French Bee Premium Economy Review: Everything You Need to Know Before Booking to Europe

When we tell people we fly to Europe in Premium Economy for under $1,200 (sometimes closer to $900 round‑trip) they usually ask: “Wait, on what airline?” Our answer is French Bee. And then we get looks of confusion. This French low‑cost carrier might not be a household name, but their Premium Economy product is seriously underrated. We love it so much, we’re afraid to let the secret out, especially since it’s often half the price (or even less) of what you’d pay on one of the bigger airlines.

We’ve flown Premium Economy with six airlines, and even though the seat is slightly smaller on French Bee, it wasn’t significant, and this airline quickly became our favorite. We’ll tell you all the pros and cons plus our expert tips on how to pick the best seat for a comfortable journey.

Quick Overview: What is French Bee?

✈️ French Bee is a French low-cost airline that flies long-haul routes between the US and Paris-Orly. You can book flights from Newark, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami. Our experiences are all from Newark.

💺 They use a lovely fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft. But the catch is that economy is extremely tight. Seats are in a 3-4-3 configuration, which means 10 seats across in each row. They also charge economy passengers for all add-ons. We do not recommend flying in economy unless you absolutely have to.💲

💲 What we do recommend, and what this review focuses on, is their Premium Economy cabin. This is where French Bee stands out and where you can get real comfort for a great price.

🥂 It’s a totally different experience. The seats are in a 2-3-2 configuration, with more width and legroom. The cabin is smaller and quieter and comes with elevated service. If you book early or watch for deals, you can often find roundtrip fares between $900 and $1,300, even in peak season, which is significantly cheaper than flying Premium Economy on a legacy carrier. Sometimes you’ll save more than half.

✅ The best part is that seat selection, priority boarding, airport priority, meals, drinks, and two checked bags are all included in the base Premium Economy fare. More on that below.

What You Get in French Bee Premium Economy

Here’s what we’ve experienced flying Premium Economy from Newark to Paris-Orly:

• Priority check-in and security lanes (Newark is hit-or-miss for priority regardless of the airline, but look for “Access No. 1” signs at Orly to expedite your journey.)
• Priority boarding is also included and a nice touch to set the tone for the trip.
• A glass of champagne is offered before takeoff.
• A meal service is offered, even on the late departure out of Newark. For that flight, it’s usually just a bagel with lox, cream cheese, and a drink. We really enjoy it, but you’ll probably want dinner before the flight.
• Breakfast is also served before landing.
• Two checked bags are included, as well as a 12kg/26lb carry-on bag.
• A pillow, blanket and amenity kit are provided. While these are appreciated, they are pretty basic compared to other airlines. We’re fine with that to keep the cost down.
• In-flight entertainment is offered, as well as power outlets at the seats.
• You get a wide recliner seat and an adjustable footrest. It’s maybe 2 inches less space all around than United, for comparison, but very comfortable.
• Seat selection is included unless you want a bulkhead or extra legroom seat, which costs about $100 extra. We haven’t tried the bulkhead seats yet, but they appear noticeably roomier and come with a footrest extension.

⭐ Pro Tip: If you’re booking Premium Economy, select your seats as soon as you book. While selection is free for standard seats, the best rows fill up quickly, especially for overnight flights.

How to Pick the Best Seats

If you’re flying on French Bee’s typical Airbus A350-900, the last row in Premium Economy is our favorite. That’s Row 9. These seats are farthest from the galley and bathroom, which makes them quieter and more private. They also recline fully, unlike some back rows on other airlines.

⭐ Pro Tip: Want to be served first on that 11 PM flight so you can get some sleep? Sit on the A/B side of the cabin. For maximum privacy, go for Row 9 on the H/K side.

Important Seating Note‼️

French Bee sometimes operates an Airbus A350-1000 on this route. These planes are leased from their sister airline, Air Caraïbes. You can spot the difference by checking the seat map.

⭐ Pro Tip: On these aircraft, the front row has lie-flat seats you can purchase for around $400. We tried this on one trip and really enjoyed it. You get the same meals and service as Premium Economy, but more space to stretch out. It’s not a full upgrade in service, so the value depends on how much you want the lie-flat experience.

On the A350-1000, bathrooms are located right behind Rows 10 and 11, which means more foot traffic near the back. If you’re not splurging on the lie-flat seat, sit closer to the front of the Premium Economy cabin on this plane for a quieter experience.

⭐ Pro Tip: Check the French Bee seat map during booking and again before travel to confirm which aircraft version you’re on. If you see lie-flat pods, you’re on the A350-1000. Sometimes they switch out planes, so it’s worth checking a few times.   

How We Book French Bee Flights for Less

We typically find Premium Economy fares between $900 and $1,300 roundtrip from Newark. Here’s how we book:

• Use Google Flights and filter for Premium Economy. This is the best way to compare dates if your schedule is flexible.
• Check the French Bee website for upcoming sales, like at the first of the year or Black Friday.
• Be flexible with travel dates and book several months in advance.

⭐ Pro Tip: Google Flights is especially useful for tracking fare trends. Set alerts if you’re not ready to book.

Some Important Logistics

🌙 Flights in and out of Newark are at night to save money. This is an advantage because airport traffic (in terminal and in the air) is lighter. We also like departing at 11 PM on a Friday night after work and arriving in Paris at noon on Saturday, so we’re close to hotel check-in time.

🛏️ But it’s also an inconvenience, especially one the way back, if you need to connect. Our flights arrived back at Newark between 8-9 PM, which meant we needed a hotel room for the night before connecting home on Amtrak (or a positioning flight) in the morning. But this is also surprisingly smooth.

🚂 If you don’t live near Newark, you can often add a positioning flight or take Amtrak directly into Newark Liberty International Airport.

🏨 We’ve used Chase or hotel loyalty points to cover airport hotels when we return on late flights and can’t travel home the same night. You’ll need to factor in this extra cost if you’re not local, but we often still get significant cost savings compared to flying out of our home airport with another airline. The added travel vs. cost savings ratio is a personal decision, and we always weigh the options before booking.

⭐ Pro Tip: Most major hotel brands have affordable hotels near Newark Liberty with great deals on points, and they offer shuttles to and from Parking Lot 4. You can take the airport air tram to the lot and also take it directly to the Amtrak station. Newark is by far not our favorite airport, but these aspects make it easy and convenient.

What to Pack and Expect Onboard

French Bee’s in-flight experience is pretty straightforward. You’ll want to pack a few extras to stay comfortable.

• Bring your own neck pillow or other comfort items for sleeping, if you’re picky about these things. The airline supplies pillows and blankets, which were totally fine for us, but they’re the same quality you would find in economy on other airlines.
• Bring snacks. We recommend this for every flight. The onboard meal is good, but the night flight service is understandably light.
• Entertainment screens are provided, but it’s smart to download your own content too. I like to watch the live flight cam!
• The cabin is kept cool and comfortable, but bring layers just in case.

⭐ Pro Tip: Look for your amenity kit at your seat. It’s basic but cute, and includes an eye mask, toothbrush, socks, and some lotions to help keep your journey comfortable.

TL;DR: The Pros and Cons At A Glance

✅ Pros:

• Much more affordable than other Premium Economy options.
• Priority services, seat selection, food and drinks, and checked bags are included.
• Recliner seats have nice extra space and the $100 bulkhead is even more spacious.
• Option to upgrade to lie-flat seating for $400 on some aircraft.
• Quiet, smaller cabin in the front of the plane.
• Often overlooked, which means lower demand and better pricing.
• Meal service is straightforward but pretty good, especially with the wine selection (and honestly it’s waaaay better than what we’ve had on American or United in Premium Economy).

❌ Cons:

• Economy is not worth it in our opinion.
• Limited routes (mostly to Paris-Orly). And with only one or two flights a day, cancellations may mean a full 24-hour delay.
• Flight times are typically late at night, which may require a hotel on the return.
• Lie-flat seat upgrade only changes the seat, not the service level. (But we’re happy with the service level).
• We’re glad to have a pillow, blanket, and amenity kit on a low-cost carrier, but you should note they’re simpler than other premium economy experiences.
• No lounge access or additional luxury perks.

Our Verdict

😎 French Bee Premium Economy is one of our favorite ways to fly to Europe when we want to stay comfortable without spending a fortune. It’s not business class, but it offers more than enough comfort for an overnight flight.

💰 If you’re planning a trip to Paris and can fly out of Newark, this is one of the best-value options we’ve found. You can also check their other US destinations, but we only have experience with Newark.

We would not recommend flying economy on French Bee, but Premium Economy is an excellent choice. With a little planning and flexibility, you can save hundreds and still fly in comfort.

⭐ Pro Tip: For couples, book seats on the two-seat side of the cabin (A/B or H/K) to avoid sitting next to a stranger. It’s makes a big difference on a long flight.

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👉 And check out our friend, Tamara, The Brunette Abroad, for tips on all things France (and beyond).