obey her supervisor and didn't give my sister and her father seats.

After they denied my sister seats we asked how the elderly couple (My grandfather and his wife) got seats on the flight, since she said there were none. She lied again and said they were already booked from much earlier in the day. Obviously this was not true since they were on the delayed flight with me. The supervisor was not aware the elderly couple was from my family.

The supervisor then went back behind closed doors. The original agent who called the supervisor to help make the changes said "when people are insistent that Air France Policy is to not help them. They automatically do nothing to assist them".

For your knowledge the 18:00 flight had at least 2 or more business class seats available for my parents and numerous economy seats for the rest of my family. The flight was definitely not full. My grandfather asked the stewardess/steward and he counted himself.

Our 20:45 flight was also delayed. In total it took us 24 hours to get home to New York from Venice. We had not eaten in this amount of time because we require special meals that did not arrive to the planes. Since we got home so late, my grand children were not picked up on time. We also had to pay the babysitters an extra days pay for the 4 infants.

Air France is the worst airline I have ever encountered, in addition to their shady sales practice, their have the worst customer service. Check out other complaints here before you even hear mine

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/air_france.html

My horror story is below.

Due to a family member’s sickness, I could not foresee myself being able to make the trip to Spain on March 17th – the original departure date. I called Air France on 3/11/2008 and 3/13/2008 and 3/17/2008 to cancel the trip but was informed the following unreasonable restrictions.

1. At the time of booking the flight, Air France informed me that in case I need to reschedule flight date I only need to pay $230 reschedule fee. They failed to inform the ticket is non-refundable, and for the worst, you cannot even exchange the ticket for a credit with Air France for which you can apply toward future travel with them. This restriction is a significant deviance from the mainstream air line practice that for them not to disclose to consumers at the time of purchase is very irresponsible.

2. Air France failed to inform customers at the point of reservation/purchase that any changes to the flight schedule must be made before March 17th original departure date or else the ticket will be treated as forfeited.

3. Trying to resolve the issue in an amicable manner, I tried to make compromises with Air France during my call with them on 3/11/2008, 3/13/2008 and 3/17/2008 by complying with their restrictions and reschedule the flight to an alternative future departure date. I requested to be rescheduled to ANY departure date that will cause minimal airfare difference between what I have already paid for vs what they will charge me for the new airfare. I was told by the reservation agent that ANY departure date they could reschedule me to will require me to pay $1, 500 for the new ticket in addition to the $230 penalty fee for making changes to my flight. In another word, I was left with no choice but to either forfeit the entire $520 airfare I’ve already paid for or else pay $1730 additional fee in order to use the supposedly $520 credit with them. A total of $2250 for flying to Madrid . (If I change the date again, I will have to pay more again).

I do not consider Air France practices to be fair in anyway to consumers (it’s more of a bait and switch sales practice) so consumers be aware, just save yourself the headache and trouble by staying away from them.

I have traveled on Air France yesterday June 20th from Helsinki-Paris-Bangalore. Upon arrival at Bangalore I did not receive my baggage. I filed the complaint, but was NOT given the complaint number and was told that Air France would get back to me by afternoon of 21st June with the numbers and the baggage will be delivered to me by Sunday 22nd June 2008.

I have the similar experience with Air France when I was traveling to Helsinki on March 01 2008 and i received my baggage BROKEN and delayed by hours. I strongly protest the irresponsible behavior of to Air France and would advise. I need urgent explanation on the why was I not briefed today about the status of my baggage.

I feel its my duty to bring this behavior of Air France to the notice of my employer Accenture Services (for whom Air France has been the preferred air lines) and as well as advise all the prospective travelers not to use Air France for their trips.

One additional note: I have been trying to call the Bangalore baggage assistance numbers for further help, but to no use, my calls are not answered even once.

I am filing the complaint with the complaintsboard and consumer courts, state of Karnataka.

--
Regards,
Sudhir Mathane.