Air France has picked up its first-ever World's Best First Class award at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, ending Singapore Airlines' two-year run at the top. The French flag carrier also swept up Best Airline in Western Europe for a sixth straight year, plus prizes for first class lounge dining and comfort amenities—and after sampling the revamped La Première cabin, it's not hard to understand the hype.
The updated cabin debuted on Boeing 777-300ERs in April 2025 and is being rolled out through the end of this year, currently flying on select routes from Paris to Los Angeles, New York and Singapore. Each aircraft carries just four suites in a 1-2-1 layout, stretching across five windows apiece—reportedly the longest commercial airline seat in the world. Inside, you get a chaise lounge that converts into a 6.5-foot lie-flat bed, a separate armchair, two 32-inch 4K screens, no overhead bins (storage slides out from beneath the armrest), and floor-to-ceiling curtains. All very chic, in that understated creamy-leather Parisian way.
The dining is a genuine highlight: seasonal menus from Michelin-starred chefs Daniel Boulud and Dominique Crenn, running from Sturia caviar and pea soup to sea bass with miso and Pierre Hermé chocolates. Sleep comes courtesy of Jacquemus pajamas, a Sisley amenity kit, and a properly made bed with mattress topper and duvet.
What really sets La Première apart, though, happens on the ground. At LAX there's a dedicated entrance between Terminals 1 and 2, private security, and a small Clarins spa offering complimentary 30-minute facials. At CDG, arrivals are met at the plane, driven by Porsche through a fast-track passport process, and handed over to a private lounge with full shower suites stocked with Dyson dryers and robes. Departing passengers get the sprawling 11,000-square-foot La Première lounge at Terminal 2E.
The catch is price and access: round trips from the US to Paris start around $13,000, the seats are essentially unbookable with points unless you hold top-tier Flying Blue status, and business-class upgrades are famously off the table. By the end of 2026 the new product should serve 11 destinations from Paris, including JFK, SFO, LAX, Washington Dulles, Miami, São Paulo, Abidjan, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Singapore and Tokyo Haneda. If you're ever in a position to splurge—or comparing first-class products for a long-haul treat—La Première is now the one to beat. Credit: Condé Nast Traveler.
