Air France accepts holiday vouchers as a payment method for its plane tickets, but not on its website. This particularity requires travelers to go through specific channels, with conditions that vary depending on the type of voucher used and the type of flight booked.
HOP flights under AF code: a little-documented extension of the holiday voucher scope
Most online guides only mention Air France without distinguishing the actual operator of the flight. Since the end of 2024, Chèques-Vacances Connect can also be used on flights operated by HOP, the regional subsidiary, provided that the ticket is issued under an Air France flight number (AF code).
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This extension applies to domestic routes and certain short European routes. To benefit from it, the booking must be made through the Air France call center or a partner agency. A HOP flight purchased directly on the HOP website will not be eligible, even if the route is the same.
Specifically, before calling, check that the flight displayed on airfrance.fr has an AF code and not an A5 code (HOP indicator). This detail determines whether the payment by holiday vouchers will be accepted or refused by the advisor.
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Chèques-Vacances Connect and paper format: two distinct payment channels at Air France
Before choosing how to pay, it is important to understand that the format of the voucher determines the payment channel. Air France treats Chèques-Vacances Connect (digital version) and traditional paper vouchers differently.
To pay for an Air France flight with holiday vouchers in Connect format, payment is made by phone at 09 69 39 36 54 (dedicated ANCV number). The advisor generates a secure payment link, and the amount is debited directly from the traveler’s Connect account, down to the last cent.
Paper vouchers, on the other hand, can only be used at the few remaining physical Air France agencies or with partner travel agencies that accept them. The network of physical Air France agencies has significantly reduced in recent years, making this option geographically limited.
- Chèques-Vacances Connect: payment by phone, amount adjustable to the cent, available 7 days a week via the ANCV app
- Paper vouchers: payment in physical agency only, no change possible (the amount must match or be supplemented by credit card)
- Site airfrance.fr: neither format is accepted for direct online purchases
This distinction is the main source of confusion. The Air France website lists online payment methods (credit card, PayPal, Floa Pay), but only mentions holiday vouchers in its general conditions, without detailing the procedure.
Combining holiday vouchers and Air France credit on the same booking
In 2024, the ANCV confirmed that Chèques-Vacances Connect can be combined with a credit or voucher issued by an airline. The condition: that the intermediary (airline or agency) technically supports double charging on the same booking.
Air France allows this combination by phone, provided that the credit was issued on an Air France file and is still valid. The advisor first applies the credit, then collects the balance in Chèques-Vacances Connect.
Some online agencies, including Ulysse, have updated their booking process to allow this type of combination. This is an option to consider if you have a credit due to a cancellation and wish to supplement it with your ANCV balance.
What the combination does not cover
The mixed payment only applies to the plane ticket. Additional paid options added separately (extra baggage, upgrades, premium seats) charged outside the main ticket price are not eligible for payment by holiday vouchers. Only the ticket fare, including taxes and surcharges, can be paid in ANCV.
Travel agencies and alternative platforms to pay with holiday vouchers
If the phone does not suit you, several online travel agencies accept Chèques-Vacances Connect for Air France tickets. These agencies purchase the ticket from Air France and manage the ANCV payment on their side.
Field reports vary on this point: some travelers report service fees charged by the intermediary agency, while others do not. The final price may vary from one agency to another for the same flight, as each intermediary applies its own pricing policy.
Before booking through an agency, check three elements:
- That the agency is listed in the ANCV partner directory (available at leguide.ancv.com)
- That the issued ticket will indeed be an Air France ticket (and not an agency ticket with different modification conditions)
- That any fees from the intermediary do not exceed the savings made compared to a direct purchase by credit card
Invoicing and receipts: what changes with the dematerialized format
With the rise of electronic invoicing in France, the ANCV has strengthened the traceability of Connect payments. Each transaction automatically generates a timestamped receipt in the app, with the provider’s name, amount, and booking reference.
For employees whose holiday vouchers are co-financed by the employer through a social and economic committee (CSE), this digital receipt replaces the paper receipt. It can be downloaded in PDF format from the Connect account.
Paper vouchers do not benefit from this automatic traceability. In case of a dispute over an Air France booking paid with paper vouchers, proof of payment relies on the receipt issued by the agency, which must be kept.
The gradual transition to the Connect format simplifies administrative management but assumes that the traveler has activated their ANCV account in advance. Creating the account and transferring paper vouchers to the digital balance takes a few working days, a delay to anticipate before any booking.