Travel to France in Business Class at Half the Price

When La Compagnie, the all-business-class airline, announced significant upgrades to its fleet—introducing new Airbus A321neos for routes from Newark International Airport to France—it barely caught my attention. I had previously flown this French boutique airline from Newark to Gatwick and was underwhelmed. Even with a competitive fare of $1,000—half of the usual round-trip business class price to France—the older aircraft, a hand-me-down from Icelandair, felt worn out. The food was mediocre, the seats didn't fully recline, and the entertainment was limited to a tablet. I understood the trade-off, but it felt only slightly better than economy class. Plus, I couldn't earn air miles (#SkyTeamforlife).

However, there's always room for enhancement—and who’s really racking up air miles these days? I opted to give La Compagnie another shot on a December 2021 flight from Newark to Paris Orly. The new Airbus A321neos are marketed as quieter and more fuel-efficient. Thanks to their advanced engines and Sharklet wingtip devices, fuel consumption is reduced by 20 percent per seat—something worth considering in 2021.

Check-In at EWR

At Newark Airport, both check-in and security were straightforward. La Compagnie provides priority access in the TSA PreCheck lane; although it wasn't needed on a quiet Sunday evening at Terminal B, it's reassuring to know it exists. While the airline’s lounge was closed, the empty terminal ensured I had no trouble finding a seat.

We boarded promptly and might have taken off ahead of schedule if it weren't for another aircraft blocking the runway (the French pilot was clearly frustrated by the delay, which I appreciated). This reminded me of one of La Compagnie’s standout features: once boarding is complete—swiftly done on a 76-seat plane—the flight departs. It offers an efficiency and ease reminiscent of private flying, all at a fraction of the price.

Business-Class Seating for Everyone

The seating is arranged in pairs, ideal for couples or friends traveling together. There are also partitions available to create some privacy. I settled into seat 1F—a lie-flat seat like all the others, featuring a large in-seat screen (no longer a tablet), a plush pillow, a cozy blanket, over-the-ear headphones, and an amenity kit filled with socks, an eye mask, and Caudalie products.

After takeoff, warm towels were distributed and a light meal was served (masks are still required during the flight when not eating). The menu was displayed on the screen: choices included seared tuna with quinoa or a burrata and asparagus salad, accompanied by coconut soup, a cheese selection, and apple crumble.

The flight was nearly flawless. I opted for the tuna, which was as fresh and simple as a quality grocery-store salad, served with real cutlery and crisp, cool Piper-Heidsieck champagne. The flight attendants efficiently moved through the cabin, allowing me to view the meal options before making my choice. Wi-Fi was complimentary, and my seat lay completely flat, which was a blissful bonus.

The entertainment options feature around 50 classic English and French films and TV shows—think Blood Diamond and Something’s Gotta Give, not the latest Oscar contenders. They also provided a meditation option for anxious flyers—a thoughtful addition. One standout moment during the 6.5-hour flight was when I went to the restroom and found a flight attendant diligently cleaning the stall from top to bottom. In all my flying experiences, I've never witnessed such thorough cleaning by a flight attendant.

The Paris Orly Arrival and Immigration Experience

Before we landed in Paris, the flight attendants served standard airplane coffee, croissants, and a fruit plate with pineapple and melon, alongside nutella French toast or a chorizo omelet (I skipped these as I was still full from dinner). We exited the plane promptly and zipped through immigration thanks to La Compagnie’s priority lane access. Our bags were on the belt within 20 minutes. Honestly, it took longer to locate the Uber than to navigate the airport.

On my return flight from Orly, I once again enjoyed priority access through security and immigration, feeling a twinge of guilt as I glided past non-priority passengers inching forward. The lounge at Orly was modest, featuring a spread of tiny croissants and cheese, but there was chilled champagne for a final celebration! The flight back to Newark lasted nine hours—longer than anticipated due to headwinds—but the complimentary Wi-Fi allowed me to work.

Upon landing, we disembarked the plane in just minutes, and I breezed through Global Entry to grab my bag. While waiting at the carousel, I heard my name called over the loudspeaker, asking me to wait at carousel five. An airport attendant hurried over, holding my AirPods. “You left these behind,” she said, handing them to me. Having previously lost my Bose headphones on a flight to Tokyo (among other items), I was astounded. It made me think: who needs airline status when you receive such exceptional care?