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First-Person Flight Review: L'Avion

July 8, 2008 at 12:00 PM | by pbb | 2 Comments


What's it like to fly all business class across the Atlantic? A Jaunted tipster sent us this report about L'Avion.

Boarding:
Leaving Newark, there were only three people working at the counter. The line was a little long (and slow) which surprised me since this was supposed to be a business class flight. The gate area at Newark was on a very small concourse which meant security was quick but there weren't many services available after passing through.

Boarding was also very fast since there were fewer people getting on compared to a normal flight. Because there were fewer passengers, most of the overhead space was empty, which made it easy to stow carry-on luggage.

The Cabin:
The main cabin was spacious and attractive; seat covers and carpeting looked new. The seats were large and comfortable with recline, lumbar support and foot rest. My seat happened to be broken so that every time I moved the seat back it unlocked and I ended up leaning all the way back. The seats didn't fully recline to flat, but there was plenty of leg room and under-seat storage.

The parts of the plane that weren't immediately visible were old and in need of refurbishment. Bathrooms were old and not well cleaned. The tray table mechanism wasn't easy to operate, making it very difficult to fully stow.

In-Flight Entertainment:
The in-flight entertainment system isn't built in. On the one hand, it was nice to be able to move it into the most comfortable position. However, this also made if very awkward to watch a movie and eat at the same time--and it isn't linked into the public address system. There were about 12 movies available, 20 or so music videos, several music channels and games. The flight attendants distributed the systems at cruising altitude and retrieved them before initial descent, which left us without entertainment for at least 90 minutes in all.

The Food:
Food service was above average. A 3-course meal was served one course at a time. There was a selection for the hot entrée but I had no choice of appetizer or desert. They also had a well-stocked beverage service with every course.

The Service:
Service was not at business class levels in my opinion. The interaction was very rushed and not proactive at all. Except during dinner or snack service, the flight attendants weren't visible. Additional coffee or water was either not available or a terrible inconvenience to the attendant. I wouldn't call it business class, rather coach with more room and slightly better food. It's the additional room that really sets L'Avion apart from a normal coach flight.

Related Stories:
· Unshakable Faith Travel: British Airways Buys L'Avion [Jaunted]
· More Coachless Flights Crossing the Atlantic [Jaunted]

2 Comments

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  1. tnadeau

    Jaunted Member

    L'Avion experience

    I had a very similar experience.
    October 21, 2008 at 2:26 PM
    #Permalink

  1. ua747

    Jaunted Member

    Review l'Avion / Openskies Airlines

    The truth about l'avion...
    Recently flown on l'avion Airlines and would like to share my expérience

    ORY - EWR / Nov. 30 2008

    a) Check in ORLY Airport
    .Quick, efficient and smiles
    .Security check, easy and fast but no fast lane

    b) Departure lounge
    .ICARE lounge is NOT a business class lounge, it is dirty, over crowded, and bad maintained. Poor choice of nuts, juices and wine. Small and unconfortable, with so small sofas that they look designed for children only
    .No private restroom, no free wifi access

    c) On board
    .New surprise security check, same as the first one, just before the plane door
    .Welcome smiles from the only 4 crew member.
    .No one hang up your coat, so don't wait for...
    .No preflight drink
    .Poor amenities case, bottle of water, pillow and blanket on your seat
    .New carpets, and overhead bins repainted in purple, but still a feelling of an old 757 (18y ?)
    .Old lavatories, no cup,

    d) The seat
    .All is manual,
    .More relax style than a true business class seat
    .Just 2y old, and already broken or tired,
    .Support lombar deflate but never inflate,
    .48" pitch is ok for seating position but unacceptable when the seat in front of you is in full recline position
    .The only row shown on pictures is the 11 (exit row) with the best pitch in plane

    e) The VOD
    .After take off, the crew offer you a 12" screen digital player
    .Easy to use, but the linux boot take a while
    .No battery, you must plug the AC/DC power inside the arm, then the wide of the seat is reduced and really unconfortable
    .No noise reduction heaset, but cheap earplug
    .Decent choice of movies, some in french, all in english  
    .The main problem is you have no area to put the screen ; handled, on the tray, or fix on the seat pocket behind you is an unacceptable position. No remote control.

    f) The meal
    .No preflight drink
    .After VOD, the crew begins drink service
    .Limited choice, Champagne ok but cheap juices still presented in their low cost bottle
    .Bretzels bag, colored for children
    .Only one offer

    .No menu, no linen, but a sheet of gray paper
    .Tray comes with appetizer (good salmon), butter and cheese, no china but plastic, steel forks and knifes
    .Only one offer for bread
    .The entree, when you're seated at the end of the plane, is the usual beef or chicken of economy class, no more choice
    .Small portions, not enough for a decent meal
    .No expresso, but cafe or tea and chocolate box on a small tray with a brownie is your dessert
    .After dinner drink choice is limited to cognac and grand marnier

    .The snack before landing is a small tray with 2 toasts and a drink... near a joke

    .Of course nobody offer you more bread, drinks or ask you about your comfort during the flight
    .No open bar at the galley

    EWR - ORY / Dec 13 2008

    a) Check in Newark Airport
    .Slow and unfriendly, 30 min wait just for 10 people before us
    .Security check point, easy and fast, fast lane available

    b) Departure lounge
    .JET AIRWAYS lounge is maybe a small business class lounge for JET AIRWAYS, but not designed to host both airlines
    .Located in a dark side of terminal B, before fast lane check point
    .Maybe a good buffet, but the lounge is so over crowded, that you can't find a free seat, and the only solution to snack is to visit the terminal food court...
    .No private restrooms, no free wifi access
    .The only choice is to bypass this "no-lounge"

    c) On board
    .Welcome smiles from the only 4 crew member.
    .No one hang up your coat, so don't wait for...
    .A surprise pre flight drink

    d) The seat
    .Same old plane

    e) The VOD
    .New decent choice of movies, some in french, all in english
    .Same useless video system player, still no correct position to place it

    f) The meal
    .NO aperitif service or nuts before dinner (remember the pre flight drink...)
    .No menu, no linen, but a sheet of gray paper
    .Tray comes with all your diner from appetizer to dessert
    .The choice is the usual beef or chicken of economy class
    .If you don't ask for coffee or tea of course don't expect the chocolate box...

    .The breakfast before landing is a small tray with croissant, bread, jam, fruits, yogourt and... same cheap orange juice

    g) Arrival
    .Just before landing the crew offer you a small mint candies box
    .No arrival lounge as you know...

    CONCLUSION

    .Before all, i'd like them to stop call this product "business class". It's a good well packaged premium economy but no more.
    .On many aspects, the description you read on l'avion website and the reality is different and will disappoint you
    .Consider what you expect for ; a seat better than economy class with more leg room, if you find a good price it could be a smart choice. A promotionnal rate of 900 euros (all taxes included) the maximum you should pay for.

    .If you are frequent business class flyer you should bypass this experience. Or maybe not, because, after a flight on l'avion any other true business class carrier seems you perfect...

    .If you fly from europe to US, and use l'avion as the first segment of your trip, be carefull. Correspondance is not guarantee because different airlines, and the one night stop over in Newark plus the domestic flight ticket will rise the bill above a promotional true business class ticket.

    December 22, 2008 at 6:12 AM
    Parent #Permalink

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