Yesterday, Air France unveiled its new La Premiere first class cabin. The new suite is a gorgeous evolution of an already highly regarded product. Best of all, this is part of a larger refresh of all four-cabin Boeing 777-300ERs, as they’re also getting new business class seats.
While it wasn’t explicitly mentioned in the new La Premiere announcement, in this post I want to focus on another minor but positive change that Air France is making to the first class experience. It’s clear that every aspect of the passenger experience is being considered.
Air France La Premiere will offer two lavatories
Air France’s La Premiere first class consists of a single row of four seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration (this applies to both the old and new configuration). As it currently stands, first class passengers have access to one first class lavatory. That’s not bad, but of course it could be better, since there will be times before landing where you may have to wait to use the bathroom.
So there’s an update there — as of the middle of April 2025, La Premiere first class passengers will have access to two lavatories. You’re probably wondering how that’s possible.
Well, there are actually two lavatories at the front of the 777-300ER. However, up until now, one of the lavatories has been reserved for the exclusive use of the pilots. It’s located behind a curtain right by the flight deck, so it’s not a lavatory passengers have access to, or would even see. That will be changing, and that lavatory will also be open to first class passengers.
Use of both lavatories will be available on all 777s with La Premiere, whether reconfigured or not. Two lavatories for four first class passengers is an industry leading ratio, the best you’ll find on any airline in first class (Etihad’s The Residence has a private bathroom, but that’s a product beyond first class).
I love Air France’s focus on the details
In isolation, first class passengers having access to an extra lavatory might not sound like a big deal. But bigger picture, I think it gets at the carrier’s attention to detail, especially as it continues its premiumization.
Presumably this change had to be negotiated with pilots, and I’m happy to see that Air France management viewed this as worth negotiating for, and that it could get pilots onboard with the bigger vision for the airline. Air France is really trying to turn La Premiere into a first class product that’s in a league of its own, more competing with private aviation than commercial aviation (and along those lines, it’s also priced at the very top of the market).
That’s not done by having the most expensive champagne or unlimited caviar, but rather it’s done by creating the most seamless, end-to-end journey, possible. It’ll be interesting to see what other changes there are to the La Premiere experience over time…
Bottom line
Air France is elevating its La Premiere first class experience, beyond just introducing a new cabin. The airline is also planning some other changes, including offering passengers access to two lavatories, rather than one. This is a minor but positive development that I’m sure La Premiere regulars will appreciate.
What do you make of these Air France La Premiere updates?
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