Air France brings new La Première First Class to Singapore

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	AF182 787-9
CDG 13:25		SIN 09:00*
	AF256 777-300ER
CDG 20:45		SIN 16:55*

* Next day

Do note that Air France’s daytime service AF181/182 operating three times weekly between Singapore and Paris uses a Boeing 787-9, which does not feature a First Class cabin.

Singapore is only the second city on Air France’s global network to receive the new La Première cabin, with the latest product currently also offered on selected Paris – New York JFK flights (typically, AF3/4).

The new La Première

Air France’s updated La Première cabin features four suites produced by Airbus-owned Stelia Aerospace.

The main upgrade from the product’s previous design is that each suite now incorporates a dual-zone concept, with a separate seat and chaise longue that converts to a fully flat bed.

Two toilets are available for up to four passengers, an excellent 2:1 ratio.

Floor-to-ceiling privacy curtains with pencil pleat lining can be drawn to fully enclose each suite, while the central suite is designed for couples, but also features an electric sliding full-height partition divider, in case you are flying alongside a stranger in the ‘D’ or ‘H’ positions.

The ‘A’ and ‘L’ seats boast five windows, which have electronically-controlled blinds like those you find on corporate jets.

Quite unlike the “gold bling” of the Middle East carriers, think elegant sophistication with the Air France First Class product.

Unsurprisingly, the cabin is regarded as one of the most aspirational award redemptions, though it’s not easy to book using points, as we’ll outline later in this article.

The storage configuration includes a large sliding drawer designed to accommodate two carry-on sized suitcases, eliminating the need for passengers to access overhead bins during flight (which is good news, because there are none installed in this cabin!).

A secondary drawer beneath the chaise longue provides additional storage space for shoes and personal items.

Each suite also includes a personal compartment with backlit mirror positioned near the seat, plus an individual wardrobe compartment. An additional small storage unit is positioned adjacent to the seat for immediate access to personal items.

In bed mode, the chaise longue extends to a fully flat bed measuring 6 feet 7 inches (200cm) in length.

In-flight entertainment consists of two 32-inch 4K UHD touchscreen displays per suite, with an additional touchscreen tablet for system control, while unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi by Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency connectivity, a nice upgrade on the slower Gogo satellite Wi-Fi in the previous iteration.

Power options include universal AC outlets, USB-A and USB-C ports, and wireless charging capability.

Fine dining is of course a significant focus in this cabin, served alongside a high quality beverage selection including the current premium pour Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle champagne.

On departure from Paris:

• Menus are created by French Michelin-starred chefs and prepared with 100% French meat, dairy products and eggs, bread and pastries, as well as fish from sustainable fisheries.

On departure from Singapore:

• Triple Michelin-starred French chef Julien Royer of Odette restaurant creates original recipes meals for Air France La Première guests.

For a detailed overview of what to expect on board the new La Première, check out this recent review.

Lounges and ground experience

If you’re departing in La Première from Singapore, you’ll be invited to use the excellent Qantas Singapore First Lounge, which boasts à la carte dining, a choice of champagnes, a wide variety of Aussie wines, and a cocktail bar.

Spacious shower suites with artificial skylights (and crazy wall tiling) are a welcome start to the trip, for those who have potentially had to check out of their hotel room many hours earlier.

Starting your First Class journey in Paris, however, is where the ground experience on Air France is really stepped up a notch.

Just a year ago, in July 2024, Air France launched its new La Première ground experience at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, so you can expect:

• A private chauffeur service to pick you up within a 40km radius and drive you to the airport in a premium vehicle.
• Private check-in at the new La Première check-in lounge, where beverages and snacks are offered while the formalities are taken care of for you.
• Private security screening
• The La Première lounge – consistently rated as one of the top First Class lounges in the world, including à la carte dining by French Chef Alain Ducasse, a bar, a sleeping zone and a Spa by Silsey, a French “phyto-cosmetology” company, offering pre-flight treatments.
• A chauffeur drive to your aircraft at boarding time in a Porsche Cayenne.

There’s also a brand new La Première arrivals lounge in Paris, for those stepping off AF257 in the early hours of the morning.

Here you can have a shower and an à la carte breakfast, before taking your chauffeur car transfer into the city.

How to redeem

Air France is quite generous with award space in its La Première cabin, typically making two of the four seats available for award booking from the outset.

Awards typically mirror the carrier’s cheaper “F” fare bucket in this cabin, if you’re using a resource like ExpertFlyer to view availability.

Now to the bad news…

The reason Air France can offer such good award space in this sought-after cabin is that it’s nearly impossible to book with miles.

Air France does not allow redemptions into La Première from partner frequent flyer programmes, including from members of other SkyTeam carriers, restricting redemption to its own Air France-KLM Flying Blue scheme.

Even if you’re a Flying Blue member, you’ll have to have Gold or Platinum status in the programme in order to access La Première award space (Silver members had this benefit removed in October 2019).

For our readers here in Singapore, that would mean accruing 280 XP points in a single membership year, by taking paid flights with Air France, KLM, Qantas, or a SkyTeam carrier like Vietnam Airlines, and crediting your flights to the programme. That’s no mean feat.

Even then, award pricing for the La Première cabin is steep. Pricing is dynamic, but starts from 230,000 Flying Blue miles one-way per passenger between Singapore and Paris, plus the airline’s carrier-imposed surcharges (currently S$288) to pay, including mandatory taxes and fees.

That’s roughly equivalent to KrisFlyer Advantage rates for a Singapore – Europe sector in SIA First Class!

If you’re a Flying Blue Gold or Platinum status holder with enough credit card points racked up in Singapore to achieve this, you’ll be able to transfer from Citi, HSBC and OCBC into the programme.

What are the alternatives?

Unless you want to fork out cash for a Singapore – Paris ticket in La Première, which will cost an eye-watering S$14,000 one-way or S$19,400 return based on travel in September 2025, there’s another possibility for snagging a seat in this elusive cabin.

While upgrade awards into La Première are also restricted to Flying Blue Gold and Platinum members, cash upgrades are open to everyone, even those who redeemed miles from a partner programme in Business Class.

Obviously this won’t always work, because it depends on Air France offering cash upgrades on your flight, which it will typically (but not always) do if there are empty seats in the cabin when online check-in opens, 30 hours before the scheduled departure time.

It’s also not a cheap option, with one of our readers upgrading from Business to First prior to the pandemic for EUR 1,500 (around S$2,200) on a Paris – Singapore flight, but for what’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, that’s no doubt worth it for some people.

If you’re lucky, your company has paid for your Business Class seat in the first instance, but even then the personal outlay here is not insignificant.

What about Business Class?

The good news about Air France’s deployment of these refitted Boeing 777-300ERs with new La Première First Class on seven of its weekly Singapore flights is that the airline has also upgraded the Business Class product to the carrier’s latest offering in a 1-2-1 configuration with closing privacy doors.

You can see a review of the product here, but aside from the closing doors and new high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi you can also expect USB-C and wireless charging, plus a 17.3-inch 4K screen with Bluetooth headphone connectivity.

These Safran Cirrus 5C03 seats recline into a fully-flat 6 feet 7 inches bed, and are being gradually rolled out on to all of the carrier’s Boeing 777s for long-haul flights.

Air France’s La Première, widely regarded as one of the world’s best First Class products, received a significant update earlier this year.

Singapore has now become only the second destination worldwide to feature the refreshed cabin configuration, with daily service on the evening AF257/256 rotation.

While the product itself represents a substantial upgrade – featuring larger suites with a separate bed – accessing it remains challenging. Award redemptions are restricted to Flying Blue Gold and Platinum members, with steep pricing starting at 230,000 miles plus fees one-way.

For most travellers, cash upgrades from Business Class present the most realistic path to experience this exclusive cabin, though availability depends on last-minute inventory when check-in opens 30 hours prior to departure.

With seven of Air France’s ten weekly Singapore flights now featuring the new La Première alongside upgraded Business Class cabins, the airline has significantly elevated its premium offering on this key route to Europe – let us know if you plan to try it!

(Cover Photo: Air France)