Comments on: Inside L’Avion, part deux: the airline that is betwixt and between http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:38:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Booking flights on L’Avion just got less risky » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-22373 Booking flights on L’Avion just got less risky » Upgrade: Travel Better Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:24:25 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-22373 [...] 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 [...] […] 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 […]

]]> By: Booking flights on L’Avion just got less risky » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-22368 Booking flights on L’Avion just got less risky » Upgrade: Travel Better Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:01:49 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-22368 [...] 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 [...] […] 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 […]

]]> By: Short hops — November 28, 2007 — Mental anguish, healthy snacks, shameless self-promotion, and more » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-18241 Short hops — November 28, 2007 — Mental anguish, healthy snacks, shameless self-promotion, and more » Upgrade: Travel Better Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:58:56 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-18241 [...] 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 [...] […] 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 […]

]]> By: Louis Ravenet http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-16148 Louis Ravenet Mon, 03 Sep 2007 20:49:10 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-16148 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. 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.

]]> By: Mark Ashley http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-15565 Mark Ashley Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:20:52 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-15565 ...why were flight attendants searching your carry-on bags?! …why were flight attendants searching your carry-on bags?!

]]> By: Phil Ward http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-15558 Phil Ward Wed, 18 Jul 2007 02:29:35 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-15558 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. 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.

]]> By: Tyler Colman (a.k.a. Dr. Vino) http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-15389 Tyler Colman (a.k.a. Dr. Vino) Thu, 05 Jul 2007 20:52:43 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-15389 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... 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…

]]> By: The Global Traveller http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-15388 The Global Traveller Thu, 05 Jul 2007 20:37:31 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-15388 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? 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?

]]> By: Mitch http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-15385 Mitch Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:39:39 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/05/inside-lavion-part-deux-the-airline-that-is-betwixt-and-between/#comment-15385 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 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

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