Review of La Compagnie flight Newark Paris in Business

Airline La Compagnie
Flight B0 101
Class Business
Seat 17F
Aircraft Boeing 757-200
Flight time 07:20
Take-off 15 Jun 16, 20:35
Arrival at 16 Jun 16, 09:55
B0 22 reviews
KévinDC
By SILVER 6461
Published on 21st July 2016
Hello and welcome to a new short series of reports. As I've gotten more and more behind in publishing reports, I'll start with my most recent flights.

Last month I took a trip to the motherland to attend a wedding. Normally, I prefer to take my summer vacation trips home to France in August, but this year my dates were fixed. One problem with going to Europe so early, is that it's not technically summer season yet in the airline world. That means that Business class tickets aren't yet at the lower summer tourist season discounted rates that I usually take advantage of each summer. Not wanting to spend over $3500 for a short Transatlantic to stick with oneworld, I shopped around and found a really good deal with La Compagnie. I'd been really curious about this new All-Business class airline and decided that, for the significant price difference, it would be worth cheating on oneworld.

There aren't many reviews out there on La Compagnie, and opinions seemed to be a mixed bag. In fact, this is the first Flight-Report in English on this airline. However, I've been intrigued about this little airline–I'd been following the progress of this new boutique carrier from the start. So many before had failed at flying across the pond in All-Business class configurations. The economic climate is different now than it was in the pre-2008 boom times during which we saw several All-Business class airlines launch and sink. Perhaps, the post-World Financial Crisis shell shocked business travel environment is now ready for the low-cost All-Business class model. La Compagnie has now been operating for over two years and flies to London as well as Paris from Newark Liberty–it would seem that the airline is doing something right.

Living in Washington, DC, there aren't too many options for direct flights to France. Only Air France and United fly direct from DC to Paris. OpenSkies briefly flew IAD-ORY in 2010-2011–I definitely miss having that extra option. With so few direct options, connections in another hub are often necessary. Evening connections in the Northeast can be risky in the summertime due to regular afternoon thunderstorms or just normal air traffic congestion. That being said, when possible, taking the train to either Philadelphia or New York, is always a viable option for me. Taking a train to Newark is actually more convenient than a connecting flight as the ride is only 2.5 hours direct from Union Station in downtown DC to the Newark Airport train station. So the fact that La Compagnie flies out of Newark is basically the next best thing to flying out of DC.

The Airport Experience



We arrived at Newark Liberty Airport a little over 3 hours before departure. We found the La Compagnie ticket counter easily enough; unfortunately it wasn't open yet.

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The empty ticket counter

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I checked on the La Compagnie website from my phone and saw that it was indeed written that check in opens 2.5 hours prior to departure. This seems really late to me–most airlines that only have one flight per day will open at least 3 hours prior to departure, if not 4. This seems like a cost-saving measure, which is understandable, but not friendly to the leisure travellers, who most likely make up a large part of La Compagnie's traffic.

Waiting outside for the counter to open. Ah…that seventies aesthetic that is Newark Airport!

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About 15 minutes before the counters are due to open, we head back inside. At this point, a long line has begun to form and many people are wondering why the counters aren't open yet.

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Several waiting passengers went over to ask the agents at the Icelandair counter next door if they knew when the La Compagnie counters would open. Those poor Icelandair agents must get harassed all the time.

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At 2.5 hours before departure, the ticket counters are still not open. One cool feature of the ticket counters at Newark is that screens display pictures of the airline–a nice #AvGeek touch IMO.



Finally, 15 minutes late, the ticket counters open and the carpets are rolled out. I had to laugh because they put a "Business Class" sign at the end of the queue stanchions. Not really necessary, when the whole flight is Business class. I suppose they were trying to be cute.

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The check-in was very fast and efficient and the agent was smiling and friendly. She gave us directions to the lounge and informed us that it was outside of security. I'm not a fan of lounges outside of security as you have to leave earlier to make sure you get to the gate on time, but with only 72 seats on board our 757, the aircraft only boards about half an hour before departure, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the lounge.

La Compagnie uses a third party lounge also accessible to Priority Pass members in Terminal B, called Art & Lounge

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As we were among the first to check in, we are among the first to arrive in the lounge. The decor is pleasant, though it is small and will get quite crowded as we get closer to departure time, especially when the London passengers start to arrive.

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The food offering is rather decent for a U.S. lounge, with several warm options including pasta and egg rolls.

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There was also a nice selection of alcoholic beverages and wines, including rosé and sparkling.

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Not knowing how long the wait at security would be, we left the lounge about 20 minutes before boarding was due to begin. Security moved rather quickly, but it was funny to note that there were way more people in the "Premium" lanes than in the regular lanes, since our whole flight is "Premium".

Move Seventies-ness airside

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Here is our bird. F-HCIE, a 21 year old former Thomson Airways Boeing 757-200. It is La Compagnie's 2nd aircraft; acquired in early 2015 to open up the Newark-London route.

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I really like the metallic blue livery. It's certainly more interesting than most boring Euro-white liveries out there.

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Speaking of boring liveries, there's a good example right there :-)

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Because there is no priority boarding on a plane where all seats are Business class, I hung around near the podium to board early so that I could get some decent cabin shots. I normally don't like gate lice, but in the absence of a priority lane, you do what you gotta do as a Flight-Reporter :-)

Boarding



Boarding started right on time. Only a few people were waiting by the boarding door with me. Most others were in no rush at all–this was a nice change of pace from the usual North American stampede to get onboard.

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The metallic blue looks nice up close as well. The blue glow of mood lighting looks good as you board and I find the La Compagnie FA uniforms to be quite chic.

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The first impression of the cabin is good. It looks really fresh and modern despite the age of the aircraft. The luggage bins are a new round design, which along with the mood lighting, helps to give the cabin that modern look.

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The seats are the same as Lufthansa's old Business class seats. I'm not sure if La Compagnie got them from LH directly or not.

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These seats are not the same as on La Compagnie's first aircraft, F-HTAG. The cabin from H-TAG only is featured in all promotional material and adverts, such as the photos displayed on the screens at check-in. I must admit it is odd that an airline with only two aircraft has such different looking seats on each plane. I imagine that cost has something to do with it. The seats may look different, but in the end they are both angled-lie flat seats.

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Lots of space at the exit row.

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My seat in the mini cabin at the rear of the aircraft.

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Views of the rear mini cabin

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Legroom is great with seats pitched at 62 inches.

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The seats are showing some signs of wear and tear. My seat was missing a part in the armrest. The German labels are another clue to the seats' Lufthansian origins.

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Amenity kits were handed out during boarding.

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The contents are decent, with the typical eyemask, ear plugs, and socks combo, in addition to a pen, a small mirror, toothbrush and toothpaste, and Caudalie hand creme.

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Welcome drinks are served in plastic cups–and here I thought only U.S. carriers did that. There is a choice of water or a champagne cocktail. There is no pure champagne on offer for pre-departure beverage service. The champagne cocktail consists of champagne, cranberry juice, and a Fraise Tagada–a Haribo strawberry candy very popular in France.

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That's a nice winglet!

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It feels funny to be behind the wing and still in Business class. Granted, I've experienced this before on OpenSkies–still, it's a rare occasion.

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We pushed back a few minutes early

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The safety video is played on the overhead screens.

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The Flight



Video of the takeoff



Steep turn after takeoff

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We fly back around just to the north of the airport

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We fly right over Manhattan

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Lights are lowered and the cabin is bathed in blue mood lighting after takeoff

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The In-Flight Entertainment is a Samsung Galaxy tablet.

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The headphones are La Compagnie branded, but the quality isn't great

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I don't mind tablets over seatback/integrated IFE, especially since you can read news articles or magazines right on the tablet.

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This was a few days before the Brexit vote.

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The choice of movies and TV shows could have been better, however

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One thing that is nice, and surprising, is that an airshow is available. Other flights on other airlines I've been on that have featured tablets, did not have a moving map feature.

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And here we are flying past the Cape just as dinner is about to be served

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You can also see the drinks and dining menu on the tablets

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Except that the dinner that was served was completely different from what is described on the menu.

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The wine list was accurate, however.

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There are only 3 flight attendants for 72 seats, so they are rather busy and don't have much time to chat, but they were all very friendly and efficient. There is no aperitif service on this flight and there is only one meal option served on one tray. Our friendly FA described the dishes orally since the menus were incorrect: A chicken salad is served with a butternut squash soup. Cheese and dessert are also all on the same tray.

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The light supper concept is fine and everything was tasty, but it is a shame not to have any options at all. This is where the low-cost aspects of the carrier are most evident.

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There is a separate digestif service, which is nice. I had a Poire Williams to help me get to sleep.

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View of the main cabin after dinner

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We're just about to leave the Canadian Maritime provinces for the open ocean as I settle down for some sleep.

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I slept a good 4 hours and woke up as breakfast was being served.

While the evening meal service was light, the breakfast is quite hearty for a short transatlantic flight, compared to other airlines. Air France, for example, only serves a light continental breakfast of fruit, yogurt, and pastries.

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Good Morning!

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The weather in the Paris area was grey and rainy

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Arrival



Landing on the north runways, it was short taxi to Terminal 1

Past a Thai Airways A380

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And a French government jet

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Last view of the cabin on deplaning

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We had received Accès No. 1 cards upon disembarking which gave access to the priority queues at immigration.

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We were through in just a few minutes and into the famous tubes of CDG's aging Terminal 1

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The Euro Cup was going on at the time

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After grabbing our luggage at the carousel, we were out to the rental car within 45 minutes of arrival. Not bad for Paris!

Spotted our plane as we drive away towards the city.

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Thanks for reading!
See more

Verdict

La Compagnie

7.0/10
Cabin6.5
Cabin crew9.0
Entertainment/wifi7.0
Meal/catering5.5

Art & Lounge

6.5/10
Comfort6.0
Meal/catering7.0
Entertainment/wifi6.5
Services6.5

Newark - EWR

8.0/10
Efficiency7.5
Access8.5
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.0

Paris - CDG

7.8/10
Efficiency8.0
Access7.5
Services8.0
Cleanliness7.5

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend La Compagnie. If you're not too worried about miles and points on the big alliances, this is a really good option for flights between New York and London/Paris. La Compagnie does not have the best Business class product in the Transatlantic market, nor does it pretend to. The product is basic for Business class, but much better than any Premium Economy. Some reviews I've read have compared the product to a superior Premium Economy--anyone who compares this product to Premium Economy is just flat out wrong.

Despite the heavy workload with only 3 flight attendants on a full flights, the FAs were always very courteous and friendly. But with only 3 FAs for 70+ passengers, you can't expect too much personal attention. The catering is probably where the low-cost aspect of the company is most obvious, but again, it's really not the end of the world, for the price. Still much better than anything you'd get in Economy or Premium Economy. The champagnes and wines were good for Business class.

Bottom line, La Compagnie is great value for money. For often just a few hundred dollars more round-trip than Economy, you are getting a Business class experience and a good night's rest.

Information on the route Newark (EWR) Paris (CDG)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 20 avis concernant 4 compagnies sur la ligne Newark (EWR) → Paris (CDG).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est La Compagnie avec 7.8/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 8 heures et 21 minutes.

  More information

23 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 358724 by
    hometoyyz 539 Comments
    Great report on a product, and business model, that kinda fascinates me. Although I have to say my excitement about it is quite tempered by your suggestion that this is either just like, or might in fact be, the former LH C product. I'm not against angle-flat, but I really quite intensely disliked the old Lufty Slider.

    That said, the service looks pretty good, and they've done nice things with that old 752.

    Thanks for reporting it!
    • Comment 358727 by
      KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
      Thanks a lot for your comments Hometoyyz! Yeah, I'm pretty sure these are the actual Lufty sliders. There was definitely an angle, but I feel like it wasn't as bad as the LH days. I believe the seats are pitched a few more inches than LH, so maybe they go flatter as a result. I managed not to slide down too much over the course of the evening, but there's no denying there's an angle. The seats on the other plane are more like the old AF seats. That'll be in the report on the return flight. Thanks for stopping by!
  • Comment 358731 by
    757Fan 632 Comments
    Thanks for this report, Kevin! It was good to read and learn more about La Compagnie. I've seen their 757 before at EWR, and wondered what they were like. Looks like a pretty good airline, and seats look comfortable.

    I'd agree with you that the dinner meal looks a bit lacking in some ways, but the breakfast meal looks quite good.

    Looking forward to your next report!

    Matthew
    • Comment 358866 by
      KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
      Thanks for stopping by Matthew. Yes, I've been really wanting to try them since I saw their plane in EWR last year flying in on OpenSkies from Paris. I liked their livery...haha, that's basically all it takes for me to want to try a new airline...a nice livery. It's basically why I switched to AA, hahaha. Thanks for your comments!
  • Comment 358776 by
    Numero_2 TEAM BRONZE 10410 Comments
    Merci pour ce FR !

    "Not wanting to spend over $3500 for a short Transatlantic to stick with oneworld, I shopped around and found a really good deal with La Compagnie." -> Et donc à combien était vendu ce week-end ? ;)

    La configuration "tout business" a le désavantage de ne pas avoir de priorité à l'embarquement et de devoir faire la queue comme en Y...

    Les sièges proviennent de LH pour sûr. Intéressant de voir que tu as noté cette cabine avec une note semblable à ce que Pititom avait donnée à LH à l'époque.

    La tablette avec géovision, là je dis oui (contrairement à AC Rouge).

    "Except that the dinner that was served was completely different from what is described on the menu." -> Apparemment c'est assez récurrent avec B0.

    "There are only 3 flight attendants for 74 seats" -> Ouch !

    "This is where the low-cost aspects of the carrier are most evident." -> En plus du fait que la vaisselle semble être en plastique.

    Bref un produit qui ne me tente pas tellement.

    A bientôt.
    • Comment 358869 by
      KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
      Merci pour tes commentaires Clément!

      "Et donc à combien était vendu ce week-end ? ;)"
      - $1500 A/R -- c'est vraiment pas mal. J'ai déjà payé plus cher pour la Premium

      "Intéressant de voir que tu as noté cette cabine avec une note semblable à ce que Pititom avait donnée à LH à l'époque."
      - Ca faisait trèeees longtemps que je n'avais pas pris un vol avez des toboggans, mais honnêtement je n'ai pas trouvé l'angle trop mal. C'est peut être que le pitch est amélioré par rapport à l'époque LH et donc les lits sont plus plats...juste une impréssion, je n'ai aucune preuve, LOL

      "Apparemment c'est assez récurrent avec B0."
      - Oui, il me semble que j'avais vu ça dans un autre FR. Il faudrait carrément arrêter de mettre le menu sur la tablette s'il est toujours faux lol

      "En plus du fait que la vaisselle semble être en plastique."
      - Oui, tu as raison, elle est en plastique, j'ai oublié de le mentionné dans le FR. Mais c'est vrai que c'est assez évident. Il me semble que ce sont les mêmes assiètes qu'avaient L'Avion et OpenSkies à une époque. C'est vrai que ça fait cheap, mais encore, pour le prix, ce n'est pas surprennant non plus

      "Bref un produit qui ne me tente pas tellement"
      - Perso, pour $1500 je trouve aue le rapport qualité/prix est imbattable. Est-ce que je paierai plus de $2000 pour ce produit? Non, ça ne le vaut pas

      Merci encore pour tes commentaires!
      • Comment 358870 by
        Numero_2 TEAM BRONZE 10410 Comments
        Pour être tout à fait honnête je ne connais pas les tarifs de la J en TATL mais je trouve quand même le prix payé cher (surtout en ne gagnant aucun mile) en comparaison du tarif UA dont j'ai bénéficié ex-CPH pour HNL...
        • Comment 358871 by
          Numero_2 TEAM BRONZE 10410 Comments
          J'ai écrit week-end ? Je ne devais pas être encore totalement réveillé à 6h ce matin. lol
          • Comment 358883 by
            KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
            LOL, Oui, ca aurait été cher payé pour un week-end. Un bon tariff BA Sales, je peut l'avoir pour environ $2000. Hors promos un prix ex-US TATL est typiquement $3500. Sachant que pour les mêmes dates l'Y avec AF et UA ex-IAD était à plus de $1500, AF était à $1900 d'ailleurs, ce qui est complètement ridicule pour de l'éco. Donc sachant que mes dates étaient fixes c'était une bonne option, mais c'est vrai que le manque de miles fait mal. Si j'avais pu rentrer au mois d'août, j'aurais pu profiter des BA sales et avoir de la J à moins de $2000. Même la First BA était à $2800. Hélas, ce n'était pas possible
  • Comment 358806 by
    marathon GOLD 10106 Comments
    I hate it when airlines open their check-in counters just in time to handle the checking in of their passengers, thereby reducing their passengers' much more interesting and comfortable airside experience. This is especially true when the local logistics uncertainties mandate a huge safety margin to get to the airport - apparently not your case here.

    A lounge outside security is yet another drawback, as you point out.

    Great to have the airshow on the tablet - it is a usual drawback of that option that it is missing.

    Thanks for sharing !
    • Comment 358884 by
      KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
      Thanks very much for your comments Marathon!

      "thereby reducing their passengers' much more interesting and comfortable airside experience."
      - yes, I completely agree with you. This is clearly a cost savings measure to reduce staffing costs and costs for lounge access. it is unfortunate.

      "Great to have the airshow on the tablet - it is a usual drawback of that option that it is missing."
      - Yes, it is nice. Even though it wasn't the best airshow, it was good to have.
  • Comment 358915 by
    socalnow 976 Comments
    Thank you KevinDC for this thorough and fun look at the value proposition that is La Compagnie.

    "...it would be worth cheating on oneworld. "
    -Delta/Skyteam are just now getting over losing you and now this?!? Poor AA probably didn't even see it coming. :)

    "I had to laugh because they put a "Business Class" sign at the end of the queue stanchions. "
    -Indeed amusing!

    "The In-Flight Entertainment is a Samsung Galaxy tablet."
    -This almost comes off more clunky to me than integrated (in seat) IFE. Nice there was a map though!

    "This is where the low-cost aspects of the carrier are most evident."
    -Seems so. But credit ot the idea of a brief snack so there is time to sleep and putting more emphasis on the pre-arrival meal. This is not a bad idea for short TATL flights.

    Love the shots of T1! I don't know why but I'm so very captivated by that terminal.

    "Bottom line, La Compagnie is great value for money. For often just a few hundred dollars more round-trip than Economy, you are getting a Business class experience and a good night's rest."
    -I'm glad you enjoyed the flight and found good value in the product. Looking forward to the return!

    Thanks again and happy flying.
    • Comment 359212 by
      KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
      Thanks for your comments Socalnow!

      "Poor AA probably didn't even see it coming. :)"
      - Haha, though they can't be surprised. Ever since they gutted AAdvantage, I see less and less value in loyalty.

      "This almost comes off more clunky to me than integrated (in seat) IFE"
      - It is more clunky, especially when charging with wires for the headphones and charger, but there is a nice holder in the back of the seat in front so you can just leave it there like a normal integrated IFE.

      "Love the shots of T1! I don't know why but I'm so very captivated by that terminal."
      - It's getting old, but it does have that cool futuristic 60s architecture. Kind of like the old Pan Am Worldport that DL let fall apart and then razed :-/
  • Comment 358973 by
    Rl 777 802 Comments
    Thank you for sharing this FR with us Kevin!

    It's always interesting to try out something new (may not apply to everyone).

    EWR did a good job with the display screens at the check-in counters.

    "At 2.5 hours before departure, the ticket counters are still not open."
    - Very interesting and probably frustrating for most of the pax, we were allowed to check in 3,5h before departure in SIN for our QR flight to DOH in Y.

    The livery is unique and looks nice!

    There are definitely a handful of noticeable cost-cutting aspects of the trip e.g. tablet instead of fixed IFE on seat (some may prefer a tablet), times for check-in, not the best seat etc. but that should be expected with the low fares they charge. It's definitely a great product for the price and as you said, still much better than any Y+ experience.

    An excellent experience IMO for a few hundred $ more than Y.

    Thank you for sharing this interesting flight with an interesting airline!

    Have a good one, see you!


    • Comment 359214 by
      KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
      Thanks for your comments RI777!

      "we were allowed to check in 3,5h before departure in SIN for our QR flight to DOH in Y."
      - Does QR not have early check-in at SIN? Many airlines at SIN let you check in as early as 24 hours before departure at special early check-in counters. It's one of my favorite things about SIN.

      "still much better than any Y+ experience"
      - Yes indeed. The noticeable cost-cutting measures are to be expected for such a price, but you definitely get a good product for the price.

      Thanks for stopping by!


      • Comment 359220 by
        Rl 777 802 Comments
        My bad, you're completely right! I just found a picture from from that flight and it was indeed early check-in. I didn't know that was a special thing at SIN, thank you for the correction!

        Have a good one, see you!
  • Comment 359071 by
    indianocean SILVER 7572 Comments
    Clément m'a coupé l'herbe sous les pieds en ce qui concerne le prix que tu as payé pour cet AR en Business.

    Comme tu le dis, compte-tenu du tarif, il faut beaucoup relativiser. Et au final un produit Business très convaincant pour un voyage dans le confort.

    Il me semble que La Compagnie souhaite acquérir de nouveaux appareils, de préférence jeunes. Je pense alors que le confort devrait être accru.

    Merci Kevin.
    • Comment 359216 by
      KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
      Merci beaucoup pour tes commentaires Bernard!

      "Et au final un produit Business très convaincant pour un voyage dans le confort."
      - Exactement. Cette Business ne vaut as $3000+, mais pour $1500, c'est plus que correct.

      "Il me semble que La Compagnie souhaite acquérir de nouveaux appareils, de préférence jeunes."
      - Oui, j'ai vu un interview récemment oû ils parlaient d'acquérir des A321neo LR

  • Comment 359136 by
    NGO85 SILVER 1955 Comments
    “Newark is basically the next best thing to flying out of DC.”
    - What about AA out of PHL^^ An ex-US bird in Y would be the perfect fit :)

    “This seems really late to me”
    - It is a French company, very strict work schedules ;) that or they just follow the CM handbook^^ 2.5 hours pre-departure is way too soon since most airlines argue bags checked less than 90 minutes before an international flight are not guaranteed.

    “I'm not a fan of lounges outside of security”
    - What a bad idea, with TSA, that is a risky game of Russian roulette you are playing. What is the reason behind lounges like this? Is it cheaper to operate based on security implementations of bringing staff/supplies through airport security?

    “There was also a nice selection of alcoholic beverages and wines, including rosé and sparkling.”
    - Not a bad looking lounge for US citizens, the food looked well presented. Too bad, your plate is not approved for a LY flight^^ Did the LY flight leave at different times as the B0 flights? I can’t imagine fitting another 50 people in there.

    “The luggage bins are a new round design”
    - This is called “deboxing” the cabin. Although I do like the old sliding doors they had on some cabins for the overhead bins^^ I bet they just bought whatever seats they could get when they got the 2nd plane as opposed to trying to match the cabins perfectly.

    Great aerials on departure, I commend your dusk photography abilities, they didn’t come out too bad! Manhattan shot was excellent.

    “The choice of movies and TV shows could have been better, however”
    - Only 7 movies??? I like how the tablet had the moving map and had a place where you could clip it into the back of the seat in front of you. Better than most tablets were you are trying to awkwardly prop it somewhere while you eat.

    “but it is a shame not to have any options at all”
    - The tray unfortunately reminds me a lot of a domestic flight (although the main looks a lot bigger and much better presentation). No linens is also a negative. Do they offer meal selection online or just the standard special meal requests? The meal elections almost seem like they are geared to business travelers versus leisure, offering an early bedtime and a larger breakfast to start the day.

    That said, for the price they offer, it fills a nice niche for the leisure traveller since Y fares to Europe can be highly variable depending on the season. I think if they could have had Orly slots, they would be even more attractive for access to the city. Here’s a thought, how many Cirrus seats can you fit on a B757? An all 1-1 plane would be rather attractive^^

    Thanks for sharing Kevin, you win the award for most French comments on an English report^^
    • Comment 359233 by
      KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
      "An ex-US bird in Y would be the perfect fit :)"
      - PHL is an option, and it has helped me in the past when there have been cancellations (FR from earlier this year still not published). But yeah, as you'll see in that FR, whenever I get around to finally publishing it. I try to avoid US metal.

      "2.5 hours pre-departure is way too soon since most airlines argue bags checked less than 90 minutes before an international flight are not guaranteed."
      - Yep, I think part of it is cost saving, and the other part of it is that they want to cater to Business travellers and are falsely assuming that all Business travellers like to show up at the airport last minute. I've heard them say this in an interview before.

      "What is the reason behind lounges like this?"
      - It is a bad idea--no idea, honestly. I can only speculate that rent must be cheaper landside and also that with in a multiple terminal layout like EWR (or JFK, LAX, etc), it makes it easier for Priority Pass members to have access.

      "Did the LY flight leave at different times as the B0 flights?"
      - The LY flight doesn't leave until 11:30, thankfully.

      "I bet they just bought whatever seats they could get when they got the 2nd plane as opposed to trying to match the cabins perfectly."
      - Yup, makes sense. Still, it's weird for their branding. But it didn't really bother me. Although I liked the seats on the other plane slightly better.

      "Only 7 movies??? I like how the tablet had the moving map"
      - Nah, there were more, I was scrolled all the way down. Something like 40 movies altogether, but very few that were recent. The moving map feature is great--the only tablet IFE I'm aware of that has a moving map.
    • Comment 359234 by
      KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
      "I commend your dusk photography abilities, "
      - Why thank you. Dusk, I can do. Full night, I still have problems with.

      "The tray unfortunately reminds me a lot of a domestic"
      - Yes, it's a lot like a meal in Domestic F, but like you say, with more attention to presentation and a bigger main. Yes, the lack of linens (except the linen in the tray) is another cheap aspect to the service.

      "Do they offer meal selection online or just the standard special meal requests? "
      - Nope, just the standard special meal selection. Maybe next time I'll do a Special Meal Request. the Indian meal sometimes works out for Adan, lol. Yes, they are trying to gear everything more towards the Business traveller, but I can't imagine that more than half their pax are actual Business flyers.

      "I think if they could have had Orly slots, they would be even more attractive for access to the city. "
      - In a recent interview they were asked about that. It turns out they chose CDG on purpose--they could've gone with Orly. I think generally CDG is seen more as the primary Paris airport even if ORY is slightly closer to the city center.

      "how many Cirrus seats can you fit on a B757? An all 1-1 plane would be rather attractive^^"
      - Haha, well if AA A321Ts are any indication, I think a 757 or similar fuselage would only fit like 40 seats max in 1-1

      "you win the award for most French comments on an English report^^"
      - Hahaha Yep! Thanks for stopping by!
  • Comment 359191 by
    NicoWK 1661 Comments
    Hello Kévin!

    Thanks for this FR! I will try my first comment in English!

    A very nice flight! This 757 all business class, looks like a big private jet! ;-)

    But the IFE system dose not look to easy to lay it... If you want to watch a movie in a relax position.

    Even without choice, the catering seems to be great!

    It was a pleasure to meet up in DC.

    Thanks, see ya!
    • Comment 359231 by
      KévinDC TEAM SILVER AUTHOR 6658 Comments
      Thanks a lot for coming over to the English site and commenting!
      Yes, it does feel a lot like a private jet.

      "But the IFE system dose not look to easy to lay it... If you want to watch a movie in a relax position."
      - The tablet fits nicely into a holder on the seatback of the seat in front, which is perfect when laying down.

      Yes, I can't complain about the quality of the catering. It was good, despite the lack of choice.

      I was great to see you too. I'm sure we'll have other opportunities to meet up in the future.

      Thank you for stopping by NicoWK!

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