PrivatAir - Business Class Scheduled Flights from Europe to USA, Dubai, India
PrivatAir is an air operator which runs all-business class services from Germany, Switzerland and Netherlands on behalf of some major European national carriers - Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and Swiss. Independent all-business class services have all recently gone under except Paris based L'Avion. |
Let's check out the PrivatAir all-business concept:
Germany
Lufthansa and PrivatAir are running a number of all business class services from Germany to the US. They were actually the first to introduce a scheduled intercontinental all-business class service. Current routes are as follows:
Dusseldorf
DUS to Newark EWR
LH 408 Departs 1000 Arrives
1300 Daily
Newark EWR to Dusseldorf DUS
LH 409 Departs 1635 Arrives
0605 (+1) Daily
Dusseldorf
DUS to Chicago ORD
LH 436 Departs 0900 Arrives 1150 Not Wed/Sat
Chicago
ORD to Dusseldorf DUS
LH 437 Departs 1550 Arrives 0710 (+1) Not Wed/Sat
Frankfurt
FRA to Newark EWR
LH 484 Departs 0815 Arrives 1120 Not Sat
Newark
EWR to Frankfurt FRA
LH 485 Departs 1555 Arrives 0540 (+1) Not Sat
The Dusseldorf flights are operated with an Airbus A319CJ with 48 leather seats in a 2 by 2 configuration. The plane is fitted with extra fuel tanks which allows it to fly up to 10 hours non-stop. The Frankfurt service uses a a converted Boeing 737 with 44 seats. Seat pitch on these LH flights are advertised as 'up to 2 metres' (78") with lie-flat seats.
There used to be a Munich to Newark operation (flights LH 412 and 413) but due to increasing demand it was converted to a 3 class service using an Airbus A330.
New Services to Dubai and India
From May 1st 2008, Lufthansa will introduce a Dubai service as follows:
Munich
MUC to Dubai DXB
LH 638 Departs 2130 Arrives 0525 (+1) Not Tue
Dubai
DXB to Munich MUC
LH 639 Departs 0750 Arrives 1210 Not Tue
From July 1st 2008, Lufthansa and PrivatAir will start a business shuttle to Pune (Poona) in India using an Airbus A319LR:
Frankfurt
FRA to Pune PNQ
LH 768 Departs 1615 Arrives 0400 (+1) Not Sun
Pune
PNQ to Frankfurt FRA
LH 769 Departs 0529 Arrives 1050 (+1) Not Sun
These services are considered to be normal Lufthansa business class flights and can be booked at Lufthansa's website at no extra cost. Some passengers do prefer the atmosphere on-board these smaller jets rather than flying on the usual larger planes. You can also find the flights on online agents like Expedia etc.
Switzerland
PrivatAir run the following service in association with Swiss and bookable on the websites of Swiss and Lufthansa:
Zurich
ZUR to Newark EWR LX 018 Departs 1700 Arrives 2015
Not Sat
Newark
EWR to Zurich ZUR LX 019 Departs 2140 Arrives 1130 (+1)
Not Sat
The aircraft on the Swiss service is a Boeing Business Jet 2 (737-800) with 56 seats (2 by 2). Seat pitch is 60" with a 171 degree recline. For even more legroom ask for the exit row.
Netherlands
KLM-AirFrance market the following service operated by PrivatAir:
Amsterdam
AMS to Houston IAH
KL663 Departs 1440 Arrives
1850 Not Wednesday
Houston IAH to Amsterdam AMS
KL664 Departs 2020
Arrives 1235 (+1) Not Wednesday
Why Houston? This service is aimed at oil company business executives so there is plenty of demand on this route. Aircraft is the 48-seat (2 by 2) Boeing 737-700 Business Jet, pictured above at Schiphol airport. Seat pitch comes in at 62" with an almost lie-flat recline of 175 degrees.
Bookable as a standard 'World Business Class' ticket on on KLM's website.
Privat Air is a good way to experience an all-business class service given the ease of booking through the websites of some major Euro carriers, especially if you are a frequent flyer member in Star Alliance or Skyteam.
Air Travel Articles & Resources > Business Class Flying > PrivatAir All-Business Class Services
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