The FASHION-Approved Guide to Flying Air France

There was a time when flying was a glamorous affair. Before long lines at customs, uncomfortable budget seats and the mass automation of airports, plane rides were just as indulgent as the vacation itself. In the 1950s golden age of air travel, passengers got dressed up just to board, and the act of flying through the sky was always cause for champagne. Sadly, that luxury has been in dissolution for decades. That is, unless you’re flying Premium Cabin on Air France.

This month, dozens of fashion industry insiders descended into the City of Light for Paris Fashion Week, showing off crisp street-style looks and sitting in the coveted front rows of Vivienne Westwood and Balenciaga. Among them were our Publisher Deidre Marinelli and Senior Creative & Fashion Director George Antonopolous, who visited the style capital with a fashion-filled agenda. To travel comfortably, the FASHION team opted for Air France’s Premium Cabin experience.

The first thing you’ll notice upon entering the Premium Cabin is the sheer amount of space. Secluded from the plane’s economy area, Premium seats are designed to bring mindful touches to air travel. Not only are they wider, but the details are richer — with a headrest, footrest and legrest that can be easily adjusted. Flying the French way means not stressing about the little things because they’re already taken care of. With Premium, SkyPriority grants early check-in and boarding, and an upgraded cabin means extra storage space for your bags. In-flight entertainment is abundant, with built-in touchscreens and reading lamps. Plus, if you’re looking to rest on an overnight voyage, your personalized comfort kit — including a sleeping mask and supple socks — guarantees a deep sleep on any long-haul flight.

For an elevated editor-approved experience, be sure to make time for extra cozy acts, like packing comfy sleepwear to change into and bringing moisturizing products on board. (We recommend Canadian brand This Is J for its ultra-soft lightweight sets that are easy to pack, and Chanel’s Baume Essentiel stick for glide-on skin hydration.)

Once you’re settled, you can enjoy a Michelin-chef menu, curated by culinary legend Frederic Simonin. A recipient of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France award, Chef Simonin uses seasonal vegetables and works with local vendors to make for deluxe in-flight dining. “We try to make sure our dishes awaken customers’ tastebuds so they enjoy their time on board,” Simonin says. Think: Salmon risotto and orzo with a fresh tangy lemon sauce or trofie pasta bake with porcini mushrooms and buttery hazelnuts. To sip? An exclusive wine and champagne list, specially selected by award-winning sommelier Paolo Basso. (A bland in-flight meal, this is not.) After all, Air France has always been an arbiter of taste. Look no further than its uniforms, which are imbued with fashion history.

Offering sharply tailored three-piece suits for men and asymmetrical shift dresses for women, the flight attendants’ quiet-luxury attire exudes French elegance. It’s no wonder that it’s been decades in the making. Established in 1933, Air France has had iconic era-defining uniforms, reflecting shifts in the fashion industry and seminal creative director reigns. Over the years, the airline has partnered with some of the world’s top designers, from Louis Féraud to Nina Ricci.

In the 1960s, flight attendants wore bateau neckline designs by Marc Bohan at Dior, which were unveiled during an haute couture presentation. Towards the end of that decade, Cristóbal Balenciaga created a navy suit with aviation-inspired pockets (above). By the mid ’70s, Jean Patou had presented sleek satin dresses for employees. Each outfit evolution has added to the airline’s rich cultural heritage, further elevating its old-school elegance.

And really, that’s what the Premium experience is all about.

Much like sartorial savants flock to Paris for a taste of French craftsmanship, style-minded travellers take to Air France for on-the-go ease and effortless sophistication. Air travel may not be the exclusive ordeal it once was — and in many ways, that accessibility is a good thing. But with Air France Premium, you get the best of both worlds: an experience that ties together classic refinement with modern luxury. Whether you’re jetting to fashion week, heading on vacation, or trekking across continents for work, Air France brings style back to air travel.