Flying aboard La Premiere becomes increasingly exclusive: the cheapest option disappears
Premiere is the most exclusive first-class cabin in the world, and I was lucky enough to travel in it [...]
Air France
SkyTeam
Recommended by TFC
Premiere is the most exclusive first-class cabin in the world, and I was lucky enough to travel in it once, On one of the longest routes and as the only passenger, a dream.
The second best first class cabin in the world
In recent weeks, La Premiere has been honored as the Second best first class cabin in the world, within a whisker of first place overall.
What makes this cabin unique is not the chair, which soon to be completely renovated, but the ground service and catering on board recognized as the best of all firsts.
Increasingly difficult to book this cabin with points
Over the past 12 months, Air France has drastically reduced the already slim chance of booking, on latch, this cabin. The first change was to raise the bar. First it was necessary to be at least Gold Flying Blue to be able to use lots of points to fly in this cabin. Today, however, it is necessary to go up to the highest level, Platinum, to see bookable La Premiere seats.
Then came the cut to reservable seats, from two to only one seat on board. Thus eliminating the possibility of Travel in pairs (lurching) in this chair.
Goodbye upgrade from premium ticket
The cheapest way to date, to book this ticket was to redeem an award ticket in business on a route where AF flies 777/300s outfitted with the first-class cabin, and at the check-in opening make the upgrade (cash or with points) .
When I flew in this cabin I had really taken advantage of this possibility: award ticket to Mexico City in business and upgrade cash at just over 1,000 euros.
As of July 1*, as One Mile at a Time reports., this option has been cancelled and now the upgrade will only be possible for passengers who have paid cash for their business class ticket.
In conclusion
I have flown in first with many companies and I must say. No one treated me the way I was pampered by Air France, I was lucky because I took advantage at 100% of the opportunities to fly in this cabin by spending very little, compared to the cash price. Of course now it will become even more expensive though is an experience I hope to replicate, perhaps as soon as the new cabins go into service in early 2024.
- 6,000 Mile Registration Bonus
- Collect miles WITH EACH PURCHASE
- Your miles with no expiration*
- No fees for ATM withdrawals and foreign purchases
- Without having to change banks
- Autonomous card activation
- Multi-function mobile application
- Free travel insurance
- Free credit for up to 7 weeks
- Contactless Payment
- Mastercard® SecureCode
- 20€ discount directly in your statement by spending €60 in one or more transactions with Carta on Italotreno.it
- Free fee the 1st year. From the 2nd €5.50 per month
- You can choose to pay in full or in installments
- Premium level of the Italo Più program
- 4 Vouchers per year for access to Italo Club Lounges
- Preferential Access to Italo's Fast Track at the station
- For every 5 purchases of Italo ticketing and/or onboard services made with Italo American Express Credit Card you will receive 1 voucher for room upgrade
- Welcome bonus of 100,000 Volare points upon reaching 6 thousand in spending in the first 3 months after card issuance
- Accumulate 1.5 qualifying Volare points for every euro spent, accumulate an additional 3 non-qualifying Volare points ( for a total of 4.5 Volare points) for every euro spent on ticketing purchases and other services offered by ITA Airways
- Access to the Premium Club of ITA Airways' Volare program.
- ITA Airways Lounge Access
- Free excess baggage
- Points Back