The Definitive Guide to Air France’s Direct Routes From the U.S. [Plane Types and Seat Options]

Key Takeaways

• Air France operates numerous routes between the U.S. and Paris, with flights departing from major cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, typically using Boeing 777, 787, and Airbus A350 aircraft.
• The airline offers a mix of cabin classes, including economy, premium economy, business, and La Première first class.
• La Première is difficult to book using points and is only available on routes using the Boeing 777-300ER, and even then, Air France only offers this cabin on 1 layout of this plane (which has 3 possible layouts).

Air France, the flag carrier of France, has some intriguing products from an aviation perspective — and there’s no question that it’s one of the top ways to fly to Europe. Air France shares the Flying Blue rewards program with KLM, based in the Netherlands.

The Flying Blue program is underrated, with good credit card partners, Promo Rewards, and a vast selection of airline partners within the SkyTeam alliance.

Air France also has a large route network to the U.S., thanks to France’s strong appeal to U.S. travelers.

This guide covers Air France planes — and their seat types — that operate to and from the U.S., including the incredible La Première first class. There are quite a few options, so let’s get started.

Where Does Air France Fly in the U.S.?

Air France has a wide-ranging route network to North America, flying to 5 airports in Canada, 2 in Mexico, and 20 in the U.S.

These U.S. airports have Air France service, including the new Las Vegas service starting in April 2026:

While all of these airports offer nonstop service to France, as you’d expect, Air France also operates a fifth-freedom route from LAX to Faaʼa International Airport (PPT) in Tahiti, making this airline one of the best ways to fly to the South Pacific using points and miles.

Plane Types Air France Flies to the U.S.

Air France operates 10 different aircraft models, excluding those operated by Hop, the carrier’s regional subsidiary. However, not all of Air France’s 10 aircraft types appear on U.S. soil.

These are the plane types you’ll see Air France flying to and from the U.S., representing half of the carrier’s plane types:

• Airbus A330-200
• Airbus A350-900
• Boeing 777-200ER
• Boeing 777-300ER
• Boeing 787-9

Seats by Aircraft Type

Air France has an average fleet age of 12 years for its long-haul aircraft; some have received recent retrofits and maintenance, but not all. That means some planes look and feel much newer than others.

Here’s an overview of the plane types you might find on your next Air France flight into or out of the U.S.:

*This plane type has a shell design, and the seat moves within the shell during the recline process. This means it doesn’t lean back into the space of the passenger in the next row, and it’s not really measurable in inches of recline.

Seats on Air France Airbus A330-200 Planes

Air France uses just 1 setup for its Airbus A330-200 planes, the only A330 variant it flies. There’s no first class on these planes, and these are the only planes flying a 2-2-2 layout in business class.

This may be the best economy cabin available, thanks to the generous recline and extra seat width offered by the 2-4-2 layout, rather than 3-4-3 or 3-3-3 like other planes have.

Seats on Air France Airbus A350-900 Planes

Air France has 2 different layouts for its A350-900 aircraft, and the most obvious difference is whether the plane has a second, smaller business cabin after the galley.

One layout has fewer seats at 292 because it has more seats in business. That’s the layout with the second business cabin.

There are additional, though small, differences between these 2 setups. The plane with the extra business cabin provides 1 extra inch of pitch and 3.5 extra inches of recline in premium economy.

Hot Tip:

Read why one of our writers says business class on Air France’s A350 is his favorite way to cross the Atlantic.

Seats on Air France Boeing 777-200ER Planes

There’s just 1 layout on this Boeing 777 model, and its features are average across all cabins. You won’t find any seats on this plane with exceptional width or legroom.

Seats on Air France Boeing 777-300ER Planes

Air France flies 3 versions of the -300ER model. Only one of them has La Première first class. This layout includes premium economy seats with extra recline, as well.

Hot Tip:

La Première is expanding to more U.S. cities, including the new Air France first class seats. It’s not easy, but it is possible to book Air France first class using points.

The other 2 layouts for Air France’s B777-300ER aircraft don’t have first class. Their key difference is whether they have more business class seats or more economy class seats. Layout 2 features 48 seats in business.

Layout 3 has just 14 business class seats. It’s rare to see this plane on flights to the U.S., but it’s not impossible. This aircraft layout features 430 economy seats. Premium economy passengers on this plane also have more space than those flying the business-heavy layout.

Hot Tip:

Check out our reviews of Air France’s Boeing 777-300ER planes when flying in business class, premium economy, and economy.

Seats on Air France Boeing 787-9 Planes

There’s just 1 layout on Air France’s Dreamliner, and the airline flies just 1 variant of the Boeing 787: the -9 model. You won’t find first class on these planes, and you’ll find below-average space in economy on this aircraft. However, you’ll find extra pitch and recline in this plane’s premium economy cabin.

How To Know Which Plane Type You’re Flying

When booking a flight with Air France, some aircraft types offer only 1 seating layout. Those are easy to identify.

If you search for a flight on AirFrance.com and click on the option that says “Details,” you’ll see the plane type listed. In this example, it’s a Boeing 777-300ER. Air France flies 3 different layouts of that plane type, so you need to proceed with a booking — even if you aren’t buying but just digging for details — until you get to the seat map. Then you can identify the specific plane type planned for this trip.

However, if you’re searching for flights in business or first class, the airline will still show La Première info, even if you’re only searching for flights in business class. The presence of first class tells you exactly which seating layout you’ll get on that plane. Even better, you’ll get indications of which planes have the newest first class.

Best Points To Earn To Fly Air France

Air France is a member of SkyTeam, so there are plenty of ways to book Air France award flights. This includes booking tickets through partner programs like Delta SkyMiles, Korean Air SKYPASS, and its own Flying Blue program.

It’s worth learning which programs charge an award fee and which use dynamic pricing. Flying Blue often offers good pricing on its own award tickets when you book early or when lots of seats are available. However, its dynamic pricing model can give you sticker shock if you want the last seat in business class.

Additionally, Flying Blue is a transfer partner with all the major transferable currencies: American Express Membership Rewards, Barclays Arrival Plus miles, Bilt Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, Marriott Bonvoy, Rove Miles, and Wells Fargo Rewards.

Final Thoughts

While many elements feel similar across Air France’s fleet, some show big differences. The presence of La Première first class is obviously a key difference on some aircraft, but other items to watch out for include a plane with 2-2-2 seating in business class, planes with less space at your seat in economy and premium economy, and those with less recline — meaning a reduced ability to get comfortable on your long flight over the ocean.