Key Points
- Air France passengers can now watch 45+ hours of Apple TV content free on long-haul flights.
- The airline joins American, United, and Air Canada in offering complimentary Apple TV streaming.
- New high-speed Wi-Fi also provides one week of free Apple TV access on personal devices.
Introduction
Air France just made those long transatlantic flights significantly more entertaining. The airline announced this week that passengers can now stream select Apple TV shows for free on individual seatback screens during long-haul flights, with over 45 hours of content available. Even better, the airline's rolling out new high-speed Wi-Fi that includes a week of free Apple TV access on your own devices.
This move puts Air France in line with American Airlines, United, and Air Canada, all of which already offer Apple TV content. But here's what matters for points and miles enthusiasts: the best ways to book these flights and maximize your entertainment options.
What Air France Is Offering
The complimentary in-flight selection includes the first three episodes of several popular Apple TV originals. You'll find Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Severance, Prehistoric Planet, and The Snoopy Show, among others. All content is available in both French and English on your individual screen.
The bigger news is Air France's new high-speed Wi-Fi portal, which provides one week of free access to the full Apple TV library. This means you can stream on your own devices, not just what's loaded on the seatback system. The airline plans to have this new Wi-Fi portal across its entire fleet by the end of 2026.
How This Compares to Other Airlines
American Airlines pioneered the airline-Apple partnership back in 2020, and their offering remains the most extensive. American passengers get access to Apple TV content on most Wi-Fi-equipped flights, plus free Apple Music streaming for existing subscribers.
United joined the party in August 2025, offering full first seasons of shows like Severance, Slow Horses, and Ted Lasso. Air Canada also provides Apple TV originals as part of their in-flight entertainment system.
Delta notably isn't in the Apple TV club. Instead, they've partnered with Crunchyroll for anime content and maintain their extensive Delta Studio library with over 1,000 hours of movies, series, and live TV.
Best Credit Cards for Air France Flights
Air France is part of the SkyTeam alliance with Delta and flies several key routes from the US to Paris and beyond. Here's how to maximize these flights with the right travel credit cards.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and 3x points on dining and travel purchases. More importantly, those Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Flying Blue, Air France's loyalty program, at a 1:1 ratio.
You could book an economy ticket from New York to Paris for around 25,000 Flying Blue miles one-way during off-peak periods. With the Reserve's earning rates, that's achievable after spending $8,333 on travel and dining. Our complete Chase Sapphire Reserve guide walks through maximizing these benefits.
American Express Gold Card
The American Express Gold Card earns 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year). Those Membership Rewards points also transfer to Flying Blue at 1:1. The $250 annual fee is offset by $120 in Uber Cash and $120 in dining credits.
For frequent diners, this card can rack up points quickly. Spending $500 monthly at restaurants generates 24,000 points annually, nearly enough for that Paris flight. Check out the best dining credit cards if you want to compare other options.
Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns 2x miles on everything and 10x miles on hotels and car rentals through Capital One Travel. While Capital One miles don't transfer to Flying Blue, you can book Air France flights directly through the Capital One portal and redeem miles at 1 cent per mile.
The card's $395 annual fee is effectively $95 after the annual $300 travel credit, and you get Priority Pass lounge access, which works at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Our Capital One Venture vs. Venture X comparison helps you decide if the X is worth the upgrade.
Flying Blue Sweet Spots
Air France's Flying Blue program offers some excellent redemption opportunities beyond just flying to Paris. The program uses dynamic pricing, but you can still find value, especially on partner airlines.
Business class from the US to Europe typically runs 55,000-70,000 miles one-way during off-peak times. Compare that to cash prices of $3,000-$5,000, and you're getting solid value at around 5-7 cents per point. Our guide to best credit cards for flights to Europe explains the full strategy.
The program also has monthly Promo Rewards where select routes are discounted by 25-50%. These deals change monthly but can offer exceptional value if your travel dates align.
Making the Most of In-Flight Entertainment
Here's where the Apple TV content becomes genuinely useful for your travel strategy. Long-haul economy flights are more tolerable when you have quality entertainment. This matters because flying economy and using points for hotels often provides better overall value than splurging on business class.
For example, you could fly Air France economy from New York to Paris for 25,000 Flying Blue miles, then transfer 60,000 Chase points to Hyatt for three nights at a Category 4 property in Paris. That's a complete trip for 85,000 transferable points.
Alternatively, spending all your points on a business class ticket (55,000-70,000 miles) leaves you booking budget hotels with cash. Good entertainment makes economy flights perfectly comfortable for many travelers.
The Wi-Fi Strategy
Air France's new high-speed Wi-Fi with free Apple TV access adds another dimension. If you're planning to work on the flight, the improved Wi-Fi speeds matter more than the entertainment. Many premium travel credit cards offer Wi-Fi credits or reimbursements.
The Platinum Card from American Express includes a $200 annual airline fee credit that can sometimes cover Wi-Fi purchases, depending on how the charges post. The card's $695 annual fee becomes more justifiable if you're using credits like this alongside the $300 digital entertainment credit and lounge access.
What to Watch Before You Fly
If you're new to Apple TV content, here's what's worth your time based on the available shows. Ted Lasso is genuinely entertaining and works for all ages. The Morning Show offers compelling drama perfect for tuning out cabin noise. Severance is outstanding if you enjoy mind-bending sci-fi thrillers.
The smart move is watching the first episode or two at home so you know whether you'll enjoy the show. There's nothing worse than starting something mid-flight only to realize it's not your style.
Should You Book Air France?
Flying Air France with this new entertainment offering makes sense in several situations. If you're traveling with family, the kid-friendly options like The Snoopy Show and Prehistoric Planet are valuable. For solo travelers on overnight flights, quality entertainment beats trying to sleep in economy.
The airline's product is solid in economy, with decent legroom and good service. Combined with the ability to book using Flying Blue miles transferred from Chase, Amex, or Citi points, Air France often represents excellent value.
Their routes to Paris connect to an extensive European network, making them useful for positioning flights to secondary cities. The entertainment upgrade is a bonus, not the primary reason to fly them, but it's a welcome addition.
Other Airlines Offering Free Streaming
If Air France doesn't serve your routes, several other airlines offer similar entertainment perks. American Airlines provides the most extensive Apple TV access across their fleet, plus free Apple Music for subscribers. United's offering includes full first seasons of shows, giving you more complete viewing.
JetBlue stands out for free live TV via DirecTV on every flight, which is fantastic for sports fans or news junkies. Southwest offers a dozen live TV channels on many routes, though their entertainment overall is more limited.
Delta's lack of Apple TV is offset by their massive Delta Studio library and free Wi-Fi on domestic flights for all passengers. The airline consistently ranks first for in-flight entertainment thanks to this combination.
Making Your Decision
Choose Air France when Flying Blue award availability works in your favor and you're comfortable in economy with good entertainment. The new Apple TV offering and improved Wi-Fi make long flights more pleasant, but they shouldn't be your primary booking factors.
Focus instead on award availability, total cost in points or cash, and connection convenience. The entertainment is a nice value-add that makes Air France more competitive with other airlines in the SkyTeam alliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an Apple TV subscription to watch on Air France?
No, the in-flight content is completely free and doesn't require any subscription or login. The one-week free access through the new Wi-Fi portal also doesn't require an existing Apple TV subscription.
Which credit card earns the most points on Air France flights?
Cards that earn bonus points on travel purchases will maximize your Air France spending. The Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x points), Amex Gold (if booked as airline travel, 3x points with Amex travel booking), and Citi Premier (3x points on travel) all work well. Remember that earning transferable points matters more than the multiplier since you can transfer to Flying Blue for award tickets.
Can I transfer points from Chase to Air France?
Yes, Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. The transfer is typically instant or takes a few hours at most. This makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve excellent options for booking Air France award flights.
Is the Wi-Fi good enough for work on Air France?
Air France is rolling out new high-speed Wi-Fi across their fleet throughout 2026. Early reports suggest the speeds are sufficient for email and messaging, though video calls may be challenging. The new system is a significant improvement over their previous Wi-Fi.
How does Air France compare to Delta for transatlantic flights?
As SkyTeam partners, Air France and Delta share many routes and allow mutual redemptions. Delta typically offers more departure cities in the US, while Air France excels on specific routes from major hubs. Entertainment-wise, Delta's Studio library is more extensive, but Air France's Apple TV offering is catching up.
Conclusion
Air France's addition of Apple TV content brings them in line with other major carriers offering premium in-flight entertainment. The real value here isn't just the shows, but how this improvement makes economy class more comfortable for points-savvy travelers who'd rather save their miles for hotels or future trips.
The best strategy remains earning transferable points through cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Gold, then transferring to Flying Blue when award availability aligns with your travel plans. The improved entertainment and Wi-Fi are bonuses that make those award flights even better value.
This article contains affiliate links. If you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps us continue sharing points and miles strategies with the community.
