Let’s face it: free upgrades with Air France are rare, or non-existent. While the French airline is not known for giving away free upgrades to its Economy cabin passengers, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to upgrade to Premium Economy, Business or La Première (First Class). How do we upgrade?
Milesopedia takes a closer look, as there are specific rules governing upgrades with Air France. Only a few seats are offered on each flight, and their availability depends on certain conditions.
Last update: June 19, 2024
With Air France, upgrades are payable in three ways:
The cost of an upgrade is determined by the airline, based on the number of passengers on the flight, the route and the original booking class. The lower the initial fee you pay, the more you have to spend in compensation.
To find out the number of Miles required for an upgrade, simply consult your online booking on the Air France website and click on the “Upgrade with Miles” option. Although the Flying Blue program has not published a scale for estimating the precise value of Miles when upgrading, the average value is between 0.4 and 0.9 cents, depending on the flights and offers available at the time of booking.
It is important to be aware of the real value of the offer before spending your Miles on an upgrade, especially if the original ticket was purchased at a high price. In fact, it may be more advantagious to use your Miles for other benefits, such as obtaining Promo Reward Tickets.
If you haven’t earned many Flying Blue Miles and can’t pay for an upgrade with your Miles, we recommend that you pay for your upgrade with a credit card that will make it easier to earn Flying Blue Miles, such as an American Express card or the co-branded Air France KLM American Express Silver, Air France KLM American Express Gold and Air France KLM American Express Platinum cards.
Depending on the card you choose, you can earn up to 2 Flying Blue Miles for every euro spent. In a few months, you may have enough Flying Blue Miles to buy an upgrade for your next trip!
Upgrades can only be booked by telephone with Flying Blue customer service until check-in opens. After check-in opens, upgrades can be booked not only by phone, but also online, at the airport and on board. Last-minute upgrades are payable in miles, cash or a combination of both.
From 56 hours before departure to 31 hours before departure, Air France makes unsold seats eligible for upgrades. Although fare class and booking conditions are waived, Platinum or Ultimate status is required for an upgrade to the La Première cabin.
Before check-in opens, you can only book an upgrade by telephoning the Flying Blue Customer Service. They can be reached every day between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. on +33 9 69 39 36 54 .
After check-in opens, you can book your last-minute upgrade online. Login to Flying Blue and go to “My Travel”.
On the day of departure, don’t hesitate to check your inbox. Air France occasionally offers discounted upgrades when certain seats are vacant in the Business cabin.
As some passengers may miss their connecting flight, some last minute seats may become available. So don’t hesitate to talk to a flight attendant at the airport, either at baggage claim or when checking in, to see if any paid upgrades are possible.
It’s never too late to request an upgrade! On Air France and KLM flights, you can request an upgrade by speaking to a steward or stewardess once on board the aircraft. At this stage, however, you’ll need to be patient, because even if you make the request before the doors close, you may not be moved until after take-off. The standard procedure is to wait for the doors to close to check that all passengers have boarded. If there are seats available, passengers will have to pay for an upgrade.
When purchasing an upgrade online or at the airport, the following services are offered:
When purchasing on board an Air France aircraft, the following services are offered:
On intercontinental flights in the Economy cabin with Air France, passengers are offered a pillow and a fleece blanket. A touch screen, like a tablet, lets you choose from a variety of entertainment options. Every month, the entertainment selection is updated, featuring films, documentaries, T.V. series and even cartoons for younger passengers.
To stay connected, electrical outlets and USB ports are available on most aircrafts, and on flights equipped with on-board WiFi, passengers can enjoy an Internet connection directly from their personnal electronic devices.
Gastronomy is also on the menu, with tasty and generous meals. Paolo Basso, voted world’s best sommelier in 2013, has curated the champagnes and wines offered on board. The Air France menu includes a starter, a choice between two hot dishes, accompanied by bread and cheese, and a pastry for dessert.
With its sleek, elegant design, the Premium Economy cabin is ideal for working or relaxing in peace and quiet. Separated by partitions, the cabin has a limited number of seats, guaranteeing peace and quiet for everyone.
The seat is wide and relaxing, offering extra space compared to the Economy cabin, as well as plenty of storage space. Passengers benefit from a more generous recline and legroom, as well as a headrest, footrest, and leg rest.
An interactive video screen is available from the moment you step aboard, accompanied by noise-reducing headphones for optimum sound immersion. An individual adjustable reading light, a power socket, and a USB charging port complete this customized entertainment package.
The perks of Air France Premium Economy don’t stop there. Passengers benefit from generous checked baggage, with the option of checking two pieces of baggage weighing up to 23 kg each free of charge. And to facilitate boarding, passengers are entitled to the SkyPriority service. This means they can board the aircraft at their convenience, as soon as boarding begins. Once the trip is over, they have the privilege of exiting the plane among the first passengers, benefiting from priority delivery of their checked baggage to save time at the airport.
Air France’s Business cabin offers a versatile personal space, from office to bedroom, according to passengers’ needs or desires. In particular, it provides an ergonomic workspace, with storage for electronic devices, power sockets and individual USB ports. Adjustable lighting, including reading lamps, and ceiling lights, allow passengers to create their ideal on-board ambience.
Red eye flight? To ensure a peaceful night’s sleep, the armchairs are transformed into 2-meter long beds, protected by new sliding doors for optimal privacy. An elegant comfort kit is offered to each passenger, with cosmetics, a night mask, toothbrush, and toothpaste.
A lover of culinary delights? You won’t be disappointed. Beacuse in the Business cabin, you are pesented with a generous spread. Designed by Michel Roth, Régis Marcon and Anne-Sophie Pic, the menu promises dishes worthy of the finest creations of these great French chefs.
Of course, passengers travelling in the Business cabin are also entitled to SkyPriority service, as well as access to the Air France Business lounges.
For travelers seeking an unparalleled travel experience, La Première is the benchmark when it comes to luxurious travelling. Upon arrival at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Première guests are pampered with a moment of relaxation in the La Première lounge, where they can savor masterful dishes prepared by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. The serenity continues with the Sisley La Première area, with a full range of exceptional treatments specially designed for customers in this class. A 30-minute botanical treatment is offered to get your journey off to a gentle start, with the option of face and body treatments lasting up to 1 h 30.
Exclusivity continues with the Hertz DriveU personal chauffeur service in selected French cities. Première guests are provided with transportation to and from the airport in a luxury vehicle. Upon arrival to the airport, a personalized welcome awaits travelers in front of Terminal 2E, where a porter takes charge of their baggage.
On board, the culinary delight continue, with menus created by Michelin-Starred chefs such as Arnaud Lallement, Mauro Colagreco, Régis Marcon and Emmanuel Renaut, revised every 4 months. Here too, privacy and comfort are paramount. The spacious armchair transforms into a bed over 2-meters long, equipped with a memory foam mattress, pillow, and a generous comforter. The Air France kit, contains all the essentials for your beauty primping needs and rejuvinating relaxation. Sisley face and body care, high-quality cotton outfit, with socks, and slippers, a night mask, ear plugs… Your flight will never have been this cosy.
Upgrades with Air France, while representing a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in an exceptional travel experience, require careful preparation and are subject to specific conditions. For travelers who aspire to the most luxurious flying experience, however, this quest is certainly worth the undertaking. Get ready for a memorable journey, where refinement and intimacy come together on boardAir France‘s most exclusive cabins.
The number of Flying Blue Miles required to obtain an upgrade is determined by the airline. Based on flight load, route and original booking class.
With Air France, free upgrades can be made at check-in or during boarding. However, it’s important to dispel a common misconception: airline frequent flyer programs don’t usually include free upgrades among their benefits. Free upgrades are therefore rare, or non-existent.
The cost of an upgrade depends on several factors, such as the flight’s load factor, the destination and the original booking class. Air France therefore takes these factors into account when setting the price.
Before check-in opens, upgrades can only be booked by telephone via Flying Blue Customer Service. Once check-in is open, upgrades are also available online, at the airport, and even on board.
You can earn Flying Blue Miles by flying with Air France, KLM, Transavia(although low cost is not very advantageous), a SkyTeam member airline or a partner airline such as Etihad Airways, by holding a co-branded Flying Blue card (with American Express, for example) or by transferring points from a partner program (such as American Express Membership Rewards (Canada), American Express Membership Rewards (France) or Marriott Bonvoy).
Alternatively, you can buy Flying Blue Miles.
Savings are here:
