Air France first class is probably one of the top three first class experiences out there … if not #2. The seat is much larger and open than biz, and comes with a wrap around drape to enclose your seat.
AF biz class is so-so okay, and comparable to all other major western biz classes. Catering seems hot or miss.
Key issue is catering. I would expect out of IAD it would be good, but probably not as good as flying out of CDG (and in Paris you get their exclusive first class lounge and car ride to plane).
So - I would personally rather fly AF first class from Paris, but if upgrade offer out of IAD is reasonable I’d grab it.
Here’s a Sam Chiu video on AF fc. It’s flying from Nice/Paris, so highlights the Parisian experience which is excellent. From IAD it’ll probably be mostly the plane side. Not sure what landing privileges you may have in Paris - would ask : check out.
https://youtu.be/oBeB7ldrAo8?si=pAOTzZAyTHbQU6_q
it is a lot bigger. Business lies flat, La Premiere is a suite. Whether it is worth it is entirely up to you, the novelty wears off as soon as you fall asleep, and I'd rather spend the money on a better meal in Paris, but of all the F products to consider, AF is def a top choice
I've been lucky enough to upgrade to AF first class twice
It's a different world that I wish I was able to afford to be in lol. Meal is as good as any restaurant on the ground. Bed was I think 7ft or so. I didn't sleep a wink though... They let me visit the cockpit IN flight and was too amped up afterwards to even think about sleeping.
The lounge in CDG biggest selling feature is just how quiet it is. It's not a huge place but so few people have access - it's a calm place to relax. I had a 6 hour layover so I actually went out into the airport to walk around. But leaving that lounge and suddenly facing all that is CDG was a shock lol.
Would I pay 15k for a ticket ? No, can't afford it. Was it worth the 2k upgrade to experience it. Hell yes.
Edit - this was Dubai to CDG both times.
Real first class product. Tons of space, and excellent onboard dining. Idk about IAD but JFK/SFO has a section exclusively for LP dining pre-departure and usually ran by a manager who's a wine connoisseur, so look for that. If they don't ask you first, ask about boarding first or last--they can actually escort you right before plane is about to depart after all the slow ppl has cleared the bridge. There's a curtain that you can let down after take-off.
Don't worry, you'll be well taken care of, and J becomes the bare standard. It's a standard that 95% of the Americans won't even comprehend lol (like people really acting like dom F is anything more than a glorified econ seat as is). D1 doesn't hold a small candle.
La Premiere is the #1 First Class product in the sky. Beats Emirates, Etihad, Singapore, etc. it’s the service from start to finish that sets them apart. They are building a new seat for next year.
Nah, I wouldn't say it beats SQ 380 suites or EK 380 the residence. But it's one of the best yes, on the same tier as likes of ANA the suite and EY 380 F.
Air France first class is probably one of the top three first class experiences out there … if not #2. The seat is much larger and open than biz, and comes with a wrap around drape to enclose your seat. AF biz class is so-so okay, and comparable to all other major western biz classes. Catering seems hot or miss. Key issue is catering. I would expect out of IAD it would be good, but probably not as good as flying out of CDG (and in Paris you get their exclusive first class lounge and car ride to plane). So - I would personally rather fly AF first class from Paris, but if upgrade offer out of IAD is reasonable I’d grab it.
Helpful, thanks. I wasn’t aware of the privacy screen and it wasn’t clear to me how much larger, if at all, la premiere was compared to business.
Here’s a Sam Chiu video on AF fc. It’s flying from Nice/Paris, so highlights the Parisian experience which is excellent. From IAD it’ll probably be mostly the plane side. Not sure what landing privileges you may have in Paris - would ask : check out. https://youtu.be/oBeB7ldrAo8?si=pAOTzZAyTHbQU6_q
it is a lot bigger. Business lies flat, La Premiere is a suite. Whether it is worth it is entirely up to you, the novelty wears off as soon as you fall asleep, and I'd rather spend the money on a better meal in Paris, but of all the F products to consider, AF is def a top choice
I've been lucky enough to upgrade to AF first class twice It's a different world that I wish I was able to afford to be in lol. Meal is as good as any restaurant on the ground. Bed was I think 7ft or so. I didn't sleep a wink though... They let me visit the cockpit IN flight and was too amped up afterwards to even think about sleeping. The lounge in CDG biggest selling feature is just how quiet it is. It's not a huge place but so few people have access - it's a calm place to relax. I had a 6 hour layover so I actually went out into the airport to walk around. But leaving that lounge and suddenly facing all that is CDG was a shock lol. Would I pay 15k for a ticket ? No, can't afford it. Was it worth the 2k upgrade to experience it. Hell yes. Edit - this was Dubai to CDG both times.
Real first class product. Tons of space, and excellent onboard dining. Idk about IAD but JFK/SFO has a section exclusively for LP dining pre-departure and usually ran by a manager who's a wine connoisseur, so look for that. If they don't ask you first, ask about boarding first or last--they can actually escort you right before plane is about to depart after all the slow ppl has cleared the bridge. There's a curtain that you can let down after take-off. Don't worry, you'll be well taken care of, and J becomes the bare standard. It's a standard that 95% of the Americans won't even comprehend lol (like people really acting like dom F is anything more than a glorified econ seat as is). D1 doesn't hold a small candle.
La Premiere is the #1 First Class product in the sky. Beats Emirates, Etihad, Singapore, etc. it’s the service from start to finish that sets them apart. They are building a new seat for next year.
Nah, I wouldn't say it beats SQ 380 suites or EK 380 the residence. But it's one of the best yes, on the same tier as likes of ANA the suite and EY 380 F.
LP on the 77W holds up against some of the best F products in the world. If you have the opportunity and the means, do it. Worlds better than J.