Bangkok to Nairobi AirFrance Flights

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  About Nairobi

The populous city of Nairobi is the capital of Kenya. Located in East Africa, the city actually replaced Mombasa, the former capital of Kenya, owing to the thriving economic and cultural development. Nairobi has been recognised as the financial and cultural hub of the country. Nairobi is also exclusively known to be home to more than 100 major international companies.

Best time to visit Nairobi

Nairobi's geographical positioning is elevated as it stands at an altitude of 5450 feet. Due to this, the city experiences a mild climate throughout the year. This is despite its proximity to the Equator. However, it still witnesses torrential rains, which would put quite a damper on your travel plans. Keeping a tab on the weather conditions ahead of planning a trip to East Africa is highly recommended. The rains could make or break the possibility of your trip, and hence, it is essential that you keep a check on the weather. Nairobi witnesses hot, wet and cold climates. Even though it is mild most of the year, little rain can be quite a change in the humidity level. The city witnessed two monsoons, a long one from mid-March through May and a mild one from late-October to December. During these two monsoon seasons, the months April and November are the wettest months as the rains are at a peak during these two months. The dry months in Nairobi are from July through October and January through February. The dry months actually help ease the heat and humidity in the air.

In terms of months, July and February are the best months to pick for a Nairobian rendezvous. The rain is extremely less to non-existent, and the climate is quite pleasant. You can undertake various outdoor activities too during these months and not worry about the scorching heat or humid weather. The temperatures during this time are also quite low and pleasant for Nairobi standards. July and August are recorded as the driest months in Nairobi, which works perfectly for you if you are planning for an excursion. You should make sure to carry the right clothes for your trip as the temperatures often confuse people. It can turn from hot to humid to cold in erratic schedules. Layering up would be ideal. The hotel prices don't really see a massive difference during the off and peak seasons. As there are many travellers who constantly travel to the city for professional reasons and conferences, the hotel prices in Nairobi remain constant. However, with the demand for accommodation, you might have a tough time booking a hotel in Nairobi. Hence, it would be best to make prior hotel bookings in Nairobi.

Places to visit in Nairobi

Nairobi's wildlife and green expanses are what draws tourists to the city of Kenya. The Nairobi National Park was established back in 1946 and has been fenced on three sides. The southern boundary has been kept open to enable migration of wildlife to move from the park to the Kitengela plains. The park is going through some concerns in the recent past due to the increasing exposure to humans and the rise in the livestock population. The city also has an adorable Giraffe Centre which is dedicated to protecting endangered giraffe from extinction. The natural sanctuary also works as an educational centre to teach visitors about the necessity of conserving wildlife. The city also has an Elephant and Rhino Nursery where African elephants and rhinos are bred. The place ensures to safeguard the lives of these two animals. The Ngong Hills is a famous place in Nairobi. The hills especially have a beautiful green landscape. You can trek up to the hill and watch the sunrise or the sunset at the summit as it is worth all the expedition. Close to the Nyong Hills was once a location for traditional colonial houses.

Things to do in Nairobi

At the foot of the towering Ngong Hills, you will find the beautiful and quaint Karen Blixen Museum. Although it is 10 km away from the city of Nairobi, the place has historical significance. It actually exhibits the life of the famous Danish author, Karen Blixen. While this is a lovely place to start learning more about the author and African history, you should also indulge in some outdoor activities. The Nairobi Safari Walk is basically crossing a specific bridge with nature on all four sides. While you walk on the bridge, you will actually get to witness some rhinos and other animals hanging around the estate too. You cannot miss the Maasai Market, which offers a plethora of colourful artefacts with traditional African designs. You can actually use this expedition to purchase some souvenirs for a friend and close family members from here.

Food and Restaurants in Nairobi

Kenya's capital is making quite a name for itself in the culinary world too. Nairobi's tea and coffee trade might be the most recognised worldwide. However, their fusion food is just as delicious as their coffee. You would be surprised and even slightly amazed by the beautiful melange of flavours and cuisines that the city's food establishments curate regularly. In fact, they continue to add more interesting dishes and meals on their menu as they experiment with spices and ingredients. There are dishes that range from slow-cooked Indian meat barbequed to a crisp to the classic Japanese sushi. Some of the food establishments in Nairobi will definitely amaze you and leave you wanting for more. You can start your food rendezvous in Nairobi from Hashmi BBQ, run by an Indian family. It is one of the most popular food joints In Nairobi and for all the right reasons. With their chooza chicken's sizzling sauce, poussin chips and a generous helping of garden salads, indulging here for some food would take you to nirvana and back. The spice is really spicy, so if you're not up for it, do not risk your gut.

Tamarind is another local restaurant which favours seafood and meat meals. Their highlights are deep-fried crab claws, garlic jumbo prawns and some South African sauvignon blanc. The place also serves vegetarian food, in case you are not too thrilled by their eccentric seafood spread. For the classic sushi, head to Misono. Not just their sushi but even their sashimi and teppanyaki will strike a chord with you. Plus, the place is run by a Japanese family so you wouldn't have to worry about authenticity. The food here is as authentic as it can get. Some other famous food establishments in Nairobi are Soi, Tatu, Maru's Bhajia Cage, AA Mithaiwalla, Talisman and Mambo Italia. Do not be surprised by the well-known Indian restaurants and food joints. They are quite popular in the city and one of the most sought-after ones too. However, if you do wish to explore something different, you should visit J's Fresh Bar. It is basically a British gastropub and has meals from the UK. You will find battered fish and chips, peppered squid and smoked scotch eggs. Plus, an in-house DJ would entertain you with whack music.

How to reach Nairobi (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Nairobi from India is quite decent. Although it could be better than what the current state is of travelling to Nairobi from India, it's still quite good. There are many flights that fly to Nairobi. The most popular route to Nairobi is from Mumbai. In fact, you will find direct flights to Nairobi from Mumbai and at a very cheap ticket price. There are several African airlines that fly to the city from India. Airlines such as Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, RwandAir, Oman Air, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, EgyptAir, are the most prominent ones that have great connectivity from India to Nairobi. Another popular domestic route to Nairobi from India that has better connectivity aside from Mumbai is Ahmedabad. A majority of flights to Nairobi from India require layovers and connecting flights to reach Nairobi. Cities such as Addis Ababa, Kigali, Muscat, Dubai and Doha are some of the international routes taken to reach Nairobi. However, if you pick an African airline, especially Kenya Airways, you will be able to avoid all the layovers and changing of flights.

The flight duration to Nairobi from Mumbai is also quite decent as it would take approximately six hours and fifteen minutes to reach the Kenyan capital. Depending on which airlines you pick, the travel duration will also change as layovers will have to be taken into consideration. Nairobi to India is quite an expensive endeavour. However, from Mumbai, it is not so expensive. You can book cheap flight tickets to Nairobi from Mumbai. It wouldn't cost you much, and you wouldn't have to compromise on the flight duration as well. It costs between INR 22,000 to INR 25,000, to reach Nairobi from Mumbai. However, if you book from any other Indian city, the prices would see a tremendous surge. Another way how you can snag some cheap flight tickets to Nairobi would be by opting for online flight deals. It would be tough, and you will have to spend a lot of time on the internet to get a cheap flight deal to Nairobi. Since the accommodation prices remain close to constant in Nairobi, the best thing to do would be to club the flight and hotel bookings to Nairobi.

  About Air France

Air France, popularly stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the flag carrier of France and has its headquarters in Tremblay-en-France. The airline also has a subsidiary which is a merger between Air France-KLM Group. The airline is one of the founding members of SkyTeam, one of the top global airline alliances. Air France serves about 36 destinations in its domestic routes and also caters to about 175 cities in the international routes. This further includes the 93 French-administered overseas territories of France. In 2019, the airline recorded to carry 46,803,000 passengers. Charles de Gaulle Airport along with Orly Airport is the primary hubs of Air France. The corporate headquarters of the airline was previously located in Montparnasse. However, it has been relocated to be on the grounds of Charles de Gaulle Airport, situated in the north of the city Paris. Air France came into existence in 1933 following a merger of Air Union, Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne, Air Orient, Compagnie Générale Aéropostale and Société Générale de Transport Aérien took place.

The airline played a significant role during the Cold War between 1950 to 1990 as one of the main three Allied airlines. It operated from Germany's Tempelhof and Tegel airports. Air France acquired operations of France's domestic carrier Air Inter and Union de Transports Aériens, international rival UTA. In 2003, the airlines had a merger with KLM, after seven decades of being the primary carrier of France. Air France also has offices in various other international cities such as in Midtown Manhattan, New York City as well as in Plesman House in Hatton Cross. Air France primarily adopted a seahorse logo from its predecessor, Air Orient. The logo is known as hippocampe ailé, also called la crevette or popularly referred to as shrimp by the employees. In the past, before Air France and KLM merged, the hippocampe ailé was on the nose section of the aircraft, painted right next to the Air France title. However, the logo was substituted following the merger and put to the engine nacelles.

Currently, Air France's livery comprises of white fuselage with the blue Air France title as well as design. It follows a Eurowhite scheme with its tail being white with parallel red and blue lines. The same is painted on the tail at a certain angle, to represent a small European flag. The livery has been used since the 1970s and has Air France painted on the fuselage, written in blue.

Fleet size of Air France

Presently, Air France operates a whopping fleet of 216 aircraft. The airline's narrow-body fleet has all the four Airbus A320 variants while its long-haul operations are only served by Boeing 777, 787, Airbus A330 and A350 XWB wide-body aircraft. The airline has a 100 per cent Airbus-Boeing fleet, for better productivity.

Wide-body fleet - In 2011, Air France-KLM made an announcement that they have ordered for 50 Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s that would be operated by both the airlines. The two airlines have a commitment for Boeing 787s out of which, 25 are direct, and 12 are leased. The first Boeing 787-9 to enter operations for KLM took place in 2015 while in 2017, Air France received its first Boeing 787-9. The two airlines also have orders for 28 A350s to join their fleet. Much recently, the group announced a revision in the original order, making Air France as the sole operator of Airbus A350. At the same time, KLM became the only airline operating Boeing 787s, including the six aircraft that were initially earmarked for Air France.

Narrow-body fleet - Air France's fleet consists of all four variants of the Airbus A320 aircraft while the narrow-body fleet has a total of 114 jets. The contracts for Airbus A318 and A319 fleet are set to retire soon, and the airline has announced that 60 Airbus A220-300s would be replacing them in 2021. Further, on the same, Air France plans to add more Airbus A220 in its domestic routes to cut back on emissions.

Boeing 747 - Originally, Air France and KLM collectively started operating Boeing 747 which started from 1971. However, the flights were replaced by Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs starting 2016.

Airbus A380 - Airbus A380-800 "superjumbo" kicked off in 2001 by Air France. The airline became the first in all of Europe to accommodate and operate the A380. As per recent announcements by Air France-KLM though, the group has planned on replacing all their Airbus A380 fleet and instead plans to add more Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s. The plan might go on floors sooner than one can estimate as the airline has been working on eliminating all the aircraft from its fleet.

Baggage Allowance

Air France's baggage allowance protocols are quite universal as many top airlines also follow the same terms and conditions. For hand baggage that can be taken to the cabin, the passenger of the Premium Economy, Business or La Première cabins can take two hand baggage. This is exclusive of one accessory bag which could be a laptop bag or a handbag. Meanwhile, the Economy cabin passengers are allowed to take only one hand baggage along with one accessory bag. The size for the hang baggage should not exceed the dimensions of 55 x 35 x 25 cm, including the wheels, handles and pockets. You can check if your baggage fulfils this criterion at the airport as facilities to measure the size of the baggage is available. The weight for the baggage should be 12 kg and not more than that. For Premium Economy, Business or La Première ticket holders, the weight cannot exceed 18 kg. The weight is combined for all the baggage that you plan to take on board. Make sure to peruse through the official website of Air France to know the prohibited items that you cannot take with you on board.

As for checked baggage, you are not allowed to carry more than 23 kg for Economy cabin passengers and Premium Economy cabin too. Business-class and La Première cabin passengers can carry about 32 kg. Beyond the stated weight, passengers are allowed to purchase extra baggage weight at the airport. You can intimate the airlines about the same on their website too. The dimensions of checked baggage should not exceed 158 cm in total. If it does go beyond the stated dimension, then you will have to pay an extra sum at the airport.

In-flight services

Air France's in-flight services are world-class thanks to the fleet only operating Airbus and Boeing flights. The services are top-notch, especially for the premium cabins. Air France's La Première menu has been curated by Michelin-starred restaurant Le Grand Vefour's chef, Guy Martin. The exquisite menu includes hors d 'oeuvres, entrées, cheese and break basket topped with a dessert cart that comprises of pastries, tartlets and petit fours. Air France also serves complimentary champagne to passengers in all cabins. The airlines also offer a slew of in-flight entertainment with its Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) which is present in all cabins of long haul aircraft. The airline's magazine, Air France Magazine is also part of the in-flight entertainment, as is Air France Madame. Much recently, Air France also enabled WiFi connectivity for their fleets. La Première, Business, and Premium Economy passengers can avail the luxury lounges Le Salon, prevalent in various international airports.

There are four diverse cabins that Air France's fleets are divided into in terms of their cabin. These are majorly for the long haul international routes. They feature La Première, Business, Premium Economy and Economy. The perks of Air France is how every cabin has recliner seats that stretch up to a decent amount in long-haul flights. Along with this, there are other in-flight services on Air France flights that range from personalised entertainment decks to woollen blankets as well as plug points to charge phones, tablets, laptops and more.

Popular routes and top cities for Air France

Air France is known for its exceptional flight connectivity. The airline's domestic route network connects to over 36 destinations while the international routes have 175 destinations connecting to 93 countries. Some of their biggest domestic cities include Paris, Lyon, Nice, Toulouse and Marseilles, to name a few. Many international cities include Brussels, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Toronto, Vancouver, Beijing, Wuhan, Havana, Prague, Copenhagen, Berlin, Munich, Mykonos, Hong Kong, Budapest, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Milan, Tokyo, New York, Kuwait City, Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City, Amsterdam, Muscat, Doha, Los Angeles, Seoul, Stockholm, London, Bangkok, Manchester, Chicago, San Francisco and more.

Why travel by Air France?

Air France is easily known to be one of the best airlines in the world thanks to its excellent facilities and connectivity to major cities worldwide. The airline has a slew of services and perks to offer that make it the most sought-after choice. Take booking an Air France flight, for instance. They are available on all portals plus, you can get access to Air France's flight schedule and flight status as well. Moreover, you can do web check-ins too that would be very convenient.

  About Bangkok Airport

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is often referred to as Bangkok Airport. It is one of the two major international airports that serve Thailand. Although Don Mueang International Airport was also recognized for its international flight services. However, the same was halted in 2007. Now the airport serves as a hub to low-cost airlines that connect in Bangkok. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is sprawled across 8,000 acres of land and is one of the biggest international airports in the Southeast Asian region. It is also a hub for aviation in Bangkok.

Suvarnabhumi Airport was originally chartered with limited domestic flight services. However, it soon started expanding to add more domestic and international flights. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is currently the important hub for Thai Smile Airways, Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways. The airport basically serves as a regional gateway to several foreign carriers too. It has been recorded to be the 17th busiest airport in the world and 11 busiest in Asia. The airport has the capacity to accommodate about 60 million passengers in a year. There are over 95 airlines that operate from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

About Airport Terminals

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has three terminals in total. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are responsible for operations of international flights. Meanwhile, Terminal 3 is focussed on domestic flights to cater to connectivity in Thailand. The two terminals are located right next to each other while the domestic terminal or Terminal3 is 500 meters away from Terminal 2. The distance between the terminals is not massive. The proximity often makes it confusing. The departure and arrival zones in the international terminals have dedicated immigration counters as well as check-in and baggage to make it easy for the travellers. The terminal's roof has been designed aesthetically with the use of structural elements and bays that have been placed in cantilevered wavelike forms. The airport is capable of accommodating an Airbus A380. There are two parallel runways at the airport with a total of about 120 parking bays for flights. The passenger terminal is recorded to capacitate about 76 flight operations every hour. An underground rail link station has also been constructed to connect the terminal with the city centre. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport's terminal passenger terminal is famed for being the fourth-biggest building in the world, following Hong Kong International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport and Dubai International Airport.

About Airport Authority

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is funded and operated by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Ltd. (AOT). The airport's body is responsible for six international airport ventures in Thailand. Four more airports have been added recently under its wing. The statutory body received recognition as one of the most valuable airport operators across the globe. The organization was established in 2002 after a consortium between private firms and the state-owned Airports Authority of Thailand. The Thailand government holds a higher share in the consortium with about 70 per cent stock. The Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is the most profitable venture for the airport's authority with passenger statistics of about 63,379,077, as recorded in the year 2018. Over the years, the airport management has done a phenomenal job of efficient connection of the international airport with the city centre. They have also worked towards fixing some of the pressing matters to bolster the functions and efficiency of the airport in terms of safety and connectivity.

Top airlines flying from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

The demand for Bangkok in India as a tourist destination is quite high. Hence, there are several Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport as well. In fact, the first flight to fly to the Bangkok Airport was a Lufthansa Cargo which took off from Mumbai. Some of the Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air India, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. They have direct connectivity and fly on a regular basis. Airlines such as Thai Airways and Thai Smile, which predominantly operate from Suvarnabhumi Airport also have direct services to Indian cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi Ahmedabad, Chennai, to name a few.

As an international tourist destination, the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport also sees much air traffic from international flights. Some of the prominent airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air Astana, Air China, Air France, Air Macau, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cambodia Airways, China Airlines, Druk Air, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Asia Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Ural Airlines. These airlines cater to various parts of the world and have impeccable connectivity. There are reservations for cargo flights to function from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. They are Lufthansa Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, DHL Aviation and Singapore Airlines Cargo.

Facilities at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

ATMs and currency exchange - There are foreign exchange booths and ATM kiosks available at the airport. You can withdraw money or exchange to local currency to make your trip convenient.

Baggage - Baggage services are available with plastic wrapping and porter services. You can also find trolleys at regular intervals.

Internet and communication kiosks - There are internet kiosks that have established at the airport. You can get your work done while you wait for boarding. There are telecom desks where you can purchase local mobile SIM numbers to avail WiFi. Postal services are also available.

Restaurants and cafes - There are many food establishments and restaurants at the airport's terminals. The departure zone has a slew of joints, including ones with liquor and coffee.

Medical care - Medical rooms and pharmacies have been installed at regular intervals. You can make last-minute purchases of prescribed medicine, or you can get necessary tablets or toiletries.

Prayer rooms - Devoted prayer rooms and multi-faith corners have been established at all terminals. There are monks' reception rooms also available at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Transit hotels - To make the passenger's experience at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport good, they have also installed an in-transit hotel. You can check-in for the few hours you need to wait and even rest as much as you can.

Spa and massage - The airport is blessed with good serviced spas and massage parlours. For in-transit passengers who need to take a second flight or who need to wait due to layovers, can avail this service.

Smoking zones - There are dedicated smoking lounges in the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These are available at all the terminals' departures and arrivals. You can even purchase boxes in case you need it for the time being.

Special assistance – The airport also has professionals who cater to the special needs of passengers who fall under the category of senior citizens, expecting mothers and physically disabled. The professionals have been trained to help out the individuals by enabling a smooth transition of their check-in and boarding processes.

How to reach Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

By Bus and car rentals

The Airport Shuttle bus operating from the city is another efficient way to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These buses have a direct connection to the airport from within the city, making travel cheaper and easier. Along with the buses, you can always book a ride to the airport too. There are five routes from the airport that have a direct connection with the Bangkok Airport. These routes connect from Bangkok's downtown as well as Chonburi Province, connections from North Bangkok and Bang Na Bang Pakong which stands at the South. The main entrance to the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport though is at the Samut Prakan Province. There are elevated highways and flyovers which need to be used to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can find a car and rental booking booths at the airport's arrival segment. Even the entrance to the airport has a dedicated taxi counter where you can book your ride to the city.

By Airport Rail Link

One of the best ways to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2010 after much delay but has since managed to receive good passenger traffic. Called the Airport Rail Link (ARL), the rail is operated by SRTET which is a subsidiary of the State Railway of Thailand. The long 28.6 km gauge line runs at an elevation for most of its length. The link directly connects to the passenger terminal building off the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The rail services start at 6:00 in the morning till 24:00. There are two interchange stations called Phaya Thai and Makkasan which run on different lines, also available. The future plans to expand the airport is also in talks where the Airport Rail Link plans to merge and complement the SRT Red Line commuter service. This way, you wouldn't need to change the metro links to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.