Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.
I recently enjoyed a wonderful holiday in St Barts, the Caribbean’s most exclusive island destination. You can read my trip reports here:
Today: Review – Air France Airbus A330 Business Class (St Maarten to Paris)
Flying from the Caribbean paradise of St Martin to the bustling heart of Paris is a long journey, and comfort is key. For this transatlantic flight, I chose to fly in Air France’s Business Class aboard the Airbus A330, a product that has undergone a cabin refresh a few years ago. During this flight, the airline delivered warm, professional service and thoughtful touches that reflect its proud heritage. However, while the crew’s hospitality stood out, the aging A330 Business Class cabin (with seats in a 2-2- 2 layout) revealed its limitations—especially when compared to Air France’s newer aircraft. In this review, I’ll share my full experience onboard, from the seat and service to the dining and in-flight comfort.
An unexpected twist came shortly after boarding, when we were informed that the flight would make an unscheduled stopover in Guadeloupe before continuing to Paris. The official reason given by the airline was stormy weather in Paris, but a candid cabin crew member later clarified the real cause: due to weight restrictions during takeoff over the mountains in St Martin, the aircraft needed to refuel in Guadeloupe before continuing the long-haul journey. While the stop was brief, it had consequences—I missed my onward connection to Brussels, a train ticket that was booked as part of the same Air France itinerary.
Air France initially acknowledged the situation and offered a solution: I could cancel the missed train segment and receive a refund for the unused portion of my journey, which would allow me to book a new, earlier train at my own expense. Unfortunately, despite multiple follow-up emails and having written proof of this offer, no refund has been issued to date. It’s a disappointing end to what was otherwise a pleasant onboard experience, and a reminder that even premium service in the sky can falter once back on the ground.
- Trip: St Maarten (SXM) to Paris (CDG)
- Airline: Air France
- Aircraft type: Airbus A330-200
- Aircraft registration number: F-GZCA
- On time departure: Yes (7 pm)
- On time arrival: Yes (6: 30 am; + 1 day)
- Miles: 4170 miles (6710 km)
- Flight time: 7 hours and 30 minutes
- Seat: 5A
- Class: Business Class
In this review (more information & photos below my YouTube video & slideshow):
- Cost of my ticket
- Air France Airbus A330 fleet
- Business Class cabin
- Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
- Amenities & bedding
- Meals
- Entertainment
- Onboard internet
- Other inflight experiences
- My verdict (score)
1. COST OF MY TICKET
I paid €2,400 for a return Business Class flight from Paris to St Martin, booked directly on the Air France website. I also applied a €75 discount coupon that Air France had emailed a few days earlier.
I chose the Business Class Light fare—the most affordable Business option offered by Air France. This fare includes the full Business Class in-flight experience but comes with a few trade-offs: no lounge access and only one checked bag. In comparison, Business Standard and Business Flex fares include lounge access and two 32kg checked bags. Business Flex passengers also benefit from free advance seat selection and refundable tickets.
2. AIR FRANCE AIRBUS A330 FLEET
Air France operates a varied long-haul fleet that includes modern aircraft like the Boeing 777, 787 Dreamliner, and Airbus A350, alongside a smaller, older fleet of Airbus A330-200s. While the A330s were once considered outdated, Air France has extended their lifespan through cabin refurbishments, including the installation of updated Business Class seats. However, these aircraft still lag behind the more spacious and advanced cabins found on Air France’s B777, B787 and A350 aircraft, particularly in areas like privacy, layout, and tech features.
Despite this, Air France continues to deploy the A330s on several long-haul routes—most notably to African capital cities such as Abidjan, Lagos, Libreville, Douala, Yaoundé, Banjul, Ouagadougou, Lomé, Cotonou, Conakry, Malabo, Niamey, Douala, Libreville, Luanda, and Pointe-Noire. These routes often see the A330 deployed on one-stop or triangular services, such as Paris–Ouagadougou–Cotonou–Paris, to serve smaller markets and increase connectivity.
Air France also deploys this aircraft on the Paris- St Maarten route (with 14 flights per week). Air France and KLM are the only airlines to offer direct flights from Europe to St Maarten, and both carriers use A330 aircraft with older Business Class products. With no direct competition from other European airlines, there’s little incentive for either airline to offer their best cabin experience on this route.
3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN
While Air France has upgraded the interiors of its aging A330 fleet a few years ago, the Business Class cabin still features the older 2-2-2 layout, which is increasingly rare among international carriers. There are 36 Business Class seats per A330 aircraft, distributed over two cabins: a front cabin with 24 seats (4 rows) and a rear cabin with 12 seats (2 rows). This means that not all passengers have direct aisle access—those seated in the window seats must step over their neighbor to reach the aisle, which can be inconvenient on a long overnight flight.
That said, the cabin refresh has added a touch of modern elegance. The color scheme leans into Air France’s signature style, with tones of navy blue, charcoal grey, and crisp white. Ambient lighting and updated upholstery bring a sense of understated sophistication, though the layout itself feels dated when compared to the airline’s newer products on the Boeing 777 or A350.
For couples or companions, the paired seating can be quite enjoyable. However, solo travelers may find it lacking in privacy, especially compared to reverse herringbone or suite-style configurations offered by other premium carriers.
4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)
As already mentioned, the Business Class seat on Air France’s Airbus A330 is a product of a partial cabin refresh – offering modern touches while still rooted in an older design philosophy. The cabin is laid out in a 2-2-2 configuration, meaning that only the center seats offer guaranteed direct aisle access for both passengers. Window seat occupants must step over their neighbor to exit, which is less than ideal for overnight flights or solo travelers seeking privacy.
That said, the seat itself is spacious, well-padded, and designed for long-haul comfort. It features a width of 22 inch (56 cm) and a pitch of 78 inch (198 cm). There is a built-in lumbar support system and massage function, which adds a small but appreciated layer of comfort during extended flights. Each seat has a fixed shell design, meaning your seat reclines without disturbing the person behind you. Privacy is moderate – all paired seats have a slim privacy divider, but there’s no sliding door or pod-like enclosure as seen in newer-generation Business Class seats.
In front of each seat is a 18.5 inches, high-resolution, touchscreen TV in 16:9, and an open footwell. The latter offers adequate room to stretch, even in the flat-bed position, though very tall passengers may find it a bit tight when lying fully horizontal. When fully reclined, the bed is flat, firm, and reasonably comfortable. While the lack of privacy makes the space feel slightly exposed, the soft bedding and generally quiet cabin environment help create a conducive atmosphere for sleep. Turndown service is not formally offered, but Air France’s cabin crew happily assists with bedding upon request.
Storage options are functional but limited. There’s a small cubby below the TV screen and a side shelf – behind the head rest – to hold headphones, a drink, and smaller items like a passport, charger, or phone. However, there is no enclosed storage unit for larger electronics or handbags, which may be inconvenient for passengers who like to keep essentials close at hand. Each seat also includes a universal power outlet and USB-A port, an adjustable reading light, and a sturdy, bi-fold tray table that can accommodate a laptop or meal tray comfortably.
What are the best Business Class seats on Air France’s Airbus A330-200?
- All seats in the cabin, except for the first and last row, are quite good, especially for couples. Make sure to prebook your seat online (which can be done free of charge) to avoid disappointment at the airport, since KLM’s flights are often fully packed.
- The rear cabin and is smaller and more intimate, so it might be preferred by some travelers (although it is also located right in front of the Economy Class, making it more exposed to noise disturbance)
What are the worst Business Class seats on Air France’s Airbus A330-200?
- The 2-2-2 Business Class layout does not make Air France’s A330 Business Class cabin very attractive for solo travelers, since you will always end up sitting next to a stranger. There is a large screen though between paired seats, which provides a considerable amount of privacy.
- Window seats do not have direct aisle access.
- Passengers seated in the first row may be bothered by the noise of the galley and passengers going to or returning from the lavatories.
- I also suggest to avoid the last row of seats in the rear Business Class cabin, which is located right in front of the Economy Class bassinet seats.
Click here for a seat map of the Air France Business Class layout on the Airbus A330.
5. AMENITIES & BEDDING
The Air France Business Class amenity kit showcases the airline’s signature French elegance. Presented in a stylish, reusable fabric pouch—available in a range of colors—it includes Clarins skincare essentials (lip balm and moisturizer), along with a sleep mask, socks, dental kit, earplugs, and a comb. It strikes a nice balance between functionality and flair.
At each Business Class seat, passengers are welcomed with a soft pillow and a warm duvet, helping to ensure restful sleep on long-haul journeys. Slippers and noise-canceling headphones are also provided. While the headphones are perfectly adequate, they could use a tech refresh to better match the premium experience Air France aims to deliver in Business Class.
It’s worth noting that since this flight, Air France has begun rolling out new Sofitel-branded bedding across its Business Class cabins, featuring enhanced comfort and design. However, this particular journey took place prior to the implementation of those upgrades.
6. MEALS
Air France is known for its culinary heritage, and this is reflected in its Business Class meal service. Shortly after takeoff, flight attendants distributed a printed menu and wine list, both curated by renowned French chefs and sommeliers—a nod to the airline’s gastronomic roots.
For dinner, I chose the following:
- Starter: Sautéed shrimp with pickled onion and mango salad
- Main course: Roast fillet of beef with tender breadfruit cubes and cocoa sauce
- Dessert: Chocolate bar
The starter was served on a tray alongside a green salad, a selection of cheese, and the dessert. While the meal was perfectly acceptable, it lacked bold flavors and finesse in presentation. IMHO, it fell short of the higher standard typically found on Air France Business Class flights departing from Paris.
About 90 minutes before landing, the crew gently woke passengers for breakfast, which was served on a single tray. The offering included a plain omelet with sautéed mushrooms, accompanied by a croissant, yogurt with granola, and a fresh fruit salad. The meal was light and adequate, though not particularly memorable.
7. ENTERTAINMENT
Each Business Class seat comes with a 18.5-inch HD touchscreen, loaded with Air France’s updated entertainment interface. The system is user-friendly and offers a wide selection of recent Hollywood and French films, TV series, documentaries, audio playlists, podcasts, a real-time moving map with flight data, and views captured by the plane’s belly and nose cameras. The screen is crisp and responsive, and the noise-canceling headphones (while basic) do a good job for most casual viewing. Subtitles are available in multiple languages, and the content mix caters to both international and French-speaking travelers.
8. ONBOARD INTERNET
Air France offers onboard Wi-Fi on all A330 aircraft, with three pricing tiers:
- Free Messaging – Send WhatsApp, iMessage, or Messenger texts throughout the flight
- Surf Pass (€8–€18) – Basic internet for browsing and emails
- Stream Pass (€30) – High-speed access for video streaming and large file downloads
Wi-Fi was stable throughout most of the flight, even over the Atlantic. Logging in was simple, and you could pay with either a credit card or Flying Blue miles.
9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES
# CREW: The service on this flight was consistent with Air France’s polished yet relaxed style. The cabin crew was professional, friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. Requests were handled efficiently, meal courses were timed well, and turndown assistance was offered with a smile.
# LAVATORY: Air France’s Airbus A330 features 2 lavatories for Business Class passengers: one is located behind the cockpit and the other one in the galley between both Business Class cabins. The lavatories were stuffed with Clarins toiletries.
10. MY VERDICT
Flying Air France Business Class from St. Maarten to Paris offered a mix of comfort and compromise. The crew delivered warm, attentive service, and key elements like the amenity kit, wine selection, and bedding (prior to the new Sofitel upgrade) met the expectations of a premium cabin. However, the Airbus A330’s older Business Class product—while refurbished—is clearly behind the curve in terms of privacy, design, and technology compared to Air France’s newer aircraft like the A350 or 777.
The unscheduled refueling stop in Guadeloupe, lack of transparent communication, and the missed train connection in Paris—with no refund issued despite a documented promise—also left a sour note on what could have been a seamless premium experience.
In short, while the soft product (service, food, and hospitality) remains strong, the hard product and post-flight customer service still have room for improvement. If you’re booking this route, it’s worth managing expectations—and, if possible, aiming for one of Air France’s more modern aircraft.
- Seat comfort (upright): 7/10
- Seat comfort (bed position): 7/10
- Privacy: 6/10
- Food (quality): 7/10
- Food (quantity): 8/10
- Inflight entertainment : 9/10
- WiFi: 8/10
- Service: 9/10
- Cabin design: 7/10
- Overall experience: good: 7.4/10
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