Air France's New First Class Offers A Premium Experience Before And During Your Flight

With the debut of its new La Première suites, Air France, an airline known for serving Michelin-starred food, is pulling out all the stops to become the carrier of choice among high-rollers traveling to and from France. The new first-class cabin configuration made its debut April 8 on a flight from Paris (CDG) to New York (JFK). Offered on select Boeing 777-300R aircraft, the spacious in-flight accommodations measure 38 square feet. That's an increase of 25% over the airline's previous first-class cabin configuration. Window seat fans will be pleased to know that each of the four La Première suites on any given flight — all with direct aisle access — stretch the length of five, count 'em, five windows. And there's no overhead bin to cast a shadow on the panoramic view. The new configuration does away with overhead bins and replaces them with drawers — roomy enough to hold a standard carry-on bag and personal item — built seamlessly into the design. The elegantly efficient space features modular components, including an armchair and a chaise longue, so it's easy to transition from a den-like configuration to a lounge or sleeping space. Floor-to-ceiling sound- and light-blocking curtains provide seclusion and privacy.

The ergonomic foam armchair adjusts to accommodate each passenger's unique shape and size. A touchscreen tablet provides fingertip access to automated functions like setting chair recline or converting the chaise longue to a bed. The touchscreen tablet also controls individual cabin lighting and shade adjustments for each of the five windows and serves as command central for the in-flight entertainment system along with two 32-inch video screens. Amenities include noise-canceling headphones, Bluetooth connectivity, and easy-access USB ports and 110V/220V electrical outlets. An especially refined touch, Air France supplies La Première passengers with pajamas by French luxury brand Jacquemus and toiletries by Sisley Paris.

Partnering with three-Michelin-star chefs Dominique Crenn and Emmanuel Renaut, Air France's new La Première service showcases the best of French gastronomy. Crenn, a French native who owns two restaurants, Atelier Crenn and Bar Crenn, in the foodie-friendly California city of San Francisco, created the in-flight menu for La Première passengers on flights originating in the United States. Emmanuel Renaut, 2004 Meilleur Ouvrier de France, one of the most prestigious culinary awards in France, and owner of Flocons de Sel in the Haute-Savoie region of France (an underrated French destination), developed the menu for flights originating in Paris. Well-known Michelin-star French chef Daniel Bouloud, owner of a dozen New York City restaurants, will join the Air France La Première culinary team in July. There's no skimping on place-settings either. Meals are presented on Limoges porcelain dinnerware with cutlery by Christofle.

But there's more to Air France's La Première service than spacious suites and refined in-flight dining. The finely curated experience begins long before passengers even step foot on the plane. While the carrier continues to roll out the new cabin configuration across its fleet, all La Première passengers are entitled to a roster of personal perks and amenities, including private transfer via luxury vehicle for flights originating at select gateways and a personal greeting by a designated Air France concierge upon arrival at the airport. The concierge hands bags to be checked over to a porter then expedites private check-in and accompanies passengers through a separate, and discreet, security screening process en route to a dedicated lounge.

La Première airport lounge décor Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport features subtle tones of cream and gray interspersed with occasional pops of Air France's signature red. Furnishings are grouped for conversation with plenty of separation to accommodate passengers who many want a bit of alone time. For even more privacy, there's a softly lit area lined with recliners, in addition to a limited number of nap pods. Did we mention the spa? That's right. There's an on-site spa by Sisley Paris where La Première guests can reserve a complimentary 30-minute treatment. It almost goes without saying that the food served in La Première lounges is Michelin-quality fare with an à la carte menu created by renowned Michelin-star chef Alain Ducasse. There's also a small, but sophisticated, bar serving top-shelf wine and spirits.

With La Première up and running on flights between New York and Paris, Air France plans to continue the roll-out through the summer of 2025 with routes connecting Paris to Los Angeles (LAX), Singapore (SIN), and Tokyo (HND). By 2026, the airline aims to incorporate the new configuration on aircraft serving all La Première destinations. The introduction of Air France's new-and-improved La Première cabin configuration is part of a five-year $1.1 billion initiative to upgrade its cabins and lounges with an eye toward attracting more up-market passengers. "Starting in the economy cabin and going all the way up to La Première, we're differentiating our cabins and our services as best we can," Benjamin Smith, Air France-KLM CEO told Condé Nast Traveler. "Our customers are growing more sophisticated and discerning, so we're evolving the Air France product to meet those demands."