I paid an extra $275 to fly business class with Air France. It didn't live up to my expectations, but I'd do it again.

Flying business class with Air France let me down in some ways but some of the perks were so great I'd consider doing it again.Louise SlythMy husband and I took roundtrip business-class flights from Dublin to Paris with Air France.We spent $275 each on our upgrades and enjoyed our comfy seats and in-flight meals.We felt let down by some long lines and an under-construction lounge, but I still had a good time.In March, my husband and I took a trip to Paris to celebrate our anniversary.We booked two-hour flights out of Dublin with Air France. As it was a special occasion, we treated ourselves to roundtrip business-class flights — in total, the upgrade from economy cost us an extra $275 per seat.Here's what our experience was like flying business class with Air France.Checking in was a breeze, but parts of our Sky Priority experience felt like a mixed bag.One of the perks of flying Air France business class was the additional luggage allowance.Louise SlythWith business-class seats, we qualified for the Sky Priority service, which is meant to help us quickly go through the check-in, baggage drop-off, security, and boarding processes.At both the Dublin and Paris airports, we got to use a dedicated check-in and baggage drop-off area with no line.It was great, plus our business-class status came with a generous additional luggage allowance, including two checked suitcases with a maximum weight of 70 pounds per item (compared to 50 in economy).That said, our experience with Sky Priority was a bit of a mixed bag between airports.Even with our status, it took us quite some time to clear security and immigration in Paris. However, in Dublin, Sky Priority helped cut down our wait time — and we got through security quickly.Our suitcase got tagged with a priority sticker, which meant it was one of the first to arrive in Paris. However, in Dublin, we had to wait as it appeared on the carousel after numerous other checked bags.We got access to airport lounges in Paris and Dublin.Unfortunately, our lounge in Paris was under construction during the visit.Louise SlythSince we were flying business class each way, we got to access airport lounges in Dublin and Paris.We had access to the Terminal 1 lounge at Dublin Airport, which had plenty of seating, plus complimentary light snacks and beverages.Unfortunately, the dedicated Air France lounge in Paris was being renovated during our visit. So, we were directed to a temporary lounge space that was a bit dark and sparsely furnished.On the bright side, we had plenty of food in the Paris lounge.The lounge had a pretty sizable salad bar.Louise SlythDespite our temporary lounge in Paris not looking so great, we were still served an excellent array of complimentary bites.There was a buffet with salad, pasta, meat, and cheese and also sweet treats, like muffins and small cakes. An array of tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, and Champagne were available for us to grab, too.The boarding process was more stressful than I anticipated.I wish we'd boarded the plane sooner.Louise SlythWe didn't want to get to our gates too early, especially since Sky Priority comes with priority boarding.Unfortunately, we did not hear any flight announcements while in either lounge. Although this seems to be an airport-lounge standard to maintain a quiet atmosphere, it meant we may have missed our opportunity to board the plane first.In Paris, for example, by the time we got to the gate at boarding time, we were in a long, snaking queue with everyone else.We may have avoided this by getting to the gate early, but I didn't want to miss out on our extra lounge time. Either way, this was not quite the premium experience we had hoped for.Fortunately, our seats on both planes were super comfortable.The middle seat between us was empty on our flight to Paris.Louise SlythWe had different aircraft types for our flights, but both had a dedicated business-class seating area separated from the main cabin by a curtain.As it was a short-haul European flight, we didn't have fancy lie-flat seats that become beds. However, we did get comfortable leather seats with adjustable armrests and plenty of legroom.The main benefit of business class was the guaranteed empty middle seat between us, which meant we had room to spread out and weren't crammed next to a stranger in our row.The in-flight dining was excellent, too.Our in-flight breakfast felt quite elegant.Louise SlythWe really enjoyed our meals on both flights. For starters, I like that they were served with fabric napkins and proper cutlery instead of disposable servingware.While heading from Dublin to Paris, we had a delicious breakfast of puff pastry with salmon, yogurt, a croissant with a tiny jar of jam, coffee, and juice.I appreciated the complimentary bubbly, too.I was given a glass of Champagne with my lunch.Louise SlythFor lunch on the way back, we had smoked salmon and couscous with bread and cheese — plus a creamy choux pastry for dessert.We were offered a range of beverages with each meal, including Champagne, which further helped my lunch feel like an upgraded experience.Although I think the experience could be improved, I'd fly Air France's business class again.The comfortable seats were a highlight of flying with Air France.Louise SlythOverall, I had a good experience flying in business class with Air France, but it fell short of my expectations in some areas.I felt the high-end elements of my upgrade in my excellent meals and the stellar onboard service. The empty seat between us on each flight made us both much more comfortable and our generous baggage allowance meant I could pack (and shop) with abandon during my trip.I'll never say no to a glass of Champagne, but when I pay a premium, it's for convenience as much as for luxury. I wish I could've had a more consistently efficient experience boarding, going through security, and collecting our luggage.Although we might've just gotten unlucky this trip, generally, I've had a smoother time going through those processes while traveling business class in Europe with Finnair, Scandinavian Airlines, and Aer Lingus.Plus, lounge access is an important part of the business-class experience, and the Paris end was disappointing. I'm hopeful for next time, though, since the lounge is no longer under construction — and photos of the upgraded space look great.All that said, I'd definitely fly with Air France again. If the price was right (say, a few hundred bucks), I'd also consider upgrading to its business class once more.Anything more than that? I'll probably save my money.Read the original article on Business Insider

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