These are all Air France First Class routes as of March 2025

Few products in commercial aviation have as strong a reputation as Air France’s First Class. But on which routes is this exclusive experience available, and how can you book it with miles?

Air France First Class Routes to North and South America

Air France exclusively operates long-haul flights from Paris, and its First Class service is only available from Charles de Gaulle Airport, the city's larger hub. Although some long-haul leisure destinations are served from Orly Airport, First Class is not offered there. To determine whether a particular route includes First Class, the aircraft type must be considered. Currently, Air France First Class is only available on select Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

For the summer 2025 and winter 2025/2026 schedules, Air France First Class is planned for the following routes to North and South America:

• Los Angeles (AF20, AF21, AF22, AF23, AF24, AF25 | Boeing 777-300ER)

• Miami (AF90 & AF91 | Boeing 777-300ER)

• New York JFK (AF1 to AF10 | Boeing 777-300ER)

• São Paulo (AF454 & AF455 | Boeing 777-300ER)

• San Francisco (AF84 & AF85 | Boeing 777-300ER)

• Washington, D.C. (AF50 & AF51 | Boeing 777-300ER)

All Air France First Class routes in 2025/2026 (Source: GCMap.com)

It’s important to note that First Class may not be available on all flights within these routes daily. In cases where multiple flights operate on the same route, such as between Paris and New York, First Class may be offered on different flight numbers depending on the day. Additionally, some seasonal changes occur, such as the discontinuation of First Class on the Mexico City route after the 2024 summer schedule.

Ground transport of the Air France La Premiere experience (Source: Air France)

Air France First Class Routes to Africa & Asia

While Air France First Class is primarily found on North American routes, select destinations in Africa and Asia also feature the airline’s top-tier experience.

For the summer 2025 and winter 2025/2026 schedules, Air France First Class is planned for the following routes to Africa and Asia:

• Abidjan (AF702 & AF703 | Boeing 777-300ER)

• Dubai (AF661 & AF655 | Boeing 777-300ER)

• Singapore (AF256 & AF257 | Boeing 777-300ER)

• Tokyo Haneda (AF274 & AF293 | Boeing 777-300ER)

Compared to North America, Air France’s First Class network in Africa and Asia is limited. The U.S. destinations alone have more daily First Class flights than all other destinations combined, emphasizing Air France’s strategic focus on the American market.

Notably, Air France faces direct competition on nearly all of its First Class routes in Africa and Asia, except for Abidjan. Emirates competes on the Dubai route, Singapore Airlines on the Singapore route, and both Japan Airlines and ANA occasionally offer First Class between Paris and Tokyo.

What to Expect in Air France First Class

Due to its rarity, Air France First Class is not as widely known as other premium products. However, the La PremièreFirst Class offers an unparalleled level of exclusivity, available only on a select subfleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. With just a single row of First Class seats, the cabin accommodates a maximum of four passengers.

The current seating design prioritizes both privacy and openness. While it lacks fully enclosed suites like the new Emirates First Class, Air France offers curtains for enhanced privacy when desired.

Seat of the Air France La Premiere experience (Source: Air France)

A new First Class product is expected to debut in 2025, with a significant focus on further improving privacy. Reports suggest the new First Class could launch as early as April 2025 on flights to New York, with potential expansion to Los Angeles and Singapore later in the summer.

Beyond seating, Air France First Class is known for its exceptional service, with flight attendants trained in fine dining to deliver a truly world-class experience. The airline is also highly regarded for its gourmet cuisine and wine selection.

Seat of the Air France La Premiere experience (Source: Air France)

On the ground, First Class passengers receive VIP treatment. Travelers with standard First Class tickets are provided limousine transfers in select French cities. At Charles de Gaulle Airport, La Première passengers have access to an exclusive lounge with fine dining and a dedicated limousine service directly to the aircraft.

Air France First Class with Miles – Availability & Costs

Booking Air France First Class with miles is notoriously difficult. Even during sales, a round-trip ticket in La Première rarely costs less than $5,400. The lowest fares are typically for flights to Dubai, starting at around $3,800 one-way. Prices for North America, Asia, and South America are significantly higher.

Given these high costs, using miles seems like an attractive option. However, Air France’s frequent flyer program, Flying Blue, requires an extremely high number of miles for First Class redemptions:

• Dubai: 175,000 miles

• New York: 220,000 miles

• Washington, D.C.: 220,000 miles

• Abidjan: 230,000 miles

• Los Angeles: 230,000 miles

• San Francisco: 230,000 miles

• Miami: 230,000 miles

• Mexico City: 230,000 miles

• Singapore: 320,000 miles

• Tokyo Haneda: 320,000 miles

• São Paulo: 350,000 miles

For comparison, Lufthansa First Class redemptions to Los Angeles or San Francisco typically require fewer than 100,000 miles. Additionally, Flying Blue heavily restricts First Class award bookings. Only Platinum members of the Flying Blue program can redeem miles for First Class tickets, and even then, availability is extremely limited, with only one seat per flight released for award bookings.

Dining in the Air France La Premiere experience (Source: Air France)

As of now, it remains unclear whether the upcoming new First Class product will be available for award redemptions. Furthermore, other SkyTeam frequent flyer programs do not offer Air France First Class award seats.

In July 2023, Air France implemented a policy change prohibiting Business Class award ticket upgrades to First Class. Previously, travelers could pay a surcharge to upgrade either during online check-in or at the airport. This option is now only available for full-fare paid tickets, making First Class redemptions with miles even more challenging.

Conclusion

Air France First Class is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive products in commercial aviation, but this exclusivity comes at a steep price—both in cash and miles. While there are several routes where travelers can experience La Première, most of them focus on North America, with select destinations in Africa and Asia.

Given Air France’s conservative approach to route planning, it is likely that First Class service will continue on these key routes in the coming years. However, those hoping to book with miles will find the process exceptionally difficult, making cash fares the primary way to experience this elite service.