Flying business class with Air France — an honest review of the fine-dining experience
I've spent plenty of flights wedged into economy seats, balancing plastic-topped trays on flimsy tables and managing sleep in fits between meal carts and elbow jabs. My expectations for in-flight dining have always been low — more about getting through it than savouring anything.
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So when I boarded my Air France business class flight from Toronto to Paris and settled into a lie-flat seat for the first time, I didn't expect much more than comfort. But then the linen napkins and warm towels appeared. Champagne was poured before takeoff. And a menu was placed in my hands.
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The current business class menu, which launched in spring 2024 on select North American routes, is part of Air France's elevated in-flight experience in partnership with renowned French chef Olivier Perret, also the executive chef of Renoir restaurant in Montreal. Flights from Toronto to Paris run daily, and roundtrip business class fares can range between $3,500 and $5,000, with prices varying by season. For comparison, an Air Canada Signature Class (or 'La Première') ticket on the same route can cost upwards of $4,500. Air France also offers business class service to Paris from Vancouver and Montreal, with varying frequencies.
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Toronto Pearson airport, usually a scene of chaos, felt like a private club that afternoon. Air France business class passengers get to glide past the snaking economy lines and into a dedicated check-in zone where the stress seems to evaporate with the sound of a friendly 'bonjour.'
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Within 10 minutes, I had cleared check-in, was fast-tracked through security and found myself in a leather armchair at the Air France lounge, torn between a flute of champagne and an espresso — France's eternal dilemma.
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The lounge was a sunlit oasis with floor-to-ceiling views of the tarmac and a spread that included pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt and sandwiches. The seating was designed for lingering, not just passing time: chairs angled for privacy, clusters of café tables near the buffet and quiet corners with built-in power outlets for those trying to squeeze in one last email.
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I didn't know what business class really meant until I walked onto that aircraft and found what can only be described as a high-altitude cocoon — equal parts boutique hotel room, cinema pod and tranquil workspace.
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My first impression was that the seat looked like something you'd find on a Scandinavian design blog. The cabin was a palette of clean whites and blues with lighting that adjusted gradually as the evening sky outside darkened. My seat, more of a suite, featured a full lie-flat bed, bedding and a privacy door I could slide shut to disappear into my own world.
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