Air France has just debuted a new La Premiere first class product, which will be available exclusively on a subfleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The first jet with this new product is in service as of today (and I’m on the inaugural flight, as a guest of Air France). This is an exciting development, as it really takes the carrier’s incredible first class to the next level.
However, arguably there’s another change that’s just as significant, as first class isn’t the only part of these aircraft that’s being updated. While I first covered this some time back, I want to provide some updates, as I’ve now had a chance to explore the first aircraft.
In this post:
Air France four-class 777-300ERs get new business class
By the end of 2026, Air France plans to install its new first class product on at least 20 Boeing 777-300ERs. However, the changes to these planes go beyond just the pointy end.
These aircraft are getting a makeover in all cabins, bringing them in line with Air France’s latest passenger experience.
I’d say the most exciting development here is that Air France is also installing its new business class product on four-cabin Boeing 777-300ERs (with first class). In 2023, Air France debuted its new 777 business class, though at the time, it was only installed on 12 three-cabin Boeing 777-300ERs (without first class). Now the airline is expanding that project, with the number of 777s featuring the new business class cabins nearly tripling by the end of 2026.
This is a huge deal, and incredibly positive. Keep in mind that these four-cabins 777s operate on the most premium routes, to destinations like Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Singapore (SIN), and more. So it’s nice that these routes won’t just feature the incredible new first class, but also the latest business class.
For context, Air France’s four cabin 777-300ERs previously had the carrier’s older business class product, which is also in a reverse herringbone configuration, but without the modern bells and whistles.
Meanwhile the new 777-300ER business class is so much better, with each seat having a door, and hugely upgraded tech, from USB-C and wireless charging, to bluetooth audio.
As I’ve pointed out in the past, Air France’s new bulkhead business class seats are among the best in the world, and offer an incredible amount of space. I should mention that on these reconfigured jets, only the bulkhead seats in the second business class cabin (at row nine) have this amount of space, and not the seats in the first cabin (at row three). That’s because the bulkhead seats in the first cabin partly utilize space to the side of the first class seat.
When you consider that these planes will also be getting Starlink Wi-Fi in the coming months, these are some mighty machines…
In the interest of being thorough, let me emphasize that no plans have been announced for reconfiguring the high density 777-300ERs (with just 14 business class seats), or the three-cabin 777-200ERs.
Air France is reconfiguring 777-300ERs very efficiently
As Air France reconfigures its four-cabin 777-300ERs, there are some changes coming to the layout:
- The “old” four-cabin 777-300ERs have 296 seats, including four first class seats, 58 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 206 economy seats (see the seat map here)
- The “new” four-cabin 777-300ERs have 312 seats, including four first class seats, 60 business class seats, 44 premium economy seats, and 204 economy seats (see the seat map here)
As you can see, the improved yields made possible by these configuration are wild, and would make any airline executive salivate. Once reconfigured, planes have 16 more seats, almost all premium:
- The plane has a much improved and more spacious first class
- The plane has two extra business class seats
- The plane has 16 extra premium economy seats
- The plane only has two fewer economy seats
So, how is the layout changing section-by-section?
- Between the first and second set of doors, there are still four first class seats and 16 business class seats; there’s even a fourth lavatory added by the second set of doors, compared to the three there currently are
- Between the second and third set of doors, there continue to be 44 business class seats
- Between the third and fourth set of doors, there are 44 premium economy seats and 70 economy seats, compared to 28 premium economy seats and 78 economy seats; this is possible in part because the two lavatories at the front of premium economy are being eliminated
- Between the fourth and fifth set of doors, where are 134 economy seats, compared to 128 economy seats
Essentially, it appears that a lot of these changes have been made possible by rearranging lavatories, and tightening up galleys. In total, premium economy and economy go from six lavatories to five lavatories, and premium economy loses dedicated lavatories.
Obviously that’s not great for premium economy passengers, but airlines also have to balance passenger experience and efficiency, and one thing is for sure — this is a mighty efficient configuration. The airline business is incredibly tough, and airlines need to do what they can to maximize revenue. I can’t think of the last time that we’ve seen an airline retrofit a wide body aircraft this efficiently.
Bottom line
Air France will be reconfiguring all of its four-cabin Boeing 777-300ERs. While the new La Premiere first class cabin is of course the “shiniest” change, arguably an equally big development is that these planes are getting a new business class.
Air France is installing reverse herringbone seats with doors on its four-cabin 777-300ERs, featuring greatly updated tech. This will be a game changer for Air France in the most competitive markets.
The airline is reconfiguring these planes very efficiently, and is increasing seat count, almost entirely with premium seats. The only bad news is that premium economy passengers lose their dedicated lavatories.
What do you make of Air France reconfiguring its four-cabin 777-300ERs?
Is this the most efficient 777 300ER layout seen yet? Would others copy their homework and follow suit? Like how they all copied Emirates to make economy 3-4-3?
Ben Smith loves optimizing (removing lavs) for seats.
So which lavs will PE pax use? I would be annoyed if I was flying in J and PE pax were using the lavs in J.
@ Justin Dev -- They have to use the economy lavatories.
I’d prefer the old biz product with the old biz award availability.
Ben- Read your review on the bulk head seat a month back or so and booked the inside bulk head seat 10D and 10H! Can't wait to have the space since I am over 6 foot. Great reviews and appreciate the work you do. (I also found this flight availability on point.me for 60,000 April 28th.)
The increase in number of J and PE seats while giving more room to the F seats is impressive. I wonder what this means for Y? Did they just squeeze them in even more? It was bad enough to begin with, can only imagine how bad it would be now.
AF passenger help request ….
It would appear to me that those Frenchies are missing a trick or two with their extremely small carry on luggage size allowance.
Today, I deliberately visited the AF check in desk at LHR. To my amazement I discovered that two of my smallest carry on pieces would not fit into the AF carryon size gauge.
My question is to those who have AF travel experience …. are...
AF passenger help request ….
It would appear to me that those Frenchies are missing a trick or two with their extremely small carry on luggage size allowance.
Today, I deliberately visited the AF check in desk at LHR. To my amazement I discovered that two of my smallest carry on pieces would not fit into the AF carryon size gauge.
My question is to those who have AF travel experience …. are the checkin staff insistent on checking every piece of carry on luggage using the gauge? I hope to try out a new La Premiere experience when available.
Thank you.
I have flown AF in J 10-15 times the last 4 years and never experienced checking carry ons dimensions or weight , that’s between my whole family good size and number of carry ons dimensions or. In fact , the only times I have experienced check on carry ons was when flying EVA in J , SEA-TPE and TPE-SGN ( different trips)
I've had my very small carry on involuntarily checked twice (other than on flights where all rollaboards are checked). One was in February on air france. I was checking in in Bangalore and when I said I didn't have any checked bags the agent insisted that I put both of my bags on the scale together. I was flying on a full fare business class ticket... and was 2 kg overweight. The agent was almost...
I've had my very small carry on involuntarily checked twice (other than on flights where all rollaboards are checked). One was in February on air france. I was checking in in Bangalore and when I said I didn't have any checked bags the agent insisted that I put both of my bags on the scale together. I was flying on a full fare business class ticket... and was 2 kg overweight. The agent was almost gleeful in insisting that I check my bag. So, yes, it DOES happen on air france.
The other time was an Air Canada agent who picked me out of the crowd and told me to check mine while letting people ahead and behind get on with larger bags. More than one person said they thought they were going to have to check theirs and asked me if I'd had a disagreement with the agent. I said I had not even been at the desk or spoken to the agent before that.
Can't speak for the Economy experience, but travelling Business both domestic and long-haul, there's never been the slightest hint I should weigh either of my 2 cabin carry-ons.
And @Truth will be delighted to hear that they are unlikely to even see a scale in the unlikely event they will get to travel La Premiere.
It’s a larger cabin allowance than most. AFKL allow upto 12 kgs plus an accessory in economy . For others it’s generally 7kgs. Must have been quite a trek to go to lhr just for that. I think you should only carry a bag that will fit under your seat. If you buy a light fare and don’t have priority boarding, they warn you that you may need to check it in when the flight is full
Many thanks to those of you who have taken the trouble to respond to my enquiry.
My latest AF flight was last century (1982), on that quick little aircraft called Concorde. I was no more impressed with that flight than my previous BA trans Atlantic flight onboard their offering. At least BA was shorter and without a fuel stop.
When checking the AF La Premiere carryon case dimensions, they are less than generous....
Many thanks to those of you who have taken the trouble to respond to my enquiry.
My latest AF flight was last century (1982), on that quick little aircraft called Concorde. I was no more impressed with that flight than my previous BA trans Atlantic flight onboard their offering. At least BA was shorter and without a fuel stop.
When checking the AF La Premiere carryon case dimensions, they are less than generous. My name will be mud if my wife’s carryon case is banished to the hold.
Maybe suggest to yiur wife that she carry less crap?
On the one hand I like the idea of having additional PE seats because on a short trans-Atlantic I find it better value than business by far points-wise, but losing the dedicated lavs does hurt. 5 lavs for 250~ people is not a lot.
From what I read on FlyerTalk, the already reconfigured plane that we see in the commercial is F-GZNQ apparently, meaning that it is one of the 12 planes already having been retrofitted with new business cabin.
Removing lavatory for their new may renamed Premium cabin (they changed the name and removed the economy) is very very disappointing, nothing “premium” about it knowing these tickets are very expensive departing from Paris !
Does it mean slimline Recato seats at 30.5" pitch in the cattle class???
Recaro!
Who cares, I won’t be back there. ;)
Air France’s decision to refurbish its four-cabin 777-300ERs is clearly an attempt to keep up with Delta as a JV partner. Considering Air France can’t compete with Delta on profitability, reliability, or service, it’s no surprise they’re scrambling to upgrade their cabins. By trying to mimic Delta’s premium product, Air France is hoping to appear consistent across the JV network, especially on key routes. Sure, the upgraded first and business class may look nice, but...
Air France’s decision to refurbish its four-cabin 777-300ERs is clearly an attempt to keep up with Delta as a JV partner. Considering Air France can’t compete with Delta on profitability, reliability, or service, it’s no surprise they’re scrambling to upgrade their cabins. By trying to mimic Delta’s premium product, Air France is hoping to appear consistent across the JV network, especially on key routes. Sure, the upgraded first and business class may look nice, but let’s be real—it won’t close the massive service gap with Delta. Nice try, though, Air France.
Is that you Tim, using a pseudonym ?
Delta, like any American carrier is poor . Typical fake American service and surprised they don't ask for tips.
Nothing in the US comes close to what La Premiere offers.
They are not trying to mimic anyone. France, like the rest of Europe, has thousands of years of culture. A history of design, culture and cuisine.
Delta Airlines is offering Shake Shack cheeseburgers to first-class...
Is that you Tim, using a pseudonym ?
Delta, like any American carrier is poor . Typical fake American service and surprised they don't ask for tips.
Nothing in the US comes close to what La Premiere offers.
They are not trying to mimic anyone. France, like the rest of Europe, has thousands of years of culture. A history of design, culture and cuisine.
Delta Airlines is offering Shake Shack cheeseburgers to first-class customers. Seriously ? Whilst Air France partners with Michelin chefs including Jérôme Banctel and Olivier Perret
The new La Premiere seat seems only marginally better than AA's Flagship First. I don't get the hype at all.
I'm a delta MM and an AA Exec Platinum. I've flown the current La Premiere as well as AF, DL and AA business and the AA F that is basically gone and we'll throw in BA F and J and KLM J for good measure. For anyone to try to claim that any of those other services are as good as or better than AF LP is laughable. While I don't love the AF LP lounge in Paris as much as Ben does, AF LP but it's head and shoulders above all the rest with both hard and soft product.
This is sarcasm right? You forgot the /s
This is sarcasm right? You forgot the /s
I question the timing of such an upgrade to premium seating at the onset of a potential worldwide downturn in the economy. The decision to limit lavatories for Premium Economy seating is also a bit of a head scratcher as other than bigger seats the main selling point of Premium Economy is access to washroom facilities. I think they may have misread the market on this one.
The downturn in economy parobably only impacts the cattle class passengers. Demand for premium seats in the sky is at an all-time high and still going up.
Hmmmmm.... Losing a lav and no mention of any change in seat pitch ? Pity the poor unwashed relegated to the very back of the bus....
Is anything known yet about the reconfiguration timeline? I have a CDG-LAX and LAX-CDG flight booked in AF business in November on a 4-class 777-300ER, so it would be awesome to have the newer biz seats by then …
There may be as many as seven more airframes in service by then (of the intended total of 20).
LAX-CDG is one of the more commonly "sold out" LP cabins among their U.S. gateways with LP service (JFK, IAD, MIA, LAX, SFO). At least in the LAX-CDG direction (I'm less familiar with westbound CDG-LAX flights, tbh.)
If I were Ben Smith, I'd assign a reconfig aircraft to that route as soon as they've...
There may be as many as seven more airframes in service by then (of the intended total of 20).
LAX-CDG is one of the more commonly "sold out" LP cabins among their U.S. gateways with LP service (JFK, IAD, MIA, LAX, SFO). At least in the LAX-CDG direction (I'm less familiar with westbound CDG-LAX flights, tbh.)
If I were Ben Smith, I'd assign a reconfig aircraft to that route as soon as they've got at least one, perhaps two flights per day on CDG-JFK.
Which could be as soon as a month or so from now.
But beware that with two LP-cabin flights per day to LAX, both may not be operated by reconfigured aircraft right away.
It may take very good luck or some clever maneuvering on your part to end up in the full new four-cabin layout.
But good luck!
Good news on the upgrade.
Now, can you get them to give their aircrafts a good wash.
Are the 777-200s largely end of cycle and likely due to replaced soon? Makes sense to not largely invest in high-density 777-3s, but hopefully they do replace Premium Economy as the new hard product is much improved over previous gen seat.
I don't think they give a f* for the cabins of their high-density metal, as these planes mostly fly to leisure destinations in the Caribbean.
Actually, those planes have been retroffited recently already so it makes sense they are not doing it again...
Will these reconfigured planes also feature the incredible Business bulk-head seats?
@ Dror -- I would imagine so, though it hasn't been officially confirmed.
For me it seems like the first row business seats behind first class are utilised the space under the first class seats' armrest - in that way the cabin size stays the same while first class went from four to five windows.
The saddest part of this for me, living in NYC, is the flight to CDG is too short to really enjoy it all. The food, the bed, the service.
For most, the purpose of air travel is not being there, but, getting there, yes?
By the looks of it, they also downsized the galley at door 2. It definitely looks tight-ish, but worth it for the new business class.
Seems like these changes is to also include Economy Comfort - which I suspect would be the in the same cabin as PE.
Sadly, this indeed does make PE less exclusive with the lost of the lavaratory dedicated to it.
It will be at the front of each standard eco section
I fly Air France in business several times per year. I always walk around the plane once or twice in-flight to stretch my legs.
While first and business are excellent — though admittedly business-class is HUGE in terms of the number of seats — economy is tight. It looks miserable. I couldn’t imagine flying economy on the 777.
After walking through economy, I’m always glad to retreat back behind the curtain and enjoy...
I fly Air France in business several times per year. I always walk around the plane once or twice in-flight to stretch my legs.
While first and business are excellent — though admittedly business-class is HUGE in terms of the number of seats — economy is tight. It looks miserable. I couldn’t imagine flying economy on the 777.
After walking through economy, I’m always glad to retreat back behind the curtain and enjoy the space and privacy of business-class.
And the number of lavatories per passenger seems crazy low.
Haha you're so cool for being better than those hundreds of economy peasants sitting in the back that you can't even imagine it.
I hope the Air France alcohol in the air is good enough for your taste buds unlike the swill they serve at 8am in an airport lounge!
One must be a desperate alcoholic to be quaffing any nations “Swill, at 8am”.
Agreed, you should've seen FNT crying about the how "For the last year or so, Air France also been putting out inferior wine in the morning. For example, no champagne."
LOL @Truth, looks like you've got a one way feud w/ FNT Delta Diamond
I've been in 3 of the 4 cabins on the old configuration. I rather prefer economy, since business is so big, the FAs struggle to serve everyone. As these are the prestige routes, the economy tickets can often be dirt cheap. Although last time, they served me Nick Feuillette in economy (shudder). I mean, if you need to make mimosas for breakfast, can't find where the help put the keys to the cellar, and this...
I've been in 3 of the 4 cabins on the old configuration. I rather prefer economy, since business is so big, the FAs struggle to serve everyone. As these are the prestige routes, the economy tickets can often be dirt cheap. Although last time, they served me Nick Feuillette in economy (shudder). I mean, if you need to make mimosas for breakfast, can't find where the help put the keys to the cellar, and this is the only champagne for sale at the gas station down the street, it's perfectly acceptable. But when I'm paying $250 for a transatlantic flight, I expect better.
@Bubba. Pfft! 58 seats in business class means the AF FAs are stretched? You should fly the 777 BA versions with 76 Club Suites. Poor folk work their butts off for 11 hours!
The 77Ws that are bound to be reconfigured will most likely be the 2009+ builds while the older frames are kept as is until they retire.
The 200ERs will probably not get retrofitted as they're 20+ years old and counting, so they'll easily be replaced by the A350.
It's also unfortunate that premium economy in the new configuration won't have their own toilet.
All B777-300ER with first class are being reconfigured.
Heard rumours that some of current 3 class B777-300ER might be updated with first class, growing first class equipped aircraft in the process.
Not sure if this is accurate but I think I read somewhere that they were just reconfiguring 1 3 class 77W so they could maintain the current LP fleet.
Those Frenchies will do anything to lure us Brits away from LHR, onto the Eurostar, then into the Paris La Train Bleu restaurant for lunch, followed by a La Premiere class international flight.
I have to be honest and admit that I am looking forward to the prospect.