One of the easiest ways to elevate your travel experience is to fly business class, but doing so comes at a hefty cost: A roundtrip ticket from New York to Paris aboard a major airline can run between $3,000 and $5,000, according to a recent Google search.
Enter La Compagnie. The business class-only airline flies from New York to three European hubs (Paris, Nice, and Milan) for as low as $2,400 roundtrip, with many added perks that make flying more pleasant. I checked the airline out in September — here’s what you need to know.
Founded in 2013, La Compagnie remains a small, independent company made up of just 120 employees. The airline launched its first international flight in July of the following year and today operates a handful of flights between New York and Europe daily.
My experience with La Compagnie was pretty seamless from start to finish. I began my journey from Paris to New York by heading to Terminal 4 at the city’s Orly airport — a smaller, quieter alternative to Charles de Gaulle.
Upon arrival, all La Compagnie passengers automatically gain access to priority lines, making passing through security and passport control a breeze, and to a beautiful lounge filled with coffee, pastries, wine, and light snacks. But the best feature is the size: Each flight is limited to 76 seats, which makes the boarding process far smoother and more efficient than it is on standard airlines.
The plane’s layout was one of the only slight drawbacks for me. The cabin is configured with two-by-two seating — meaning if you don't know the person next to you, it can be a little too close for comfort, and the passenger near the window will still need to step over their neighbor’s legs to get to the aisle. (However, I also had a similar configuration in business class on a recent United flight from Newark to Tenerife, so this isn’t exclusive to La Compagnie.)
Once settled, I was impressed by the spacious seats, which included a lay-flat bed, an amenity kit filled with Caudalie products, and extra-large screens. Passengers also benefit from free high-speed Wi-Fi, an added bonus considering most major airlines still make you pay for the service.
One of my favorite features — beyond the obvious lay-flat bed, airport experience, and lower price point — is the company’s food and beverage program. Spearheaded by Christophe Langrée of Chefs&Co, the airline frequently changes their menu to highlight seasonal produce and ingredients, paired with a selection of organic wines from the team at Bettane+Desseauve — yes, copious amounts of Champagne are included.
Lastly, La Compagnie regularly hosts in-flight experiences centered around gastronomy, culture, and food. The airline has hosted menu takeovers by Michelin-starred chefs Frédéric Duca (of Rooster in Paris) and Franco Sampogna (of Frevo in New York), as well as literary events, book signings, and in-air cocktail demos, to name a few. The cherry on top? Pets up to 15kg (approx. 33 lbs) are welcome on board for 10% of the ticket cost.
As an avid traveler eager to indulge in the delights of business class, I’ve found myself regularly returning to the La Compagnie site. Keep an eye out for the company’s handful of annual sales, and you can score tickets for even less than $2,400 roundtrip — especially if your travel dates are flexible.