Felicity Long
Those of us who fly to Europe frequently have probably flown on just about every transatlantic carrier at one time or another. Unless you're firmly wedded to a particular airline -- status being one obvious factor -- there are all sorts of considerations at play when choosing an airline: price, of course; airport preference; and even lounge access.
For me, these issues pale in comparison to whether I can fly direct, nonstop to my destination. In short, I'll do back flips to avoid a connecting flight.
It's with that in mind that I recently traveled on a La Compagnie flight from Newark to Milan. Although probably best known for its service to Paris Orly, the all-business-class carrier also offers regularly scheduled transatlantic service to Milan Malpensa Airport as well as seasonal service to Nice Cote d'Azur.
Currently, La Compagnie operates two Airbus A321neo aircraft, with plans to add a third plane in late 2026 and a fourth in 2028.
My experience with the carrier began at security in Newark (where the option to use Clear wasn't available), followed by an hour or so at the dedicated lounge. The lounge is open to all La Compagnie passengers and features a new buffet service with hot and cold menu items and a well-stocked bar, including Champagne.
A side note about lounge access: at Orly, Primeclass Lounge access is included with Promo and Smart fares, while the Extime Lounge is complimentary for Flex fares. Promo and Smart passengers can access Extime for an additional fee.
Access to the Montale Lounge in Milan's Malpensa is included in all fares, as is the Infinity Lounge in Nice Cote d'Azur.
Onboard comforts
Once onboard, the airline offers the full flat-bed seats passengers would expect in business class -- there are 76 seats in all -- along with such complimentary amenities as noise-canceling headphones, in-flight entertainment with first-run features, WiFi and seasonal menus featuring four-course meals served with a selection of wines.
Amenity kits to and from Milan include products from Comfort Zone by Davines; France flights offer skin care items from Caudalie.
Was this experience comparable to, say, business class on a premium airline like Air France? A key difference is the double-seat configuration, which means that window-seat passengers don't have direct access to the aisle. Solo travelers might find this off-putting; couples, probably less so. The meals, while not gourmet per se, far exceeded the usual fare on most premium economy flights.
Another possible drawback for points hunters like myself is that the carrier doesn't have a code-sharing partnerships with U.S. airlines.
On the plus side -- and here is where La Compagnie excels -- fares are notably less expensive by as much as 30% to 50%.
Rates start at $2,750 roundtrip from Newark to Milan, $2,700 to Paris and $3,660 to Nice. Newark is the only U.S. departure point for La Compagnie.