NEWS: Air France-KLM’s New ‘Basic’ Fare Bookable, Pop Up Global Entry & Florence Welcomes Its First W Hotel

Air France-KLM Begins Testing New ‘Basic’ Fare

A new ‘Basic’ fare has been introduced on select short-haul Air France and KLM flights out of Paris-CDG and Amsterdam Schiphol from 9th September 2025.

The fare is available to book now on select short-haul routes from Paris-CDG and Amsterdam, including:

• Athens
• Dublin
• Stockholm
• Tunis
• Helsinki
• Vienna
• Turin
• Munich
• Florence
• Prague

Here’s what the Basic fare includes – and what it doesn’t:

Adding hand baggage to your booking starts at €15 per segment. However, if you’re a Flying Blue Ultimate, Platinum, Gold, or Silver member, you can continue to benefit from free hand baggage and at least one checked bag when choosing this new Basic fare.

You will not be able to earn XP (Experience Points) on ‘Basic’ fares.

Here’s the updated earnings table:

However, you will earn 4-9 miles per €1, depending on your status level, and receive a complimentary snack and drink onboard.

In comparison, the cheapest Business Class fare includes two checked bags (32 kg each), free seat selection, two hand baggage items (55 x 35 x 25 cm), and a small bag.

 Fare Examples (9th September)

The light fare is on average €8 to €17 more expensive than the Basic fare.

According to Air France-KLM, the Basic fare is designed to “enhance attractiveness” on their medium-haul network. The airline also cited the lack of overhead bin space and related boarding delays as a motivating factor.

Is this just a move to compete on flight comparison sites like Skyscanner and Google Flights, especially when people search for the lowest price first? Once on the booking page, customers can potentially be upsold to the Light fare or above. There are many people who don’t collect miles and would prefer a more affordable flight.

However, the Light fare seems to have gone up in price. You’re now paying a similar amount for the new Basic fare, and you now have to pay extra for hand baggage. That said, it could still make sense if you’re a Flying Blue Silver member flying Economy and not planning to renew your status.

Although this test phase is likely to be rolled out to more routes, just last week, the EU announced that passengers have the right to bring hand baggage onboard. However, legislation will likely take a while. We will have to see where this goes!

For more detailed information about how the Air France-KLM loyalty programme works, make sure you read our Flying Blue guide.

Pop Up Global Entry Locations in Germany and Croatia

CBP is bringing back its pop-up Global Entry interview sites in Europe this summer. Once you’re approved, Global Entry allows you to skip the long queues at U.S. passport control and receive expedited clearance upon arrival in the U.S.

You’ll need to be conditionally approved through the Trusted Traveler Program before you can book an interview slot.

At the time of writing, there are appointments available in:

• Berlin, Germany: Monday 25th August to Tuesday 26th August 2025 at Haus der Luftfahrt
• Frankfurt, Germany: Friday 29th August to Saturday 30th August 2025 at Lufthansa Aviation Centre
• Munich, Germany: Monday 1st September to Tuesday 2nd September 2025 at Munich Airport Terminal 2
• Zagreb, Croatia: Wednesday 4th September 2025 at the Sheraton Zagreb

Appointments are limited and fill up quickly, so I recommend booking today if you’re available for any of these.

To book your appointment, log in to your TTP account on this page. Select ‘Sign in’ or ‘Create account’, then ‘schedule an interview’. Go all the way to the bottom of the page to ‘other countries’ and select your preferred location.

If you don’t yet have a TTS account, you must first apply via Gov.uk to receive a UK access code.

Find out more about Global Entry here >>>

Marriott Opens Its First W Hotel in Florence

Marriott has opened its first W Hotel in Florence, transforming the former Grand Hotel Majestic into a new flagship for the brand in Italy.

Located on Piazza dell’Unità Italiana, just moments from the Duomo and high-end boutiques, W Florence delivers bold, design-led luxury.

The launch follows recent W openings in Prague and Budapest, and joins W Rome, which opened in December 2021, as part of Marriott’s growing luxury lifestyle footprint across Europe. It’s the second W in Italy, with a third-W Sardinia in Poltu Quatu, set to open later this summer.

Designed by Genius Loci Architettura and AvroKO, the 119-room hotel features a colour palette of Medici reds and royal blues, inspired by Florence, as well as a vintage-inspired design.

The hotel is complemented by a rooftop garden with fantastic views of Florence’s skyline. Other features include W’s signature FIT gym and flexible meeting spaces.

You’ll also find a partially covered courtyard, serving as an internal piazza that creates a flow between the dining venues and public areas.

There are 16 suites with huge windows, terraces, and balconies offering picturesque views across the city. The most high-end room available is the Penthouse, featuring a 140-square-metre private terrace.

The W Lounge channels 1960s nostalgia, complete with live DJ sets and inventive takes on classic cocktails. A 360-degree blue lava stone bar wraps along the lounge’s edge, leading to an aperitivo table.

There’s a trio of dining venues to try:

• Zefiro, opening later this summer, promises Duomo views, craft cocktails, and a calendar packed with DJ sets and live events.
• Akira Back, the chef’s highly anticipated Tuscany debut, will bring his signature Japanese-Korean fusion to Florence in a new setting.
• Tratto, launching this summer, will serve modern Italian cuisine from the Michelin-linked team behind Lake Como’s Trattoria Contemporanea.

Redemptions and Pricing

The hotel has everything you’d expect from a premium Marriott brand. Redemptions are priced between 70,000 and 107,500 points per night. The penthouse suite can be redeemed for an average of 1,120,800 points per night!

Looking at the rate calendar, prices for the cheapest room (Deluxe) start at £608 in August, £708 in September, and £570 in October, dropping to £431 in November and December.

On the other end of the scale, the Penthouse Suite averages £3,390.

View the W Florence website here >>>