NeoPatrick

I know it's a branch of British Airways, but they fly nonstop from Newark to Paris (Orly!). And I can fly them on a One World Pass using AA miles. At first I thought they were a lower budget airlline, but when I couldn't find any roundtrips even in January for under about $2000, now I'm not so sure. Does anyone know anything about them?

Margaretlb

http://www.flyopenskies.com/en/home.html

This is a joint venture between BA and Air France. Originally, all business class but recently added an economy class. Flies into Orly rather than CDG. I haven't flown them (yet) - it's on my wishlist.

Christina

I've been wanting to take them but it's still more than I spend even if a good deal for business.

It's main purpose was to be a cheaper business class airline. I didn't know they even had economy.

travelgourmet

OpenSkies flies 757s on the routes. They used to be exclusively business class (old BA Club World seats - now called Biz Bed), but then added a sort of suped-up premium economy (Prem Plus). Recently, they also threw in some coach seats (Eco).

All in all, if you want to go nonstop, they should be a pretty decent choice, at least for the Biz Bed or Prem Plus products. The Eco product will be okay, but the 3x3 seating on a 757 will be more cramped and less comfortable than something like a 767.

I would take them over AA in all classes, except for AA's first class cabin.

<i>This is a joint venture between BA and Air France.</i>

No it isn't. It is a fully-owned subsidiary of BA.

NeoPatrick

Yes, I thought too it was fully owned by BA. But they had to get "approval" or something from Air France to do the route.

We would be flying Business Class on a One World Pass. So is the bottom line that we'd be better off flying BA or AA than Openskies? Does it sound not as nice ("old BA Club World Seats")?
The main advantage is being able to go from or arrive back at Newark rather than JFK. And I'm thinking award seat availability might be a little easier.

china_cat

I think they used to be the all-business airline L'Avion, and they got bought by BA. Not sure if thats useful information for you, but maybe helps with googling about the planes.

kerouac

China_cat is correct about the origin of the airline.

travelgourmet

<i>But they had to get "approval" or something from Air France to do the route.</i>

They had to wait for the ratification of the open skies treaty, but I don't think they needed Air France's approval. At most, they might have needed to buy some landing slots from Air France, but I don't think that was the case, either.

<i>So is the bottom line that we'd be better off flying BA or AA than Openskies?</i>

Well, I prefer the new Club World seats, so strictly for the flight portion, I'd choose BA. But, I can't say that the difference in seat is worth the extra connection. I would choose Openskies over AA in business class, if only because they offer a flat bed - it might be old, but it is still flat. They hand you an iPad, which makes up for the antiquated AVOD.

NeoPatrick

OK, I've been reading reviews. Doesn't sound so good. Pretty bad in fact. I just wish there more options on One World to either Newark or Philadelphia.

travelgourmet

<i>I just wish there more options on One World to either Newark or Philadelphia.</i>

BA flies to both and has the best One World J product for TATL flights. Is it an availability issue?

NeoPatrick

No it's still a year away. But I was trying to avoid having to go through London both ways when we could hopefully get nonstops -- at least one way. And we must use three different airlines -- so if it's all BA, it doesn't work. And with Philly, I don't think there are any options which don't include London. And if we start in Philly we have to end in Philly. Our best option seems to be to fly Newark to Vienna via London, then return to JFK non stop from Zurich. We're mainly looking at Austria and Switzerland.

Not to mention my experiences on BA have been pretty awful. I've never been able to get over them purposely lying to us about a flight they said was still going to fly as they were boarding us to feed us, then they got us back off and canceled the flight. We had already overheard from mechanics that the plane wouldn't fly! I can deal with almost anything except blatant dishonesty. I've loved my TATL business class flights on AA, Iberia, and FinnAir all MUCH better by the way. But don't get me started on BA.

taconictraveler

Well, we did fly on Open Skies, but a few years ago, early on, when they flew to Amsterdam as well as Paris, we flew Biz Seat, and loved it! It was about $1200 RT as i recall, but the prices change often.

Haven't flown them since they changed the configuration, but we loved the special checkIn and special security line they ,plus the fact that there were in total so few people on board. Good service, lots of room.

Last year we flew to aparis on Air France "premium voyageur" and that was also great, good service, good food, more space.