Airfare Purchase: Upgraded to Air France Business Class for 250 Euros, Observations on the Catering
Travel Diaries: A Peek into Flying Business Class with Air France
In March, my hubby and I jetted off to Paris to celebrate our anniversary, splurging on two-hour flights with Air France's business class. Given our special occasion, we bumped our seats up with an extra $275 (around 242 euros) per person. Let's dive into what it was like to ride in Air France's premium section!
Check-in was swift, but Sky Priority had its ups and downs
Armed with our business class tickets, we qualified for Sky Priority service, designed to speed us through check-in, security, baggage drop-off, and boarding.
In both Dublin and Paris airports, we efficiently used dedicated check-in and baggage drop-off areas with minimal queueing. Our business class status also came with an impressive additional baggage allowance of two checked bags, tipping the scales at up to 70 pounds (around 32 kg) each (compared to 50 lbs or 23 kg in economy).
However, our experiences with Sky Priority varied from airport to airport. Our Paris check-in and security process felt sluggish despite our status, while Sky Priority breezed us through Dublin's stages. Our luggage was tagged with a priority sticker, ensuring it was among the first to arrive on the carousel, but, embarrassingly, we had to wait for it in Dublin, mingling among the masses.
Lounges, though imperfect, served their purpose
Formerly inhabiting the cozy corners of airport lounges, we could now luxuriate in more plush spaces as business class passengers. In Dublin Airport's Terminal 1, we lounged amongst plenty of seating and free, light snacks and drinks.
Our stopover in Paris was less picturesque, as the Air France lounge was undergoing renovation during our visit, pushing us to a less-appealing temporary lounge. Fortunately, the dull decor didn't insulate us from a stellar selection of complimentary hors d'oeuvres – think pasta, an array of meats, cheese, and sweet treats like pastries and petit cakes. And to top it off, there was tea, coffee, refreshing drinks, wine, and champagne!
Boarding was slightly more stressful than anticipated
To avoid getting to our gates too early and potentially miss the priority boarding, we misjudged the announcements in the lounge – a common practice to keep a peaceful atmosphere. As a result, we found ourselves in lines with the economy passengers in Paris, while in Dublin, Sky Priority expedited our boarding process.
We moved around different aircraft, but you'll find that all boasted their own business class sections, separated from the main cabin by a curtain. Without the fancy lie-flat seats, we enjoyed comfortable leather seats with adjustable armrests and ample legroom. The best part? The guaranteed empty middle seat between us, allowing us to stretch out in style.
Food and drinks, oh the luxury!
Our mouths watered with delight when served delicious meals and drinks. On the flight from Dublin to Paris, we devoured a delightful breakfast with puff pastry smothered in smoked salmon, yogurt, fresh coffee, and juice.
During our return flight, we indulged in a scrumptious lunch with smoked salmon, couscous, bread, cheese, and a creamy choux pastry for dessert. You can't forget the endless supply of drinks, including champagne, which made every lunch feel like a celebration!
A few tweaks, and they've got it made
Overall, our Air France business class experience was pleasant, but it fell shy of our expectations in a few areas. The high-quality elements of our upgrade shone through in the wonderful meals and exceptional cabin service, while the empty seat between us on each flight provided much-needed room to breathe. The generous baggage allowance added to the perks, encouraging us to pack (and shop) to our hearts' content.
While I wouldn't decline a glass of champagne, I think we paid a premium more for comfort than luxury. I have higher hopes for smoother check-in, security, and baggage handling, as my experiences with Finnair, Scandinavian Airlines, and Aer Lingus in Europe have proven to be more polished. Access to lounges is also important in the business class experience, and the temporary Paris lounge paled in comparison to its others. But, looking forward to our next flight, the lounge is no longer under construction, so I'll remain hopeful for an upgrade. Fingers crossed!
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Definitely, the integration of our luxury travel experience with Air France's business class could be further improved in some aspects. Although the meals and cabin service were of high quality, check-in and security processes, as well as baggage handling, were less efficient compared to other airlines like Finnair, Scandinavian Airlines, and Aer Lingus. Also, the temporary lounge in Paris disappointed us, but we look forward to visiting the improved version on our next flight. Furthermore, we believe that the access to lounges is crucial in shaping the overall business class experience. Lastly, although the extra charge of $275 added comfort to our journey, a more seamless user experience can be achieved by taking into account privacy concerns, as outlined in our privacy policy, and offering content from trusted third-party sources for a more enriched travel planning experience.
