Spring’s finally arrived. And what a busy spring it’s already been. 

As you can see from the photo above, we’ve already wheeled one of the two L’Avion 757s into the hangar and made it part of the OpenSkies family by repainting it with the updated OpenSkies livery that mixes in tones of L’Avion’s signature purple. Flatbed seats are being added over the next couple months and we’re also installing the Archos inflight entertainment system. That means over 50 hours of movies, TV, music and games. 

What else are we up to?  As part of our integration with L’Avion, we’re changing a few things. BIZ is now Biz Bed and PREM+ has been renamed Biz Seat. So why the new names Biz Bed and Biz Seat? To better convey the fact that, no matter the cabin, you’ll experience business class excellence. We also want to keep things lively, so we’re introducing new dishes to our chef-inspired menu—always made from the freshest ingredients. And of course there’s the great wine selection, always poured from a real bottle. 

What isn’t changing is the exceptional comfort, attention to service, and personal touch—and unbeatable value—you’ve come to expect from us. That means loyal L’Avion flyers like Jerome Pineau have no reason to worry.  

I’ve been asked about the uniforms, and yes, updated uniforms are part of the integration. Everyone will be suited up by September, but in the meantime, you may see L’Avion and OpenSkies crew members in their current uniforms working together on a flight.  No matter the uniform, though, everyone will have an OpenSkies nametag—and everyone is committed to providing you memorable business class experience. 

We’re looking forward to expanding the family—and I’m looking forward to hearing what you think of our integration. 

Dale

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I enjoy reading all your comments. I’ve decided to make answering your questions a regular feature on the blog, so if you haven’t gotten around to leaving a comment, now’s the time.

Keith and Henry start us off with a couple great questions that touch on the same topic. “How is OpenSkies coping with the global downturn in air travel?” Keith asks.  “Are you buoyant and will my bookings for the future be a safe investment?”

You’re right, Keith. Economic turbulence has slowed the industry. But let me assure you that your booking made on OpenSkies is a safe investment, and dare I say the best investment at this time. As you may know, we have the full backing and support of one of the world’s finest airlines, British Airways. With BA behind us, we are in a great position for success even in tough economic times. And I want to make a point that PREM+ is, in my opinion, the best value flying, with absolutely no compromise on comfort. Of course you’d expect me to say that.  But it’s also is the opinion of the critics. I like how Joe Brancatelli of Portfolio.com puts it.   PREM+, he says, is an “entirely new class of international airline service.” Value and business class comfort—now those are two terms not often associated with each other!

In the post on our in flight entertainment systems, Lee commented on how great the Archos 705 portable media player is (I agree!). He asks, “How often is your AVOD [entertainment system] updated?”

We update half of our movies every month and rotate in new TV shows every other month. In January, we have some great films like RocknRolla and the thriller Eagle Eye.  And being international, we offer international entertainment, next month features movies like the French drama Le Premier jour du reste de ta vie and the Dutch drama Het Zusje van Katia. Whenever possible, we’ll have French and Dutch soundtracks and subtitles on the movies and TV shows.

A couple of you had questions about whether we were going to extend out routes to new cities.  Hadassah asks, “How big does the vision go for other US cities to be included, namely where I’m at in Los Angeles?” Isadora had a similar question, “When are you flying from Stockholm (Sweden)?”

We put a lot of thought into our routes by considering the business opportunity and the aircraft flying range. As of right now, neither L.A. nor Stockholm are in our plans. Future expansion opportunities are always being considered and as soon as I have any news about upcoming routes I’ll be sure to let you know right here.

Stephen also had a question about routes. He says, “Why don’t you add [London] STANSTED as your next OpenSkies base.”

Stansted may be a unique opportunity, though we have no plans to operate out of the UK.  Our parent company, British Airways, has those flights covered. I’ll definitely pass on the suggestion to them.

And we had a question from Orlan asking about in flight reading. He asks, “Are you planning any inflight magazines specific to OpenSkies?”

We’ve decided not to have an in flight magazine. But we do offer local and international newspapers and publications that you can pick up as you board the plane. Depending on your route, you’ll find Dutch titles like Telegraph or Elsevier, French titles such as Le Figaro or Paris Match, or English titles like The Wall Street Journal or Golf Digest.

That’s all for now. I check the blog a lot to read the new comments. Keep leaving them. I promise to do my best to answer them.  And let me know what you think about our airline, our routes, our blog— anything, really.

Here’s to a great 2009, Happy New Year!

Dale

October 15, 1:20pm at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam marked a tremendous day for us—our first commercial take off from the Netherlands. The flight was an unmitigated success, but you’d expect to hear that coming from me.

For good measure, we invited a few journalists and bloggers aboard our first NYC-AMS flight to give us a good, hard look. And they weren’t your ordinary pressmen, these guys are most-seasoned of travelers—tough, no-nonsense critics that aren’t easily impressed. Those are the kinds of folks we wanted kicking the tires.

Will Allen from Raleigh, North Carolina writes, “I think OpenSkies has broken the code on what international business class travelers want and need between the USA and Europe, and they offer it at a price that will satisfy even the strictest and stingiest corporate travel departments.”

And Joe Brancatelli writes, “The creature comforts of the OpenSkies PREM+ cabin are the latest and best-articulated developments in the nearly 20-year evolution of a fourth and entirely new class of international airline service.”

We’ve been hard at work putting together the best value flying. The seats, the meals, the entertainment system, the service and the small details in between—are all adding up to much larger experience.

But it’s not all strawberry shortcake. David Rowell enjoyed his flight and had some good things to say about the PREM+ cabin: “A business class experience for much less than a business class price.” He did note a few points about the service that we’ll focus our energies on improving. We are certainly grateful for David and critics like him for pointing out the small details that may get lost or forgotten. That’s an important way we’ll continue to get better.

Service, comfort, and legroom at a great price—if you can think of a better value, let me know. And the good news is that we’re always improving. So if you have something to say about our airline, service, seats, pillows, any detail will do—please say it! This airline was made for you. Our job is to keep you loving it.

Dale

The good news is OpenSkies.

When we launched last spring with the full support of British Airways, our mission was to bring something unique to the marketplace. OpenSkies is built on the idea of providing exceptional comfort and service at a great price. That’s exactly what we’ve been doing. We use our resources wisely. And by carefully expanding one route at a time, we’re able to stick to our principle of providing you value. That’s a big deal, especially now that travel budgets are tightening.

Travelers hesitant to pay the high price of flying international business class don’t have to give up flatbed seats or amenities just to save money. OpenSkies BIZ is a great option. And for around the same price as a full fare flight in economy on a competing airline, you can fly PREM+, where you’ll enjoy business class comfort for a lot less money.

There is one thing we can’t offer you that other airlines can—a middle seat. None of the 64 seats in our newly reconfigured planes—24 BIZ and 40 PREM+—are middle ones, which is great news for people like me who hate getting trapped between two other passengers.

So if you’re reevaluating your travel expenses, keep us in mind. Great value and exception service—OpenSkies is an airline whose time has come.

If you have an idea on how we can improve, or something you’d like to see us start doing, post your thoughts in our comment section. Your questions and suggestions are important to us.

Dale

I have to say that I’m really excited about our new route. And what better way to celebrate a fantastic new route than with a fantastic deal.

For four days only, from September 9 through September 12, 2008, a round trip BIZ ticket from New York to Amsterdam is only $1609*, all taxes included. And a round trip PREM+ ticket is only $1158*, all taxes included. Talk about a great deal.

So how did we come up with $1609*?  Besides being a great price for a roundtrip BIZ ticket, 1609 is significant for another reason. Let’s see if you know.

Is it:

A. The number of miles between New York City and Amsterdam.

B. The year Henry Hudson explored the New York waterways.

C. The number of paintings in the Van Gogh Museum.

If you guessed B, you’re right! Henry Hudson was hired by the Dutch East India Trading Company in 1609 to explore the New York waterways in hopes of finding a passage to Asia.

I know I mentioned it in an earlier post, but it’s worth saying again—our flights to Amsterdam will feature our new duel cabin reconfiguration. We’re expanding PREM+ from 28 to 40 seats—which means more opportunity to enjoy business class comfort without the business class cost.

So why not plan to have Thanksgiving in New York City, or enjoy a cozy Christmas in Amsterdam? And why not tell your friends and family about this deal.  With prices like these, it’s hard to find a reason not to go.

But don’t wait too long to book. This offer is only good from September 9 through 12, 2008. (But we always have some great offers.  Check out our offers page of other deals we have.)

As they say in Amsterdam, Gauw tot ziens! (See you soon!)

Dale

If you’ve been following the blog at all, you know how much effort we’ve put into launching OpenSkies. But just because we’re up and flying, that doesn’t mean we haven’t stopped working hard.  We’re always out to improve. And your thoughts and suggestions are helping us do just that.  So keep them coming!

In a lot of the posts, I’ve broadly touched on some of your questions, but I thought it’d be a good idea to start addressing specific questions.

We received some great questions when we announced our new Amsterdam to New York route. Lucky asks, “Out of curiosity, why is the route only six days a week (or does it just have a different schedule the other day)?”

We don’t fly the Amsterdam route on Saturday. Generally, Saturdays aren’t a big day for business travelers, so we decided not to fly then.

Michel was interested to know if we are a part of the One World Alliance.  He asks, “I have a question regarding One World Around The World Tickets and Open Skies: will it be possible to schedule a One World ATWT incorporating Open Skies flights?”

We’re not a member of the OneWorld Alliance, though Executive Club members earn BA Miles and reward points for flying with us. We decided not to join the OneWorld Alliance and instead focus strictly on direct routes, freeing us of the complexities of transferring luggage and connecting flights, and allowing us to focus on you.  It’s also one of the reasons our operational record stands as it does. So while we aren’t part of the One World Around The World ticket, we can definitely be part of your world travels!

Marc wonders if we have a special offer for passengers on our Amsterdam to New York flight.

Actually, we have a great Amsterdam to New York offer available now through September 8, 2008. You can fly PREM+ from Amsterdam to New York from 1045 Euros, including all taxes and fees.  Click here for the details.

And Jeroen asks, “Will you start advertising your airline and the new route from Amsterdam in any Dutch publications like newspapers or magazines?”

Yes!  We’re looking at some possible print publications, as well as billboards. Starting soon, we’re putting out the word with online advertisements. So keep an eye out for them.

Moving forward, I’ll be answering individual questions left in the comments sections once a month. So start writing.

I wasn’t kidding when I said your thoughts are important to us.

Dale

“All of us were blown away by the value of the Prem+ product. Seriously, it is a steal for what you get.” Says Jared Blank of the Online Travel Review.

“The seat was much wider, at least around the shoulders, which made it easy to get comfortable. I also found the leather to be non-sticky and easy to find a comfortable position in, which is a big plus… Overall I can’t find one thing to fault the seats for,” says Ben A.K.A. “Lucky” from One Mile at A Time.

We thought we were onto something with PREM+, but we didn’t anticipate this kind of reaction! From the very start, we built this airline with a spirit of creativity and passion for listening to our customers. Really listening.

Your voices have been heard. Our PREM+ cabin is expanding from 28 seats to 40 seats on both our Paris/NYC route (as of October 1) and Amsterdam/NYC route (October 15 is our first flight). That means no more than 64 passengers on the entire plane.

But really, what does that mean? I know when I’m on a 7-hour flight, I don’t like to be cramped in claustrophobic quarters. I don’t like to be shifting and fidgeting to relax. When we designed our cabins, we were striving for living-room comfort—not only in our chairs, but also throughout our entire cabin. That includes the food, service, entertainment, privacy, everything. It’s not perfect yet but—with your help—we’re getting closer.

And affordability is also an issue nowadays when many budgets don’t allow for full-price business class travel. PREM+ is the perfect alternative. It gives you a more affordable business class experience, so you arrive refreshed and ready for the day with money to spare. Check out our latest PREM+ offers for both the Amsterdam/NYC and Paris/NYC routes.

The optimum flying experience, that’s what we’re going for. We have a lot of work to do, but at least we’re flying in the right direction.

Dale

It’s been said that our cabins and seats rival—if not surpass—the best in the industry. The quality and value of PREM+ has been blogged about and written about in the New York Times. Many people have commented on the fantastic food, the plush seats, and the roominess of the cabin.

But all this means little if the service isn’t equally stellar. Our crew makes the difference. I can’t say that enough. Without good service, a seat isn’t as comfortable, a meal isn’t as memorable, and a flight becomes just another flight.

Not only is our crew knowledgeable and attentive, but they’re passionate about creating the best experience possible. Have you heard of a cabin crew being trained by expert chefs so they can ensure your meal is properly served? Ours have done just that. And being that our meal service is a la carte, you can get your meal the way you want it—and you get it served on china with a linen tablecloth!

Another aspect that differentiates them is their teamwork. From start to finish, the crew works together to ensure the comfort, safety, and wellbeing of everyone on board. You’ll never experience a “That’s not my job” attitude.

A great example of their unique style of service and dedication in action came to me from our Cabin Services Manager. She told me she’d received many suggestions from the crew themselves on how to improve the overall OpenSkies experience. She stated that “many of the suggestions involved much more work for the crew. It really demonstrated to me just how customer-focused the crew is. They came up with the ideas themselves—ideas that will have a big impact on their workload!”

As you can see, our crew is tireless in its pursuit to provide you with the best possible experience. They bring you personalised service and attention like no other airline—and bring it to you every time you fly.

Let me know about some of the OpenSkies inflight experiences that made an impression on you. I’d love to hear them.

Dale

Well, that’s exactly what we did!

We invited Randy Peterson, the founder of FlyerTalk.com, and 20 members of the frequent flier community to join us on our inaugural New York-Paris flight and enjoy the OpenSkies experience first-hand. These are the type of fliers we had in mind when we launched OpenSkies—globetrotters who really know the ins and outs of flying.

(photo courtesy of Brian Cohen @ The Gate)

As those of you following this blog know, we’ve worked hard at creating an exceptional experience in all our cabins. Brian Cohen noticed. He reports: “I had the filet of beef for dinner, which was very good. The flight attendants offered great service.” And Jared Blank of Online Travel Review has this to say: “All of us were blown away by the value of the Prem+ product. Seriously, it is a steal for what you get. I cannot overstate how much better it is to fly with so few people on board – the whole process (even if you were in economy) is so laid back and leisurely, without the insanity of boarding 250 other people.” And GBA of Flyertalk.com filed this trip report and even took photos!

I’m pleased that all of Flyertalk.com’s frequent fliers had such a great flight! And speaking of frequent fliers, if you’re a member of BA’s Executive Club you can earn and redeem BA miles on OpenSkies flights. If you aren’t already a member, I’d recommend signing up now.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the experience and we’re looking forward to more of Flyertalkers’ upcoming Trip Reports. And just like your comments on this blog, we’ll take all suggestions to heart. We’re always looking for ways to improve your experience—we don’t expect to be perfect right out of the gate, but we certainly hope to make a few new friends.

I want to personally thank the Flyertalk.com folks for joining us. As I’ve said before, we’re committed to continually improving and making your flight memorable—for all the right reasons!

Dale

As one of our team members said to me the other day, the Prem+ launch deal is a unique offer for a unique offering. And thinking about it, she’s right. Prem+ has a ton of legroom, a ton of space—there’s only 28 seats in the entire cabin—and newly designed leather seats that recline a 140°.

Our website and concierge desk aren’t the only places you can book a ticket or take advantage of our launch deal. All our flights and fares are bookable through British Airways or travel agents. Not only that, but you’ll earn Executives Miles no matter how you book a flight. And soon Executive Club members will be able to redeem miles on OpenSkies flights.

Let me know what you think of our new site. I look forward to seeing you on an upcoming flight!

Dale