$999 round trips to Paris

... and other business class bargains!

While there are some remarkable international economy fares available right now, this is an ideal time to consider the comforts of business class. If you are used to coach, the experience of flying in a premium cabin is remarkable. Do you hate it when the seat back in front of you invades your space and squeezes your knees? In business class, the problem (if you want to call it that) is having to get out of your seat to get something out of the seat pocket in front of you. And no more hunching shoulders to avoid bumping your neighbor... the armrests are wide enough that you'll never touch. If you're able to sleep on a plane, or even if you're not, seats that recline to form a completely flat bed make for a most comfortable journey.

This is the time of the year when international airlines post their best bargains for business class travel. There's a brand-new carrier by the name of L'Avion flying the New York - Paris route (EWR-ORY). (L'Avion is French for the plane.) An all business class airline, L'Avion flies Boeing 757-200 aircraft with seats that recline to 140 degrees -- not quite the fully horizontal Club World seats offered by British Airways, but at the price, this is quite a bargain. Flights depart Newark at 7:30 p.m. all nights except Saturday and return from Orly at 2 p.m. all afternoons except Sunday. This $999 round trip is a promotional fare applicable to the first 999 tickets sold, and there are some restrictions. Book it on L'Avion's website

If London is your destination, then British Airways may be your carrier. You have until the end of January to book this offer. Fares start from $1126 one way (from New York) and are valid for travel between July 1 and September 2. Fares are equally attractive from other U.S. gateways. See the British Airways summer premium offer page.

But the bargain business class bonanza doesn't stop there. Have you heard of MaxJet, the all-business class carrier flying to London's Stansted airport? Flights are available for as little as $699 each way from JFK, $822 from Dulles, and $947 from Las Vegas. Then there's EOS Airlines, the all-first class airline, that will fly you from JFK to Stansted for $3,280 round trip in a completely lie-flat sleeper seat.

If you've always wondered what it was like to fly up front, maybe now is the time to experience it for yourself. $999 to Paris? Roundtrip? In business class? Warning: once you've tried it, you may never want to go back!

If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.



travel agent consultant L'Avion British+Airways MaxJet EOS business+class first+class comfort lie flat seat luxury value