Purchased Business Class Upgrade on Air France for 250 Euros; Culinary Experience Exceeded Expectations
"Alright, let's dive into my little French adventure with Air France!"
March rolled around, and it was time for my anniversary trip to the City of Love--Paris! I had booked two-hour flight tickets with Air France from Dublin, sweetening the deal by splurging on round-trip business class upgrades that cost us around 242 euros per seat.
Here's the rundown of our Air France business class experience:
Quick and easy check-in, but Sky Priority needed some work
Our business class tickets granted us access to Sky Priority, which promised a smoother travel experience. In both Dublin and Paris, we breezed through the special check-in and baggage drop-off areas with no lines in sight. Sky Priority also gave us a generous 70-pound baggage allowance per checked bag (compared to economy’s 50 pounds).
Our Sky Priority experience differed between airports. Despite our status, security and immigration took its sweet time in Paris, but we zipped through checks in Dublin. The priority sticker on our bags ensured they were among the first to arrive at our destination in Paris, but in Dublin, we had to wait for it on the carousel amidst endless bags.
Lounges in Dublin and Paris provide a mixed bag of comfort and ambiance
Flying business class meant finding solace in the airport lounges. In Dublin, the lounge was roomy with seating and had free light snacks and drinks. Sadly, the Parisian Air France lounge was under renovation during our visit, placing us in an underwhelming temporary lounge screamed quiet corners and scarce seating.
Luckily, the food offerings didn't disappoint. The temporary Paris lounge served an excellent selection of hors d'oeuvres, pasta, meat, cheese, desserts, wine, champagne, and more!
Boarding could use some streamlining
Wanting to avoid being too early for our gates due to priority boarding, we ran the risk of missing out on boarding first due to missing flight announcements in the lounges. This proved true in Paris, where we found ourselves in a long line with the regular folk. A slight heads-up beforehand would've been appreciated.
Stepping into the aircraft, we were pleasantly surprised to find a spacious seating area, separated from the main cabin by a curtain. Although our short-haul flight in Europe did not offer fancy lie-flat seats, we did enjoy comfortable leather seats with adjustable armrests and plenty of legroom. Most importantly, our private middle seat provided enough room for us to relax and spread out without worrying about a stranger invading our space.
Meals were a high point
We savored every bite during the flights. It was a refreshing change to be served meals on cloth napkins and genuine cutlery instead of disposable plastic ware. A shimmering breakfast of puff pastry with smoked salmon, yogurt, a croissant with jam, coffee, and juice awaited us on the way to Paris, while a delectable lunch of smoked salmon, couscous, bread, cheese, and an éclair for dessert greeted us on the return flight. Champagne and an assortment of drinks accompanied each meal, making the meals feel miles away from everyday dining.
Despite some room for improvement, I would gladly fly business class with Air France again. While some aspects fell short of expectations, the quality meals and an empty middle seat made a world of difference. The spacious baggage allowance also allowed me to pack, and shop to heart's content during the trip. Access to the lounge is a crucial part of the business class experience, and I'm hopeful for better Pastry Palace facilities next time, once the Paris lounge is done with its makeover. All in all, I'd absolutely recommend an Air France business class upgrade, provided the price suits your wallet. A reminder, though: I'm not much for luxury – I’d pay extra for comfort over fancy features any day!
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- The price of the business class upgrades with Air France was approximately 242 euros per seat, definitely worth it for the enhanced travel experience.
- With two-hour flight tickets booked with Air France, I splurged on round-trip business class upgrades, integrating the cost into my lifestyle and travel budget.
- The business class tickets we had from Air France granted us access to Sky Priority, a service that, despite some inconsistencies, we found useful for bypassing lines during check-in and receiving a generous baggage allowance.
- The meals served on our Air France business class flights were a high point, ranging from a breakfast of puff pastry with smoked salmon to a lunch of smoked salmon, couscous, bread, cheese, and an éclair for dessert - a refreshing change from everyday dining.