It’s a big day for Air France, Europe’s most premium airline. The airline has today unveiled its new first class product (marketed as La Premiere), as part of a project that has been over three years in the making.
For context, Air France’s current first class was introduced over a decade ago, in 2014, and continues to be very competitive to this day. Now the airline is launching a new cabin, designed in partnership with France’s STELIA Aerospace, that will no doubt lead the industry for the next decade. Let’s take a look at the details, and we even have an exclusive tour of the cabin from Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith (thanks… that’s far too kind!).
Air France’s new La Premiere first class revealed
Air France’s new La Premiere first class is a stunner. I’d say the product is remarkably simple, and evolutionary rather than revolutionary, in the best way possible. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the airline is evolving its existing first class product, and taking it to the next level.
Unlike other airlines, Air France isn’t installing walls or doors, and isn’t focused on gimmicks. Instead, Air France is maintaining the same concept it previously had, with each seat having curtains, and excelling in understated elegance.
At over three meters, the new first class is the longest first class seat in the market, with each seat spanning five aircraft windows (compared to the previous first class, which stretched four windows). Each first class seat spans 3.5 square meters, providing 25% more space compared to the current cabin.
The seat has a modular design, with a seat facing in one direction, and a chaise longue facing in the other direction. The idea is to create an experience that adapts to every stage of the flight, from sitting upright in order to dine, to relaxing on the chaise longue, to reclining into a fully flat bed. The chaise longue transforms into a bed that’s two meters long, and 75cm (30in) wide.
While curtains will provide separation from the aisle, the two center seats will have a full height electric sliding partition, to ensure complete privacy. Meanwhile for those traveling together, it’ll be possible to lower that, so that the flight can be enjoyed together.
Air France is also eliminating overhead bins in first class, instead replacing them with floor-level storage compartments, which can hold up to two suitcases, in addition to a drawer for shoes. An individual closet is also available, for hanging clothes.
This is much more convenient than the current setup, where the overhead bins are located behind the curtains in the window seats, which can be awkward when those in center seats want to access the overhead bins during the flight.
As far as tech goes, each seat has two 32″ 4K screens, with one being in each direction, so that guests can enjoy the entertainment from the seat, or from the chaise longue or bed. There’s also a wireless tablet, which controls all seat functions. The new cabin boasts bluetooth audio, as well as AC, USB-A, and USB-C outlets, plus wireless charging.
As before, Air France will continue to heavily use the winged seahorse logo, which is probably my single favorite design detail of any airline. I’m happy to see the extent to which Air France continues to lean into that.
First class passengers will also go from having access to one lavatory, to having access to two lavatories. Historically one of the lavatories at the front of the cabin has been reserved exclusively for pilots, but that will no longer be the case.
As I view it, the only real disappointment is the lack of individual air nozzles. I would have to imagine that this is something that Air France was looking at introducing, but the process of retrofitting those on planes is incredibly challenging, based on my understanding.
Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith gives tour of new suite
Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith is an absolute legend, who I have endless respect for. Not only is he incredibly competent at running airlines, from product strategy, to fleet planning, to labor relations, but the icing on the cake is that he’s a huge aviation geek.
Air France had a big media event today in Paris, for the new La Premiere launch. I was planning on attending, but unfortunately had to change my plans at the last minute (I usually don’t attend media events, but was going to make an exception for this, because I was mighty intrigued).
While I’m sad I couldn’t make it, I’m pinching myself, because Smith has sent along a video providing a tour of the new seat for OMAAT readers. This is actually super helpful in understanding the inspiration for the seat, plus all the features. For those who aren’t sure what to make of the renderings, I think an actual seat tour might leave more of an impression.
Air France’s new La Premiere first class rollout schedule
As before, Air France will continue to exclusively offer its La Premiere first class cabin on Boeing 777-300ERs. There will continue to be four La Premiere seats per aircraft, with one row of seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration. The product is expected to be rolled out on more 777s than in the past (since only a subfleet of aircraft has first class), but the airline hasn’t yet revealed how many additional planes will get the cabin.
The expectation is that this product will launch on the New York (JFK) route as of this spring, with the next destinations being Los Angeles (LAX), Singapore (SIN), and Tokyo (HND). It seems Air France has aggressive plans to retrofit existing aircraft, so this product should roll out fairly quickly.
The first aircraft with the new first class has the registration code F-GZNQ, and it’s a nine-year-old 777-300ER. The plane has been in Paris Orly (ORY) since December 8, 2024, as it’s pretty standard for the first reconfigured jet to take a little longer. What’s interesting is that this is one of the refreshed three cabin 777-300ERs, featuring the new business class, but not featuring first class.
What’s cool is that Air France plans to totally reconfigure its 777-300ERs with four cabins, so these planes will be getting a tip-to-tail makeover, including the introduction of the new business class.
Air France La Premiere is elevating commercial aviation
Air France’s new La Premiere first class is more or less exactly what I was expecting, and I’d consider that to be a good thing. While there are flashier products out there, this looks like an incredibly elegant cabin, and from tech to comfort, it feels like every single design detail was thought through.
Unlike other new first class seats (including on Emirates and Japan Airlines), this is a product that continues to be designed with couples in mind, since you can actually assign a center pair of seats together.
Ultimately what makes Air France La Premiere so special isn’t even the seat or the exclusivity, but rather how seamless the airline makes the entire travel journey. The ground service when flying in Air France La Premiere is more in line with private aviation than commercial aviation. There’s not another airline that even comes close when it comes to the quality of the ground service.
The Air France La Premiere ground experience in Paris is amazing. It starts with a chauffeur service, and then check-in formalities are handled very efficiently, you’re driven to the lounge, and then you’re driven to the plane. Arguably it’s even more seamless on arrival, as you’re literally driven through passport control (you don’t even get out of the car), and to the arrivals lounge, where the lovely La Premiere ground staff even retrieve your bags for you, before you’re whisked off via chauffeur service to your final destination.
Now, admittedly, Air France also charges dearly for the experience, and consistently has higher first class pricing than any other airline in the world. But that’s fair enough, between the effort the airline puts into the product, plus Paris being a pretty popular destination for affluent travelers. If the airline can command high fares, then more power to ’em.
Bottom line
Air France has unveiled its new La Premiere, and it looks stunning. The carrier’s new first class is the longest first class seat in the market, at over three meters in length. Not only does it feature a seat, but it also has a chaise longue, which can transform into a two meter bed.
What’s so special is that this incredible hard product complements an already very impressive soft product, which starts before you even arrive at the airport. There’s not another airline that puts so much effort into a seamless first class experience. Well done, Air France!
What do you make of the new Air France La Premiere first class?
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