Flying with Class – Open Skies Airlines

Someone finally did it! – Created an airline focused on customer service – hooray. We’ve just returned from a trip to Paris on Open Skies Airways which is an all business class airlines with two classes of service;  Business Beds and Business Seats. The business bed seats are positioned facing each other with a fan divider running between for privacy.  A British Air subsidiary, Open Skies flies out of Washington Dulles and Newark to Orly Airport in Paris, and is a wonderful way to fly to Europe.Everything was first class from the ticket purchasing, to the boarding, to the flight. We felt we were boarding a private jet to wing us to our destination, maybe because there were only 60 passengers (80 max) thus making the experience intimate and very customer centric.

We arrived at Washington Dulles and were able to check in at the British Airways lounge.  Graciously greeted and welcomed (what a novel idea of thanking the customer), we relaxed while waiting to board our flight to Paris. You are welcome to participate in pre-boarding dinning, cocktails, or simply to snack and use the business center. The lounge service was A+, and since they notify you when it’s time to board your flight. you to can relax in comfy seats and enjoy the view. Our evening flight to Paris was a short 6 hours, and didn’t quite live up to our expectations.  Our dinner and breakfast were fine (but not extraordinary), and we actually felt a bit neglected at times as the flight crew were busy trying to troubleshoot several personal entertainment devices that were not working properly. The plane was older than we anticipated which resulted in some difficulties with the seat recline mechanisms.   But hold on, Open Skies still deserved a 5 Star rating, read on…..

It Pays Not to Judge Too Soon

Fully prepared to experience the very same on our return, we were pleasantly surprised. Our Flight Attendant Michael on the return flight was extraordinary. Since the fight back was nearly 9 hours, the crew had a lot more time to expand the service and provide us with a  truly first class experience, which included complimentary wine and champagne, a three-course meal, and a snack prior to arrival.  The good news is… they serve a nice selection of food, although like most airline food it suffers a bit in translation. All the equipment was operational on this flight and the 9 hours flew by (no pun intended). It was one of the best flights we’ve had in a very long time, and we would definitely go out of our way to fly Open Skies again.  The fact that their pricing is considerably below British Air, Air France, Delta etc. for business seats is a considerable bonus.  (At writing, the round trip business seat fare is approx $1,500 in high season!)  Here are a few additional tips to insure a great flight:

• Order a special meal, they have many options and they seemed to be more carefully prepared than the normal “chicken or fish” options.
• The travel kit is quite sparse (socks, mini toothpaste and brush), so bring along your own mouthwash, eye covering, chap stick and face moisturizer.
• The crew is very accommodating, don’t hesitate to ask for anything you need.
• Make sure you get up and move those legs to prevent DVT
• Bring along your own in-seat entertainment (book, magazine, iPod) just in case the entertainment devises are finicky
• Be sure to fill out all the pre-boarding information online to expedite your airport check in
• It’s possible to book a Business Bed seat for the overnight flight to Europe and a Business Seat for the daytime return.

One of the major benefits of flying Open Skies is that you land at Orly Airport instead of Charles de Gaulle (think LaGuardia rather than JFK).  We walked off the plane, through customs, and were in a taxi within 5 minutes of landing!  The taxi ride into the city wandered through suburban Paris neighborhoods and cost approx. 35 € ($45).

In our opinion Open Skies is well worth the splurge. The price of their round trip business class flight may be only a few hundred dollars more than flying coach on another airline.  The seats are wide and comfortable, the meals are actually edible, and the service is friendly, efficient and engaging.  They actually look happy to see you – pinch me, have I returned to the 60′s?  If you are considering a trip to Europe, definitely give Open Skies a try.   You may just fall in love with flying again – and you DO deserve a little pampering on your next vacation!