For anyone who knows me, you know I’m a Delta girl through and through. I’ve been a proud Skymiles member since 1994 at the age of 5! I recently booked with Delta for a work trip to and from Europe. One of those legs put me on an Air France flight, which is a partner of Delta’s. I have flown them before in economy, but when I saw they had a very reasonable price upgrade to business class for the 9+ hour flight, I knew I had to get it.
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How to Find the Upgrade
If you’re flying Air France and want to upgrade to business class, my biggest tip is to check the Air France app (not the Delta app). I actually found out about this through Reddit, where fellow travelers pointed out that upgrade offers tend to appear in the Air France app around 36 hours before departure. Mine didn’t show up until under 24 hours out, so don’t panic if you don’t see it right away. Keep checking! I paid $405 for my upgrade, which for a 9+ hour transatlantic flight felt like an absolute steal. More on that below.
Aside from the nice seat and cabin (more on that below), with Air France business class, you get priority access to your seat with SkyPriority and have the ability to relax in the exclusive lounges (sadly, I did not have time to do this as my layover was short).
Now, onto the flight experience itself!
Read: 3-Day Paris Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
The Seat
When I sat down, the navy pillow, duvet, and mattress topper were already waiting for me. That quilted mattress topper, made in partnership with Sofitel, is something I did not expect to encounter on an airplane, and I genuinely could not believe how comfortable it was. The seat fully reclines into a flat bed, and between that topper, the pillow, and the dark blue comforter, it felt more like a hotel than a flight.
Compared to Delta One, I actually found the Air France seat slightly more comfortable overall. The recline felt better too, not just the full flat position, but the in-between options if you want your head slightly elevated or just want to lean back without going all the way down. It’s a small thing but it made a big difference on a long flight.
Privacy-wise, I was really impressed. The TVs are angled in a way that makes it feel like your own little space, and you genuinely feel separated from the people around you. It doesn’t feel like you’re sitting in a row at all. The bathrooms were also noticeably cleaner than what I’m used to, which honestly matters more than people give it credit for on a 9-hour flight.
Storage was another win. I put my big bag in the overhead bin and had my laptop bag under the seat, but there was also a shelf right next to me where I could put my laptop when my food came. Everything had a place, which made the whole experience feel a lot more organized and comfortable.
Now, full transparency: this was a daytime flight departing Paris in the afternoon, so the timing wasn’t exactly ideal for a long sleep. I got some rest but not the full flat-bed-coma experience I was hoping for. That said, I’m almost glad it worked out that way, because it meant I was awake for most of the flight and actually got to enjoy everything. I would have slept through the food, the wine, and the entertainment, and that would have been a shame. One thing I’d recommend: change into something comfortable before or right after boarding. I did, and combined with the slippers they provide on the flight, it made a huge difference in how relaxed I felt for those nine hours.
The Amenity Kit
This little woven pouch was a nice touch. Inside was Clarins skincare products, a sleep mask, earplugs, and a toothbrush with toothpaste, plus slippers which they give you right when you board. Clarins is a beloved French beauty brand, so it felt like a very intentional, very French touch. The kit itself is also cute enough to reuse. I brought some of this stuff with me on the trip, so I am saving mine to use another time.
The Entertainment
The entertainment system is a large HD touchscreen, and the content selection genuinely impressed me. We’re talking movies, documentaries, music, and most importantly, Apple TV+. I don’t have Apple TV+ at home, and I have heard every single person in my life tell me I need to watch it. Having an 8+ hour flight to finally dig in felt like a gift. I watched the first three episodes of both Ted Lasso and The Morning Show and came home with a very full watch list. Canal+ is also available, which is a fun bonus if you’re interested in French content.
The Food and Wine
Okay, this is where Air France really won me over. I’ll be upfront. I did not have high expectations for airplane food, even in business class. I was very wrong.
Right at takeoff, they offer you champagne or mimosas. I opted for the champagne, which was very good and a great start to the trip!
The lunch menu was designed by Michelin-starred chef Régis Marcon, with desserts by pastry chef Nina Métayer. I went with the vegetarian option, the Trio of Camargue Rice with lemon, carrot and orange sauce, butternut squash, and kidney beans.
The eggplant caviar appetizer came out first, topped with pickled zucchini and flaxseed, alongside a glass of red and these adorable little Gavottes cheese-filled crêpe crackers that I would absolutely buy in a store.
My main course was genuinely delicious and colorful. Alongside it came a beautiful cheese course with three French cheeses (Cantal, Fourme d’Ambert, and Picodon) on a little plate. Very chic. Very French. For wine, I had the Cabernet Franc and it paired perfectly. The wine list also included Pommery Brut Royal champagne, a Pouilly-Fuissé Chardonnay from Burgundy, a Côtes de Provence rosé, and a Haut-Médoc Bordeaux, all 100% French selections.
They had a few dessert selections, but I opted for the chocolate ice cream. Everything looked delicious though when they brought it around.
For the second meal service later in the flight, I had the roast chicken with tarragon jus and rissolé potatoes, which came with fresh citrus fruit, a little madeleine cake, and artisan bread. I switched to the Pouilly-Fuissé white wine for that one and it was a great pairing.
The Little Things
The branded noise-canceling headphones were stored in a little red compartment, which was such a nice detail. Everything about this cabin felt thought through, from the real glassware to the cloth napkins to the way the tray table was set up like an actual restaurant place setting. The flight attendants really go above and beyond too. Before takeoff, they asked each person if they’d want to be woken up to make sure they get a meal, which I thought was nice as so many often miss it. They always checked in and were incredibly friendly. They didn’t make fun of my bad French either!
The View Wasn’t Bad Either
As we were getting closer to the Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport, I was wondering if I’d be able to see the Eiffel Tower from above. I was shocked when I did! I got a good video of it thanks to my new iPhone’s awesome Zoom (see the video on my TikTok page).
Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Short answer: absolutely yes, at least at the price I paid. I upgraded for $405 USD, which felt like a no-brainer for a 9-hour transatlantic flight. For context, on Delta I’m lucky to get an upgrade offer at all, and when I do, it’s usually insanely expensive, which I don’t take advantage of unless I have the miles to use (I think the best cash offer I got was $599 a few years ago). $405 for everything I experienced on this flight was genuinely one of the best travel decisions I’ve made. I can’t speak to the full-price premium cabin cost on Air France, but if you ever see an upgrade offer in that range, I wouldn’t hesitate.
Tips for Flying Air France as a Delta SkyMiles Member
A few things I learned that I wish I’d known going in:
Download the Air France app. I cannot stress this enough, especially if you don’t fly internationally often. The Air France app gives you the full seat map, plus step-by-step instructions for navigating the airport when you’re flying internationally. It walks you through exactly where to go, which is genuinely helpful when you’re at a large hub like CDG and aren’t sure which direction to head.
Check in through the Air France app, not Delta. When flying a partner flight, the Delta app often can’t complete check-in and will give you an error message. I always end up at the kiosk when I try through Delta. If you download the app for the actual operating airline, you should be able to check in there without any issues, and it gives you peace of mind especially for international travel.
Pre-select your meal through the Air France app. You can choose your hot dish anywhere from 15 days to 24 hours before your flight, which guarantees your selection is available and also helps reduce food waste. My upgrade was last minute so I didn’t get to do this, but it’s at the top of my list for next time. On a flight where the food is this good, you want to make sure you get exactly what you want.
Create a Flying Blue account. Flying Blue is Air France’s own loyalty program, and it’s absolutely worth signing up. It’s free, it takes two minutes, and those miles add up if you fly Air France again. It’s worth noting if you prefer to get Delta points on an Air France flight, you need to make sure they take your Delta program over Air France, otherwise you’ll have to contact Air France to get your miles back and then Delta can add them and the MQDs to your account (coming from experience).
So, Would I Fly Air France Business Again?
Without hesitation. As a loyal Delta flyer, it’s worth knowing that the SkyTeam partnership really does open up some incredible experiences, and Air France is at the top of that list. The seat, the food, the wine, the entertainment — all of it exceeded my expectations in every way. And if you’re a Delta SkyMiles member, you will still get your miles and MQDs with Delta, although you need to make sure it hits your account. It’s been about a month since I flew and I still haven’t seen mine come in, so I put in a request. Online, it says it can take up to eight weeks for partner flights to go into the system, but I submitted mine to be safe.
Nine hours flew by (no pun intended), and I landed in Atlanta feeling like an actual human being. Next time, I hope to take advantage of the Air France lounges so I can get the full experience!
