krobbins

I searched for L'Avion, but didn't find anything definitive from anyone who has flown them. Their prices for US - Paris are quite good - and very tempting - but a trip report would be helpful. Is it more like E+ than the kind of business class that the legacies offer? Even if it's a step down from the legacies, does the big price savings with L'Avion make it the great deal that it appears?

cakobau

Here's two part trip report/review from this past summer:

L'Avion Review - Part 1

L'Avion Review - Part 2

krobbins

Thanks you! It does sound more like E+, but for the price, I think it's worth a try. I'll do a trip report after.

frederic_a

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.