Flying Business Class with Air France: A Mixed Experience
Air France business class upgrade cost me 250 euros; the culinary offer took me aback
In March, my spouse and I jetted off to Paris for our anniversary, splurging on round-trip business class tickets with Air France, costing an additional 275 dollars (around 242 euros) per seat on top of the economy fare. Here's what our flight experience was like.
Slick Check-In, Questionable Sky Priority
As business class passengers, we had access to the special check-in and baggage drop-off area, eliminating long lines. With our tickets, we were allowed an extensive checked baggage allowance of two bags each, up to 70 pounds (around 32 kilograms), compared to 50 pounds (23 kilograms) in economy.
Sky Priority was a mixed bag. Although it helped speed up the check-in process, we faced longer waits at security and immigration—in Paris, it took "quite some time," while in Dublin, it was quicker. Our baggage was tagged with priority stickers, but it didn't always mean it was the first to arrive.
Lounges: A Blend of Excellent Food and Underwhelming Aesthetics
We enjoyed access to the airport lounges in Dublin and Paris, with the Dublin lounge offering plenty of comfortable seating, light snacks, and refreshments. The Paris lounge, however, was under renovation during our visit, and we were directed to a temporary lounge that was slightly bare-bones.
Despite the less-than-ideal setting, the food catered to our taste buds, with an impressive selection of hors d'oeuvres, salads, pastas, meats, cheeses, and sweets, in addition to tea, coffee, alcoholic drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Boarding: A Stressful Start
We wanted to avoid arrival at the gates too early, relying on priority boarding. However, we missed the airport announcements in both lounges, and our experiences with boarding varied. In Paris, we ended up in a long line, while in Dublin, our flight was luckily not as crowded.
The aircraft had separate business class seating areas, offering more legroom and the perk of an empty middle seat between us—which was a game-changer for a more comfortable flight. Despite it being a short-haul European flight, we were pleased not to be cramped next to strangers.
Mealtime: Delicious Dining Experience
The meals were a highlight of our flight. We dined on excellent food served with cloth napkins and real cutlery, starting with a scrumptious breakfast of puff pastry with smoked salmon, yogurt, pastries, coffee, and juice, and ending with lunch featuring smoked salmon and couscous, a creamy choux pastry dessert, and a glass (or two) of champagne.
The Final Verdict: Essentially Worth It, but Room for Improvement
Overall, our flight experience with Air France in business class was mostly satisfying. Though some areas needed improvement—such as boarding, security, and baggage collection—the excellent meals, outstanding cabin service, and generous baggage allowance made for a more comfortable and enjoyable journey.
After the trip, I found that Finnair, Scandinavian Airlines, and Aer Lingus offered smoother experiences in these areas, but I would still fly with Air France again if the price is right. Although the business class experience was more for comfort than luxury, the additional comfort was worth the splurge.
Despite some rather lengthy wait times at security and immigration, Air France still has potential, as the Paris lounge is no longer under construction, and the improved facilities look promising.
Would I spend more for a luxury experience? Probably not. But an upgrade to business class with Air France? Definitely consider it.
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- Questioning a potential future experience, I wonder: "What would integrated services with Air France be like?"
- Writing about airline comparisons, I might say: "Finnair, Scandinavian Airlines, and Aer Lingus offer smoother experiences in certain areas compared to Air France."
- If discussing travel preferences for luxury, I could express: "I, however, would probably not spend more for a luxury experience."
- Regarding the integration of external content and services: "With your ContentPass subscription, you can enhance your user experience by incorporating external content and services from select third-party providers."
