Purchased Business Class Upgrade from Air France for 250 euros; Was Astounded by the Culinary Offerings
Unfiltered Adventure: Flying Business Class with Air France
In March, my spouse and I headed to the City of Love for our anniversary, taking a two-hour flight from Dublin with Air France. Fancy upgrades for the occasion? You bet! For a 275-dollar (approx. 242 euros) premium, we nabbed ourselves something comfy to sit on for the trip. Here's what it's truly like to soar through the skies in Air France's business class.
Check-in and Sky Priority: A Mixed Bag
With our business class seats, we qualified for Sky Priority service. This is Air France's V.I.P. pass, helping us breeze through check-in, baggage drop-off, security, and boarding processes.
In Dublin, we cruised right through as expected, utilizing the dedicated check-in area. But the Sky Priority treatment was a bit lacking in Paris, where we got caught up in a lengthy queue to get through security.
Our checked bags were tagged with a priority sticker, and in Paris, it was one of the first to arrive on the baggage carousel. In Dublin, however, it took a bit longer to find it amidst all the other luggage.
Lounges: A Matter of Quality over Quantity
Sporting our business class tickets, we got access to airport lounges in both Dublin and Paris. In Dublin, a comfortable lounge awaited us—filled with seating, snacks, and drinks.
The Paris lounge was, unfortunately, undergoing renovations at the time. We were directed to a temporary lounge instead, which was a bit dim and sparsely furnished, but no worries—they still hooked us up with a lovely buffet including salad, meat, cheese, sweet treats, drinks, and even champagne!
Boarding: Not as Easier as you'd Think
Since we had our Sky Priority passes, we didn't want to get to our gates too early, expecting priority boarding. However, we almost missed getting on board first! Flight announcements were nowhere to be found in the lounges, so we suggest arriving at the gate earlier to ensure a smooth boarding experience.
The Seats: Ridiculously Cozy and Spacious
On different aircrafts, we got to enjoy Air France's business class seating area, which was cordoned off from the main cabin by a curtain. As it was a short European flight, the seats didn't convert into beds, but they were still incredibly comfortable with pillow-top seats, adjustable armrests, and plenty of legroom.
What really made the difference was the guaranteed empty middle seat between us, allowing us to relax and stretch out without barging into a stranger's armrest.
Dining: My, Oh My, What a Spread!
We were blown away by the meals on both flights! The food was served on cloth napkins with real cutlery, not disposable plasticware—the small details made a huge difference.
On our way to Paris, we started the day with a delightful breakfast featuring puff pastry with salmon, yogurt, a croissant with jam, coffee, and juice. On our return flight, lunch included smoked salmon, couscous, bread, cheese, and a heavenly eclair. Champagne was also available to make our meals even more special.
Final Thoughts: A Premium Experience, But...
Overall, I had a good experience, but some aspects were a bit underwhelming. I paid a premium for comfort, not luxury, so I wouldn't mind a more efficient experience with boarding, security, and baggage collection.
I've found these processes to be smoother on my European business class flights with Finnair, Scandinavian Airlines, and Aer Lingus. Plus, the lounge in Paris felt a bit underwhelming, but it's no longer under construction, so hopefully the next time it will be better.
Despite the slight hiccups, I'd definitely fly with Air France again—if the price is right, I might even consider another upgrade to business class for an even cozier flight experience. But more than that? I'd rather save my money.
- With our priority tagged baggage, we maintained a high standard of expectation for a smooth baggage claim process, but the Dublin airport took longer than anticipated to find our luggage.
- The comfortable lounge in Dublin provided an excellent opportunity to integrate a taste of luxury into our pre-flight lifestyle, with amenities like snacks, drinks, and even champagne.
- In our quest to maintain a healthy lifestyle during travel, we appreciated the abundance of fresh options available on the Air France business class menus, including couscous and salad.
- While flying business class with Air France offered a noticeable difference in comfort, we still strive to integrate budget-friendly choices into our travel plans, opting to save money by foregoing luxury experiences for more essential aspects of our journey.
