Mar 12, 2018, 1:46 pm
Last edit by: Goldorak
This wikipost presents an updated summary of AF configurations and plans for deliveries and retrofitting the long-haul fleet with new J (and W) seats. For more details, please refer to the thread below
Last update on 15 JUL 2025
All the long-haul fleet is equipped with lie-flat seats in J. All the long-haul fleet is in 1-2-1 configuration in J with direct aisle access, with the exception of the A332 which are in 2-2-2 configuration.
B772
21 planes, all B772 with the BEST cabins (Zodiac Cirrus seat). A refit programme is nearing completion to standardise the 772 fleet with a 28J 32W 268M configuration, with the final frames in the hanger for refurbishment
- J seating is 1-2-1
- W seat is a hard-shell seat (the 1st generation of W seats installed by AF)
- Seating Config: C28W32Y268
B77W
4P Version with "Old" P (19 planes out of 43 77W : F-GSQA, F-GSQB, F-GSQC, F-GSQF, F-GSQG, F-GSQH, F-GSQI, F-GSQJ, F-GSQK, F-GSQL, F-GSQM, F-GSQU, F-GSQV, F-GSQY, F-GZNA, F-GZNB, F-GZNC, F-GZND, and F-GZNE)Last update on 15 JUL 2025
All the long-haul fleet is equipped with lie-flat seats in J. All the long-haul fleet is in 1-2-1 configuration in J with direct aisle access, with the exception of the A332 which are in 2-2-2 configuration.
B772
21 planes, all B772 with the BEST cabins (Zodiac Cirrus seat). A refit programme is nearing completion to standardise the 772 fleet with a 28J 32W 268M configuration, with the final frames in the hanger for refurbishment
- J seating is 1-2-1
- W seat is a hard-shell seat (the 1st generation of W seats installed by AF)
- Seating Config: C28W32Y268
B77W
- J seating is 1-2-1 (Zodiac Cirrus seat), aka BEST cabin, same as B772
- W seat is a hard-shell seat (the 1st generation of W seats installed by AF)
- Seating config: F4C58W28Y206
4P Version with "New" P (3 planes : F-GZNK, F-GZNP, F-GZNQ).
[F-GZND arrived @ ORY 08 APR for mods]
- New La Premier cabin with chaise lounge
- New J seat: Safran Cirrus 5C03 suites with a door in a 1-2-1 configuration
- W seat: Recaro PL3530 seats
- Seating config: F4C60W44Y204
COI version (14J) (12 planes out of 43 B77W : F-GSQO, F-GSQP, F-GSQT, F-GSQX, F-GZNG. F-GSQS, F-GZNF, F-GSQR, F-GSQN, F-GZNO, F-GZNL and F-GZNN).
- The J seat is Zodiac Optima (same as chosen for the initial batch of A350), similar to the UA Polaris seat, in a 1-2-1 configuration
- The W seat is the same as in the B789, i.e a hard-shell seat with a very slightly improved version compared to B772 and B77W (version with P).
- Seating config: C14W28Y430
Remaining 77W (9 planes out of 43 B77W : F-GZNS, F-GZNT, F-GZNI, F-GZNR, F-GZNU, F-GZNJ, F-GZNH, F-GSQD and F-GSQE)
- These planes were the former "NEV4" ones. Retrofits started in March 2022 and were completed in June 2024.
- New J seat: Safran Cirrus 5C03 suites with a door in a 1-2-1 configuration
- W seat: Recaro PL3530 seats
- Seating config: C48W48Y273
B789
- Ten planes have been delivered to AF (F-HRBA to F-HRBJ). No further deliveries are planned for AF (the initial order was for 15 frames, but the 5 remaining ones have been assigned to KL).
- J seat is BEST cabins (Zodiac Cirrus seat, slightly smaller than the 777 one, due to fuselage width limitation). The main difference with the B777 is the smaller tablet.
- J seating is 1-2-1
- The W seat is a hard-shell seat with a very slightly improved version compared to B772 and B77W (version with P).
- Seating config: C30W21Y228
A332
- As of 11/2025, only 7 planes remain in service (F-GZCA/F/G/K/M/N/O), but F & N are not flying at the moment, so only 5 are active. They are mostly flying to SXM, BLR, BEY, and some Africa routes (LAD, PNR, BZV, LFW).
- J seating is 2-2-2, with the Stelia Equinoxe seat (a similar seat can be seen in the UX B787).
- The W seat is the same as in the B789, i.e a hard-shell seat with a very slightly improved version compared to B772 and B77W (version with P).
- Seating config: C36W21Y167
A359
39 planes have been delivered as of 11/07/2025:
First batch (20): F-HTYA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/Q/R/S/T
- J seat is Zodiac Optima, same as in B77W COI version)
- J seating is 1-2-1
- The W seat is a Recaro recliner seat.
- Seating config: C34W24Y266
Second batch (19/21): F-HUVA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/Q/R/S/
- The new seat (Stelia Opera) is a slightly improved version of the BEST seat, with a door for privacy (similar to the one placed in the last batch of retrofitted B77W, with small differences).
- J seating is 1-2-1
- The W seat is a Recaro recliner seat.
- Seating config: C48W32Y212
RETIRED PLANE TYPES
Last plane was withdrawn in 2020.
Remaining 77W (9 planes out of 43 B77W : F-GZNS, F-GZNT, F-GZNI, F-GZNR, F-GZNU, F-GZNJ, F-GZNH, F-GSQD and F-GSQE)
- These planes were the former "NEV4" ones. Retrofits started in March 2022 and were completed in June 2024.
- New J seat: Safran Cirrus 5C03 suites with a door in a 1-2-1 configuration
- W seat: Recaro PL3530 seats
- Seating config: C48W48Y273
B789
- Ten planes have been delivered to AF (F-HRBA to F-HRBJ). No further deliveries are planned for AF (the initial order was for 15 frames, but the 5 remaining ones have been assigned to KL).
- J seat is BEST cabins (Zodiac Cirrus seat, slightly smaller than the 777 one, due to fuselage width limitation). The main difference with the B777 is the smaller tablet.
- J seating is 1-2-1
- The W seat is a hard-shell seat with a very slightly improved version compared to B772 and B77W (version with P).
- Seating config: C30W21Y228
A332
- As of 11/2025, only 7 planes remain in service (F-GZCA/F/G/K/M/N/O), but F & N are not flying at the moment, so only 5 are active. They are mostly flying to SXM, BLR, BEY, and some Africa routes (LAD, PNR, BZV, LFW).
- J seating is 2-2-2, with the Stelia Equinoxe seat (a similar seat can be seen in the UX B787).
- The W seat is the same as in the B789, i.e a hard-shell seat with a very slightly improved version compared to B772 and B77W (version with P).
- Seating config: C36W21Y167
A359
39 planes have been delivered as of 11/07/2025:
First batch (20): F-HTYA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/Q/R/S/T
- J seat is Zodiac Optima, same as in B77W COI version)
- J seating is 1-2-1
- The W seat is a Recaro recliner seat.
- Seating config: C34W24Y266
Second batch (19/21): F-HUVA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/Q/R/S/
- The new seat (Stelia Opera) is a slightly improved version of the BEST seat, with a door for privacy (similar to the one placed in the last batch of retrofitted B77W, with small differences).
- J seating is 1-2-1
- The W seat is a Recaro recliner seat.
- Seating config: C48W32Y212
RETIRED PLANE TYPES
A343
Last plane was withdrawn in 2021.
A388Last plane was withdrawn in 2020.
updated information about new J seats deployments and other information
Mar 19, 2018 | 12:25 pm
#61
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Ultimate/Platinum for life/Club2000, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 24,956
Mar 30, 2018 | 11:25 am
#62
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,724
Looks like SFO is getting more BEST seats!
I have a CDG - SFO flight this Dec and was booked on the 777-300 with 2-3-2 NEV4 seating. For the past year, I've been tracking the deployment schedule of the new cabins. Ultimately, I decided the nonstop over-rode other considerations and booked it. Enough people here said the NEV4 was fine for lounging and this wasn't an overnight.
Based on all the updates here about the 777-300 fleet retro-fit being done and the NEV4 configuration being assigned to SFO, my only chance to experience the new seats would be equipment substitution. Which didn't look like it happened often.
Yesterday, I went to check flights for next summer and noticed the additional summer flight was showing 777-200 with Best. Primary flight was the A380. But that's different than this past summer where they've used an A380 and a 777-300 with NEV4. I then checked my Dec flight and sure enough, our seat maps had been changed to 1-2-1 on a retro-fitted 777-300 with La Premiere.
I checked the 3 days before and after and they're all showing BEST. When I went back to check next summer, it showed 6 days a week in July with BEST config and just one day a week with NEV4.
I only had time to check the one week in Dec and the one week in July next year but certainly looks like they've deployed new config to SFO. At least for that time period.
I have a CDG - SFO flight this Dec and was booked on the 777-300 with 2-3-2 NEV4 seating. For the past year, I've been tracking the deployment schedule of the new cabins. Ultimately, I decided the nonstop over-rode other considerations and booked it. Enough people here said the NEV4 was fine for lounging and this wasn't an overnight.
Based on all the updates here about the 777-300 fleet retro-fit being done and the NEV4 configuration being assigned to SFO, my only chance to experience the new seats would be equipment substitution. Which didn't look like it happened often.
Yesterday, I went to check flights for next summer and noticed the additional summer flight was showing 777-200 with Best. Primary flight was the A380. But that's different than this past summer where they've used an A380 and a 777-300 with NEV4. I then checked my Dec flight and sure enough, our seat maps had been changed to 1-2-1 on a retro-fitted 777-300 with La Premiere.
I checked the 3 days before and after and they're all showing BEST. When I went back to check next summer, it showed 6 days a week in July with BEST config and just one day a week with NEV4.
I only had time to check the one week in Dec and the one week in July next year but certainly looks like they've deployed new config to SFO. At least for that time period.
Most of the flights between SFO and CDG now have BEST cabins?
Mar 31, 2018 | 8:09 am
#65
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: DL DM, UA MM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 178
As for summer, its easy to check. Just try to do a booking on Air France website. If it has a blue box that says Design +, you'll be in BEST. I just looked at a random June 6th date and the 8:30 pm is BEST. The 3:05 departure is on an A380 so not BEST and none of those have been re-fitted.
If you click on the Design+ logo, it will show you the flight details. Under the onboard section, you'll see 'the new business seat'.
If the late timing doesn't work for you, I recall most of the LAX departures were BEST. So you can do a quick connection down to LAX and fly out earlier.
Mar 31, 2018 | 12:51 pm
#68
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SJC / SFO
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum For Life; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 921
Last summer it was B777-200 with BEST on some flights and B777-300ER with NEV4 on other flights. They actually made the change to BEST from this winter season. From what I see this summer all B777 have BEST (incl. B777-300ER with P) but there are also A380 where you can get NEV3 / NEV4. Was about time though 
May 18, 2018 | 8:36 am
#70
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BER
Posts: 519
Is the Zodiac Cirrus seat on the AF 789 identical, apart from its look, to the version installed on KLM? The AF BEST seat on the 777 is one of the nicest products in my opinion, but for some reason I did not find the new KLM seat as nice. Not only is it narrower (fine with me), but there's also sort of an uneven surface near my hip when in bed mode.
May 18, 2018 | 4:06 pm
#71
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Ultimate/Platinum for life/Club2000, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 24,956
Is the Zodiac Cirrus seat on the AF 789 identical, apart from its look, to the version installed on KLM? The AF BEST seat on the 777 is one of the nicest products in my opinion, but for some reason I did not find the new KLM seat as nice. Not only is it narrower (fine with me), but there's also sort of an uneven surface near my hip when in bed mode.
- the lateral storage place is smaller
- the tablet is much smaller (too small IMO) and this is a consequence of the previous point
This is due to the smaller cabin width for the 787 compared to 777.
May 23, 2018 | 11:54 pm
#72
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: DL DM, TK ELP, LA PASS Black, FB Platinum
Posts: 128
Is the Zodiac Cirrus seat on the AF 789 identical, apart from its look, to the version installed on KLM? The AF BEST seat on the 777 is one of the nicest products in my opinion, but for some reason I did not find the new KLM seat as nice. Not only is it narrower (fine with me), but there's also sort of an uneven surface near my hip when in bed mode.
May 24, 2018 | 8:17 am
#73
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BER
Posts: 519
They are absolutely the same seats. I also found them not that nice because I cannot sleep very well in these seats. And in my opinion they are from bad quality. I flown a lot the KLM 787 and some AF 787 and about 40% of the seats had a damage. And what for me is ridiculous, that some month later there are still the same damages. I report after all flights the damage got always some miles or voucher but when I had the same seat on the same airplane some month later the same damage still exists. All airplanes are relatively new so that the seats should be in perfect conditions.
May 24, 2018 | 8:12 pm
#74
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Ultimate/Platinum for life/Club2000, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 24,956
if you love AF BEST in the 777, there is no reason for you to not love the BEST in the 787. The seats are the same and differences lie with a smaller tablet and slightly smaller lateral storage area.
Jul 2, 2018 | 9:41 am
#75
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 22
Does anyone have any idea about how often they change a flight that is scheduled to have the new seats to the old configuration for flights that fly out of LAX specifically?
I've been reading a lot of posts around here talking about those changes happening and it's making me think I'd be better off choosing another airline.
I've been reading a lot of posts around here talking about those changes happening and it's making me think I'd be better off choosing another airline.