Air France is the latest airline to join the first-class space race, with flying suites that give high-paying passengers more room—and a lot more privacy. The airline unveiled its new “La Premiere” seats, which actually look more like posh, modular pods, in Shanghai this week. The new spaces feature not only the now-requisite fully flat bed, but also thick curtains that can be pulled to fully enclose the space.
The French flag carrier is installing the seats on its long-distance 777-300s this year; each plane will be outfitted with four of the suites, which also come with some pretty plush amenities. Some of the added features the airline is touting: An extra mattress and Sofitel duvet for the bed when it’s fully reclined; a large table and ottoman, convenient if you want to invite another passenger in for a drink; and a private wardrobe for hanging clothes.
The move comes just days after Etihad revealed plans for its own outsize first class “residences,” which cost travelers around $21,000 per trip. In these days of cramped leg room and being squished into seats like sardines, airlines are betting that some fliers will pay a lot more for product designed to convince them they’re in a hotel instead of on an airplane.
Contributed by Barbara Peterson
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