I toured La Compagnie, the all-business class airline flying between the US and France. It's the closest thing to flying private across the Atlantic.

Thomas PalliniAug 15, 2021, 19:14 IST

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo.Thomas Pallini/Insider

La Compagnie is a French all-business class airline that just resumed flying between the US and France.
New Airbus A321neo aircraft serve Paris and Nice in France from Newark and will soon fly to Israel and Italy.
Only 76 seats are found on its aircraft and all have fully lie-flat capabilities, making the aircraft more like a private jet than a crowded airliner.

France is open once again to US tourists, and also taking customers across the Atlantic once more is La Compagnie.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The French boutique airline specializes in premium, yet discounted, transatlantic travel with an all-business class offering.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Operating the flights is La Compagnie's new flagship aircraft, the Airbus A321neo, boasting greater comfort and efficiency than the Boeing 757s it replaced.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

At present, the airline can be found flying between Newark and the French cities of Paris and Nice. But new routes to Milan Italy, and Tel Aviv, Israel are scheduled for later this year, depending on how international travel develops given the Delta variant.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

At present, the airline can be found flying between Newark and the French cities of Paris and Nice. But new routes to Milan Italy, and Tel Aviv, Israel are scheduled for later this year, depending on how international travel develops given the Delta variant.

I went onboard one of La Compagnie's swanky aircraft after a flight from Paris. Take a look inside the airline's Airbus A321neo.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

On the outside, La Compagnie's aircraft are unmistakable thanks to an iconic blue and black livery.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Even the cockpit windows feature Airbus' signature black mask, affectionately referred to as "eyeliner."

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Powering the aircraft are two CFM International LEAP-1A engines, that are quieter and more fuel-efficient than previous generation engines.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

When combined with aerodynamically-friendly wingtips, known as "sharklets" on Airbus planes, fuel burn is reduced by 20% per seat compared to older generation aircraft.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

In a normal configuration, the Airbus A321neo can fly 4,000 nautical miles. But La Compagnie's configuration is anything but normal.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

A total of 76 business class seats comprise the single cabin, spanning a mere 20 rows.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

There are no economy seats onboard La Compagnie, nor middle seats, for that matter.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Each row offers paired seats, with an aisle and a window seat. They're ideal for couples traveling together but there is a partition in case the seat neighbor is a stranger.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Each row offers paired seats, with an aisle and a window seat. They're ideal for couples traveling together but there is a partition in case the seat neighbor is a stranger.

The window seat offers the greatest amount of privacy since it's away from the aisle.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

But the tradeoff is a lack of direct aisle access for window seats. The choice is between having a good view and having unobstructed access to the aisle and lavatories.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Each seat has a seat-back entertainment system with high-definition displays.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The screens are immovable but quite large and also touch-screen.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

A remote is available, however, so flyers don't have to keep reaching over.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

A range of complimentary content is offered, in addition to complimentary in-flight WiFi.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Options include movies...

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Music...

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Kids selections...

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

And a map section.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Menus for the meal service are also listed on the screens. La Compagnie offers French cuisine on its flights, unsurprisingly.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Three flight attendants service the cabin during flights for a ratio of one flight attendant for around every 25 passengers.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Tray tables extend from the side of the seat and can be half-extended to hold drinks or light items.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

And then they can be fully extended for meal times or when using a laptop, for example.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Coat hangars can also be found on the seat-backs.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Seats are fully lie-flat and controlled by a panel next to the seat.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Each seat comes with a pillow and comforter for when it's time to sleep.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The lie-flat capability is a step up from when La Compagnie flew Boeing 757 aircraft that only had angle-flat capabilities.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Each pillow also has a saying in French and English.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Mood lighting helps to relax passengers, especially when it's time to rest. And when it's time to wake up, colors change to make the body more alert.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

One downside to the seats is that headrests are not adjustable, and minor cracks do show in the leather.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

In terms of seat amenities, a pair of noise-canceling headphones can be found at each seat.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

These are common in transatlantic business class cabins and make the already quiet A321neo experience even more tranquil.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

For those travelers working or reading during the flight, a personal reading lamp is available so the cabin can be kept dark during night flights. In-seat power is also available.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

For those travelers working or reading during the flight, a personal reading lamp is available so the cabin can be kept dark during night flights. In-seat power is also available.

And a business class amenity kit also comes standard for all passengers.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Inside are the essentials such as an eye mask, socks, and lotions.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Customers with high heels or other shoes can also store them in a bag.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

French champagne is served onboard the airline with at least three selections from which to choose. Passengers are handed a glass after stepping onboard.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The lavatories were the only non-glitzy part of the aircraft and were surprisingly basic, aside from a few extra lotions.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The exit rows feature some of the best seats on the aircraft as they offer just slightly more legroom than the rest.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

After walking through the plane, there really weren't any bad seats, aside from some with misaligned windows.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

In row 15, for example, the windows don't exactly line up.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The last row is also to be avoided as they double as crew rest seats and have a metal bar above them that holds a curtain.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

La Compagnie is now, however, the only airline offering all-business class flights between the US and Europe, and has been since British Airways retired its Airbus A318 aircraft flying between New York and London, UK.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

La Compagnie is now, however, the only airline offering all-business class flights between the US and Europe, and has been since British Airways retired its Airbus A318 aircraft flying between New York and London, UK.

The feeling of a private jet is even more pronounced given that the airline's load factors are only around 60%, meaning that most seat pairs will only have one occupant.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The feeling of a private jet is even more pronounced given that the airline's load factors are only around 60%, meaning that most seat pairs will only have one occupant.

More and more airlines are flying narrow-body aircraft across the Atlantic, but La Compagnie's configuration gives the cabin a more spacious and open feel.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Flyers can see straight to the back of the aircraft, for example, even from the very first row.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Most of the seats also have two dedicated windows, allowing flyers in both seats to look out of them.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Christian Vernet, La Compagnie's chief executive officer, told Insider that the aircraft's economics and modernity make it a win-win for passengers and the airline, alike.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Christian Vernet, La Compagnie's chief executive officer, told Insider that the aircraft's economics and modernity make it a win-win for passengers and the airline, alike.

Despite the glitzy cabin in the back of the plane, the cockpit is quite standard for an Airbus jet.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Only two pilots are staffed on each flight, tasked with transporting passengers to and from France.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

But pilots can rejoice in once more flying paying customers across the Atlantic instead of ad-hoc charter and cargo flights during the pandemic's peak.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider

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I toured La Compagnie, the all-business class airline flying between the US and France. It's the closest thing to flying private across the Atlantic.

France is open once again to US tourists, and also taking customers across the Atlantic once more is La Compagnie.

The French boutique airline specializes in premium, yet discounted, transatlantic travel with an all-business class offering.

Operating the flights is La Compagnie's new flagship aircraft, the Airbus A321neo, boasting greater comfort and efficiency than the Boeing 757s it replaced.

At present, the airline can be found flying between Newark and the French cities of Paris and Nice. But new routes to Milan Italy, and Tel Aviv, Israel are scheduled for later this year, depending on how international travel develops given the Delta variant.

I went onboard one of La Compagnie's swanky aircraft after a flight from Paris. Take a look inside the airline's Airbus A321neo.

On the outside, La Compagnie's aircraft are unmistakable thanks to an iconic blue and black livery.

Even the cockpit windows feature Airbus' signature black mask, affectionately referred to as "eyeliner."

Powering the aircraft are two CFM International LEAP-1A engines, that are quieter and more fuel-efficient than previous generation engines.

When combined with aerodynamically-friendly wingtips, known as "sharklets" on Airbus planes, fuel burn is reduced by 20% per seat compared to older generation aircraft.

In a normal configuration, the Airbus A321neo can fly 4,000 nautical miles. But La Compagnie's configuration is anything but normal.

A total of 76 business class seats comprise the single cabin, spanning a mere 20 rows.

There are no economy seats onboard La Compagnie, nor middle seats, for that matter.

Each row offers paired seats, with an aisle and a window seat. They're ideal for couples traveling together but there is a partition in case the seat neighbor is a stranger.

The window seat offers the greatest amount of privacy since it's away from the aisle.

But the tradeoff is a lack of direct aisle access for window seats. The choice is between having a good view and having unobstructed access to the aisle and lavatories.

Each seat has a seat-back entertainment system with high-definition displays.

The screens are immovable but quite large and also touch-screen.

A remote is available, however, so flyers don't have to keep reaching over.

A range of complimentary content is offered, in addition to complimentary in-flight WiFi.

Options include movies...

Music...

Kids selections...

And a map section.

Menus for the meal service are also listed on the screens. La Compagnie offers French cuisine on its flights, unsurprisingly.

Three flight attendants service the cabin during flights for a ratio of one flight attendant for around every 25 passengers.

Tray tables extend from the side of the seat and can be half-extended to hold drinks or light items.

And then they can be fully extended for meal times or when using a laptop, for example.

Coat hangars can also be found on the seat-backs.

Seats are fully lie-flat and controlled by a panel next to the seat.

Each seat comes with a pillow and comforter for when it's time to sleep.

The lie-flat capability is a step up from when La Compagnie flew Boeing 757 aircraft that only had angle-flat capabilities.

Each pillow also has a saying in French and English.

Mood lighting helps to relax passengers, especially when it's time to rest. And when it's time to wake up, colors change to make the body more alert.

One downside to the seats is that headrests are not adjustable, and minor cracks do show in the leather.

In terms of seat amenities, a pair of noise-canceling headphones can be found at each seat.

These are common in transatlantic business class cabins and make the already quiet A321neo experience even more tranquil.

For those travelers working or reading during the flight, a personal reading lamp is available so the cabin can be kept dark during night flights. In-seat power is also available.

And a business class amenity kit also comes standard for all passengers.

Inside are the essentials such as an eye mask, socks, and lotions.

Customers with high heels or other shoes can also store them in a bag.

French champagne is served onboard the airline with at least three selections from which to choose. Passengers are handed a glass after stepping onboard.

The lavatories were the only non-glitzy part of the aircraft and were surprisingly basic, aside from a few extra lotions.

The exit rows feature some of the best seats on the aircraft as they offer just slightly more legroom than the rest.

After walking through the plane, there really weren't any bad seats, aside from some with misaligned windows.

In row 15, for example, the windows don't exactly line up.

The last row is also to be avoided as they double as crew rest seats and have a metal bar above them that holds a curtain.

La Compagnie is now, however, the only airline offering all-business class flights between the US and Europe, and has been since British Airways retired its Airbus A318 aircraft flying between New York and London, UK.

The feeling of a private jet is even more pronounced given that the airline's load factors are only around 60%, meaning that most seat pairs will only have one occupant.

More and more airlines are flying narrow-body aircraft across the Atlantic, but La Compagnie's configuration gives the cabin a more spacious and open feel.

Flyers can see straight to the back of the aircraft, for example, even from the very first row.

Most of the seats also have two dedicated windows, allowing flyers in both seats to look out of them.

Christian Vernet, La Compagnie's chief executive officer, told Insider that the aircraft's economics and modernity make it a win-win for passengers and the airline, alike.

Despite the glitzy cabin in the back of the plane, the cockpit is quite standard for an Airbus jet.

Only two pilots are staffed on each flight, tasked with transporting passengers to and from France.

But pilots can rejoice in once more flying paying customers across the Atlantic instead of ad-hoc charter and cargo flights during the pandemic's peak.