[jimworcs]

Low cost airlines do not fly during the winter months unless they can be sure of full loads, as their model requires fuller flights. The fact that they don't fly in winter doesn't necessarily say anything about quality. However, although the poster had apparently not had issues with Ryanair in the past, comparing them favourably even with the hellish Air France is stretching it a bit. They are the least customer focussed airline ever. BMI Baby is pretty good, I have flown them many times on the BHX.CDG route and the Bordeaux route and found them to be fairly priced and pretty good service. Their staff particularly are pretty good.

There is very little choice for travel to Bordeaux in Winter. Personally, I would fly MAN to CDG, perhaps with BMIBaby, JET2, or Flybe and then take the TGV to Bordeaux. It is fast, efficient and cost effective and far more reliable.

The point about the catering Phx is not the time, but that AF charges full service airline prices, and fails to deliver a full service. If their charges were more competitive you could understand, but to charge £278 return to Bordeaux and provide a muffin is pathetic and parsimonious.

Back to the Fedex option again. If AF don't want to provide a baggage service, they don't have to. But if they charge for a service, then the passenger has every right to expect it to be delivered efficiently.