My Air France Business Class Review. Is It Worth It?

Update April 2025: I’ve updated this review with the latest changes and new perks Air France has introduced in late 2024/early 2025. 

 

If you’ve ever flown Air France economy, you already know it’s decent compared to other airlines—okayish quality, nothing extraordinary. So, you might be wondering: is it worth upgrading to Air France Business Class for a long-haul flight?

Well, I’ve upgraded a few times, so you don’t have to (though, let’s be honest, I just wanted that lavish experience and I’m hiding behind the excuse of needing to inform my readers). I’ve experienced some of the longest flights any airline offers—from Paris to Santiago de Chile (14 hours) and from Lima to Paris (12 hours). Here’s my review of their newest Business Class service on the 777-300. If you know me, you know I set the bar high in all my travel ventures. My taste for comfort is unapologetically refined. Whether I’m booking a hotel room, exploring a new restaurant, or, in this case, evaluating airline travel, the value for money has to be on point.
 

So, keep your seatbelts fastened and your seats in the upright position as I walk you through the Air France Business Class experience. I’ll uncover the highlights and peculiarities that make this upgrade so tempting.

 

My overall ratings for Air France Business Class:

• Value for money: 10/10
• Compared to economy class: 12/10
• Food: 9/10
• In-flight entertainment: 7/10
• Boarding: 7/10
• Service: 8/10
• Seat: 10/10
• Overall: 90%

A successful trip starts with choosing the right airline (here in Patagonia, Chile)

 

Key takeaways from my Air France Business Class experience (updated 2025)

• Seat comfort: Fully flat beds, 2 m long (6'6"), and actually sleepable—my 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep says it all.

• Price: Upgrades cost me USD 300–500. That’s a steal for the comfort and sanity it buys on long-haul flights.

• Food & drink: Great dinner by Michelin-starred chefs, proper breakfast, and snacks available all night. 

• Entertainment: Big 17” screen, tons of movie choices. As of 2025, some planes now have Starlink Wi-Fi—actual usable internet.

• New features: Select aircraft now have privacy suites with sliding doors, wireless charging, and Bluetooth for the screen.

• Lounge: The CDG Business Lounge got a facelift—more seating, restaurant-style meals, and yes, a spa. Finally.

• Verdict: If you can afford it, book it. Business Class on Air France is worth every dollar and easily ruins Economy forever.

 

1. Is Air France Business Class worth it?

Upgrading to Air France Business Class cost me about USD 500 on the flight from Paris to Santiago, which is not great, but not terrible either.

Compared to other airlines, Air France is definitely trying to stay competitive, at least in pricing. The second flight upgrade (Lima to Paris) cost me about USD 300, which I consider a superb deal for Business Class. Let me tell you upfront, after 300+ flights, the experience of flying is kind of annoying for me, so getting through more than 10 hours is more of a survival skill than anything else. I've even written a long-haul flight survival guide if you feel like you’re in the same boat, err, plane.

I would say flying Air France Business Class is more than worth your money, as it’s at least double the experience for not double the money.

In this review, I’ll give you my candid opinion on all the questions you might have: price, seats, entertainment, boarding, food, service, lounge quality, and more.

So, let’s get down to business. I’ll spoil it right away: Air France is one of my favorite airlines, if not the absolute favorite.
 

Ladies and gentlemen, we're ready for takeoff, make sure your seat belts are fastened, no need for emergency exits from this article!

 

2. Value for money

That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Luckily for us, it’s not literally a million dollars, but is it good value for money? Honestly, it’s some of the best value you’ll find in Business Class. Not overpriced, just way better than Economy at a not-insane premium.

I usually justify it to myself by skipping one night in a hotel, which is about the price of the upgrade (speaking of which, I always, always use booking.com to book my rooms). I strongly suggest upgrading to business class for night flights. You might wonder why you’d want to sleep through an expensive experience, but that’s exactly the point. With Business Class, you can have a great dinner onboard, sleep through the night, and then enjoy a perfect first day of vacation with no jet lag. It’s logic, plain and simple!

If you’re especially frugal, you can break it down to cost per hour—on a 12-hour flight, it’s about USD 25 per hour, which is cheaper than many other less worthwhile things... like doctors.

I'm telling you, on a price-performance basis, business class on Air France is worth it
 

The only downside? Once you go Business, you’ll never go back. Usually, my experience with Air France Business Class is that the price doesn’t fluctuate much, so you can buy your ticket almost any time before the flight. But remember, there’s always the risk of running into a full cabin if you wait too long, or you can try to buy Economy and hope for a cheap upgrade offer via email like I did from Lima—but then you might end up stuck in Economy.

 

3. Boarding and lounge

After my upgrade and a missed flight in Paris, I had to wait 13 hours for my flight to Santiago. Honestly, I was very happy to have access to the Air France Business Lounge, which you can only enter with a Business Class ticket or by purchasing access. Trust me, I made full use of the lounge.

The lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle is two floors and can comfortably accommodate around 200 people. The seating is very comfortable, though the air conditioning was set to near-freezing levels. There are power outlets at almost every seat, which is a big plus. The buffet offers a nice selection, from standard non-alcoholic beverages to champagne (good quality, of course, being in France). The food includes a decent cold buffet, reasonably warm dishes, and superb cheese platters.

 

Once you survive the endless hours spent sitting on a plane, you can reward yourself with endless hours driving through the Chilean desert

 

Epic new Air France lounge at CDG 

A sneak peak at the new business class lounge at CDG (airfrance.com)

 

Good news, Air France has upgraded the lounge even more, particularly in Terminal 2E, Hall K—which is probably where you’ll end up if you’re flying long-haul Business. The lounge now spans 3 floors! They added even more seating for a total of 638 passengers, opened up a proper restaurant-style dining area, included workspaces, and even threw in a spa zone offering complimentary facial treatments. 

If I ever get delayed 13 hours in Paris again, I might actually choose to suffer through it. As long as they keep the cheese coming and the facialists don’t judge my jetlag face, I’m good.
 

Boarding an Air France Business Class flight

As for boarding, it’s pretty standard for any Business Class. You board first, but we didn’t have a separate door for Business Class, which is sometimes the norm with other airlines. You’re greeted with a welcome drink, either champagne or fresh orange juice. It’s nice, but nothing special. After spending your hard-earned money to be elevated above other classes, you might expect something more, right? After landing, you’re the first to leave the plane, and your luggage is prioritized—but that’s standard elsewhere, so no extra points for that. There might be a minus if they didn’t provide it, though.

 

4. Dining and breakfast

In Air France Business Class, you have a choice of several meals, and I always enjoy them
 

I was looking forward to the dining experience, as Air France has a neatly done website that literally sells you their dining experience.

Years ago, it was my first time flying Business Class. After takeoff, about 30–45 minutes into the flight, the flight attendants handed out printed menus. You can choose between two options—we had vegetarian and salmon. I chose the salmon. Of course, you’re served first and get porcelain plates and real cutlery, which is the norm.

The meal is served course by course, starting with a salad, followed by salmon with gratinated potatoes and more salad, and ending with crème brûlée and a cheese platter. The cheese platter is the absolute highlight for me—five different cheeses that lasted me about two hours. There’s a good selection of wines and other alcoholic beverages, though I can’t really attest to that as I’m not much into alcohol these days.

TDinner easily beats Economy. Air France Premium Economy comes close, but Business still wins on presentation and cheese.

After sleeping, we were served breakfast about two hours before landing. It included an egg omelet and some granola, nicely done with fresh spinach. The breakfast was decent, much better than Economy, which usually has the weakest meals.

I'm a big fan of good food even off the plane
 

A highlight for me was the sandwiches and panini available throughout the flight. On a 12–14-hour flight, you’ll certainly get hungry, so big plus points to Air France for that.

 

5. In-flight entertainment

The screen in front of you is a good size, with plenty of options for setting it up whether you’re sitting or lying down. The screen is 17.3 inches (about 45 cm), which is more than sufficient from a 1-meter distance.

Admit it—the first thing you do after getting seated is check the movies they have. So, I did my routine and, honestly, Air France consistently has some of the best in-flight options, with hundreds of new movies to choose from. Screens are sharp and responsive, especially on newer planes—check your aircraft before booking.

We flew twice on Air France’s most modern plane, the Boeing 777-300—it’s funny, considering Airbus is a French company, but I suppose it has something to do with Air France’s sister company, KLM, which I honestly hate. It’s funny how one company can do the best while the other is the worst.

But back to entertainment—Air France has one of the best selections and the most modern screens, regardless of the class. You have the same options in Business and Economy, so well done, Air France. Anyway, after I got seated, I spent the first 15 minutes of the flight planning which movies to watch and in which sequence... what a fruitless effort, since I slept almost non-stop beginning about 20 minutes after take-off, which brings us to seating.

Air France Business Class offers quality entertainment on board

 

Update for 2025: Starlink wifi free for Business Class passengers

Starting in 2025, Air France is rolling out Starlink wifi across its long-haul fleet. Yes, Elon Musk’s satellite army is finally doing something useful—like letting you stream, work, or doomscroll at 30,000 feet. The connection is fast, free for Business Class passengers, and way more reliable than the outdated, overpriced crap most airlines still pretend is wifi.

Of course, the rollout is happening in phases, so whether you actually get it depends on which aircraft you’re lucky—or unlucky—enough to board. Check ahead if Wi-Fi matters to you.

 

6. Seats

Welcome to my new house for the next few hours @ Air France Business class

 

The seats in Business Class are arranged 1-2-1. When flying as a couple, you can opt for the middle seats, where you can mechanically lower the separator wall and enjoy your little couple cocoon.

After getting seated, you receive the standard amenity kit—earphones (which are annoying as they are big, awkward, and heavy), socks, a face mask, and other necessities. The blanket is superb and much larger than the ones you get in Economy, and the pillow is really soft and nice. But also, yuck! They reuse the sheeting, but hey, we all sleep in hotels, so...

The seat itself is really comfy, big, and fully reclines into a 2-meter (6.5 ft) bed with lumbar support (a big plus for an old cripple like me). Everything is electronic, and you can really distance yourself from other passengers. 

I slept for 10 hours straight, which very rarely happens to me in a normal bed, let alone on a plane. On Air France Business Class, it happened to me on both occasions!

 

New Air France business class seats 2025

Now, let’s talk about what you might get if you book this flight in 2025. Air France has started rolling out new Business Class seats on some of their Boeing 777-300ERs—complete with sliding doors, wireless charging pads, and upgraded 4K entertainment screens. 

Sounds fancy, right? Don’t get too excited just yet. As of early 2025, only a portion of their fleet has been updated, and unfortunately, the planes flying my routes (Paris–Santiago and Lima–Paris) don’t seem to have made the club.  

That said, even without the doors, Air France still smashes it in the sleep department. It’s god-tier sleep. I still remind myself of it every night before bed. I’ve probably never woken up so well-rested and pain-free in my life. So, 10/10 is not enough.

For those of you who like numbers, their seating is 70 cm wide (27 inches for Americans).

You're no longer wondering how I got 10 hours of sleep out of a 12-hour flight? These Air France business class seats worked perfectly fine.

 

7. Air France Business Class—Quality of service

I got a fantastic flight attendant, but my girlfriend wasn’t as lucky

Alright, here’s the big question and one of the most important factors for the money: Is the service worth it? The short answer is mostly yes. Air France’s service is usually of very good quality, even in Economy, which is rare these days. It’s only a short step up in Business Class.

Most of the good things are due to established processes. The flight attendants were really attentive, but none of them went the extra mile. I’d say 75% of the service was really good. However, on the flight from Lima to Paris, I had a good attendant taking care of me, but my girlfriend had a terrible one who frequently forgot her orders. She was given a choice of dishes, but in the end, the attendant told her they had run out—in Business Class, really?

But overall, everything was just fine. Everything was on time, and mainly you want to go into Business for the seats, boarding priority, and service. I honestly think Air France did their best in training them.

Excellent service of Air France Business Class

 

FAQ 1: Can you sleep in Air France business class?

Yes—if you value comfort and don’t enjoy arriving half-dead, Business Class is worth every cent on long-haul flights. The seats fully recline into a flat bed, stretching out to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) long, providing plenty of space. With high-quality blankets, a soft pillow, and a cocoon-like setup (great for couples), it's practically designed for rest. In fact, I slept for 10 hours straight, which almost never happens to me in a normal bed, let alone on a plane. 

FAQ 2: Can business class passengers use Air France Lounge?

 Yes. With a Business Class ticket, you get lounge access at CDG and other major airports. The CDG lounge at Terminal 2E Hall K was recently upgraded—more space, better food, a Clarins spa. It’s finally more than just a waiting room with free drinks.

FAQ 3: What are the seats like in business class on Air France?

 Air France Business Class seats are spacious, lie-flat, and designed for actual rest—not just fancier sitting. They’re set up in a 1-2-1 configuration, so every passenger gets direct aisle access (no awkward climbing over strangers at 3 a.m.). The seats are 70 cm wide (27.5 inches) and recline into a 2-meter-long (6'6") flat bed, with electronic controls, lumbar support, and plenty of personal space.

Each seat comes with a soft pillow, a large blanket, noise-canceling headphones, and a decent amenity kit. If you're flying with a partner, the middle seats allow you to lower the divider for a little shared cocoon.

As of 2025, select Boeing 777-300ERs and A350s now feature upgraded suites with sliding privacy doors, wireless charging, and Bluetooth screen pairing. But it’s not available on all aircraft—check the seat map or aircraft model before booking if that matters to you.

FAQ 4: Does it make sense to fly business class?

Yes, flying Business Class makes a lot of sense, especially if you value comfort and have a long-haul flight ahead of you. It’s not just about the better food and bigger seats; it’s about arriving at your destination well-rested and ready to start your trip. The upgrade cost is often reasonable, and when you break it down to a per-hour cost, it’s a bargain compared to many other expenses. Plus, once you experience the comfort and service of Business Class, it’s hard to go back to Economy.

FAQ 5: What is the downsides of Air France Business Class?

The main downside? Once you try it, you’ll hate Economy forever. And while most flights are excellent, consistency in service can vary a bit depending on the crew—and whether you get the old seats or the newer suite version. 

For a full comparison of all plane classes and to see which one suits you best, check out my article explaining all plane classes.

 

If you want to arrive at your dream destination (Machu Picchu for example) rested and happy, fly business class 

 

 

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a booking through one of my links, I may earn a small commission—at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!​