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Air France reminds travellers what their flight could be like

You open what looks like an in-flight care package to find 50 feet of Sudoku puzzles on a tapelike roll, Champagne-flavored gummy candies and a scratch-and-sniff patch that smells like boeuf bourguignon. In a time of low-cost airlines, where your ticket might not include an edible hot meal or free access to electronic entertainment, the box reminds you of what could be if you shell out a little more on Air France. That’s the idea behind the airline’s new “Take a Chance or Fly Air France” campaign, which will begin showing up in American digital ad space this week. “We want to remind our clients and our future clients that there is another way to travel, even in economy, where everything is included,” said Dominique Wood, Air France’s executive VP of brand and communication. “You’ve got a very comfortable seat, you’ve got a hot meal and a full complement of entertainment, and if you can have it — if you’re the right age — a glass of French Champagne.” With cheap flights becoming increasingly popular, Air France’s campaign offers an image out of another era. The airline wants to let travellers know that flying does not necessarily have to be a bare-bones experience. And, Ms. Wood said, those ultralow fares are not always as cheap as they seem.<br/>

KLM unveils revamped A330-200 cabin

KLM has revealed its first Airbus A330-200 with a completely renovated cabin, designed to improve the traveling environment for long-haul passengers. The first A330-200 to undergo the revamp operated the service from Amsterdam Schiphol, to Abu Dhabi. In the premium cabin, all seats in business class have been converted to lie-flat models, incorporating a new IFE system. KLM has previously renewed the its business class cabins aboard its Boeings 747s, 777-200s and -300s; the airline’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliners are arriving from the manufacturer with the new cabins installed on the final assembly line. It has eight A330-200s on strength. The new seats and interior were designed by KLM in collaboration with designer Hella Jongerius and by November 2018, all the airline’s business-class seats will have been changed for the new lie-flat models. Story has more details of improvements.<br/>