Air France’s La Premiere is widely regarded as one of the best first class products in the world with luxurious food and drink plus very personal service both on the ground and in the air. Today, they have announced a new, refreshed seat. Air France seems to be investing a lot of money in new seats for both business and first class as well as improved onboard service as well as better food and drink. Personally, they are in my top 3 for airlines within Europe (the others being Finnair and Virgin Atlantic).
The launch of our new La Première experience is a major step in our strategic roadmap”, said Benjamin Smith, President of Air France and CEO of Air France-KLM Group. “We continue to invest in state-of-the-art products for our customers at every step of their journey, with the aim of positioning Air France at the highest level worldwide. With a new private ground experience at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and a completely redesigned, larger-than-ever La Première suite onboard, this new experience truly is the highest expression of travel. It continues to be elevated by our dedicated staff, who strive to make each journey an exceptional moment. Going forward, we will make this new product available on more aircraft to more destinations, a testament to our commitment to excellence”.
The new suite, developed over three years, features a unique and fully adaptable design. It consists of a seat and a chaise longue that transforms into a full bed. It certainly does look very stylish and comfortable. Still, I think some people may be a little disappointed that it looks so similar to the current seat and it is more evolution than revolution. However, I know many of us who love gazing out of the window will be delighted by the number of windows in each seat. It definitely gives window seat a whole new meaning! The combination of the chaise longue and the chair is also very different offering multiple ways to sit and lounge.
The seat adjusts to different phases of the flight: takeoff, landing, dining, or relaxation mode. A nearby console and table provide convenient space for working or dining.
Opposite the seat, the chaise longue offers a place to stretch out while seated and then transforms into into a fully flat bed measuring two meters long and 75 centimeters wide. The new suite offers a private space totaling nearly 3.5 square meters, providing 25% more space compared to the current cabin.
Air France has kept the previous curtain design with a thick, floor-to-ceiling curtain for complete privacy. The side suites boast five windows, an Air France exclusive feature. If you are travelling with someone, the suites in the center of the cabin have a full-height, electric sliding partition that can be activated at the touch of a button, so they are perfect for a solo traveller or a couple.
To create a sense of space, overhead compartments have been replaced with floor-level storage. This seems to be a new trend in first-class travel and is very welcome for most passengers who don’t want to struggle to take their bags in and out of the lockers. A large sliding drawer accommodates up to two carry-on suitcases, while a second drawer under the chaise longue provides space for footwear. I would be interested to know the dimension of these as I have seen some people try to take huge sized luggage into first and wonder what would happen in this situation if it does not fit? A personal compartment with a backlit mirror is available near the seat for personal belongings, along with an individual wardrobe. The amount of storage at the seat is very impressive and well thought out overall.
The five windows fill the space with natural brightness and feature electric translucent or blackout shades. The lighting system includes two lamps adorned with the signature Air France winged seahorse, with both wall-mounted and floor-standing fixtures. Subtle ambient lighting accompanies each phase of the flight.
As you’d expect, there is also the latest technology in the suite with two 32-inch 4K screens, offering over 1,500 hours of entertainment accessible from the seat, chaise longue, or bed. This is a clever addition so you can watch TV no matter how you use the seat. Noise-canceling headphones are provided, and passengers can also connect their personal headphones via Bluetooth. The suite is equipped with 110V/220V electrical outlets, USB-A and USB-C ports, wireless charging stations, and dedicated holders for smartphones or tablets. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the journey. Soon, Air France will introduce a new ultra-high-speed connectivity service across its fleet, replacing the current offering and providing an at-home experience in terms of speed. The rollout of this new Wi-Fi service across the entire Air France fleet will begin in the summer 2025 season. The service will be entirely free for Flying Blue and La Première customers.
The suite can be controlled via a wireless touchscreen tablet similar to the new business class that I reviewed here. Passengers can adjust the inclination of their seat, chaise longue, or bed, as well as the lighting and window shades. The tablet also allows easy navigation through all entertainment options.
Four suites will progressively be introduced on a selection of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The first aircraft to feature the new La Première cabin, named Épernay, will take off in the spring and fly to New York-JFK. Other destinations, including Los Angeles, Singapore, and Tokyo-Haneda, will be added during the summer 2025 season.
La Première is currently available from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Abidjan, Dubai, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Tokyo-Haneda and Washington DC.
1 comment
Is it just me, or does this look super underwhelming and look also like IKEA?
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