Review of Air France Business Class

With primary, long-haul hubs at Paris - Charles de Gaulle and Orly, Air France passengers either begin their journey there or pass through on their way elsewhere. For those starting there, SkyPriority queues expedite the check-in process, and Air France Business Class passengers can use dedicated fast-track lines for security and immigration.

Both hubs are bustling with ample shopping and dining options, but premium passengers should head straight for Salon Air France, and there are several of them depending upon the departure terminal. Inside are self-serve bars with wine, beer, spirits and, in some lounges, famous-label Champagne, including Laurent Perrier. Tasty French fare by guest chef Ducasse Paris includes 100 per cent French sustainably-sourced fresh produce, including the gourmet Burgal – a plant-based healthy alternative to the hamburger. Other delicacies include croissants and pain au chocolat in the morning, piping hot espresso and cappuccino drinks, and freshly baked breads, cheeses, and meats. Later in the day, salads, soups, and sandwiches are served. The bakery and cheese selection remains open and available throughout the day.

Refrigerators filled with soft drinks, juices, Perrier, and Evian water are a nice touch, and a wide selection of magazines and newspapers is available.

Lounges feature service desks for assistance with tickets, plus workstations offering free Wi-Fi. Many lounges have showers for those wanting to refresh between long flights.

Travellers with SkyTeam Elite Plus status on any SkyTeam airline can access the lounge on international itineraries in any cabin. However, Air France Business Class passengers can enter regardless of their status.

The international Air France 2E Hall L Lounge also features a sauna and complimentary Clarins Spa treatments.

Air France boasts Salons in many airports worldwide, including Munich, Bangkok, Frankfurt, Houston, New York JFK, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles.

In some lounges on the non-Schengen side of Charles de Gaulle, passengers can enjoy a complimentary 15-minute treatment in the Clarins Spa. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, these include massages and facials from trained aestheticians.

In cities with no Air France Business Class lounge, passengers enjoy access to third-party facilities - often SkyTeam partner lounges - as they await their flight departure.

When you board an Air France flight, the grey, white and navy tones in the Business Class cabin are immediately soothing, a smart choice of colours for long-haul air travel.

Air France is undergoing a significant Business Class product upgrade with the introduction of new Business Class seating commencing with the airline's Boeing 777-ER aircraft, already serving long-haul routes to New York with the new Safran Versa seating. The new seats convert to a nearly 2 metre (6.5 feet long) fully-flat bed that is 70 centimetres (2.3 feet wide), and all have direct-aisle access from a 1-2-1 configuration, with good privacy from sliding doors. The new 777 cabins have 48 suites in a reverse herringbone configuration, and the sleek-looking seats are made of high-end wood, brushed aluminium and full-grain French leather materials in a colour scheme of crisp white plastics complementing the generously padded dark blue seat material, highlighted by Air France's signature red embroidery. Other design touches include a backlit winged seahorse adorning the door of the ample-sized storage compartment, plus a "Do Not Disturb" light for those more relaxing moments during the flight. Middle seats come with a central wall that ensures privacy or, when lowered, acts as a large cocktail table for passengers travelling together. These seats angle inwards, making conversation easy without straining to lean forwards. The new suites feature state-of-the-art technology such as wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity, USB ports and laptop charging sockets, and have reading lights and a side table.

If you can, try to book the seats in rows one and nine – these are bulkhead seats offering a tremendous amount of space and versatility with an unrestricted ottoman rather than a small footwell. These seats are usually only available to elite status flyers. However, any unreserved bulkhead seats are opened up to all Business Class passengers 72 hours before departure.

The complete refurbishment of the older angled-flat bed seats is due for completion by the end of March 2024, so until then, it is always best to check the seat map for your aircraft to see which seat you are getting.  

The French national carrier has ordered 21 new Airbus A350-900s (to complement the existing 20 A350s), which will boast 48 of the new Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, with all of the state-of-the-art technology seen in the B777, plus the addition of the largest 4K IFE screen in the long-haul fleet and large windows with electronic blinds. The first of the new aircraft deliveries with the refreshed interiors is due in July 2023, with the remaining deliveries expected by 2025. The existing A350s have 34 Business class seats in a more cramped staggered formation with seats alternating between having the table closer to the aisle and closer to the window. For those that prefer to have a barrier between your seat and the aisle, select an even-numbered seat for more privacy. Those with the table closer to the window mean the seat is more exposed to the aisle (this makes it easier to get in and out, though). These seats have a hard shell around them, adding to the sense of privacy, especially when reclined. The airline does not plan on reconfiguring these in line with the new aircraft, so passengers are advised to check which seat they have before they fly.

On the Airbus A330, there is a mix between a 2-2-2 configuration of angle-flat and fully flat seats. On the Boeing 777, there is a mix between a 2-3-2 arrangement of angle-flat seats and a 1-2-1 configuration of fully flat seats. You can determine the type of seat based on the seating layout on 777s. Thankfully the 1-2-1 configuration is now the most common. Planes with the 1-2-1 setup offer an all-aisle-access experience, which means you will not have to step over anyone.

Aircraft with a 2-3-2 setup offer a dense configuration, meaning there are middle seats worth avoiding in Business Class. Those in the window seats will have to climb over a seatmate to access the aisle (this is also the case on the 2-2-2 configuration). The middle seats are usually filled last - solo travellers may prefer aisle seats on this aircraft, while couples should opt for one of the window-aisle pairs. Still, any aisle seat on this setup could have someone climbing over you to access the aisle.

All Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner have a 1-2-1 configuration, and fully flat beds with a 1-2-1 configuration have a reverse herringbone setup.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes images, videos, and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way, you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested before making your choice.

It should come as no surprise that Air France excels in its meal service. Expect decadent French cuisine served with fine wines. The tableware is sleek and elegant, designed by Jean-Marie Massaud using top-grade materials, including quality porcelain by Guy Dugrenne and cutlery by the prestigious French brand Christofle. Michelin-starred chefs are responsible for the menus, and each flight features a chef's choice, sometimes related to the destination. Among the many chefs highlighted on Air France are Anne-Sophie Pic, Régis Marcon, Thierry Marx, François Adamski, and Michel Roth. On flights to specific destinations, Air France serves food prepared by celebrated chefs in that country, including Youn-Young Kim on Korean flights, Jofrane Dailly on flights from Reunion Island and Daniel Rose on flights departing from the United States and Canada, with new dishes created by Olivier Perret coming soon from Canada.

The debut partnership with Thierry Marx sees the esteemed chef bringing his exceptional culinary creations to a new Summer menu between July and October 2023. The Michelin-Starred chef prioritizes plant-based ingredients and adopts a flexitarian approach to cooking. Business Class passengers can savour eight delectable dishes crafted by Thierry Marx – menu samples to whet the appetite include – guinea fowl, carrot, butternut purée, or a pasta conchiglie, pear, Fourme d’Ambert cheese and walnuts, and a pork loin, langoustine coulis, cauliflower purée, chanterelles.

Flight attendants serve from industrial service carts, which is the least fashionable part of the service, but after linens are laid on the tray table, everything that follows is impressive. An aperitif precedes the meal. Next up, the arrival of a tray with appetiser, cheese selection and salad.

Air France is renowned for its selection of pâtés as an appetiser in addition to crusty French bread and high-quality French butter. A top-up of drinks comes with each course, and once the appetiser plate is collected, flight attendants serve the main course, which comes pre-plated and heated from the galley. There are three or four choices, usually beef, poultry, seafood, and pasta. One of the selections is often the chef's special of the day. Business Class customers can select their hot dish up to 24 hours before departure. A small silver basket for bread is a nice touch, as is having both olive oil and butter. The dessert trolley features a beautiful presentation of sweets and sorbets to round off the dining service.

Express meal service is available for those who want everything served once to maximise sleeping time. From certain airports (Toronto or New York JFK, for instance), Business Class passengers on late-night departures can enjoy a full meal in the lounge so that they can board and go to sleep right away.

Meals are not dine-on-demand, with the first meal served shortly after takeoff, and a second meal is available before landing. Mid-flight, there is usually a small setup for drinks and snacks near the galley.

On overnight flights, breakfast before landing is a continental option, with a hot sweet or savoury choice on longer flights. Daytime flights have a pre-landing meal, too, with hot options available on longer flights.

Air France has a list of meal ingredients available via the cabin crew, which is helpful for passengers with allergies. Special meals like vegetarian and Kosher dishes are available to pre-order.

Air France takes its wine and Champagne selections seriously, as one might expect from the home of Champagne and fine wines. The airline's Master Sommelier, Paolo Basso, voted the world's best sommelier in 2013, today delivers one of the best wine lists in the sky to accompany the airline's celebrated cuisine created by some of the world's finest Michelin-starred chefs. The airline rotates its wine and Champagne offerings, and Business Class passengers are treated to various Champagne offerings, including Taittinger Brut Réserve, Deutz Brut Classic or Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve.

Before takeoff, flight attendants greet passengers with Champagne, juice or water. Like many airlines, Champagne may not be available on the ground when departing from specific destinations.

Flight attendants deliver printed menus with details of the drink selection that accompanies the meal. The airline serves two white and two red wine options plus a lager (usually Heineken). A variety of aperitifs and digestifs are available, plus a port wine. After-dinner drinks and gourmet coffee are served on flights longer than two and a half hours. Coffee options include Segafredo and Illy, which are both Italian brands ironically, and Palais des Thés tea selections.

Each Business Class passenger receives a bottle of water for the flight, with more available throughout the flight in addition to a full menu of beverages. 

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on which Champagne is served in Business Class and First Class on many airlines. We do our best to keep track of any changes but feel free to let us know if we missed something.

The cabin crew is friendly, multilingual, and professional. While the service is not as doting as some Middle Eastern or Asian carriers, Air France flight attendants are known for taking good care of their passengers.

The new Business Class cabins come with the latest 4K HD in-flight entertainment screens, integrated Bluetooth connectivity packed with over 350 movies, and an extensive music selection and podcasts. 

The Boeing 777 fleet offers a 17.3-inch (44 centimetres) touchscreen with anti-glare technology and noise reduction headsets. Passengers can connect their preferred headsets via the Bluetooth interface. In contrast, the new A350 cabins boast a 20-inch (51 centimetres) IFE screen – the largest among the long-haul fleet – with the same state-of-the-art technology found on the B777s.  

Wi-Fi is available on all Air France long-haul Airbus planes, plus the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It has been added to the rest of the fleet gradually and is now available on more than 90 per cent of flights. Prices to connect are based on time - not data usage. Air France CONNECT Wi-Fi passes are available for an hour or the flight duration. There is also an upgraded option for speeds that allow streaming services. It is free to use the signal to send text messages via WhatsApp, iMessage and WeChat.

Before departure and in flight, a wide selection of international newspapers and magazines in different languages is available. Air France produces two passenger magazines: Air France and Air France Madame. The first features travel-inspired articles from around the globe, plus a route map of the airline's destinations and details on the fleet. The second offers fashion and style coverage.

The Air France Play app provides additional reading material options for digital use.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi.

Waiting at each seat on boarding are an ultra-soft pillow, slippers, a shoe bag (to store your shoes in the overhead compartment in flight) and a wrapped stylish duvet blanket. There is also a sturdy hanger so a flight attendant can collect your jacket or coat and store it in the closet during boarding.

New to Air France Business Class customers are elegant and reusable amenity kits fashioned from recycled and eco-friendly materials. The Business Class amenity kit features a stylish herringbone pattern and the airline's emblem of a winged seahorse. It comes in two colours – navy blue and beige with a signature red zipper pull – made of 96 per cent recycled material. The kit contains rejuvenating hand cream and Hydra-essential moisturising face gel from cosmetics partner Clarins. Essentials include an eco-friendly toothbrush, ear plugs, a soft eye mask, a pair of socks and a tube of toothpaste. 

The airline has recently launched a new range of cute products aimed at its youngest passengers. Children now receive a new activity kit containing a little dog-shaped figurine with a suitcase, a plane in the airline's colours, a runway jigsaw puzzle, an activity book and coloured pencils. The kit opens, revealing a fun French bakery décor, and the figurine wears a sailor top, two emblematic nods to France. Babies under two receive a kraft paper kit containing a cuddly toy dog. On long-haul flights, families with young children will find Air France crews take good care of them. Parents can request a bassinet in advance for babies in business class.

The lavatories have more Clarins products, including lotion and facial toner, so you land at your destination looking fresh and fashionable. Air France provides hot towels before each meal, too.

Air France's short and medium-haul flights use narrow-body aircraft offering 3-3 seating or 3-2 configuration on the newer Airbus A220-300 with the central seat or accompanying seat blocked for extra comfort. Passengers will find pillows and blankets at their seats, and inflight, meals are served based on the length of the flight. Shorter flights have cold meals, while longer flights have hot dishes. Even on short flights, the bar is open with selections including beer, wine, spirits, and Champagne. Most domestic flights within France do not have a Business Class cabin.

On domestic flights, Air France offsets 100% of its carbon emissions. On longer flights, the airline is committed to reducing its carbon footprint through careful route planning, more efficient ground operations using electric runway vehicles, and reduced taxiing times.

By 2030, Air France wants to reduce its carbon emissions by 30 per cent compared to 2019, using more than 10 per cent sustainable aviation fuels by then. Air France is gradually replacing older aircraft with new-generation, cleaner and more fuel-efficient models, with a target of 64 per cent of new-generation aircraft flying by 2028. Pilots are already adopting eco-piloting methods to optimise energy efficiency.

The airline also works effectively to reduce single-use plastic on its flights, sort and recycle cardboard, aluminium, plastic, and periodicals, and cut food waste thanks to online pre-ordering options. 

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also give a higher score to flights operated by the most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft.