Can You Redeem Miles For Air France First Class?

One of the world's most exclusive products is offered by Air France. It is exclusive in terms of the size of the cabins and how few ways there are to get into them. Air France has added new first class award restrictions, so I wanted to go over them in this post.

Basics of Air France La Premiere first class

One of the world's best first class experiences is offered by Air France. The ground experience is the best in the world and the inflight product is the second best.

Air France only offers first class on select Boeing aircraft, which fly to high yield markets. Each plane is configured with just one row of four first class seats.

Each of Air France's first class seats has a curtain that goes all the way from the ceiling to the floor, giving you total privacy.

The inflight experience, from the consistently great service, to the topnotch food, to the amenities, is amazing.

Air France offers an unparalleled first class ground experience that is second to none. You can get a complimentary spa treatment, and you can eat in the lounge. There are a lot of restrictions associated with buying the first class ground experience.

Air France is going to introduce a new first class product in the winter season. The product's details are limited at the moment.

Redeeming miles for Air France La Premiere first class

Air France La Premiere is the product that is most difficult to get with miles.

Only if you have Flying Blue Platinum status can you redeem miles for Air France first class.

• You can’t redeem miles for Air France first class if you are a Flying Blue Gold, Silver, or non-elite member
• You can’t redeem any partner loyalty program miles for travel in Air France first class
• Note that similar restrictions exist for upgrades with miles
• There are carrier imposed surcharges on these award tickets, but they’re fairly mild (at least compared to airlines like British Airways and Lufthansa)
• Air France releases at most one first class award seat per flight, so if you’re trying to travel as a couple, you’ll have to pay for at least one of the seats

Award costs are steep even if you are eligible for redemption. What amount should you pay? You can use the Flying Blue website to find out how much miles are required. Some examples are given.

• A one-way first class ticket from New York to Paris would cost 220,000 Flying Blue miles
• A one-way first class ticket from Los Angeles to Paris to Frankfurt would cost 230,000 Flying Blue miles
• A one-way first class ticket from Miami to Paris to Singapore would cost 320,000 Flying Blue miles
• A one-way first class ticket from Washington to Paris to Dubai would cost 350,000 Flying Blue miles

These are steep redemption rates. If you want to break up your journey with a stop in Paris, Flying Blue now allows it.

Are there tricks to booking Air France La Premiere first class?

There are other things to consider when booking Air France La premiere.

• Sometimes Air France has reasonable(ish) paid first class fares, though they’re rarer than in the past; you’ll usually find the best fares originating in Europe, especially departing from places other than Paris, like Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Geneva, Madrid, Stockholm, Zurich, etc.
• Air France will sometimes sell paid first class upgrades at check-in, and prices vary; for example, from Paris to Dubai it might cost as little as ~$1,000, while from New York to Paris it typically costs ~$2,200

I used to consider Flying Blue elite status in order to get access to Air France first class awards, but not anymore. The status isn't hard to earn so that's not what's stopping me Gold members can no longer redeem for first class, and on top of that you're limited to one first class award seat per flight.

It is one of the best first class experiences in the world. It is one of the most difficult experiences to get with miles.

If you have Platinum status in the Flying Blue program you can redeem miles for Air France first class. If you want to travel with someone else, Flying Blue only offers one award seat in first class.

To redeem for Air France first class, you have to be a member of Flying Blue. Air France sometimes sells first class upgrades at check-in, which is the best way to book Air France first class.

Did anyone redeem miles for Air France first class?