French Bee: Fares and Baggage on Long-Haul Low-Cost Flights

The Low-Cost Offshoot of the Dubreuil Group

The project was born to serve Réunion at lower fares than those charged by traditional carriers, and later expanded to the United States with Newark, Miami and San Francisco, up to its debut on Montréal in 2025. It was among the first European airlines to bet on a pure low-cost model on long-haul.

Two Variants of the A350, No Business Class

The fleet includes four Airbus A350-900s and two A350-1000s, configured in high-density economy with a premium cabin but no business class at all: the choice that most marks the difference from the product of traditional scheduled airlines.

From Réunion to the United States, with Montréal on the Way

Réunion remains the historic route, joined by Newark and Miami year-round, San Francisco and a seasonal Los Angeles, plus the new Montréal route launched in 2025.

Fares and Baggage: The Real Cost of the "Cheap" Ticket

Checked baggage is not included in the base fare and must be purchased separately, as must seat selection and the onboard meal on the lowest fare tiers: differentiation through add-on services is the heart of the revenue model.

What Emerges from the Reviews

• Strengths: a base ticket price clearly lower than that of traditional scheduled airlines on the same routes.
• Weaknesses: a final cost that rises quickly once baggage and meals are added, and reduced seat pitch that generates complaints on flights of ten hours or more.

It is the right choice for those willing to give up extra services in exchange for a low base price on a long flight; it is less suitable for those traveling with family and plenty of luggage, for whom the final price can exceed that of a traditional ticket once the extras are added. A practical tip: always work out the "all-inclusive" price with checked baggage and an assigned seat before comparing it with a traditional scheduled flight, because the base ticket price alone is misleading on a flight of ten hours or more.