Air France Business Class Seat Upgrade

It can be difficult being stuck in the economy when flying long-haul, which is why most travelers try to find ways to upgrade their seats to business class aboard Air France flights, without necessarily having to pay business class fares. By upgrading to a business class seat, you’ll be able to access lie-flat beds, direct aisle access, premium dining and airport priority services – usually at a much lower price than that charged by the airline for business class seats. Here, we explain everything about how Air France seat upgrades work, what strategies do work, and how to boost your chances of an upgrade.

What Is an Air France Business Class Seat Upgrade?

Air France Business Class seat upgrade is basically a transfer of a traveler who is traveling in the economy or premium economy cabin into business class on the same flight. While booking another ticket means that you will have to go through all the processes again, a seat upgrade does not require booking a whole new ticket and rather builds on the existing one.

Air France’s Business Class cabins on long-distance flights, such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777, consist of fully lie-flat seats with access to the aisle directly for each passenger, a personal stowage area, an entertainment screen, and amenity kits for sleeping comfortably at night. On short and medium-distance European flights, a blocked middle seat and extra services are more common in Business Class compared to a lie-flat bed, which makes it important to consider the aircraft type before upgrading.

How to Upgrade to Air France Business Class?

There are usually four possible ways of upgrading to Business Class for Air France passengers. The choice between those will depend on your budget, Flying Blue status and booking horizon.

1. Miles Upgrade (Flying Blue)

Miles upgrade allows members of the Flying Blue – loyalty program of Air France – to use their miles for the upgrade of the existing flight to Business Class provided there are award seats available. As most transferable points can be redeemed in Flying Blue, it’s the easiest way to upgrade if you have miles from several credit cards.

2. Cash Upgrade

Simply pay the difference between your current booking and the cost of Business Class. Cash upgrades generally become available in the “Manage My Booking” section of the Air France site or mobile app, depending on when your ticket becomes eligible, and the cost is based on supply and demand.

3. Bid Upgrade

For certain flights, eligible customers will be sent an email inviting them to place a bid within a certain price range. Air France will consider all the bids received in the days before the flight, and notify the successful bidder 24-48 hours before departure. This upgrade type offers great value, but the bid does not guarantee a seat.

4. Complimentary or Status Upgrade

Elite Flying Blue members – specifically Platinum status – will sometimes receive free upgrades based on capacity and fare class booked. These upgrades are never guaranteed, but depend highly on the number of Business seats filled on the plane.

Benefits from Upgrading to Business Class

There is more than just spacious seating when upgrading your Air France flight to Business Class:

• A lie-flat seat with aisle access in widebody aircraft
• Priority check-in, security clearance, and boarding at most airports
• Lounge access before takeoff, including Air France Lounges at Paris-Charles de Gaulle
• Customized gourmet cuisine served in multiple courses along with increased choice of beverages
• Higher baggage allowance as compared to Economy class pricing
• Amenity kit and bed linen available on overnight flights in long-haul aircraft
• Quick credit for Flying Blue miles and XP on the price paid for your ticket (notably: XP credits still accrue according to the originally booked price, and not the upgraded seat level)

For transatlantic or transpacific trips especially, the difference between landing after an overnight flight in Economy or one in Business may make all the difference in starting a vacation right.

Also Read: Lufthansa Business Class Seat Upgrades

How To Request Business Class Upgrade?

Some of the steps involved in asking for a Business Class Upgrade are:

• Check eligibility cause not all fare classes are eligible for upgrades, which means that Economy Light will not be as flexible as the Economy Flex fares.
• Log into Manage My Booking on airfrance.com or the Air France app.
• Choose between the available options, such as miles, cash, or a combination of both for the given flight, where applicable.
• Be alert about the bid invitation email, which will be sent out by the company; submit the bid within the recommended range for better chances.
• Make requests again at check-in and the gate, because the airport personnel may still have a few extra seats left on flights where the Business class was not entirely sold out beforehand.
• Check account balance during the last 24-48 hours before the flight departure.

Suggestions to Increase Your Upgrade Opportunities

Here are some suggestions from the experts before considering upgrading your seat.

• First, make sure to book a ticket that allows you to upgrade.
• You should fly when demand is low, such as flights mid-week and during the shoulder season.
• Make sure to earn Flying Blue status if you use Air France or SkyTeam airlines frequently.
• Check in as soon as the check-in window opens for your booked ticket since your chances of being offered an upgrade depend on the availability of seats at the time you check in.
• Be flexible with your seat assignment because people who do not stick to a particular seat and would accept whatever is available are more likely to be upgraded.

Frequently Asked Questions