Air France Business Class Berlin-Paris
Terms and conditions of purchase
Upgrade purchased 24 hours before departure following a promotional offer fromAir France for Berlin-Paris.
It is possible to select your seat as soon as you purchase your upgrade (seat 3F at the window). The baggage allowance remains the same as for Economy class (1 bag weighing 23 kg).
At the airport
Air France is located in Terminal 1 at Berlin Brandenburg International (BBI) airport. The airline has its own check-in desks, but you can also check in with your own baggage at the check-in kiosks.
Flight in business class entitles you to the alliance's "Skypriority" services Skyteam An exclusive business counter and priority access for security checks. The airport has only two checkpoints reserved for priority passengers. It takes around 15 minutes to reach the duty-free zone.
Opened in 2020, BBI's passenger terminal is more reminiscent of a stuffy airport in the former East Germany than of a large contemporary structure. The central departure hall is dark, and the corridors leading to the boarding gates are long and narrow.
The exhibition
Access to the Tempelhof lounge is a 10-minute walk from the main hall. where the shops are located near the A20 departure lounge. In fact, the Air France plane is parked right next to it, at gate A30.
The Tempelhof lounge, upstairs, is managed by the airport.. On the face of it, it looks packed, but you have to venture beyond the buffet area. You then discover two other rooms, one of which is equipped with loungers and sofas, the perfect place to really relax. The lounge also offers a lovely view of the tarmac and the aircraft.
The buffet offers a wide choice of starters (three to choose from), hot dishes (three to choose from) and two desserts, plus a solid selection of hot and cold drinks. The lounge fills up after 6pm with evening guests...
Boarding
Boarding is by zone, with priority passengers boarding the plane first. However, the process remains chaotic due to the narrowness of the boarding area, which is closer to a corridor than a real waiting area.
The Business cabin
The aircraft in service on the Berlin-Paris route is a Airbus A220-300, Berlin having been one of the first destinations on the Air France network to benefit from the new aircraft since 2021. The Business cabin is separated only by a curtain from Economy class, a classic configuration in Europe since it allows capacity to be flexibly adjusted to demand. On this flight, Business Class is made up of 3 rows of five seats (2-3), with the middle seat neutralised. That's 9 seats occupied by passengers.
Seat features and accessories
The Collins Aerospace seat is one of the widest available in a short-haul cabin. 48 cm seat width, 76.2 cm seat pitch and 118 degree tilt. The tray table is well designed, with an integrated tablet/smartphone holder, two USB A and C sockets and a cup holder. The windows are 50 cm wider than previous Airbus models.
In-flight service
Boarding was on time, but the Airbus A220 had to wait for take-off, which took place 18 minutes after departure. In business class, a steward greets passengers and offers them a refreshing towel shortly before take-off. As the flight is relatively short, the service begins at 7.55pm after the aircraft has reached cruising altitude.
The snack is based on a menu created by the chef Michel Rothand Bocuse d'Or winner. The menu, printed on a business card format, gives all the details: poached egg, piperade basquaise, venerated rice and basil crumble.
A tasty, light cold dish, accompanied by a Michel Lynch Reserve Médoc. The platter includes two slices of cheese (Cantal and Fourme de Montbrison, both PDO) with a warm roll and Isigny butter. For dessert, a lemon tartlet. All dishes are served on porcelain with metal cutlery..
The on-board staff come twice during the meal. Once for the wines and other cold drinks. And a second time to offer coffee or tea. Finally, to clear the tray.
Toilets
An exclusive Business Class toilet area is available at the front of the cabin.
In-flight entertainment
Air France offers wifi on its flights. Unfortunately, it is impossible to connect to it.
Arrival
At 8.25pm, the captain announced that the descent to Paris would begin ten minutes later. The plane is due to land on time. Although the aircraft is punctual at CDG 2F, it will still take almost 30 minutes to collect baggage. In fact, despite the priority given to the delivery of business class baggage, it arrived last on the conveyor belt...
Verdict
Today, business class on European routes is rarely exceptional, because over the decades it has lost everything that gave it a real identity compared to economy class. Air France is no exception to this rule. But it does offer a good in-flight service, with pleasant, attentive staff. The airline continues to distinguish itself from the competition through the high quality of its culinary offerings. Even if it's fast! A product that fulfils its promises...
