All business class sector hots up Competition in the market for transatlantic travellers is hotting up with three announcements regarding all-business-class services across the Pond.
MAXjet, which already operates daily all-business services between Stansted and New York JFK, has announced that its inaugural flight on its recently announced route between Washington Dulles and London Stansted will take place on March 15. The first flight from the UK will take place on March 17.
The new service will operate four times a week – on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flights will leave Dulles at 1930, arriving London Stansted at 0830 the following day. The return flight from London will depart Stansted at 1300, arriving in Washington at 1630 the same day. Introductory return fares will start at £599 including taxes and charges. Fares will start from £832 after the introductory period ends.
Meanwhile, Eos Airlines – MAXJet’s rival on the Stansted-JFK route with its own all-business service – has announced the launch of one of the most rewarding frequent flyer programmes in the industry.
Eos Club 48 – which reflects the 8-seat configuration the airline uses on its flights – gives members the opportunity to redeem rewards on any airline without restriction.
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John Rindslaub, executive vice president of marketing at the airline, says: “No other airline offers the option to redeem rewards for travel on any airline without restrictions, guaranteed. We’ve raised the desirability and immediacy factor, keeping in mind what really resonates and matters to travelling business executives. While other programmes limit rewards to the individual airline or confuse members with complex restrictions, impressive rewards begin after just one round-trip on Eos through a simple, flexible, and highly personalized process where guests are known by their name and not a number.”
Membership also gives access to Quintessentially’s concierge service both before and during a trip. Eos fares start at and each round-trip gives 15,000 points. Travellers who join and travel before March 31 earn 80,000 points. The latter amount is enough to earn a companion ticket for travel at any time without blackouts or to exchange for an iPod with Bose Sound Dock or a dinner party for four at Nobu in New York. Restricted return fares on Eos cost just under £2,000.
Lufthansa has also announced that its business-class only services between Munich and New York/Newark are to get lie-flat seats with even more room to stretch out. The Munich services are operated on Boeing 737s with just 44 seats.
More information www.maxjet.net, www.eosairlines.com and www.lufthansa.com