Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have introduced new economy fare classes designed to give passengers clearer choices and more control over what they pay for. Although the fares appeared on the Air France website two weeks ago, they will not be available on KLM.com until January 2017.
The updated economy product consists of three fare types: Light, Standard and Flex.
- Light – The most basic and lowest-priced option. This fare includes only hand baggage; checked luggage is not included but can be purchased separately during booking for an additional fee.
- Standard – Includes one checked bag and allows ticket changes for a fee. It provides a middle option for travelers who want some flexibility without the full cost of the top tier.
- Flex – The most flexible choice. Flex fares offer no change fees and allow refunds at no extra cost. Flex passengers also benefit from SkyPriority services at the airport where available.
Across all three fares, passengers will be served refreshments, snacks or meals according to the flight’s duration, ensuring a consistent onboard service regardless of fare selected.
“Air France KLM is selling an integrated product, and we want something that is fully aligned. So we have done a lot of testing, and the move we are announcing allows the best of both worlds,” said Barry Ter Voert, senior vice president, Europe, Air France KLM. “We offer the passenger one of these three fares, and they know what they are getting, but at the same time if they want to add something on to it such as a checked bag to a ‘Light’ fare, or they want to move up to economy comfort, then this is still possible. They are not paying for something they do not need, which might be a checked bag, only for what they require.”
This fare structure aims to simplify choices for customers by clearly defining what each price includes while preserving the option to customize a trip with add-ons or upgrades. The approach both clarifies expectations at booking and allows travelers to tailor costs to their needs—whether they are traveling light or require additional flexibility and airport priority services.