After six amazing nights in Paris, it was finally time to fly home. We enjoyed flying Lufthansa First Class via Frankfurt on the outbound. However, we chose to fly home on Air France's most direct route from Paris to Miami.
How did I book my Air France Business Class tickets
We were fortunate to have the Air France-KLM FlyingBlue program, which offered nonstop business class space between Paris and Miami, for only 55,000 miles.
10/18 AF90 Paris to Miami departure at 1:45PM, arriving at 5:15PM
The best part was that I had transferred some Amex Membership Rewards points from Flying Blue in September, when there was a 25% bonus transfer bonus. This meant that I actually paid only 44,000 Amex points per person to transatlantic flight.
The tax and fee totals $375 per person. France has a high level of aviation taxes. There were approximately $190 in surcharges for carriers and $185 in taxes/fees at airports.
That's a great deal, I would say! For transatlantic business class redemptions, I think Flying Blue is underrated.
Air France & KLM have much lower surcharges for carriers than British Airways
Flying Blue has more availability for business class awards than other partner programs. This doesn't include Delta SkyMiles ridiculous award pricing
Lufthansa has a good record of business class award availability. However, there is a lot to be desired in business class.
Air France-KLM has a higher proportion of business class award tickets with direct aisle access than IAG or Lufthansa Group.
Our flight was to be operated by an Airbus A350-990 when we booked. About a week prior to our flight, the aircraft type was changed to a Boeing 777-220. The planes offer different business class seating options (read my Air France A350 and my Air France 777 reviews), but I don't have any strong preferences. Other than the A350 as an aircraft.
Let's get to the review. The business class lounge was not reviewed by me so I will start the review once I am onboard.
Air France Boeing 777-220 business class cabin & seating
Air France's Boeing 777-220s have three cabin layouts. There is business class, premium economy and economy. The business class has 40 seats. This includes the forward cabin which is comprised of 28 seats and is spread over seven rows in a 1-2-1 arrangement.
Air France 777 Business Class Cabin
There is also a mini-cabin in the rear with 12 seats. It's spread over three rows. I assigned seats 12E and 12F to us, which are the middle seats in business class' last row. It was interesting to see that the forward business cabin was nearly full (transatlantic flights are filling up). The rear business class cabin was only five people (including us).
Air France Business Class Privacy Partition
Air France's 777s have reverse herringbone seats for business class. They are not cutting-edge, but they are well-maintained and very comfortable.
Air France Boeing 777-220 business class seat
Air France Boeing 777-220 business class seat
Air France Boeing 777-220 business class seat
We were seated in our middle seats when we noticed a partition between them. The partition could not be moved, but it could be completely removed and the flight attendants would store it in an overhead bin. This system is very comfortable and gives you as much privacy as you could get in a middle seat, if you are traveling solo.
Air France Business Class Seat Boeing 777-200
Air France Business Class Privacy Partition
A storage console was located next to the seat, which included a mirror, an entertainment control, and a reading lamp.
Air France Business Class Seat Storage Compartment
There were also easy-to-use seat controls.
Controls for business class seats in Air France
You can also slide the tray table out from the right side. If you don't need it all, you can fold it in half.
Table for business class seats in Air France
The power outlets were located at the bottom right of your seat. They are 110v and USB. There was also a literature pocket and a water bottle.
Air France Business Class Seat Power Outlets
These seats are very spacious, and I like that you don't feel restricted when reclined.
Air France Business Class Seat Footwell
The only thing that really frustrated me about the cabin layout was the absence of individual air nozzles. This is a common problem for European airlines.
Air France Business Class Amenities
A coat hanger was used to place a blanket and pillow at each seat.
Air France Business Class Pillow, Blanket, and Coat Hangar
Although the blanket and pillow are not cutting-edge, they are solid and provide a comfortable cushioning without being too warm.
Air France business class blanket & pillow
Our seats had noise cancelling headphones.
Air France headphones for business class
We were greeted with a travel safety kit that included face masks, hand sanitizer, and a toothbrush, moments after we settled in.
Air France Business Class Travel Safety Kit
The amenity kits were offered to us with the option of a blue or beige kit.
Air France Business Class Amenity Kit
They contain the same contents: eyeglasses, socks, earplugs and a pen. A shoehorn and a cleaning cloth are also included. Clarins has two creams.
Air France Business Class Amenity Kit
Pre-departure drinks were offered to us, and we each received champagne.
Pre-departure Champagne in Business Class with Air France
We were also given the menus for our 9hr15min flight shortly before we faced pushback. This included lunch after takeoff and a snack upon landing.
Air France Business Class Lunch Service
After takeoff, the crew quickly got to work and the lunch service began within 30 minutes. Here's the lunch menu:
Air France Business Class Menu
Air France Business Class Menu
Here is the drink list:
Air France Business Class Drink List
Air France Business Class Drink List
Air France Business Class Drink List
The drinks were served on a cart. A glass of champagne Cuvee royale Brut Joseph Perrier was offered to me, which was very good. I asked for still water and was given a package with cashews, cranberries and champagne.
Air France Business Class Lunch Drinks
A cart carrying the first course was brought down the aisle about 15 minutes later. The first course consisted of vegetables marinated with olive oil and dill and smoked salmon with lemon crème, as well as a selection breads.
Air France Business Class Lunch Appetizer
The main course was the pollock with seaweed and lovage sauce. I also ordered camargue red rice, spinach and fennel-compote. The presentation was not perfect, but the dish was delicious and very flavorful.
Air France Business Class Lunch Main Course
Ford chose the chicken with smoked black tea and pea royale soup, with ginger and lemon. Ford enjoyed the dish.
Air France Business Class Lunch Main Course
After the main courses had been cleared, a dessert trolley was brought down the aisle. After everyone had finished their main courses, they offered them a cheese platter. Then there was the option of a raspberry cream puff or tarte tatin. Or ice cream and cream sorbet. The first was mine. I ordered a cup coffee as well.
Air France Business Class Lunch Dessert
The entire meal service took approximately two hours from takeoff. These are some general thoughts.
I am happy to report that Air France has re-established the pre-coronavirus business classes service, which is not the case with American airlines.
The food taste was excellent, I thought.
It is possible to improve the presentation of dishes, particularly when it involves plating.
Air France Business Class Entertainment & Wi-Fi
Our flight was on Monday so it was a normal work day for me. Only a few 777s have Wi-Fi. All Air France A350s are equipped with Wi-Fi. We were fortunate to have Wi-Fi on our Air France 777. Air France has removed data caps from Wi-Fi plans a while back, which I greatly appreciate.
The entire flight was connected to Wi-Fi at a cost of 30 EUR. Although it is not cheap, it is a reasonable price for being productive on a long flight. Wi-Fi speeds were great and I was able to work as efficiently at home as well. Except for the 45 minutes prior to landing, there were no coverage gaps.
Air France Wi-Fi Pricing
Air France Wi-Fi included
Although I didn't use it much, Air France has a great selection of audio-video on demand with many TV shows and movies.
Air France Business Class Entertainment System
Air France Business Class Entertainment System
Air France Business Class Entertainment System
Instead, I kept the moving map on the whole flight.
Air France's business class airshow system
Air France's business class airshow system
Air France Business Class Bed
Although I didn't sleep on the flight, I did recline and test the seat, which was just as comfortable as I would expect from a reverse herringbone chair. The footwell was large and I didn't feel tight.
Ford slept for almost the entire period between the meals.
Air France Business Class Bed 777
Air France Business Class Bed 777
Air France Business Class Bed 777
Air France Business Class Lavatories
Air France's 777-200 cabin has two lavatories. One is at the front and the other is by the second set doors in front of the mini-cabin. The forward lavatory is preferred as it is larger. This is because it's the same bathroom Air France had back in first class. It was therefore intentionally larger at that time.
Air France Business Class Lavatory 777
Air France Business Class Lavatory Facilities 777
Air France Business Class Lavatory Facilities 777
Air France Business Class Service & Snacks
They were charming and friendly. They were very helpful during meals and stopped by the cabin to give snacks and drinks.
Because I was working, and all the windows were shut, I needed caffeine to keep me awake. I had to order an espresso at the halfway point of my flight, and it was delicious.
Air France business class espresso
Later on the flight, I ordered a cappuccino. Air France's powdered cappuccinos are so bad that I don't learn from them.
Cappuccino in business class by Air France
A little bar was located in the galley's center, where you could get snacks and drinks.
Air France Business Class Snack Bar
Air France Business Class Snack Service
The pre-arrival snack was prepared approximately 75 minutes prior to landing.
Miami Air France Airshow nears
The following is the menu:
Air France business class pre-arrival snack menu
All meals include a starter consisting of quinoa salad, asparagus, and curd cheese with Ginger. There were two main courses to choose from. I chose the lemongrass sauce and creamy white rice hake fillet. Although the presentation was not spectacular, the food tasted great. It was served with plain yogurt and a bread roll.
Pre-arrival Snacks for Air France Business Class
Ford also offered a second main course, which was penne pasta with goat and lemon.
Pre-arrival Snacks for Air France Business Class
We began our descent 15 minutes after the trays had been cleared. We landed at 5:40PM. We arrived at the gate five minutes later, about 30 minutes late due to strong headwinds. It was an easy way to cross Atlantic!
Bottom line
It is nice to see transatlantic flights return to their normal levels of service and fullness. Air France has a solid transatlantic business product with excellent seats, Wi-Fi and great amenities, food and service.
Let me go further. I believe Air France-KLM is the best European mega-airline group for business class. Lufthansa Group doesn't have any plane that has direct aisle access to every business class seat. British Airways, like IAG, has made great strides, but it still lacks Club Suites as a standard product for business class.
What was your Air France experience in business class?
