Seats in business class vary from airline to airline and can even have major differences on board the same aircraft — from one row and position to another.
Air France has several different business-class configurations, but the latest-generation cabin is the one you’ll want on your radar.
This version of business class offers direct aisle access from every seat, power adjustable lumbar support, a sliding door for increased privacy (essentially converting the seat into a suite), and all of the most up-to-date tech: a 17.3-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth connection, and a wireless charger.
However, it can get even better if you know exactly which seat to select. The secret? Pick a business-class bulkhead seat — that is, those immediately behind the walls that separate sections of the plane — as they have almost unlimited personal space for legs and feet.
What Makes the Bulkhead Seats so Good
Typically, manufacturers design lie-flat business-class seats for maximum efficiency.
That usually means the lower portion of your body (like calves and feet) is positioned under the seat of the person in front of you. While this configuration is efficient, it’s not always the most comfortable as there isn’t much space for your legs to move around.
However, in the two bulkhead sections of Air France’s new business cabin — exactly eight seats out of a total 48 — the airline offers an ottoman with foot and leg space as wide as the suite pod itself. With this extra space, travelers can position their bodies in any direction without any intrusions. It’s perfect for side sleepers and those who toss and turn while in bed.
Some bulkhead seats on Air France’s newest cabins, like mine (1A on the A350), even feature a full-length vanity and closet for hanging a jacket.
How to Determine If Your Plane Has This Seat
Air France is in the process of reconfiguring its older aircraft and introducing this seat on all newly delivered planes. In fact, many routes between the U.S. and Paris (and Papeete) are flown with this latest-generation business class.
The key to determining if your Air France plane has the airline’s latest and greatest product is by looking at a seat map when booking (or managing an existing reservation on Air France’s website). If there are exactly 12 rows of business on either a Boeing 777-300ER or Airbus A350-900… At the very least, that means every seat will have a privacy door, wireless charging, and more.
The Air France bulkhead, however, is the pinnacle of business-class luxury. Here’s a rundown of exactly which seat to pick. On updated Boeing 777-300ERs, the exceptionally spacious seats are in rows one and nine (1A, 1D, 1H, 1L, 9A, 9D, 9H, and 9L). On newly delivered Airbus A350-900s, these seats are in rows one and 10 (1A, 1D, 1H, 1L, 10A, 10D, 10H, and 10L).
In the coming months, Air France will also unveil a refreshed La Première, its first-class product. This new version will have the longest suites in the world, complete with three individual (and separate) areas: a seat, a sofa, and a fully flat bed.
