Scammed on an inaugural flight? The sad story of Air Côte d’Ivoire new Airbus A330neo

• Airline: Air Côte d’Ivoire
• Class: Business & Economy Class
• Aircraft: Airbus A330-900neo
• Route: Paris (CDG) – Abidjan (ABJ) – Paris (CDG)
• Flight time: 6 Hours

Every aviation enthusiast lives for the excitement of an inaugural flight. The ribbon cutting, the fresh paint, the palpable buzz of launching a new route. I recently boarded Air Côte d’Ivoir’s  maiden long-haul service from Paris (CDG) to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, flying on their brand-new Airbus A330-900 Neo.

I was booked to review both Business and Economy Class, expecting a few opening-day hiccups. What I got instead was a full-blown masterclass in inconsistent service, outright dishonesty, and an experience so bizarre it felt like a setup.

I arrived at Charles de Gaulle, ready to celebrate the airline’s milestone. My confirmed booking, paid for at nearly €1,000 more than the standard Economy fare, was for Business Class.

The drama started immediately at the counter. Despite my confirmation, the agent informed me that in their system, my ticket was Economy. When I questioned this obvious downgrade, a colleague explained, “This reservation is canceled.” Canceled? Without informing me, refunding the €1,000 price difference, or providing any explanation?

Can we call it a scam? Yeah, it’s a scam, right? It is.

The situation escalated when I was told that if I still wanted to fly Business Class on the 6-hour flight, I would have to pay an additional €1,500 right there.

On a nearly empty, inaugural flight with only 30 passengers booked. To bait people with a discounted Business Class ticket, swap it out, and then demand a higher price at the counter that’s a serious issue, and a new low even for an industry veteran like me.

The issue remained unresolved until I reached the boarding gate. I was resigned to taking my Economy seat when a small group of deadheading pilots and staff approached me. “Josh, we watch your videos! We love your work!”

Suddenly, everything changed. I was called over by the Station Manager. He, clearly aware of my now-publicized issue and potentially realizing who I was, took charge. With a dramatic flair, he announced: “I’m the station manager. I give you the go-ahead to be in Business Class. This is my power.”

I was grateful, but let’s be clear: this was not standard service recovery. An apology or a refund for the price difference would have been appropriate. Instead, my upgrade felt less like an apology for a “joke” booking and more like a desperate PR move after being recognized.

Now, for the product itself. The Airbus A330-900 Neo is a gorgeous aircraft, and the cabin looks slick and sharp.

The Business Class cabin features 44 seats in a modern 1-1 staggered configuration. The seats are comfortable, with plenty of storage, a large screen, and good legroom.

I especially liked that they include both USB-A and USB-C ports. Business Class also includes the $40 streaming Wi-Fi package, which is a nice touch.

But the most surprising feature? A dedicated First Class cabin. Air Côte d’Ivoire is one of the few African carriers and perhaps one of the only airlines this decade to introduce a First Class product, featuring four private suites. While nice to see, with Business Class products being so good now, it remains to be seen if they can truly differentiate the service to justify the expected $6,400 one-way price tag.

The in-flight experience mirrored the ground experience: extreme inconsistency.

The initial crew interaction, especially from Frank, was outstanding. He took initiative, was genuinely kind, and stepped up to ensure I had a good time. This is true hospitality and service recovery in action.

However, the catering service was underwhelming for a 6-hour long-haul Business Class flight. There was no menu, no choice offered (it was an omelet or nothing), and most notably, no second meal service, snack, or high tea was offered after breakfast.

Given the flight length and price point, a lunch or substantial snack is absolutely mandatory.

The return flight in Economy Class from Abidjan back to Paris had its own set of bizarre issues.

1. Boarding Discrimination: Upon boarding, a crew member asked me to step aside and wait for the local passengers to take their seats first. When I questioned if this was “segregation,” I was eventually allowed to proceed. This kind of attitude is simply unacceptable.
2. Lying About Load: At check-in, I was told the flight was full and I couldn’t have an empty seat next to me. Upon boarding, the entire left side of the plane was empty—about 12 to 13 rows. Why the deception?
3. The Food Redemption: In a strange twist, the Economy meal service was excellent. The chicken pasta was delicious, with generous portions of protein. They certainly don’t skimp on the food quality here.

Air Côte d’Ivoire presents a classic case of an airline of extremes.

The Hard Product (the A330-900 Neo, the seats, the IFE) is fantastic .

The Soft Product (crew, service, catering, consistency) is dangerously lacking. You have phenomenal individuals like Frank and the pilot Sulaiman, on one hand, and dishonest, incompetent ground staff and rude cabin crew on the other.

Most crucially, the integrity of their booking system and customer service is fundamentally broken. From the initial booking “scam” to the unfulfilled promises of apologies and follow-ups from their social media and service departments, this airline clearly has major operational work to do.

As an aviation enthusiast, I hope they succeed, but based on this back-and-forth experience, they lack the capacity and consistency needed to thrive in the competitive long-haul market.

If you are flying to Abidjan, I would suggest choosing a more established, reliable competitor until Air Côte d’Ivoir proves they can run an honest and consistent operation.

What are your thoughts on airlines that attempt to “upsell” after a confirmed booking? Have you ever experienced anything like this?

Watch the Full Video Here

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

About the Author

Josh Cahill is an award-winning Aviation YouTuber who is reportedly one of the most-watched flight reviewers on the internet. He organised Afghanistan’s first all-female flight together with Kam Air in February 2021 on a flight from Herat to Kabul for which he received the Aviation Achievement Award. His favourite hobby? Flying exotic airlines nobody has ever heard of.