Travelore News: La Compagnie To Launch London-Newark, New Jersey Service

LONDON, England - French all-business-class airline La Compagnie, will launch its newest flight from London Luton to Newark, New Jersey on April 24.

The carrier will initially operate three flights per week, increasing to six flights per week from June.

The airline employs redesigned Boeing 757-200 aircraft equipped with 74 lie-flat seats in a 2×2 configuration throughout a single-aisle cabin. All seats have personal Samsung Galaxy Pro 12” tablets, which can be removed from the seat backs, uploaded with an assortment of e-books, magazines, music and movies.

Passengers are provided with in-flight amenity kits including cosmetic products from natural French skincare brand Caudalie, as well as in-flight meals with seasonal menus created by acclaimed French chef Christophe Langrée, former chef of Hotel de Matignon.

Business Class Is About To Get WAY Better

Business class has been a thing since the late 1970s and it's had a pretty sweet existence. And, thanks to new initiatives by several airlines, it's getting a whole lot snazzier to fly in swanky style.

Here's how:

1. JetBlue is getting faster.

Mint, JetBlue's new business class, will probably make their competitors turn a nice, envious shade of green. Featuring the "longest lie-flat beds in domestic business class," four private suites, and a 15-inch flat screen TV loaded with channels, the best part of the flight might take place before you take off -- an expedited check-in comes with your ticket!

2. And Air France is following "suite." 

Air France is upgrading their business class and will also feature seats that turn into full- length beds, as well as adding a new multipurpose area and a personal storage compartment. While we're glad there's a spot for all of our devices, we might be more excited about the cushy duvet and XXL pillow that will ensure sweet dreams and magnifique flights.

3. But British Airways isn't far behind.

British Airways is upgrading those sitting in "Club Europe" (their form of business class) with the introduction of new leather seating, a redesigned headrest, aconsole between seats to make eating and working easier, and even a tablet holder on the back of seats.

4. And this new airline promises to be business class ONLY.

With plans to fly only between Paris and Newark, the newest twist on business class only is coming from an airline calling themselves "La Compagnie." Withdesigner flight attendant uniforms, in-flight amenity kits, personal tablets,Michelin-starred meals and seats that fold all the way back, we can't wait for tickets to go on sale in the US on July 1st.

5. But Etihad Airways still might have the "World's Best Business Class."

Etihad's Pearl Business Class is a bit out of this world. Sure, the aisle seating for everyone, 6-foot beds, and your very own Food & Beverage Manager is pretty outstanding, but just wait until you land. Upon arrival, passengers are treated to the luxury of limo service with a personal chauffeur. Definitely beats that never-ending taxi line...

 | Contributed by Carly Ledbetter, The Huffington Post 

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A Business-Class Airline For The Price Of Coach Between Newark And Paris Starting July 11th

PHOTO COURTESY LA COMPAGNIE

La Compagnie, a new boutique airline (remember those?) is launching flights between Newark and Paris on July 11. Though its layout is all business-class layout, flights are priced closer to what you might expect for coach.

At a news conference to unveil the new name and livery (the line had been using the working name “Dreamjet”), co-founder Peter Luethi said roundtrip fares would range from $1,800 with restrictions to a fully flexible $4,600, and that prices could go even lower during sale periods. A check of major airlines on the same route in July showed the cheapest fare was approximately $1,600 roundtrip and more than $2,000 for premium economy. The line is currently awaiting approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to advertise fares here, but already has the greenlight from French authorities to take reservations. It’s starting with one plane, a single-aisle 757 with 74 lie-flat seat-beds, which will operate five flights per week. The goal is to offer daily flights by November, when it takes delivery of a second jet.

If this all sounds familiar, it is: La Compagnie is the brainchild of French entrepreneur Frantz Yvelin, who founded L’Avion, another premium boutique carrier that served the same route. L’Avion was acquired by British Airways in 2008, which merged it into its OpenSkies subsidiary.

But Luethi, a former executive with both Swissair and Jet Airways, stressed that this isn’t just a rehash of a tired business model a la Maxjet and Eos, two upscale lines that are now defunct. “It is not déjà vu,” he explains. “We have a new model that will be more cost efficient.” According to Luethi, the airline is starting out with €30 million in financing from a group of more than 40 investors. It doesn’t aspire to be the most luxurious product in the sky, he said, but “it will be the best value, relative to price and comfort.” With industry consolidation reducing the number of players, “we felt the timing was right,” he said.

Among the touches the line hopes will set it apart: menus created by Michelin-starred chef Christophe Langree; access to business-class lounges at both Paris Charles De Gaulle and Newark Airport’s newly renovated Terminal B; individual Samsung Galaxy tablets at each seat with a wide range of entertainment, along with Wi-Fi access later this year; and cosmetics kits from Caudelie. Seating will be in a two by two layout, with some 60 inches of pitch, equal to most international business classes.

Contributed by Barbara Peterson, cntraveler.com