Air France Business Class Review from Madrid to Paris on the A220
The Airbus A220 has quickly become one of the most comfortable and modern regional aircraft in Europe, and Air France has invested heavily in making it the backbone of its short-haul fleet. But what is the Business Class experience like on this stylish new jet? On August 20, I had the chance to find out on an evening flight from Madrid (MAD) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG).
This trip was booked using Flying Blue miles, making it an affordable way to test the product. Unfortunately, things didn’t go entirely as planned: the inbound aircraft from Paris arrived nearly 40 minutes late, and after further issues with the pushback truck in Madrid, our departure was delayed by a full hour. As a result, I missed my onward connection in Paris and had to spend the night there.
In this review, I’ll take you through the full journey:
- Check-in and boarding at Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
- First impressions of the Air France A220 Business Class cabin
- Comfort and space in the premium cabin
- Meal and drink service on a 2-hour flight
- Service style and crew performance
- Arrival into Paris and the impact of delays
If you’re curious about whether Air France’s A220 Business Class is worth booking — and how it compares to older regional aircraft in Europe — this trip report will give you the answer.
Flight Details
- Flight number: AF1501
- Date: August 20, 2024
- Route: Madrid (MAD) → Paris (CDG)
- Departure (scheduled): 17:45 local time
- Departure (actual): ~18:45 local time (1h delay)
- Arrival: 19:50 local time (delayed arrival, connection missed)
- Duration: ~2h 05m
- Aircraft: Airbus A220-300
- Class: Business Class (European layout)
- Seat 3F
- Frequent flyer program: Flying Blue / SkyTeam
- Fare: Booked with Flying Blue miles
Madrid Airport (MAD)
All Air France and SkyTeam flights depart from Terminal 2 at Madrid-Barajas Airport, which is noticeably older and more tired compared to Iberia’s modern Terminal 4. The design feels dated, with limited shopping and dining options, and it lacks the spacious, high-ceilinged architecture you find in newer terminals.
Check-in for Air France Business Class was straightforward, with a dedicated counter for premium passengers and SkyTeam Elite members. Security moved fairly quickly despite the evening rush, though the facilities in T2 definitely show their age.
At the gate, it became clear that our flight would not leave on time. The inbound Airbus A220 from Paris arrived nearly 40 minutes late, and after boarding was completed, we were further delayed due to a problem with the pushback truck at Madrid. Altogether, our departure slipped by about an hour, meaning I would miss my onward connection at CDG.
Still, seeing the sleek Air France A220-300 parked at the gate was a reminder of why I wanted to fly this aircraft. Even from the outside, it looked modern and sharp — a contrast to the dated terminal it was operating from.
Puerta de Alcalá Lounge
As a Business Class passenger with Air France, I had access to the Puerta de Alcalá Lounge in Terminal 2 before boarding. This lounge is used by several SkyTeam airlines and, while functional, it’s definitely not among the best in Europe. The interior feels dated, with basic furniture and a food selection that is limited to light snacks, cold items, and a few hot dishes.
Where the lounge does redeem itself, however, is in the views. Large windows overlook the apron, offering a perfect vantage point for plane spotting at Madrid-Barajas. With our flight delayed by nearly an hour, I actually enjoyed the extra time to watch aircraft movements, from narrowbody Iberia shuttles to widebody departures heading across the Atlantic. For an aviation enthusiast, it was easily the highlight of the lounge.
In short, the Puerta de Alcalá Lounge is not a destination in itself, but thanks to its apron views, it makes the wait — even during a delay — far more enjoyable.
Boarding Air France’s A220
After a long wait in Terminal 2, boarding for Air France flight AF1501 to Paris Charles de Gaulle finally began, about an hour behind schedule. Priority was given to Business Class and SkyTeam Elite passengers, and soon I was walking down the jet bridge toward the sleek Airbus A220-300 — one of the newest additions to Air France’s fleet.
Stepping onboard, the difference from the tired terminal was immediate. The A220 cabin felt bright, modern, and fresh, with large windows letting in plenty of natural light. The seating layout in Business Class is the typical European style: a 3–2 configuration in Economy, with the middle seat blocked in the forward rows to create more space and privacy for premium passengers. Crew welcomed me with a bottle of water, quite rare on European business class nowadays!
The overhead bins were spacious for a regional jet, and the mood lighting gave the cabin a contemporary feel. Despite the delay, the atmosphere onboard was calm and welcoming — a reminder of how much of an upgrade the A220 is compared to the older A318s and A319s it replaces in the Air France short-haul fleet.
Air France A220 Business Class Seat
The Air France A220 Business Class seat is essentially an upgraded short-haul product. On this flight I was seated in the forward cabin where the middle seat is blocked, providing extra space and privacy. The seats themselves felt modern, with slimline padding that was comfortable enough for the two-hour hop to Paris.
One clever design feature is found on the seatback in front of you: instead of personal entertainment screens, the A220 is equipped with a tablet/iPad holder, allowing passengers to rest their device at eye level. It’s a simple but practical solution for regional flights, especially if you bring your own entertainment.
Unfortunately, there was no Wi-Fi available on this aircraft. For an otherwise state-of-the-art regional jet, this felt like a missed opportunity, especially considering Air France markets the A220 as its next-generation short-haul flagship.
Legroom in Business Class was decent, with around 31–32 inches of pitch, and the large A220 windows made the cabin feel spacious and bright. Overall, the seat offered comfort and functionality, even if the lack of inflight connectivity was noticeable.
Food onboard
One thing to know about Air France European Business Class is that all meals on short- and medium-haul flights are served cold. While this might sound underwhelming at first, the quality of the catering is consistently high — and this flight from Madrid to Paris was no exception.
The meal was beautifully presented on a tray with real tableware and metal cutlery, instantly setting it apart from the cardboard-box style service offered by some competitors. My choice was a pasta salad with smoked trout, paired with fresh bread, cheese, and a small dessert. Despite being cold, the ingredients were fresh, flavorful, and unmistakably French in style.
The drink selection included wine, champagne, beer, soft drinks, and hot beverages. I opted for a glass of white wine to go with the meal, which complemented the smoked trout perfectly.
Air France proves that even without hot dishes, its EuroBusiness catering feels premium, refined, and true to the airline’s French identity.
Flying from Madrid to Paris
Our journey was already off to a late start: the inbound Air France A220 from Paris arrived nearly 40 minutes behind schedule. Once boarding in Madrid was complete, another delay hit us — this time due to a malfunction with the pushback truck. We sat parked at the gate for an additional 20 minutes before finally pushing back and taxiing to runway 36L.
It was a sizzling hot summer evening in Madrid, and the cabin felt stuffy until the engines were running. After a long taxi, we finally lifted off into hazy skies. The cruise toward Paris was mostly uneventful, with a blanket of clouds below and only the occasional glimpse of the French countryside during descent.
We landed at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) just about 10 minutes before my scheduled connection. That wasn’t nearly enough time to clear security and make it to the onward gate, especially given the sprawl of CDG’s terminals. The result: I missed my connection and had to overnight in Paris.
To make matters slightly more entertaining, during the post-landing taxi a few impatient passengers stood up and began opening the overhead bins before we reached the gate, causing a small moment of drama quickly shut down by the crew. A lighthearted ending to what was, overall, a frustratingly delayed journey.
Final Verdict – Air France A220 Business Class (Madrid to Paris)
Flying Air France Business Class on the Airbus A220 shows why this aircraft is considered one of the best regional jets in the world. The cabin is bright and modern, the seats are comfortable with clever features like the tablet holder, and the large windows make the cabin feel far more spacious than older A318s or A319s. Catering was also impressive: although Air France only serves cold meals on EuroBusiness flights, the quality was excellent, with fresh ingredients and proper presentation.
However, the overall journey was overshadowed by delays. A late arrival of the inbound aircraft, followed by a pushback truck malfunction in Madrid, meant we left more than an hour behind schedule. Arriving at CDG just 10 minutes before my connection was simply not enough time, and I ended up having to spend the night in Paris. For travelers relying on tight connections at CDG, this is a serious drawback.
In the end, the Air France A220 is a fantastic aircraft and a comfortable way to fly short-haul Business Class in Europe. But while the onboard experience was solid, the delays and missed connection made the journey far less enjoyable. If reliability and onward connections are critical, be prepared for the unpredictability of CDG transfers.
