Air France adds (paid) first class airport suite in Paris

Air France is well known for its first class La Premiere, which is among the best first class products in the world. In particular, the carrier’s experience at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the best first-class ground experience in the world. The airline is now taking it to the next level, albeit at a cost.

New Air France La Premiere check-in hall

Let’s start with the service, which is open to all first class passengers. By July 2024, a new check-in hall for La Premiere customers will open at Paris Charles de Gaulle. This is intended as the first step in a personal journey through the airport.

Here, an Air France employee will manage all departure-related procedures, including check-in and assistance with luggage. This space will have 15 seats and two private lounges (these are paid for, more below).

It will also function as an arrivals hall for La Premiere customers with the option of post-flight relaxation, use of showers and check-in baggage collection. This is amazing considering Air France closed their arrivals lounge a few years ago.

After completing the check-in formalities, each guest will be escorted to La Premiere Lounge through a private passage with a dedicated security checkpoint.

For what it’s worth, Air France already has a La Premiere lounge, but this new facility looks much sleeker, will have showers (for arriving passengers) and will also have a dedicated security checkpoint. This represents a significant improvement over the current setup.

New Air France La Premiere Airport Suite

Now it gets really interesting. Air France already has its excellent La Premiere Lounge and not much is changing there. However, from July 2024 there will be three new private suites adjacent to the lounge to which La Premiere passengers can purchase access. Let’s cut costs up front – they will be offered as an option to La Premiere customers from €800.

So what can travelers expect from these private suites? Each will be about 500 square feet (45 square meters). Each apartment will have a spacious living area, a bedroom with a double bed, a private bathroom and an outdoor terrace.

Each passenger booked in a suite will also have a dedicated butler to look after the guest throughout the experience. Guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy an Alain Ducasse meal or a Sisley spa treatment.

Each of the three suites will have its own distinct character with “iconic examples of French design”, including a Charlotte Perriand desk, a Ribbon armchair by Pierre Paulin and a Privé sofa by Philippe Starck.

Those who book this private experience will also receive one of the private suites upon check-in.

This takes commercial aviation to the next level

While I would argue that Air France already offers the best first-class ground experience in the world, these latest updates really kind of mix private and commercial aviation.

Some lounges now have many of the individual features found in the new Air France airport suites, such as a terrace, bedrooms or showers. However, to be able to pre-book all of this just for yourself, to be able to skip the airport experience entirely, is something no other airline offers at this level.

I mean, how many people basically get what amounts to a complete hotel suite with a private terrace at the airport?

Now, understandably, some people will say, “Well, it seems cheap to charge first class passengers for that”. I hear you, though realistically it’s the only way something like this can be done, plus it’s a legitimate value add.

If they were offered on a first-come, first-served basis, they would probably always be full and there would be no way to ensure that you could get one during your visit. For some high-profile guests, this kind of private facility may be the reason to choose Air France over other airlines.

Air France is essentially introducing a private aviation-like facility, something we’ve never seen before with an airline on this scale.

Bottom Line

Air France is improving its La Premiere ground experience at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The airline is introducing a new check-in facility (which can be used as an arrival hall), a private security channel and three private suites, each with a living room, bedroom, bathroom and terrace.

Between these updates and plans for a new La Premiere cabin over the next year, it’s an exciting time for Air France’s most premium product.

How about an Air France First Class Airport Suite?