Suites with doors have become the latest trend in business class, and Air France is keeping up with this trend by operating a large fleet of Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with 38 planes in total. These aircraft come in two different seating configurations, and I had the opportunity to try out the suite with doors, which was a truly luxurious experience.
Check-In
Originally, I had booked an Air France flight from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey for the EWR-CDG route, which had recently resumed after the pandemic. However, I faced several issues at this busy airport, primarily due to understaffed air traffic control, resulting in delays and safety concerns.
Luckily, since I had booked through Delta and the airlines had issued a waiver one week prior to departure, I was able to switch to New York JFK without any additional fees, while still keeping the same aircraft and seat types.
Photo: Delta One Lounge, JFK.
Air France operates out of Terminal 1 at JFK, and I arrived at the airport five hours early to check in my bag at the SkyPriority counter. After that, I made my way to Terminal 4 to enjoy the highly acclaimed Delta One Lounge, known for its excellent food and staff.
Air France business class ticket holders have access to this fantastic establishment, which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. I met a few friends there and timed my return to Terminal 1 for security screening and a visit to the Air France lounge before the boarding call.
Boarding
Passengers began lining up early for their designated zones, and I joined the crowd in Zone 1. To verify identities, facial recognition technology and a passport scan were used, but there was a delay at the machines for some reason.
Once I passed through the automatic gates, I encountered two jet bridges, one for business class and the other for the main cabin. I boarded through door 1L and walked past the crowded business class cabin and mid-galley to reach the mini cabin with four rows, where my seat was located.
Photo: Courtesy of Air France
The flight attendants greeted guests with a smile and guided them to their seats. I had secured seat 10L on the starboard side, next to the bulkhead and window.
This seat is highly sought after on the plane, and the bulkhead window seats in the mini business class cabin are usually blocked during booking and reserved for passengers with babies, as baby bassinets can be installed in these seats. A few days before departure, the app released these two locked seats, allowing me to switch from another window seat.
The Seat
I was excited about this flight because I love modern jets, such as the Airbus. I was particularly thrilled about my seat choice, as it looked incredibly spacious! As soon as I settled in, I realized that the flat cushion of the footwell could easily accommodate a large suitcase or two carry-on roller bags.
Photo: Courtesy of Air France