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Want to fly to France in style, without paying top dollar? Then the French airline L’Avion may be just what you’re looking for. How’s this for a deal in Business Class: Newark to Paris, round trip for just $1,319 (excluding taxes and fees). Keep reading for a list of luxuries, and other deals. |
L’Avion only flies between Newark and Orly, and only one class: as the airline likes to say, it is “100% low-fare Business Class.”
Here’s what they offer:
- Wide seats that recline up to 140 (plenty of legroom)
- French food and Bordeaux wine
- Your personal digital entertainment system
- Individual PC power outlets
And look for special offers on hotels and cars, like their current Avis deal: rent a car in Orly for just $57+ a day (7-day minimum).
What can we add this, except…bon voyage!
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I flew L’Avon last year between Newark and Orly and feel that passengers need to understand exacatly what they are getting. While it is advertised as “all business class” flights, what they call Business Class are the old Business Class seats that have now been replaced in “Business Class” on most airlines by sleeper seats. I believe these are the same seats that BA offers in its upgraded coach service, World Traveler Plus. (Virgin Atlantic also offers this service)
As the plane still holds something like 75 seats and all are “Business Class” everyone checks in at the same place and I waited about 45 mintues in Newark and 30 minutes in Paris to check in. Longer than I have ever waited to check in for coach.
There was no lounge in Newark (though I believe they were planing one) and the one in Paris left much to be desired.
The inflight service was awful in my opinion. The planes are under staffed and badly trained so if you are not seated in the first couple of rows you can wait a long time for service. I was in row 5 on the outbound flight and it took about one hour to get my dinner and there was no drink service ahead of time. On the way back I made sure I was seated in the first row in the 2nd cabin and it was much better. At no point on either flight did anyone ever offer to refil my wine glass, I had to ask each time. The food was medocre at best.
The inflight entertainment is individual DVD players so you must wait until the meal service is over and cleared away before you can watch a movie.
Having said all that, it is good value for the price as long as you are not expecting real Business Class service. I think if any other airline between NYC and Paris offered the equivilant of BA’s World Traveler Plus for the same price, I would opt for the professionalism that these airlines offer (at least in the air)as well as Priority Check in if you have FF Status, etc.
As they don’t, go for L’Avion and let’s hope service improves!
Comment by Bob Hertzka — March 24, 2008 @ 3:31 am