One thing about me is that I’m never going to be the girl who didn’t go to Paris. And yes, my millennial is showing with that Hills reference, but it will never not be an iconic line, okay?! Of course, I don’t just mean that I’ll always go to Paris in a career-advancing/Lauren Conrad at Teen Vogue sense—although that kind of trip is great, too. No, I will go to Paris at the absolute drop of a hat (beret?) just for the hell of it. I’ll take any excuse to spend a few days drinking wine, eating cheese, and practicing my rusty college French with anyone who will let me. And from New York City, it’s an almost-reasonable long weekend endeavor. Fly out on a Thursday night, arrive Friday morning, check into an exceptionally cozy and centrally-located hotel (Hotel Nuage is a favorite for home-away-from-home vibes and hospitality) and head home Monday morning feeling culturally fulfilled.
Now, Cosmo has covered many options for Paris itineraries over the years. (See here and here.) But I may have found the best possible way to make even the quickest trip an all-around luxury experience: By flying with La Compagnie.
This all-business class airline (which flies between New York and Paris, Nice, and Milan) offers a splurge-worthy ticket that I’d recommend over its equivalent on other airlines. I mean yes, if you’re a points girlie and loyal to a certain airline, go redeem those points! But if you’re looking to book a lay-flat seat to Europe with actual real-world dollars, La Compagnie offers value you can feel very good about.
Let me explain why this is an experience worth saving up for. (It’s basically a vacation in and of itself!)
There’s So Much Room For Activities (AKA Sleep)
Each of the 76 seats on their planes converts into a lay-flat bed so that you can settle in for some actual shuteye before you land. There’s also plenty of room to spread out your essentials (like, you know, all of the different sheet masks, books, chargers, and other creature comforts you’ve brought for the journey).
The Food and Drink Menus Are Restaurant-Quality
La Compagnie prides themselves on their French-inspired culinary experience. The menus change depending on the flight, but involve entrees like duck and sea bream. Airplane food can be so hit-or-miss, and I’m happy to report that my meals between New York and Paris were truly exceptional.
It’s Just All-Around Easier and More Convenient
Since there are only 76 seats, the entire boarding process goes by in a flash. And their Paris-bound planes fly into the Paris-Orly airport instead of Charles de Gaulle. It was my first time flying into Orly, and I found that going through customs there was much speedier. It’s also faster to get into town from there, so you can kick off your vacay right away without wasting an extra minute in transit.
It’s Far Cheaper Than the Equivalent Fare Class on Major Airlines.
With round trip flights starting at $2400, it’s definitely pricey, but I’ve seen major airlines charge four or five times that for the same kind of seat. The girl math may be girl-mathing, but that sounds like…a bargain? La Compagnie kindly covered my ticket for the purposes of this review, but after flying on the airline and getting the full experience, this is absolutely on my to-splurge-on list.
Okay, that does it: I’m ready to go back.
Book here.
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