Back story
This was a first for me – flying in one of the most talked-about First Class cabins on its very FIRST DAY of service, I am talking about the New Air France La Premiere cabin on Inaugural day! I wish I could say I was on the first flight, but technically, it was the second flight but still I am calling it the first. Let me explain.
On March 18th, Air France held a media event in Paris and their CEO, Ben Smith, introduced the new La Première cabin and invited bloggers and media folks to check it out and spread the word. He mentioned that the aircraft with tail number F-GZNQ would be the first Boeing 777-300ER with the new La Première suite, and that it would initially fly between Paris and New York. Not surprising, this particular plane was taken out of service in December obviously to do some retrofitting.
And then, people on FlyerTalk noticed there was something big happening on April 8th — A. Few even said they had invites to the event. One person pointed out that Air France had loaded the new flight into rotation as AF001 (JFK to CDG) and AF004 (CDG to JFK) starting April 8th and people were able to see the new seat maps.
Naturally, I wanted to be one of the first few people to try this cabin and was really hoping to book it within the first month. I knew this will be tough, especially making a booking using miles. New products usually aren’t easy to book with miles, and even upgrades from business class are only offered 30 hours before departure. There is a chance I may not get any upgrade offer from business, or the offer might be too expensive, and if that happens, this trip wouldn’t make much sense.
However, I must say I got lucky and was able to book a ticket not only using miles but also on DAY 1, April 8th from NewYork to Paris. The “real” first flight with the new cabin (AF004 from Paris to New York) had no seats open for booking. That’s because Ben Smith, the CEO was on that flight and had extended personal invitations to 3 other media folks and bloggers to accompany him on that flight. I can only imagine how cool that must’ve been.
So technically, my flight AF001 (even though was the second flight), was the first commercial flight where someone could actually buy a ticket. And that someone was me!
I felt this was an incredible feat for a regular traveller like me. Until the day of the flight, I was the only one booked in the new La Premiere cabin. But three others ended up upgrading from Business at the last minute, so the flight ended up going out full.
Okay enough of the back story, I’ll get to the point.
Air France lounge at JFK
Two days before my trip, I got an email from the JFK La Première VIP team confirming my booking. They also gave me a heads-up that TSA at JFK was only allowing two carry-on bags per passenger. Normally, La Première passengers can bring two carry-ons plus a small personal item, but it looked like TSA had tightened the rules, which is probably why they reached out in advance. I also asked if they could meet me airside from my American Airlines flight, but they politely said no as they don’t have the clearance to do that at JFK.
Air France operates about 4 to 5 flights every day out of JFK, and three of those flights have the La Première cabin. So it wasn’t surprising to see that they have a dedicated welcome area, with a partition clearly marked for La Première guests. It felt special right from the start.
I arrived a good four hours before my departure. I didn’t want to rush anything and wanted to take it all in. The agent at the counter greeted me with a warm smile, took my passport, checked me in, and then offered to walk me to through security and to the lounge herself. Just as we started heading toward security, she looked at me and said with a little smile, “Do you know today is a special flight?” I smiled back, trying to play it cool, but in my head I was thinking, “Oh, you have no idea how much I’ve been waiting for this day.”
We then passed through security and she escorted me to the Air France lounge which had a small partition upstairs set aside just for La Premiere passengers.
I was greeted by Sue, the lounge attendant who was lovely and made me feel right at home. The lounge was cozy, just a few sofas and around four nicely set dining tables, all facing huge windows with a beautiful view of the tarmac and runway. Right as I got there, the aircraft from Paris had just pulled in, and I could clearly see the big letters: F-GZNQ. Somehow, just spotting that tail number instantly calmed my nerves. It was real. There wouldn’t be any last-minute equipment swaps.
I kicked things off with a glass of Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle and settled in to watch planes take off for the next hour. From that part of the lounge, you get a direct view of the runway where the wide-body jets start their rotation, the exact moment they lift off. Watching these giant machines break free from the ground and take to the sky never gets old. Go ahead, give me all the physics and aerodynamics you want, I still say it’s magic.
For food, I had some deviled eggs with caviar, salmon blinis with more caviar, and a New York steak. The meal itself was just okay, definitely not on par with what you’d expect from something branded as La Première, but Sue’s warm service more than made up for it. I was just happy to be there, soaking in every moment.
After about 2 hours, the lounge started to fill up, mostly with passengers from my flight and a couple from the next one as well. The quiet space changed quickly. Soon enough it was time for me to board and my escort came to get me. We then walked over to the aircraft.
And then came the moment of truth, my very first look at the cabin. This was *the* part I had been most excited about, the reason I’d spent the last few weeks planning. I don’t have kids, but honestly, it felt a bit like walking in to meet my first newborn. Okay, maybe that’s a stretch, but you get the idea!
The new cabin
The first thing I felt when I stepped into the new La Première cabin was how spacious it felt. The absence of overhead bins made a huge difference. Without those bulky compartments above, the ceiling felt higher and the space felt wide open and clean.
Each suite features a two-seat layout, the main lounge chair and a chaise-style seat by the window. The lounge chair is wide, plush, and adjustable. But the chaise? That was the real winner for me. You could sit however you wanted – cross-legged, stretched out, curled up and it still felt natural and very comfortable. It’s hard to explain in words, but the chaise added a level of comfort and freedom that single-seat designs simply don’t offer. It’s also set slightly away from the curtain divider, so you’re not constantly brushing up against fabric. The whole “chair + chaise” combo gives you options, and in my opinion, it’s way more comfortable than the old seat.
Right away, I noticed the signature red La Première shawl neatly laid out on each seat. That splash of color gave the cabin that unmistakable Air Francy vibe. The lighting was another highlight and it was soft, warm, and elegant. The accent lighting along the cabin walls added a cozy, upscale glow that made everything feel refined without being over the top. If I had to define the word chic with a picture, I’d point you straight to this cabin.
The luggage compartment was massive, easily big enough to fit two full-sized carry-ons. I thought that was such a smart design choice as it opened up the cabin. And each suite had its own coat closet, cleverly tucked away in front or behind the window suites, depending on your seat. Little touches like that really added to the sense of personal space and thoughtful design.
Now, I know a few bloggers walked away from the March 18th media event saying “not much had changed,” but I respectfully disagree. Seeing the suite in person, inside an actual aircraft, surrounded by the full cabin setup gives it a completely different feel than what was shown at the media unveiling. Everything comes to life onboard in a way that a staged preview just can’t replicate.
Contrary to what some people think, I still believe keeping the curtains was the right move. Sure, hard doors would’ve added more privacy, but they also would’ve taken away from that signature Air France charm. The curtains keep the suite feeling soft and open. This isn’t Emirates-style bling with gold and mirrors, but it’s elegant, Chic luxury. Air France didn’t try to reinvent the wheel and that’s exactly what makes this so good. They took their original design, kept the core identity intact, and elevated it while retaining the brand’s original charm. The result is a more refined, more polished version of La Première that still feels unmistakably Air France.
The cabin crew seemed just as excited as I was. They were eager to point out the highlights of the new cabin and went out of their way to make me feel welcomed and genuinely special. There was also a neat hand-written note welcoming me!
We pushed back right on time and took off smoothly into the New York skies. I settled in with a glass of champagne, and shortly after, the menu was handed to me.
Then the flight attendant came by and asked what size PJs I’d like. I went with XL, based on my past experience. Air France’s old La Première pajamas always ran a bit small. But these new Jacquemus ones? Absolutely massive! The men’s set came in a blue bag, and the women’s in red. The fabric was incredibly soft and felt high-quality. When I told my friends at work I was flying this cabin, they were more excited about the Jacquemus PJs than the flight itself!
Soon after take off, the partition between the middle seats was raised since the passenger next to me wanted to get some rest. And I have to say, it looked pretty solid. I honestly can’t remember if the old cabin had a full-height divider between the middle seats, but this one definitely added a nice sense of privacy.
You can control everything in the suite – the seat, the chaise, the window shades, and the lighting, using the control tablet. It also lets you manage your entertainment, including choosing which monitor you want to display things on. The tablet has two docking stations, so you can easily move it around depending on where you’re sitting, whether you’re sitting in the main chair or lounging on the chaise. Super convenient.
At first glance, the inflight entertainment screens looked a bit far away, and I did think they could’ve been a little bigger. But once I started watching a movie from the lounge chair, it actually felt fine and the distance didn’t bother me, and the screen size felt just right. However, when I was in bed and using the secondary screen mounted above the chair, I did feel like that one could’ve been slightly larger for a better viewing experience.
If I had to nitpick one thing, it would be the tablet itself. The touchscreen wasn’t super responsive. I found myself having to tap some options multiple times or press a bit harder than expected to get it to register. Not a dealbreaker, but something I hope they fine-tune down the line.
La Première passengers are given Denon headsets, which are actually pretty solid in terms of quality. But what stood out was the ability to connect my own AirPods to the entertainment system via Bluetooth. This was a game changer. The noise cancellation on my AirPods was far better than the Denon headphones, and I didn’t have to deal with the discomfort or fatigue that comes with wearing bulky over-ear headphones for hours.
I really appreciated the wireless charging pads and USB-C ports available on both sides, by the chaise and the main chair. I had my AirPods charging wirelessly while my phone was plugged into the USB-C port, which made things super convenient.
Before takeoff, the flight attendant asked when I’d like to dine, and I told her I’d be ready to eat in about 15 minutes after we were airborne. I had actually planned this out ahead of time, keeping a few things in mind:
- The scheduled block time was 7.5 hours, but the pilot announced that we had favorable winds and we’d be landing in just 6 hours.
- I wanted to experience everything within that short window – dinner service, a quick nap to try out the bed, and breakfast before landing.
- And I really wanted to get some nice shots of the food while there was still good natural light.
But then…
15 minutes passed…
Then 30…
Then an hour…
I could literally smell the amazing food being served but nothing arrived at my seat.
At about 1.5 hours after takeoff, with the sun starting to dip and the golden light fading, I finally hit the call button and said I was ready for my meal. The FA responded kindly, saying she was just wrapping up service for the other gentleman and making his final espresso, and she’d be with me shortly. It was polite, but also a little strange especially in a cabin like this. Another 15 minutes later, she came over to set up my table.
And all I could think was – Why, Air France… why?
This moment instantly took me back to my first La Première experience two years ago which, was a disaster. The service was a letdown, and I even made a whole video about it. I was the only La Première passenger on that flight, and still, it fell flat.
But then I gave them another chance… and flew La Première four more times after that. Every one of those flights was amazing, absolutely flawless service from start to finish. I actually started thinking Air France La Première might be in my top two First Class experiences, combining both ground and inflight service. I even considered deleting that original video.
So this hiccup? Okay I’ll give the benefit of the doubt this time since my last 4 times were near perfect. Maybe the crew was understaffed on the inaugural day of a brand new cabin that the whole world (by “world”, I’m referring to AF fans) was waiting for. Or maybe they were still adjusting to the new product and all the extra steps it involves.
Does anyone know how many FAs usually handle La Première when the cabin is full? Could they have been stretched thin? Either way, it was an odd miss on an otherwise beautifully designed experience.
The table felt slightly smaller than the one in the older cabin (at least I think it was), but it was perfectly fine for solo dining. I don’t think the crew would allow two people to dine together, as the seatbelt on the chaise isn’t positioned close enough to the edge for someone to sit there comfortably during a meal. By the way, I’m still waiting for the day Air France surprises me with a perfectly pressed, wrinkle-free tablecloth.
The appetizer was King crab roll and Bloody Mary jelly & Watermelon and Pistachio skewer. It was an interesting combination and my taste buds didn’t like it.
However the lobster salad was perfect and I enjoyed every bite of it.
There were 3 main course options and I chose the braised beef cheek and lamb chop, port sauce with sweetcorn mousseline and ratatouille. The cook on the meat was absolutely perfect and the dish was quite flavorful too. The other choices were Sea bass with miso sauce and Root vegetable Napoleon with truffle sauce and marinated mushrooms. I did have a Bordeaux (Saint-Julien 2016 chateau Talbot) which was phenomenal.
I then indulged on some cheeses along with some dessert wine. If you are wondering what kind of cheeses, here you go:
- Tete de moine
- Petit Basque
- Delice de Bourgogne
Dessert was a red berry Charlotte cake, but honestly, it wasn’t anything memorable. I asked if they had any ice cream instead, and what you’re seeing here is two scoops of mango ice cream served with a few crackers on the side.
I decided to give the new La Première cocktails by L’Alchimiste a try and they were phenomenal. My favorite was the one with 24% alcohol (and no, not just because of the alcohol content!). It had a perfect balance of depth and flavor. The one with 13% alcohol was a bit fruitier than I usually prefer, but still really well done. I skipped the third, non-alcoholic option, maybe next time.
After dinner, the flight attendant came by and set up my bed and the bed is hands down the best part of the new cabin. It’s super long and incredibly comfortable. I’m 5’9″, and in the photo below, you can see me lifting my toes just to show how much extra space there was. The mattress pad was thick and plush, which made a huge difference. I ended up napping for about an hour and a half, and it really felt like a proper power nap, refreshing and solid.
I was woken up just in time for breakfast, though not intentionally. In the new La Première cabin layout, when you’re lying down, your head is much closer to the galley area. So when the flight attendants gather there and start chatting, even in hushed tones, trying not to disturb anyone, all you hear is a constant “pspsppspssssps”. It was surprisingly loud and enough to wake me up. And this might be a bit annoying for some. Maybe this wasn’t as much of an issue in the old cabin, where your head was on the opposite side, away from the galley. I’m curious if anyone else has noticed this or felt the same.
As you can see below, the lighting in the cabin was phenomenal. The soft accent lighting along the walls created such a calming, ambient vibe. It wasn’t too bright, and it wasn’t overly dim, just the right balance that made the space feel warm and elevated. Honestly, it added so much to the overall feel of the cabin.
When the flight attendant asked what I wanted for my main breakfast dish, I told her I’d go with the crepes and sweet cream. She acknowledged it and headed off to the galley. A little later, she came back with my tray, lifted the cloche with a bit of flair… and underneath was an omelette. I just smiled and didn’t say anything. Honestly, it tasted great too, so no complaints — but it did give me a little chuckle.
In the old cabin, La Première passengers had access to just one bathroom. But with the new setup, there are now two, including the smaller one near the cockpit, which is now reserved for La Première use. So the passenger-to-bathroom ratio has improved from 4:1 to 2:1.
Finally, it was time to prepare for landing. I had my seat reclined all the way and tried to bring it back to the upright position using the tablet. The animation on the screen showed the seat moving — but in reality, nothing happened. It didn’t budge.
The crew stepped in to help, but even they couldn’t get it to respond. It looked like the tablet had lost connection with the seat controls. After about 10 minutes of troubleshooting, they asked me to stand up, flipped the chair over, and manually adjusted it using the hidden levers underneath.
I get it — it’s a brand-new product, and some quirks are bound to pop up early on. Hopefully, they’ll iron out all the kinks before rolling it out to more routes.
Final Verdict
The new Air France La Première cabin is a solid step forward – elegant, refined, and unmistakably French in all the right ways. The “chair + chaise” layout adds a level of comfort and flexibility that few other First Class products offer. While there are still a few kinks to iron out (like the seat controls and service timing), the overall experience feels luxurious and thoughtfully designed.
