Here is Air France’s new all-suite business class with doors
“Comfort and elegance” are the touchstones of the SkyTeam member’s Boeing 777 suites.
Air France’s new Boeing 777 flatbed business class embraces all the mod cons. Sliding privacy doors? Check. WiFi? Check. Bluetooth audio streaming from the large-screen HD monitor to your own headphones? Check.
Following its debut in September 2022 on flights between Paris and New York, a rapid rollout will see 48 of these fresh suites fitted to all 12 Air France Boeing 777s by late 2023.
And while most obviously a doored version of the well-established Cirrus platform already featuring on Air France’s Boeing 777s and Boeing 787s – which our review reported as being spacious, with plenty of privacy – the design of the paired middle seats has been finessed “to create a greater sense of privacy for passengers travelling together” – although the seats themselves are still as far apart as can be.
While the suites at the front of the business class cabin boast extra space “for additional comfort”, Air France has resisted treating this front row as an upgraded ‘business plus’ product with a higher price tag to match.
Each business class suite is fronted by a wide 17.3” 4K HD anti-glare screen, and you can choose between donning the supplied noise-reducing headset or beaming the audio via Bluetooth to your own noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds.
There’s also an over-sized storage nook – decorated by a backlit winged seahorse – above the wide side-shelf.
When sleep beckons, the seat transform into a 2-metre fully flat bed dressed with a microfibre pillow and blanket, while the ‘do not disturb’ indicator informs the cabin crew that your slumber should go uninterrupted.
The overall look of cabin is rather stark, with Air France pairing the white-finished suites with navy blue seats and aisle panelling, although the parquet pattern on the carpet adds a little French flair.
“Wool, brushed aluminium (and) full-grain French leather are the noble, soft and natural materials chosen by Air France for the manufacture of its seats,” the airline states.
Air France is also progressively introducing the option for business class customers to pre-select their main meal prior to departure, and says that by the end of 2022, on all flights departing from Paris “the company is committed to offering in all its cabins meat, dairy products and eggs of French origin, fish from sustainable fisheries (and) the systematic choice of a vegetarian dish and meals that are fully prepared in France.”
Passengers will also receive an amenity kit featuring Clarins cosmetics, and made of 93% recycled material with minimal use of plastic packaging – for example, the noise-deadening earplugs are wrapped in “kraft paper” – while the toothbrush and pen are made from cornstarch.
These refurbished Boeing 777s will also see new premium economy and economy seats, with the former being the same recliner as on the Air France Airbus A350 fleet "with 96cm of legroom”, a wider setback and a 124-degree recline.
Other creature comforts include a 13.3” HD screen with USB-A and USB-C power outlets and a “noise-reducing headset.”
As in business class, premium economy and economy travellers can also use Bluetooth streaming from the inflight entertainment system to their own headphones.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1207
Maybe it is the photos, but those seats look like they are surrounded with the cheapest white plastic. When you see what other airlines have done with their surfaces these look cheap, not classy at all.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Feb 2015
Total posts 124
Wow that cabin looks sterile, no character about it at all….. and i dislike sliding doors on such small seats its like a coffin
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 333
This looks like horrible Cathay Business with a door. It also looks like Ammerican Tanscontinental Flagship First on the A321T sans door. This obsession with doors caters to the new World Megapowers citizens' travel. Try Swiss First and Etihad First and you know who closes the doors, as do the cabin crew. Then fly egalitarian Cathay Lufthansa or Qatar First (or even Thai First A380 and 744) and privacy screens are more than enough No one is that precious........
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 333
Forgot to add that stark white with black seats is harsh on not only the eyes, but the psyche. And it wil lage very badly, as when you have to schlepp on Cathay business to Australia after Cathay First from JFK -these seats break down a few months into service not only mechanically, but also aesthetically
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Feb 2018
Total posts 2
Not a fan. Looks like a dentists surgery.
18 Sep 2015
Total posts 139
Reminds me of a dentist's chair. All that white plastic must need a lot of cleaning!
China Airlines - Dynasty Flyer
22 Sep 2012
Total posts 73
I personally prefer the earthy wholesome colours in the business class cabin. I think doors are considered the next best thing but I am not sold on it yet.
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