There are two ways to make lines. The first, common at supermarkets, is the one lane per cashier model. The second, found at Whole Foods in Manhattan and Customs & Border Protection in the US, is to form a long, serpentine line feeding several cashiers/agents. In the first, your chances of getting stuck are high while in the second, if there’s a delay on one agent, the line keeps on moving to the other available agents.
You wouldn’t think that my posting about the new all-business class airline, L’Avion, would start with my thoughts on queues. But sadly they use the first one passenger/one agent model for check in and with two problematic passengers in front of me checking in at Orly, I had over thirty minutes to contemplate efficiency in queueing.
I can hear you now crying, “it’s not the airline’s fault! It’s the stringent security restrictions imposed by the US authorities!” True enough: I noticed that the Aigle Azur flight to Casablanca checking in next to me did not have the system blockage imposed by the security pre-screening since there was none for their check-in. But the fact of the matter is that L’Avion no doubt selected this private agency to do the pre-screening and, moreover, this back-up must happen every day! (FYI: non-US residents apparently need an address with ZIP code, which caused several frantic cell phone calls, causing some of the delays.)
Once finally checked in, I cleared the airport security (one line, eleven checkpoints!) and the border control (four agents, four lines) and then proceeded to the dedicated lounge called Icare, or Icarus. Unlike the partitioned gate 51 at Newark, this lounge has all the amenities you would expect of a biz class lounge, including wine, beer, champagne, two desktops with internet access. Apparently there is wifi, but I was denied the code since the flight had just been called for boarding, one hour before scheduled departure, and the agent looked shocked to think I could have such flagrant disregard for the announcement.
So I downed the last of my ho-hum Chateau Le Bonnat 2001 (for you, dear reader!) and headed to the gate where I was greeted with another security checkpoint! I’ll defer to Mark or others of you frequent travelers to tell me why, but I imagine that since this is probably the only flight going to the US from Orly, the general security did not meet the US standards, so L’Avion had to add their own screening at the gate. And of course there was nobody on hand to provide details.
Then once in the gate area, we had to do the bus-to-plane boarding. Ah, the whiff of coach class (or was it EasyJet) that started with the lines at check-in grew stronger with the bus! I felt like I was back at Charles De Gaulle on American Airlines.
Once on board, the experience was the same as on the way over. Although there were still no exciting beverages offered before take-off, I didn’t mind so much after the bounty of the Icarus lounge. The multi-media, however, showed it’s limitations on this daytime flight Westbound. I watched the excellent Last King of Scotland but then realized that the movie choices were either gory war epics or vapid chick flicks. Somebody airline must have thought the world is divided exclusively between movie goers from Mars and from Venus.
Once again, there were scant announcements, which is fine to keep things quiet. But on the third loop in a holding pattern above northern New Jersey–right in the chop of the clouds–it would have been nice to know how much longer we were going to continue bouncing and holding.
On the whole, the airline is betwixt and between. The seats say business class but the prices are closer to coach (to wit: my flight was $1600 versus $1275 for a nontop coach fare on the same, peak-season dates). L’Avion is close to providing the greatest bargain in the business class skies. But there are some small things they could do to enhance the passengers’ experience such as offering an aperitif, a better lounge at Newark, better check-in at Orly, no more bus-to-plane, and more information on the ground and in the air. I’ll give them a look next time my travel needs take me to Paris. But I’ll be glad to have already learned the ropes.
Related: “Inside L’Avion, part un: a good seat but a shortage of fluids and information”
-Tyler Colman writes about wine on DrVino.com
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July 5th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
On my February vacation L’Avion proved a sweetheart deal at $1000 roundtrip. SInce I slept throught the flight to Paris I won’t comment on service issues. I would just state that I prefer a Full Flat Bed seat abd not the Lie flat 170 degree ski slope.
On the way back I wnat to point out that the Lounge at Orly is pre-security and has virtually no amenities. Bring your own! Once through security there is …nothing but a common (in both senses of the word) seating area. Alas I did not know that at Orly it is advisable to wait till the last minute to go through the checkpoint. Ah well… Next time.
For one who is 6′3″ I can no longer fly steerage on other carriers. This service fills a wonderful niche, but think of it more as super premium economy and not business class.
MFS
July 5th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Ah, one of my minor gripes. Why is it that some airlines have efficient queues for economy but terrible ones for business/first? Sometimes it is quicker to use the economy line even if you are entitled to use the business/first line.
As an example, consider Air New Zealand at their hub in Auckland. They have a very nice premium check in lobby in the international terminal, for their premium economy and business passengers, and star alliance gold and koru club members to use. However, each counter has a separate line. If you get stuck behind someone trying to sort out something complicated, some of the good feeling about the nice lobby and easy check in is replaced by frustration that you are waiting longer than you need to.
Yet, the equivalent line in the domestic terminal is the efficient set up – one line for multiple counters. By the nature of travel, there is more likely to be lengthy check in process for some at the international terminal than at domestic.
Another, related gripe, is where only one agent is on premium check in and is busy, while the economy check in line has many agents and not so busy. Why can’t one economy check in agents switch to doing premium customers if the agent can see they are being made to wait much longer than the economy passengers?
July 5th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Mitch,
The lounge at Orly seems better stocked now but yes they do board ridiculously early (and don’t even think about taking a can of Perrier through security of course)…Premium economy indeed…
July 17th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Having flown on the same flight as Tyler from Newark to Orly, I agree re the lounge at EWR, Basic is the key word, No frills here.
On the way back, to EWR, I encountered a brutal wait at customs at Orly that took over 1 hour and actually I was the last person on the plane at a few minutes after 2:00, the supposed take off time. I was harassed by a L’Avion representative for my tardiness. I asked her why she was harassing me due to the laziness and lack of support at her country’s custom’s officials? She shrugged and then her co-workers began a lengthy search of me and my personal carry on luggage, making me even more tardy for the flight. At that point all I could do was laugh at the rediculous situation.
Once on board the food was better than on the trip from EWR to Paris, service was better and the seats the same. Wine was , eh, as I too am in the wine business and airline wine will, virtually, never meet my ideal.
So all in all, I will fly L’Avion again and it still has its problems as do all airlines, imho.
July 18th, 2007 at 6:20 am
…why were flight attendants searching your carry-on bags?!
September 3rd, 2007 at 3:49 pm
As a frequent flyer between Paris and New York, I was ecstatic over the appearance of L’Avion — a sort of premium economy class, with good seating and plenty of legroom. However, one caveat emerged from my dealings with L’Avion administration: the need to document every charge and change in itinerary. On more than one occasion, credit card charges were duplicated, changes in scheduling were “lost” and, sadly, promised return calls never materialized. Reluctantly, I was forced to protest the duplicate charges through the credit card.
Characteristically, L’Avion never responded to the contested charge, and a credit was issued to me. I continue to fly L’Avion, and recommend it to my friends, but am sure to document all and any interactions with their Administration.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:58 am
[...] point.) The L’Avion review certainly jives with previous reports from the field (here and here). Read his detailed post for the breakdown of what makes these discounted business class airilnes [...]
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
[...] class airlines – Inside L’Avion, part un: a good seat but a shortage of fluids and information – Inside L’Avion, part deux: the airline that is betwixt and between – L’Avion customer service: Meet your pilot and [...]
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:24 pm
[...] class airlines – Inside L’Avion, part un: a good seat but a shortage of fluids and information – Inside L’Avion, part deux: the airline that is betwixt and between – L’Avion customer service: Meet your pilot and [...]
December 15th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
[...] got less risky – Inside L’Avion, part un: a good seat but a shortage of fluids and information – Inside L’Avion, part deux: the airline that is betwixt and between – L’Avion [...]
December 29th, 2008 at 9:45 am
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 a 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.
March 16th, 2009 at 11:53 am
[...] got less risky – Inside L’Avion, part un: a good seat but a shortage of fluids and information – Inside L’Avion, part deux: the airline that is betwixt and between Categorized in: L’Avion, business class, open skies SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “L’Avion to [...]
May 1st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
[...] got less risky – Inside L’Avion, part un: a good seat but a shortage of fluids and information – Inside L’Avion, part deux: the airline that is betwixt and between – L’Avion (aff) Categorized in: L’Avion, business class, fare sale, open skies [...]