When all business class airline La Compagnie announced its launch two years ago I was skeptical to say the least. The founders had tried their hand at this before, and got bailed out by a sale to British Airways (their first attempt is now OpenSkies).
Occasionally some entrepreneur looks at a big market like New York – London or New York – Paris and says ‘if we could just get 1% of the market we could make money.’
- But those markets are dominated by large sales contracts for those premium cabin seats.
- Airlines attract a disproportionate amount of business by offering choice in flight times through multiple frequencies daily.
- They have brand recognition and frequent flyer programs that members belong to and have a strong incentive to stick with. It’s hard to break in.
La Compagnie flies from Newark to Paris Charles de Gaulle and to London Luton. They offer all business class service, but it’s with old angled seats. Their model is to offer business class for not much more than coach. And at the very least I often tell folks in New York to save their miles, especially when they have points in programs that add fuel surcharges to awards — they may be able to buy a ticket for a little more than they’d spend in fuel surcharges.
If the founders of the airline want to light money on fire, we might as well at least use it to keep us warm.
Right now they’re advertising a fall sale for $1400 roundtrip between the US and Paris.
It’s hardly available every day, though on days it isn’t it may be a couple hundred more each direction.
And in fact the sale prices out from $1395 roundtrip all-in:
I haven’t flown La Compagnie. I think my favorite thing about the airline is the number of times British Airways has run sales to match their pricing since the small upstart launched, and of course when BA does that you can apply the $400 AARP discount.
Wake me up when BA matches…
So, Garry, you are trying to let me know that I can fly in business class from NYC to Paris on Oct 4 and come back on Oct 28 for $1400.
Very convenient for my work schedule. Thank you very much.:( and please give us a break).
@DT opportunity for a nice holiday maybe but I see your point
@DT those aren’t the only dates, they were random dates I grabbed on the calendar
Where do you credit the miles? Does this airline have any partners ?
DT what makes you think blog posts should only be about you?
That is so expensive lol, for that amount you can buy 3 Economy round trips , what’s the point of having a bigger seat and an hypocrite flight attendant serving you. People traveling business are so stupid, they could have so much more fun by spending this extra money during their actual days at destination . Especially stupid during a day flight when you don’t care about being able to lie down on a flat seat . It’s true business seat is convenient to sleep but on New York to Paris you barely have 4/5 hour to sleep between the meals.
And as for a business trip paid by your company , the latter is so stupid to lose so much money for such stupid comfort .
I’m reading that the London Luton route is closing!! So why bother?
Totally not stupid, some people have actual back problems, or other health problems where lying flat or at least putting your feet up make the trip bearable. Many people with health conditions don’t fly for this reason, but might on a business class fare. Some people are already terrible sleepers, and NEED comfortable sleep especially if they are going to another country where they have to keep their wits about them.
John is probably young and healthy, so it’s stupid for him.
@John thinks the money is the only issue. It’s not.
My wife and I flew back from Santiago, Chile to Miami in steerage on American. We are both retired, so we pay for our own flights. SCL-MIA is a nine hour flight on a good day. The plane was completely full. The food served was inedible. Service was non-existent. Neither of us could sleep, and we landed at 7:00 am the day before Christmas. We both had tasks to complete that day.
We both quickly came to the realization that we never wanted to fly in the back of the plane again on an intercontinental flight. Period. The value proposition for us is such that it is important to us to feel rested and ready to go when we land after 8, 14 or 26 hours in transit.
Obviously, @John’s value proposition for air travel is different. As most marketers know, the value proposition for every customer is different. But @John should not superimpose his value proposition on the rest of us.
I once saw a quote attributed to John Wanamaker posted in his flagship department store in Philadelphia: “There is nothing a merchant can sell that another merchant cannot procure and sell cheaper, and those who consider price alone are that man’s lawful prey.” For some of us, that quote is very true.
I don’t know why this comment got cross-posted from the article on whether people who fly premium cabin are stupid. If it’s my error, please accept my apologies.
Coming back in daytime, why pay for a bed you won’t use? In daytime, use Economy or Premium Economy and save a bunch.