Air France Upgrades: What You Need to Know

Maybe you’ve booked an economy class ticket on your next Air France flight, but now that the trip is drawing near, the thought of being stuck in a small seat at the back of the plane is looking less appealing.

Air France upgrades are possible, and there are several ways to make them happen.

Here's how to upgrade on Air France, whether you’re simply looking for more legroom or a lie-flat oasis as you jet across the sky.

Air France cabins and seats

Air France operates four different cabins, including:

• Economy. 

• Premium economy.

• Business.

• La Première (first class).

La Première is Air France’s long-haul international first class product and is very difficult to get as an upgrade, but business class upgrades are still accessible to regular flyers. This should be satisfying for most flyers since the airline's new business class cabin includes lie-flat seats and direct aisle access for all passengers.

» Learn more: The complete guide to Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Upgrading with miles

Flying Blue miles

If you’re looking for an Air France upgrade to business class, you have a few different options.

You can use miles through Flying Blue, Air France's loyalty program. All major transferable currencies, including American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou points and Bilt Rewards convert to Flying Blue miles at a 1:1 ratio, making them relatively easy to earn.

Terms apply.

Upgrades with miles can be made several ways.

Before check-in

If you’re trying to upgrade to business class before check-in opens, you must do so with miles. Check to see if an upgrade is offered online or contact Air France’s customer service by phone at 800-375-8723.

After check-in

After check-in opens, you have several options. The simplest is doing it online; log in to your booking to find upgrade options.

You’ also can make upgrades by phone or at the check-in desk at the airport. Finally, if there are still seats available after boarding, you can upgrade on the plane using miles by speaking with a flight attendant.

» Learn more: An intro to Flying Blue promo rewards

Delta SkyMiles

If you have a stash of Delta SkyMiles, you can use those miles to upgrade your seat on certain Air France flights. According to Delta Air Lines’ website, you can use a Mileage Upgrade Award on eligible Air France and KLM flights.

Using your miles in this way will grant you a one-cabin upgrade, which means that if you’re in economy, you can upgrade to premium economy. If your original booking was in premium economy, you can use your miles to upgrade to business.

There are other rules for using SkyMiles to upgrade your flight with Air France:

• Valid only on joint venture Air France flights between the United States and Paris-Charles de Gaulle or Paris-Orly airports.

• Upgrade request must be completed 24 hours before departure.

• Fare classes eligible for upgrade include W, S, A, Y, B and M. 

Upgrading with cash

It’s also possible to upgrade your seat using cash, though you’ll need to wait until check-in to do so. Once check-in opens, you can upgrade using similar methods as you would with miles.

These include calling, upgrading at the check-in desk or logging into your online reservation. If you want to upgrade once you’ve already boarded, however, you need to use miles.

If you booked award tickets, you can't upgrade in advance; you’ll need to wait until check-in opens to process an upgrade.

An Air France upgrade seat can also apply to a move to a seat with a little extra legroom or a seat at the front of the plane. You can easily upgrade yourself online before your flight departs. These types of upgrades can be easier to do than those to business class, and purchases can be made with cash at any time.

» Learn more: Air France business class review

Book an award flight instead

If you want to fly business class with Air France, you may not want to rely on an upgrade being available. If that’s the case, you can always book your business class ticket directly with miles.

Business class redemptions can be a smart use of Flying Blue miles. The program uses dynamic pricing for awards, but it is possible to find business class flights from the U.S. to Europe starting at 60,000 miles one-way. Also, Flying Blue has regular Promo Rewards sales where redemptions are available at a discount.

» Learn more: What is the value of Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles?

Air France upgrades recapped

Traveling long-haul in an economy class cabin can get uncomfortable — and even if you’re on a shorter flight, an upgrade can still be a nice treat. For those traveling on Air France, there are plenty of options for scoring an upgrade.

Before check-in, those on paid tickets can contact customer service to upgrade their flights using miles. Once check-in has opened, anyone can request an upgrade and use cash or miles to snag a better seat.

If you’re not interested in waiting on an upgrade, consider booking an award flight in business class instead. This guarantees you a good seat without the stress of relying on upgrade award space.