Check-in times vary by destination and departure airport. Online and mobile check-in is available from 30 hours before the scheduled flight time. Automatic check-in, where you book your flight and the airline issues your boarding pass 30 hours by email or mobile phone is available on flights within Europe and from Europe to North Africa.

Check-in deadlines range from 30 minutes for medium-haul flights and 60 minutes for long-haul flights. Departures from London City Airport have a check-in deadline of 15 minutes.

Carry-on: in Voyageur (Economy) on flights within Europe and international flights one carry-on item is allowed, no larger than 55 x 35 x 25cm and no heavier than 12kg. A small item such as a handbag or umbrella is also permitted.

Checked: the allowance depends on your destination and travel class. For flights to Paris, in Economy, the allowance is one piece of luggage weighing up to 23kg. On long-haul flights the allowance is also one piece, weighing a maximum of 23kg. Bringing a second piece of luggage will cost €100.

Excess: rates vary by route. In Europe the additional fee for an overweight piece of luggage is €55, on flights to North America and Canada the fee is €75. Oversized luggage is subject to fees too - €75 if you're flying an European route. An extra baggage allowance may be purchased online for discounts of 20 per cent.

Seat pitch: 81cm (32 inches)

Seats are assigned during the booking process. Economy-Class flyers may reserve an extra legroom seat on long-haul flights. Fees range from €50 per seat on flights of nine hours or less to €70 for flights longer than nine hours.

Flight changes may be made via the Manage Your Reservations section of Air France's website. Changes depend on the type of ticket purchased.

Infants under the age of two travelling on an adult's lap fly free of charge on domestic French routes and at a 90 per cent discount on international routes. Child fares are also available: 50 per cent on domestic flights and 33 per cent on medium and long-haul flights.

Air France doesn't offer discounts for older travellers.

Guide dogs and cats and dogs weighing less than 4kg may be carried in the cabin. Dogs and cats weighing more than 4kg (but less than 75kg) can travel in the hold. All other animals must be transported as cargo. To book pets, call the reservations number. Since July 2011, any dog or cat travelling within the European Union must be identified by a microchip and be vaccinated against rabies.

Small instruments are permitted in the cabin without prior booking, such as violins or banjos. Large or fragile instruments (cellos or double basses) must be booked a separate seat.

Complimentary meals or snacks are provided on all flights, dependent on flight length and time of day. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available and, on long-haul flights, an aperitif. For all flights lasting more than 10.5 hours, a self-service buffet is open throughout the flight.

Flying Blue is the frequent flyer programme operated by Air France-KLM.

There’s nothing like heading up in the skies to work up an appetite. Check out the airline’s menu before you fly so you can decide if you need to bring any extras. See photographs taken by fellow flyers of meals they’ve been served and read reviews at AirlineMeals.net.

Moby Dick, War and Peace, Leaves of Grass … Do you need to pack a weighty tome or will the in-flight magazine keep you happily occupied for the duration of the flight? Air France Magazine is published monthly and is available on all flights, at all French boarding lounges and at Air France VIP lounges worldwide. The magazine is written in both English and French.

Air France is a member of the SkyTeam alliance.

The French national carrier, Air France merged with KLM, the Dutch airline, in 2004 becoming Air France-KLM, the eighth-largest airline in the world by passengers carried (almost 80 million in 2010). Both airlines fly under their own brand names.