Air France has partnered with the company Alpha Taxis to provide free transfers in Premium vehicles from and to Massy TGV station and Orly airport. Whatever their travel cabin, customers, traveling alone or with their family, are greeted by a taxi driver, with a sign bearing his name, at the exit of the Massy TGV station and, on their return, to leaving the baggage claim room at Orly Ouest.

At the TGV AIR counter at Rennes station and now in eight other French cities, Le Mans, Angers, Poitiers, St Pierre des Corps (Tours), Lille, Champagne-Ardenne TGV (Reims), Lorraine TGV (Metz-Nancy), Strasbourg, the customer presents himself up to 20 minutes before the departure of the train with his plane ticket and his identity document.

The TGV AIR team then proceeds to check-in on the booked flight and gives their rail ticket as well as an Air France pocket containing all the information concerning the rest of their trip. Also offered for return journeys "plane + train", this service has the advantage for customers to make a single reservation, and to benefit from advantageous combined rates and registration up to the final destination.

On return, the customer checks in, as well as their luggage, on their Air France flight to Paris-Orly according to their choice: either directly on the site www.airfrance.com from 30 hours before departure, at the interactive terminal at the airport or directly at the counter and collects your train ticket for, for example, Rennes at the TGV AIR counter at Massy TGV. Rail links and Air France flights combine to optimize travel. This new agreement allows Air France to develop its offer from nine French provincial towns and to offer easier access to Orly airport via the Massy TGV station.

Benefits for Flying Blue customers

The new TGV AIR / Air France offer not only offers passengers departing from these cities a single ticket to their final destination, but also earn Flying Blue Miles both on the departure city / Massy TGV route. than on their Air France flight.

Ambassador of French gastronomy in the sky, the national company also entrusted in 2018 the development of its first and business cards to six renowned star chefs (Joël Robuchon, Michel Roth, Olivier Bellin, Anne-Sophie Pic, Guy Martin and Régis Marcon). In collaboration with Servair, they take turns to provide an unforgettable taste experience on long-haul flights.

But above all, they participate in the design of menus, the choice of products and the creation of the recipes that make up the Air France menus offered to customers. Iconic chef of the French terroir, the dishes of the Business are currently at the signature of Régis Marcon. Star menus and a selection of “A la Carte Dishes” are thus offered in the La Première and Business cabins. Throughout the year, Air France thus offers gastronomy worthy of the greatest restaurants on board its long-haul flights.

David Raynal

* Fort-de-France (Martinique), Point-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Cayenne (Guyana) and Saint-Denis (Reunion).

Three questions to Antoine Biton, Regional Director Air France-KLM Grand Ouest

Antoine Biton - Photo: DR

On what criteria did you choose the departure cities?

Cooperation between air and rail was initiated several years ago from Lille and Strasbourg to supply our Paris Charles hub, to then be extended to other cities in France. We are now developing this offer to Massy from 9 French stations so that our customers have the guarantees of air transport from their region to our long-haul network from Orly. After Rennes launched last March, we are now offering this new offer departing from: Le Mans, Angers, Poitiers, St Pierre des Corps (Tours), Lille, Champagne-Ardenne TGV (Reims), Lorraine TGV (Metz-Nancy ), Strasbourg to the French Antilles, the Indian Ocean and New York via Massy station.

Why did you develop this transport service offer?

Air France offers flights from Orly to the French Antilles, the Indian Ocean and New York. With the combined “train + plane” offer, customers in these French cities can more easily reach Paris-Orly airport via the Massy TGV station. It is an opportunity to offer our customers a rich offer over short distances and the advantage for our passengers of benefiting from the air transport rules from their city of departure to their final destination.

Do you already have customer feedback and what is it?

The first returns are very satisfactory and encouraging. The free personal transfer by taxi with a Premium vehicle is highly appreciated for its speed and comfort.

Are other cities affected by this program?

The first departures took place last March: today 9 stations bring our customers closer to our long-haul offer from Orly. We are not ruling out developing our offer, but it is still too early to talk about it.