Flying the World’s Most Densely Packed Airbus A350!

• Airline: Frenchbee
• Class: Premium Economy
• Route: Papeete (PPT) to San Francisco (SFO)
• Aircraft: Airbus A350 – 1000

I’ve flown on some of the world’s most crowded planes—from Indigo’s 531-seater Boeing 777 to the “Beast of Bangladesh.” But today, it was time to test a new contender: French Bee. This French budget airline made the bold decision to squeeze 480 seats onto an Airbus A350. To put that in perspective, they’ve ditched the standard 9-abreast economy layout for a 10-abreast (3-4-3) configuration.

Is it a claustrophobic nightmare, or the ultimate budget travel hack? Let’s find out.

My journey began at 3:00 a.m. at Papeete Airport (PPT) for a 7:00 a.m. departure to San Francisco. At the check-in counter, I asked about upgrades and was offered a seat in Premium Economy for €300.

The only catch? The “budget airline” experience started early. I was told to go to a cashier “at the end of the terminal” to pay, which literally led me into the parking lot before I found someone who could take my money!. After a quick stop for a neck pillow and a snack, I was ready to board one of French Bee’s six A350s.

Stepping on board, I was relieved to be in Premium Economy. The layout is a 2-3-2 configuration, which felt quite spacious with decent legroom and extra storage.

However, a quick peek back into Economy revealed the “Madness.” The 3-4-3 layout in Economy is incredibly rare for an A350 and looked remarkably tight. If you are a taller traveler, that €300 upgrade might just be the best money you ever spend.

For a budget carrier, the amenities were surprisingly complete. My seat featured:

• A personal touch screen.
• USB and universal power outlets.
• A pre-departure cup of water.
• An amenity kit with eye shades, a toothbrush, earplugs, socks, and headphones.

The crew was a standout attentive, in high spirits, and working hard to manage a completely packed flight of over 400 passengers.

Usually, “budget airline food” is something you endure rather than enjoy. But French Bee surprised me. After a decent breakfast right after takeoff, I was served a chicken and rice dish a few hours later that was genuinely delicious. It was well-seasoned and tender—definitely punching above its weight class.

If you need to stay connected, the Wi-Fi pricing is fair. I particularly liked the $4 USD “Messenger” deal, which is perfect if you just want to text throughout the 8-hour flight to SFO].

French Bee delivers exactly what it promises. It’s a no-frills, high-efficiency way to get across the Pacific. While the Economy cabin is undeniably “packed,” the Premium Economy product is a solid mid-tier option that rivals the likes of Lufthansa or Emirates in terms of comfort, if not luxury.

If you’re on a budget and can handle the density, French Bee is a strong recommendation from me!

Click here to find the best Premium Economy deals on Frenchbee on Skyscanner!

After landing, I stayed at the Aloft SFO Airport to rest up before the next leg of my journey. If you’re looking for a great place to stay right by the terminal, use my link to book your stay here!

If you’re searching for flights, you can use my Skyscanner link. It’s the same tool I use, and it supports my work at no extra cost to you.

This is it guys, wherever you’re off to, have a safe trip!