In the next couple of weeks, I’m taking a brief trip to Europe. The thing is, I haven’t actually booked my flights yet. That’s not unusual for me, since often award availability is the best at the last minute, and frankly I’ve kind of been going back and forth on certain aspects of this trip.
As longtime OMAAT readers know, I plan travel a bit differently than most others. For me, the question isn’t which airline has the most direct flight or the most comfortable product, but rather the question is which premium product would be most interesting to review, which I haven’t otherwise reviewed recently. So I figured I’d share what I’m currently thinking, as I’d love some feedback from OMAAT readers.
In this post:
This transatlantic Air Caraibes itinerary is tempting me…
For those not familiar, Air Caraibes is an airline based in the French West Indies, which has hubs in Pointe-a-Pitre (PTP) and Fort-de-France (FDF). The airline has a fleet of a dozen aircraft, nine of which are wide body planes (and of those, six are Airbus A350s, including both the -900 and -1000).
While I like reviewing the premium products of major global airlines, I also enjoy reviewing the products of smaller and more exotic carriers, where I have less of a sense of what to expect. I know what Air Caraibes’ A350 business class hard product is like (flat beds in a 2-2-2 configuration), but I’m curious about the soft product.
Along those lines, I came across an intriguing transatlantic fare for Air Caraibes’ A350 business class, which works really well for my schedule, especially since I’m looking to originate in Paris for the return.
Okay, in fairness, the one-way business class fare from Paris to Pointe-a-Pitre is $1,839, which is steep.
However, if I add a connection to Fort-de-France the following morning, the fare drops down to a very reasonable $1,029 (and, you know, make of that what you will).
So, I’m mighty tempted to book that fare, though I’m realizing that the real challenge here will be getting from the French West Indies back to Miami.
First of all, I’d have to spend a night in Pointe-a-Pitre, so do any OMAAT readers have thoughts on a decent place to spend the night in Guadeloupe that’s not far from the airport?
Then it’s surprising how tough it is to get from Pointe-a-Pitre back to Miami. I’d love to take the Air France island hopper, but it’s not opening on the date I need. Instead, the best option is via Montreal on Air Canada… ouch!
But still, I’m seriously considering the option. So I’m curious, would an Air Caraibes business class review be interesting (even if not useful), or am I wasting my time? Has anyone flown with the airline, and if so, how was it?
I’m also struggling with an outbound…
I’m trying to figure out how best to get to Europe, but am struggling there as well. Based on the timing, I’d sure love to visit the Delta One Lounge JFK, which is expected to open in the coming days. However, Delta hasn’t published entry requirements yet.
Since Delta basically never has any reasonably priced last minute business class awards, I’m curious if a Virgin Atlantic Upper Class ticket would get me access, since I could redeem points for that at the last minute. I’m also curious if Delta will use the same three hour rule for access to this lounge as it does for the Delta Sky Clubs, which could make an evening review tricky (given how crowded I imagine the lounge will be in the evenings).
Of course there are some other products I’d love to review, but I’m ultimately restricted by what’s available with miles, or at a reasonable fare. Believe it or not, late June and early July isn’t the easiest time to cross the Atlantic… who knew? 😉
Here are a few of the things that I’m keeping an eye on:
- I’d love to try Austrian’s new 787 business class, but I don’t see award availability yet for the dates that I need
- I could fly Icelandair via Reykjavik, but I see much better fares when departing Europe rather than when departing North America, so maybe I could do that on the return in lieu of Air Caraibes
- I’d like to fly Scandinavian Airlines’ A321LR business class, but I don’t see any award availability
- I’d love to fly Air Algerie between Montreal and Algiers, but the fares are much better westbound than eastbound
- There’s always Azores Airlines’ A321neo business class via Ponta Delgada, which is reasonably priced, but I’d rather avoid a non-flat bed on an overnight flight if I can
So yeah, I’m trying to decide what to do here. I have firm plans in Europe, but I haven’t planned the outbound or return, so we’ll see how this plays out…
Bottom line
I’m trying to plan a last minute trip across the Atlantic — well, the trip has been planned for a long time, except the flight… oops. I’m not necessarily trying to find the most direct routing, but rather the most interesting products I haven’t reviewed. Somehow Air Caraibes is looking like one of the most tempting options, with the only challenge being getting from the French West Indies to Miami.
Any thoughts on Air Caraibes, or any other options? What transatlantic reviews would you most like to read?
How about a regular LH J review to go along with your Allegris review (you can compare the two) or an Iberia flight in J?
I have an idea for you if you want to be adventurous. How about PTP - PAP - MIA on Sunrise Airways? No business class and no lounge, but you'll have a story to tell. ;-)
Go to SXM instead. And rather than staying in Pointe a Puree you might want to stay in Le Gosier, like at the hotel soleil la marina
AA flies non-stop from MIA to PTP/FDF but doesn't fly every month of the year. It's a good use of points given the flights are routinely $300+ for a 3hr flight.
I went to PTP a year ago and while it was nice to visit, PTP itself is a rough city and there's no decent points hotels anywhere near the airport. Most visitors are obviously French and returning to the island or visiting relatives. I stayed at an airbnb. It's a beautiful island though.
When are you booking your roundtrip for the BA Gold Staus Match? I found a great fare MIA-CPH.
From the west french indies you can fly the Air France A320 based there, it flies from CAY to MIA with stops in FDF and PTP I believe.
How about reviewing Finnair's non-reclining product ? It's a modern product made with polarizing choices. Your review would add even to those not flying the airline and to those in the industry considering those seats. ⁴
I like Icelandair as well as they are very much oriented on a TATL low-cost hub model that gives them reasonably good connections from smaller airports on both sides of the pond.
Otherwise agree that the Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten routing...
How about reviewing Finnair's non-reclining product ? It's a modern product made with polarizing choices. Your review would add even to those not flying the airline and to those in the industry considering those seats. ⁴
I like Icelandair as well as they are very much oriented on a TATL low-cost hub model that gives them reasonably good connections from smaller airports on both sides of the pond.
Otherwise agree that the Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten routing is the most aspirational if you want to review TX and can spend a day over there. But the product is outdated and routings are not convenient. Maybe it only looks attractive due to AF's halo effect
He has: https://onemileatatime.com/reviews/finnair-business-class-a330/
Thanks, I googled it but somehow could not find it, it felt strange it was not reviewed yet.
Please, Ben, do the Air Caraibes review! For your European readers, that could indeed by useful. I’d also go with Icelandair. But please, do avoid reviews of American carriers for the time being…I couldn’t give a toss about these…any time I read a review of an American airline, I really get to appreciate again LH Business in Europe ;-) How can US airlines be so bad?
I guess it's natural that Ben mostly reviews US airlines since that's where he's based, but I agree that reviews of these small carriers are much more interesting than yet another review of no service in US first class (which frankly seems kinda pointless). Stuff like Emirates, Cathay Pacific or Finnair is cool, I like to read it, but there's an additional value in reviewing niche carriers like Air Caraibes since those reviews are hard...
I guess it's natural that Ben mostly reviews US airlines since that's where he's based, but I agree that reviews of these small carriers are much more interesting than yet another review of no service in US first class (which frankly seems kinda pointless). Stuff like Emirates, Cathay Pacific or Finnair is cool, I like to read it, but there's an additional value in reviewing niche carriers like Air Caraibes since those reviews are hard to find when one's deciding whether to book a ticket with the airline or not (unlike products like Qsuites which have been reviewed by just about anyone and at some point I'm not even interested in reading another review of the same product).
I visited both Guadeloupe and Martinique and I can't recommend them enough! Connections to the US are hard particularly in hurricane season. I also found out that there are extrenely limited flights to any islands apart from French territories. Your best bet would be to take Air Caraibes to St Martin then transfer to SXM.
Lucky, for an outbound to Europe, fly Boliviana from Miami to Madrid, via Santa Cruz, on the A330! Might have to book separate tickets, but this way you can spend a night in Bolivia!
Honestly Azores Airlines is a valuable review. Their fares are great, readily available, and Ponta Delgada is a really enjoyable stop.
I don't know about international connections at Algiers (ALG). But I know visas are very difficult to obtain, so if you go for AH, make sure to check carefully the transfer situation.
Don't put yourself thru the agony.
Why? That's my only question. Why are you always flying business class for reviews. I think you should fly premium economy and economy for reviews sometimes. I think you should really compare the difference between Delta Premium Select and Premium Economy. Furthermore, I think the number of readers that would find a review of that airline useful is few.
Why should Ben suffer because you want him to fly Y?
He's a blogger whose income depends on page views. A reader giving an opinion on what he'd like to read seems appropriate.
The reality of it is that economy and premium economy is quite mediocre on most airlines. Ben is a privileged individual with access to tons of points, money, and time, so he is able to fly business and first only unlike the majority of the US.
This blog caters to similarly wealthy people who can afford such luxuries. Anyone telling you otherwise is wrong.
That explains a lot.
American rich 101: be a hypocritical liberal.
Premium economy would be interesting, and I'd like to see Ben reveiw a few PE flights.
With economy, the product is what it is, any doesn't vary that much between airlines. The reviews would be pretty dull as it would basically be about who has an extra 1 inch of legroom, or slightly less horrible food.
Why not actually continue on to Fort-de-France & fly home from there?
Connections from FDF to MIA are not better than from PTP, if not worse…
I worked in the Caribbean for a number of years and loved the challenge of getting from one island to another. Hilarity at times with the local carriers - and sometimes you just could not get there the same day!
Given how Delta-controlled Virgin has limited access for Delta passengers to its flagship Clubhouse at LHR, I imagine the new Delta One lounges will only admit Delta 360 customers and Delta or Virgin Atlantic business-class passengers. I could also see Delta limiting it to only 360s and Delta metal business-class passengers. But if the access policy is more liberal than expected, we could see the Sky Club lounges suddenly become less crowded.
Would they allow Award Delta One? AC does not allow award tickets into their C Lounge in Toronto.
Never count on Delta not being Delta, but I don't see how you can charge a million miles for a Delta One round-trip redemption and not give access to the Delta One lounge.
I think the VS Clubhouse @JFK will close once the DL facility opens, either for refurbishment or permanently, it’s showing its age and lack of investment.
I don't know if Sir Richard (to the extent he can overrule the Delta-imposed management) would allow that. It would be such a symbolic loss for Virgin Atlantic.
I would actually think it's all JV partners would be able to access.
There's plenty of unknowledgeable travelers that would expect to be able to access the D1 lounge when they book a business class ticket on JV metal with Delta. It wouldn't be very easy to explain away the differences to people paying such exorbitant prices.
It's easy to turn people away if their airline has their own lounge. Delta already turns away their own elite on economy tickets, despite Sky Team rules. I don't think Virgin Atlantic business-class passengers should use the Delta lounge when Virgin has its own lounge. Same for Delta passengers using an Air France lounge at an airport with a Delta lounge.
AA1427? FDF-MIA
Or take the newish Dominican airline Sky High from FDF or PTP to Santo Domingo and then fly InterCaribbean Airways to Tortola and then either ferry to St. Thomas for an American flight to Miami or fly American Eagle from Tortola to Miami.
Actually, from SDQ there are direct flights to MIA (with AA and Sky High).
I know. I was trying to think of creative routing.
Fly Air Caraibes to the French West Indies and then do the Air France milk-run back to Miami.
There’s no milkrun to MIA anymore. AF flies this nonstop nowadays.
If you want to fly DL metal, you could try booking an economy cash ticket on a flight that's wide open in business and checking the upgrade offer. (I just booked JFK-LGW on 7/8 to test this out and it offered a $999 upgrade to Delta One.)
How much was the economy ticket?
$573
I can help you get a real good deal on OS if interested
Would love to see you in the DFW Flagship Lounge June 29th or the LHR arrivals lounge June 30th!
PTP is actually a pretty modern airport, I was there a few months ago. They even have a priority pass lounge, something which is not so common in Caribbean region.
There are no chain hotels in Guadeloupe (apart from Club Med)
I would imagine this would be a dealbreaker.
You are yet to try UX's 789 J (1-2-1). They use T4 at JFK, so in theory that should grant access to the DL One lounge, shouldn't it? In terms of award availability it's not the best... but out of all "big" programs, I believe FB has the most.
Welp, nevermind, it seems like they are using a wet-leased on the JFK route... Though the MIA route does feature the 789 most days
AF‘s “island hopper” doesn’t hop much anymore nowadays, since they dropped the stop in PAP and PTP-MIA is now always nonstop. To my knowledge, it operates three times a week. Additionally, there should be nonstop flights on AA to MIA both from PTP and FDF, but I believe only once per week each.
There’s one connection, which works every day and is a bit adventurous too:
You could take an island hopper from...
AF‘s “island hopper” doesn’t hop much anymore nowadays, since they dropped the stop in PAP and PTP-MIA is now always nonstop. To my knowledge, it operates three times a week. Additionally, there should be nonstop flights on AA to MIA both from PTP and FDF, but I believe only once per week each.
There’s one connection, which works every day and is a bit adventurous too:
You could take an island hopper from PTP to SFG, move between airports by taxi or prebooked transfer and continue to MIA from SXM.
I combined MIA with PTP in one trip several times, so I am aware of the challenges. So far I never had to take the adventurous route, but just wanted to let you know, that it is possible!
As far as TX Business Class from ORY is concerned, you will probably be mildly satisfied, although it’s not something to get overly excited about, especially with the usual concern that there’s no direct aisle access for the window seats.
In general, PTP is a destination often overlooked by US travelers, which is a shame, as it is an extremely beautiful destination (totally different from AUA) and very safe with a high standard of living. It also has a better value for money standard than many other Caribbean islands, certainly better value for money than Miami Beach…
I’d love you to do this trip on TX to shed some light on their product and possibly give a glimpse on PTP while you’re there (don’t stay in the city of Pointe-a-Pitre though, which is more of an acquired taste…
Good luck and I am excited to see, which routing you’ll end up with.
They have the same $1,030 fare to Saint Martin (SFG), and it will be very easy to get to Miami from Sint Maarten (SXM), and get a little plane spotting while you are there at Maho Beach!
I'm surprised there's no connection back to Miami from Guadeloupe via Barbados, Antigua or Port of Spain?
Indeed there are no such connections, not even via SJU, which works for may other islands. Probably due to the geopolitical circumstances. It’s easier to fly to CAY from PTP than to most neighbouring islands (unless they’re French…)
Because there is so little traffic. Most English speaking don't need French attitude.
Clearly you have never been in the FWI…
Ben, when will you review Air Premia?
There usually award space YQB-CDG on AF (summer only). You'd still have to get to YQB which ain't cheap. Also YOW-CDG on AF.
You could take the daytime VS departure from JFK.
That way you could visit the Delta One lounge when it opens.
I imagine a daytime eastbound TATL flight review would be useful (or at least more useful than any other DL or VS flight)
I also fully endorse the Air Caraibes flight idea.
From Fort-de-France you could fly Winair to SXM then on to MIA with AA.