Air France's New Menu: BYOF (Bring Your Own Food)

Air France has revealed its decision to discontinue complementary lunch service for economy class passengers on short- and medium-haul flights beginning in 2025, a move that has shocked and upset many devoted customers. This change marks a significant shift in the airline's service model and aligns with a growing trend among major carriers to charge for previously included amenities. 

Air France, known for its extensive and impressive in-flight meal service, will be implementing a "Buy on Board" option for economy passengers on intercontinental flights within Europe. This change means that flights lasting over two-and-a-half hours, which previously offered a sandwich and a cookie to economy travelers, will now only provide a complimentary cookie and a choice of tea, coffee, or water. Passengers seeking more substantial fare will need to pay extra.

The initial trial for this new policy will affect flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and two destinations: Lisbon and Helsinki. An Air France spokesperson stated to USA Today, "Air France is constantly studying opportunities to develop its offer, in order to meet customer expectations as effectively as possible, in line with market trends."

Air France is not alone in this shift. In recent years, other major European carriers such as British Airways and Lufthansa have adopted similar à la carte systems for economy passengers. KLM is also considering implementing a pay-on-board model next year. This trend extends beyond Europe, with American carriers like Delta and United already not offering in-flight meal service for economy passengers on many routes.

The change in policy from European carriers highlights a growing disparity between service levels for different ticket classes. While economy passengers will have to pay for meals, Air France's business class travelers will continue to enjoy gourmet snack boxes on short-haul flights and chef-crafted spreads on medium-haul journeys. This distinction raises questions about the overall flight experience for economy travelers and the value proposition of air travel in general.

As major carriers increasingly adopt features of the budget airline business model, passengers are facing a new reality of air travel. Services that were once standard, such as complimentary carry-on baggage and in-flight beverages, are now becoming premium add-ons across various airlines. This shift is not only affecting passenger comfort but also potentially contributing to more stressful and sometimes volatile flight experiences.

While the news of charging for meals may be disappointing for many, Air France is planning to roll out free high-speed Wi-Fi for passengers in 2025, offering a silver lining to the changing in-flight experience. However, as airlines continue to unbundle their services, passengers are left to wonder: what basic amenity will become the next premium feature?

As the aviation industry continues to evolve, travelers will need to adapt to these changes and carefully consider the true cost of their journeys, factoring in not just the ticket price but also the various add-ons that were once included in the base fare. The question remains: Is this the future of air travel, or will passenger pushback eventually lead to a reversal of these trends?