OpenSkies to Paris, Part Three

Impressive effort! 😉

Did you ever get the promised "something aboard to acknowledge that [you] were on the inaugural flight" ?

Sadly we didn't get any inaugural gifts. I wish... 🙁

OpenSkies boards Economy before PREM+ and BIZ?

Yep, very odd. Now I should say that I didn't try boarding (so I doubt they would have turned me away), but they call boarding for Economy, then PREM+, and then BIZ.

Lucky,

Thanks for sharing this with us - sounds like a great time! Iam totally jealous, but I'm glad you got to go as you really deserved it. See you in SF at the Mega Do.

This is not a trip report, its a study in a new form of travel 😉

Nice report lucky! Providing Openskies get their loads up, this could be an interesting way forward for them (with the possibiltiy of AMS and BRU in the future. All depends which BA 757 is up for sacrifice next.

On boarding...
With the low number of pax there are, I would had thought this way made sense to the Premium customers aren't bumped by Economy passengers everywhere. To me, that would be good as most of the pax are loaded, and I don't have to rush to load the bin and sit down.

Ben, Ben Ben.... It's always just "Concorde," never "the Concorde." ; )

Lucky: that is a wonderful a report! Enjoyed every minute.

I have read your last post with interest.

From your pics I can tell you that it was not just the linen that is part of BA's First product. All the crockery, condiments and glasswear are exactly what we use now in First and the way your meal was served is exactly like BA's First. The only exception is in First you can eat when you want.

The security questions are a requirement by the UK DOT. As EC is registered in the UK it must comply with the asking of the security questions. Also the additional gate checks is a BA security thing. EC maybe be a small airline but it is still part of a flag carrier and for that reason is pecieved to be a greater target for unsavoury individuals hell bent on ruining air travel for all of us ( I won't use the T word)

When BA set up OpenSkies they wanted to bring a new standard of travel between the US and europe. You never know with the open skies talks in full swing and the current state of the aviation industry maybe BA will be able to bring the same standard of service to internal US flights if they can get traffic rights. BA america has a ring to it or OpenSkies USA. lol

So although you are a loyal UA/Ted customer would you think about using EC if you travel to europe again??.

Would you recommend EC to a friend who was travelling to Europe??

BAboy, once again thanks for the insight, it's much appreciated.

I absolutely would consider EC again in the future. I'd say it's has the best business class product between the US and France. I'd also say that their PREM+ product is a complete bargain, and is something which will go over very well with people that are willing to pay a premium, but not quite for BIZ.

Even for Economy, while service isn't spectacular and it's a bit tight, we're ultimately only talking about 30 people, so the comfort and ease or boarding and deplaning are a huge plus.

Overall I would definitely recommend them. Actually, I have already recommended them to someone that regularly flies full fare premium cabins to Europe, and he promised he'd give them a try next time he's Paris bound.

Thanks again! 🙂

Your attention to detail and the report is very thorough;however-the light has 3 settings and the strongest is easily bright enough so maybe you didn't use the max setting.The seats are the old BA Club Class seats recovered,and the controls aren't always on the left-it depends on the seats as to whether they will be on the left or right inside armrest.
Glad you enjoyed the experience...

I am taking the JFK to Paris flight at the end of September! I am WAY excited, now! I have flown 1st on Luft. business class on Many (including BA), so this might be a GOOD change of pace.

Thanks for the insightful review!

CHEERS,

Dr. R. Wolfe

Sorry lucky a correction to BA boys posting. The cabin crew training is not conducted at Cranebank or in NYC, it is all done at the First Choice facility by Gatwick airport. The training is outsourced to non BA personel at the First Choice training facility.

Hi Lucky,

We're going with EC ex AMS - JFK around X-mas.. So it was really cool reading the stories you wrote and makes me more curious than ever to fly with EC. Have flown with BA loads of times, so it'll be excited 🙂

Thanks for your great stories...

Cheers San

lucky - a straightforward question to you!

we're flying JFK-ORL end of sept, with PREM+.

honestly, the economy at 30 pp (vs. 24 in PREM+) and same meals as PREM+ (served at once, plastic baggies) - is PREM+ worth double the price?

the more i read about BIZ, should we have forked out the 2nd double?

also - we have PREM+ first row - 7 - appears to be bulkhead. recommend on PREM+? enough legroom? storage?

thanks a bunch

Nico,

I'm not sure if you've flown United Business, but I think that's the best comparison. The PREM+ service is basically identical to coach, but it's a really comfortable ride with the huge seats. If you'd be willing to pay double for a business class type seat (not totally new generation), then definitely go for it. If not, I would save the money.

If it were me, I would probably do coach, but that's just because it's such a short flight and I'd rather save the money. If you do value comfort though, I think it's a great deal.

As for whether to go for BIZ, it's tough to say. I think PREM+ is comfortable enough of a ride that I wouldn't find the upgrade worth it, but it all depends on your financial situation.

Row seven was great, if I recall correctly, and of course you have the advantage of no one reclining into you.

Enjoy the trip!

Thank you for the detailed review and for sharing your experiences on OpenSkies! I was trying to decide if I should book a ticket through United (which would put me on Lufthansa in C/F over the ocean) or OpenSkies. Your review made the decision quite easy; I chose OpenSkies.

As I was reading your review, I really appreciated both your sense of humor and your attention to desserts. In particular, I am looking forward to trying out the cookies in the blue wrappers at the lounge in Orly.

Thank you again!

John Canning

Hi there Lucky,

I thank you for this thorough review of the Openskies experience. I really found your writing fun to read. You have a very journalistic sense of describing things, with humor and accuracy (...notably when describing your stay in Paris, and the Orly airport "ordeal"). By the way, they have tighter security screening at this airport since lot of planes fly to some "hotspots" (Algeria, etc...).

I do agree with you about the shortness of the Biz (or Old BA Club World) seats. I had a rather troublesome experience on a BA flight to Heathrow...and never managed to find a suitable sleeping position, and finally ended up sticking my feet out of the seat ! (not very fancy, I know..).

I'm sorry if you find my question kind of awkward (in this case don't anwser), but how do you get to travel soo much? ...just curious..you seem to have lot of fun.

Cheers,

Orian (from Paris)

Thanks to everyone for the comments, I appreciate them!

Orian, this post should kind of answer your question:
https://onemileatatime.com/how-i-find-the-timeresources-to-travel/

If you have any other questions, let me know! 🙂

i received a 20% discount offer after my last open skies flight and have deleted it.can you resend as i am planning my 3rd open sjkies trip in 3 months! vlc

not satisfied by the way my ticket has been downgradede from semi flexible to non flexible! YES THIS IS WRITTEN IN VERY SMALL LETTERS IN THE CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE but why then is it possble to add a semi flexible to a non flexible this is not logic and it costed me 300 $

You got to stay in a biz bed? Awesome. I just had a biz seat. Still lovely experience. But either you got better food than me or they've really cut down in luxury over the years. Here's my review with pics:
http://tinyurl.com/7lovgqr

Ben, any idea why the Captain wouldn't want to wear his stripes in the cabin?

@ Jack -- Good question, not sure.