The world's only all-business class airline is launching VIP tours from the US to the Caribbean. See inside its glitzy Airbus A321neo jet.

All-business airline La Compagnie specializes in premium — yet discounted — transatlantic travel with 76 lie-flat seats onboard its Airbus A321neo planes.

Source: Insider

2023-07-27

Currently, it flies between Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and Paris, Nice, and Milan — but its route map is growing.

Source: Insider

On Wednesday, the boutique carrier announced a partnership with family-owned travel agency E. Clarke Travel to fly season service to the Caribbean between November 26 and April 14.

Source: La Compagnie

The "Travel In Style Journeys" will fly high-paying people to St. Maarten where they can stay and vacation, or continue on to another Caribbean island.

Source: La Compagnie

According to the agency, the VIP flights cannot be booked on their own at this time and will be packaged as a tour with a hotel and any other items, like transport, a car, and excursions.

La Compagnie

Source: La Compagnie

Moreover, the company says tours must be 7, 14, or 21 night stays starting and ending on Sundays — the day La Compagnie's aircraft will fly to and from St. Maarten.

La Compagnie

Source: La Compagnie

The roundtrip flights "will be offered at a starting promotional rate of $2,450 when combined with hotel/villa/cruise and transfer arrangements via E. Clarke Travel as part of the Travel in Style Journeys program," La Compagnie told Insider.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Source: La Compagnie

With just a few months until takeoff, here's what Caribbean-bound customers can expect when flying on La Compagnie.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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 — which felt more like a private jet — 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. Nevertheless, these are only minor inconveniences that don't take away too much from the overall product — and its sure to please customers.