Throughout the winter and spring seasons, Air France has methodically rolled out its latest long-haul cabin enhancements. Starting with updates to Economy and Premium Economy, the transformation culminated in the unveiling of a state-of-the-art La Première suite. Recently, these newly designed seats were showcased at an exclusive event in New York, where we had the privilege to experience them firsthand and assess the refined offerings.
"Best and Beyond" remains the guiding mantra for Air France’s cabin innovation. The airline is unwavering in its ambition to secure a place among the world’s top three carriers for onboard product quality, with a particular focus on premium class experiences. This commitment goes beyond seat design, extending to world-class hospitality—13,000 staff members have completed advanced customer service and care training to elevate the passenger journey.
Air France has invested over one billion euros (approximately 860 million pounds) into its long-haul fleet transformation, reflecting a bold commitment to luxury and guest satisfaction.
The first aircraft featuring these next-generation seats entered service on the Paris-New York route, operated by a Boeing 777-200. The refreshed La Première debuted on the Paris-Singapore-Jakarta route, setting a new benchmark for first class travel.
First Class - La Première
We begin at the summit: the reimagined La Première suite. This intimate first class cabin features just four suites arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, a departure from the previous Boeing 777-300 configuration of eight suites over two rows. The new layout ensures every guest enjoys direct aisle access and maximum privacy.
Air France’s La Première Suite: A New Gold Standard
Each suite is equipped with a 24-inch high-definition touchscreen entertainment system—a significant leap from the former, smaller armrest-mounted screens. Thoughtful storage options abound, including a dedicated compartment for personal items, a shelf for reading materials, and a spacious table that folds out for in-suite dining. An additional compartment beneath the ottoman provides space for shoes or small bags.
Air France’s La Première Suite: A New Gold Standard
One of the most notable innovations is the elegant curtain enclosure that offers total seclusion at the passenger’s discretion—a first in commercial aviation. While the previous La Première seats were open to the cabin, this new concept allows for seamless transition between an open, airy suite and a completely private haven in moments.
Located above the seat is an ottoman that doubles as a companion seat, perfect for sharing a meal with a travel partner. Upholstery is expertly crafted from premium leather, with refined detailing on the cabin walls, curtains, headrest, and armrests, creating an ambiance of understated French elegance.
Air France’s La Première Suite: A New Gold Standard
Business Class - Affaires
Air France’s new Affaires business class seat is a game-changer, offering a fully lie-flat bed within a 1-2-1 configuration—an upgrade from the previous 2-3-2 arrangement. This ensures that every traveler enjoys unobstructed aisle access, while the innovative shell design enhances privacy and comfort. Whether traveling solo or with a companion, the seating options cater to both privacy seekers and those wishing to socialize. The design language is reminiscent of leading carriers like Cathay Pacific and Delta, but Air France’s model offers bespoke enhancements and advanced features unique to its fleet.
Air France Business Class: Modern French Flair
Seats are upholstered in rich navy leather, contrasted with crisp white surrounds and subtle red accents—a vibrant, contemporary palette that distinguishes it from the previous business class scheme.
Air France Business Class: Modern French Flair
Each suite boasts a 16-inch high-definition touchscreen, a substantial upgrade from the earlier 10.4-inch screens. Passengers can navigate the entertainment system via touchscreen or an intuitive remote. Power is never an issue, with both USB and universal electrical outlets at every seat. Headphones are stored conveniently in a personal compartment, which also provides room for small belongings, ensuring the workspace remains uncluttered throughout the flight.
Premium Economy
Air France first introduced its Premium Economy—also known as Premium Voyageur—in 2009, and the product has continued to evolve over the past decade. Over 3 million passengers have chosen this cabin, underscoring its popularity among savvy travelers seeking greater comfort without the business class price point.
The latest Premium Economy seat features a larger tray table, integrated universal power outlet, and USB charging port. Passengers benefit from approximately 40% more personal space compared to standard Economy. The seat design, similar to Aeroflot’s Comfort Class, employs a fixed shell structure: rather than reclining into the space of the passenger behind, the seat base slides forward. This ensures that everyone enjoys their personal space undisturbed, even when the seat is reclined—a thoughtful innovation appreciated during our test flights.
Air France Premium Economy: Enhanced Space and Technology
The upgraded entertainment system includes a 12-inch high-definition touchscreen (up from 10 inches previously) with a newly updated Panasonic platform. The system offers menus in 12 languages and access to over 1,000 hours of movies, TV, and music.
Air France Premium Economy: Enhanced Space and Technology
Since the launch of this product, 1,100 Premium Economy seats have been installed across 44 Boeing 777 aircraft, ensuring wide availability on the carrier’s key international routes.
Economy Class
Air France’s refreshed Economy Class introduces several notable improvements. Seats now offer an additional inch of legroom—achieved through a reengineered design and repositioned seat pocket—making long-haul journeys more comfortable. Tray tables are more spacious, and the adjustable headrests with foldable wings provide tailored neck support for restful sleep.
All Economy guests are provided with a plush fleece blanket, eye mask, and headphones, conveniently stored above the screen. Air France continues to offer complimentary champagne in Economy, maintaining a signature touch of French hospitality.
Air France Economy Class: Modernized for 2025
The in-flight entertainment system, powered by Panasonic, is uniform across all cabins, with a 9-inch high-definition touchscreen (previously 6–8 inches) and over 1,000 hours of curated content in 12 languages. The intuitive interface and responsive touch functionality set a new standard for the segment.
Each row in Economy is now equipped with both power and USB outlets—two power sockets are shared among every three seats—allowing travelers to keep devices charged throughout the flight.
Air France Economy Class: Modernized for 2025
Air France’s Next-Generation Entertainment System
What does Business Class think?
Across the board, Air France’s cabin refresh impresses—particularly with the advanced entertainment platform, which even includes a seat-to-seat messaging feature for in-flight communication. The user experience is consistent across all four classes, though menu layouts are streamlined in Economy and Premium Economy for ease of use. High-definition screens deliver crisp visuals, ensuring an engaging journey regardless of class.
During our hands-on evaluation, Economy Class legroom proved ample, with full recline of the seat in front causing no discomfort. The Premium Economy shell seat, which we have previously reviewed, offers an innovative sliding mechanism that avoids infringing on the space of fellow passengers. While the recline angle may be less than traditional models, the seat is generously wide and the adjustable cushion allows for a surprisingly restful position on long flights.
Of course, the standout experiences are found in the new Business and La Première cabins—true highlights of Air France’s 2025 long-haul product. We will delve further into the elevated dining, amenities, and service in dedicated reviews, including an exclusive look at the bespoke tableware debuting in the premium cabins.