Air France is already by far Europe’s most premium global airline, and the airline just keeps improving. Air France’s long haul business class is excellent, among the best out there, though I’ve long said that the biggest area for improvement is with the bedding.
This spring, the airline announced an exciting update, with plans to roll out mattress pads in business class. The exact timeline for the rollout wasn’t very firm at the time, but there’s now a positive update.
In this post:
Air France partners with Sofitel on mattress pads
Air France and Sofitel have launched a partnership, to introduce mattress pads in long haul business class. The mattress pad has been created in partnership with Sofitel MY BED, which is Sofitel’s top-of-the-line bedding collection. I appreciate Air France’s focus on showcasing French products and brands, so the partnership with Accor’s luxury hotel brand makes a lot of sense.
As Air France describes it, this mattress pad “has been carefully crafted and designed to make passengers feel like they’re floating on a cloud,” and “it can be rolled out on the seat for an extra layer of comfort, creating a true cocoon of well-being that offers the ideal conditions for relaxation from takeoff to landing, and in any seat position.”
The mattress pad will be placed at business class seats before boarding, alongside a pillow, blanket, and slippers. Then when passengers are ready to use the mattress pads, they can simply slide them over the seat headrest, and smooth it down against the backrest and seat cushion. The mattress pad adapts to all of Air France’s long haul business class seat types, including on the Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A330, and Airbus A350.
Here’s how Fabien Pelous, Air France’s SVP of Customer Experience, describes this development:
“We are delighted to join forces with the expertise of Sofitel MY BED, an exceptional partner, to continue making Business cabin travel a true haven of well-being in the sky. The introduction of a new mattress pad will further enhance the comfort offered on board, ensuring even more restful nights before arrival at destination, as well as greater relaxation during daytime flights.”
Mattress pads are now available on all long haul flights
Initially Air France had announced plans to progressively roll out mattress pads in business class between July 2025 and the end of the year. The rollout seemed to be quite slow at first, with more of a test phase on select routes for a few months.
There’s now an exciting update, as these mattress pads are now available in long haul business class on all flights to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), regardless of the departure flight or duration.
I really appreciate the consistency with which Air France is rolling out these mattress pads, as they aren’t just available on ultra long haul flights. There aren’t any other European carriers that offer both slippers and a mattress pad on all long haul flights, so I think that’s pretty great.
Bottom line
As its latest passenger experience improvement, Air France has introduced mattress pads in business class on long haul flights. Air France has partnered with Sofitel on this project, with the mattress pads being inspired by Sofitel’s MY BED concept. You can now expect to find these mattress pads on all long haul flights, whether daytime or overnight.
What do you make of Air France rolling out business class mattress pads?
This is a terrific advertising / promotion. It is just a branded mattress pad. Of course, the hotel brand sees it as an opportunity to promote themselves within Air France, but none of the mattress pads on planes are very exciting.
Nice. Sofitel bedding is amazing, I hope it is equal quality on AF. I'd put it up there with higher end brands like Four Seasons. It's so good, I have purchased Sofitel bedding for my home.
I was able to experience the new mattress pad on a flight last Friday night from CDG to JFK. The 8:30pm departure meant I wanted to get a little sleep enroute to New York, and the mattress pad definitely helped. It was super-soft and much-appreciated.
I flew with Air France in economy last year and it was an incredible experience. Loved the seat, the entertainment but especially the crew. Expectant service, great attitude and fun to chat with. I’ll pay a bit more if I have to next I travel to Europe to go with AF again!
This is the sort of comfort and style one might have expected from Swiss - but it wouldn't work given the Allegris variety-pack of business class seating, and Lufthansa head office wouldn't allow such free thinking anyway. Time for Swiss to go its own way. Bravo Air France.
Now can AF work on their amenity kit bags?
I know, I know, it's minor compared to the rest of the experience, but that bag does not fit the rest of the product IMO.
I concur, AF business class bags are très mid
+1
I like the pouch they use but they've been wedded to Clarins for far too long and their toothpaste is downright horrible.
While they're not super exciting and get old after collecting several, the slim profile is actually one I use for future travel since they take little space and lie very flat.
Wow. And rolled out in record time too.
Take note, LH... haha
This is a terrific enhancement. Whilst I've never flown AF in business, when I've passed through the biz cabins they really look very nice, and this just ups AF's game.
Well done, AF, well done indeed.