We experienced Air France European Business Class, called La Première, on one of their Airbus planes traveling from Paris (CDG) to Venice (VCE). We didn’t intend to fly with Air France at all, but British Airways canceled our direct flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Venice (VCE) and rebooked us on a rerouted short-haul itinerary via Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) to get us to Venice the following day.
While this delayed arrival made a mess of our first day in Venice, it gave us a chance to fly on an Air France Airbus in Business Class, which was a new experience for us, and we found it to be a more enjoyable flight than those we usually take on British Airways.
We flew British Airways for the first leg from London Heathrow (LHR) to Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) and then Air France Business Class from Paris to Venice Airport (VCE).
Prior to departing on this Air France Flight, we enjoyed the excellent Air France airport lounge at Paris CDG Terminal 2F (Schengen), which was a light, airy lounge that had great cream puff cakes.
You will likely have access to this lounge if you fly within Europe on Air France and depart from Paris CDG airport. My review below shares more about our experience in the lounge.
Review: Air France Airport Lounge At Paris CDG Terminal 2F (Schengen)
We experienced the Air France Business Class Airport Lounge At Paris CDG Terminal 2F (Schengen) before a flight from Paris to Venice on Air France, which I have also reviewed. Air France has several business lounges at its home airport in Paris, Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Air France flights to European Schengen Zone countries operate from either Terminal 2F or 2G, with Terminal 2F serving as the main terminal building and Terminal 2G as a satellite terminal connected by an inter-terminal bus.
Style & Character
Our Air France flight was hugely enjoyable, with jolly staff and excellent food. We traveled in their European Business Class Cabin, so we had priority boarding and were given no hassle about our cabin bags going in the overhead lockers. The seating was very similar to the British Airways Club Europe, with legroom similar to the Economy seats but a free seat between you and the passenger beside you, which gives you plenty of extra space.
The Pilot and cabin stewards were incredibly upbeat, making many jokes on the intercom in French and English. This gave the flight a pleasant atmosphere, and it felt like everyone was having a summer party. On British Airways, I often feel like the staff doesn’t really want to be there, but on Air France, the staff seemed quite joyous to be flying us to Venice.
Food & Drink
We were able to eat during our flight, and I took a shot of the food we enjoyed below. It was really good. Our dining had been designed by Chef Francois Adamski, who is “Meiller Ouvrier de France Bocuse d’Or” for Business France.
The main was a Quinoa Salad and lightly seared shrimp in a cocktail sauce, basically a prawn cocktail with a delicious salad and very tasty prawns.
There was a side of Cantal PDO cheese and Crottin de Chavignol PDO cheese. Both cheeses were really good.
Dessert was a crunchy vanilla cream puff that was extremely moreish. I’d already had 3 of these in the Air France CDG lounge earlier, but they were so good I ate a fourth one, too. Blow my healthy eating schedule. British Airways had booked such a stupidly early flight that day, which involved a 4:00 am wakeup, that I felt the need to gorge myself with carbohydrates.
Beyond the food and the staff, this was a quick flight, so there was little else to report on other than my surprise at my preference for flying Air France rather than British Airways. The cabin was similar, but the food was better, and the staff had a better sense of humor.
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