JetBlue Airways, La Compagnie, and Iberia are among the few airlines that fly lie-flat business class on narrowbody aircraft across the Atlantic.
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Airlines are increasingly using Airbus A321neo family planes for transatlantic flights.
These single-aisle aircraft offer efficient long-haul economics for routes to Europe.
JetBlue, La Compagnie, and Iberia offer lie-flat business class on these narrow-body planes.
More airlines are flying single-aisle Airbus A321neo family planes across the Atlantic.
The aircraft are a popular choice because of their favorable long-haul economics. They can efficiently fly routes that may not have the demand to fill a widebody and still be profitable for airlines.
Because the planes can cross oceans — with the longest-range variant, the A321XLR, flying up to 11 hours nonstop — many airlines have equipped them with lie-flat business class to optimize comfort (and revenue).
I've seen three examples of these transatlantic premium Airbus cabins: JetBlue Airways, French boutique airline La Compagnie, and Spanish flag carrier Iberia.
All three have lie-flat seats, but prices vary.The lie-flat narrowbody beds on Iberia (top left), JetBlue (top right), and La Compagnie (bottom).
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La Compagnie is a small, all-business-class airline that serves Paris, Nice, and Milan from the US with A321neoLRs. It offers many cost-friendly fares, with roundtrip tickets starting at $2,500,
Iberia's new A321XLR will cost customers up to $5,000 or more roundtrip, depending on the season.
JetBlue's A321neoLR offers some discounted Mint fares to London, but other destinations are typically at least $3,000-$4,000.
Only JetBlue offers privacy doors.JetBlue (top) and Iberia (bottom).
The French carrier's 2×2 layout would make one impossible to fit, while Iberia carefully designed its 1×1 cabin to be private without one. It has angled seats, high walls, and large wings.
Forget about privacy on La Compagnie.Half of La Compagnie's 76 business class seats do not offer direct-aisle access like JetBlue and Iberia.
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La Compagnie has the most awkward layout of the three. The 2×2 layout optimizes the space, but it means flyers could be sleeping right next to a stranger on a full flight — and the window seat can't freely access the aisle.
There is a small divider between seats, but it doesn't do much to block travelers from one another. The airline is largely meant for families and couples, so you may not have an unknown neighbor.
Iberia lacks extra-space seats at the front.JetBlue's front-row Mint Studio comes at an extra fee.
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Two of JetBlue's 24-person Mint business class seats are designated as the extra-large "Studio" with a companion seat to dine or meet with another traveler.
La Compagnie offers more legroom in its exit rows and bulkhead. This provides more ease for the window passenger if climbing over an aisle seatmate.
Iberia's smaller 14-person business class does not have any extra-large seats available.
Iberia has a Bluetooth television.Iberia and JetBlue's screens are moveable, while La Compagnie's is stationary. The Spanish carrier's TV helps with privacy.
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Iberia's 18.5-inch television has Bluetooth built-in, allowing travelers to connect their own wireless headphones to the screen.
La Compagnie's 15.6-inch screen also didn't have Bluetooth. All three did have a remote, with JetBlue's Studio having the largest screen at 22 inches. Its regular suites boast a 17-inch television.
Storage on La Compagnie is minimal.La Compagnie (top) has minimal tabletop space, and it is shared by two people. Iberia (bottom left) and JetBlue (bottom right) offer more overall storage.
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La Compagnie had barely any storage space aside from the overhead bin that was big enough to fit bigger items, like a laptop or a small backpack.
Iberia's storage under the television and behind the screen provides more ample storage, as does JetBlue's design. And both have more tabletop space — something La Compagnie customers have the share.
JetBlue has a 'do not disturb' sign.Iberia and La Compagnie lack this perk.
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JetBlue's "do not disturb" sign tells flight attendants not to wake up passengers, even during a meal service.
It's likely a welcome perk for overnight flights. Iberia and La Compagnie don't have the same feature.
All three offer the usual business-class perks.The wireless pad and an example of a meal on JetBlue (top left, bottom right), an amenity kit on La Compagnie, and the linens on Iberia.
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All three airlines offer the same standard business-class perks, including an amenity kit, hot meals, a tray table, linens, WiFi, and power.
For power, the airlines each have a USB-A port and a universal outlet. JetBlue and Iberia both also offer a USB-C port, and the former includes a wireless charging pad that the other two don't.
JetBlue does not yet have a dedicated lounge.JetBlue Mint travelers in Boston and New York must rely on lounge access via a credit card for now.
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Iberia has its own branded business-class lounges in Madrid. In the US, flyers can use Oneworld partner lounges. La Compagnie offers their travelers lounge access via partnerships.
JetBlue, however, does not have a dedicated lounge. However, JetBlue plans to build airport lounges to expand its premium offerings.
JetBlue is my preferred pick.The Studio with the door closed. It also has more storage space than the regular Mint seats.
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Despite JetBlue's lack of a lounge, the cabin seat is the most amenity-heavy with its door and do-not-disturb sign. Plus, its Studio offers more choice.
Iberia is a close second with good privacy and comfort, but I'd personally prefer JetBlue when flying transatlantic for price and amenities.
La Compagnie is awkward but worth splurging on.La Compagnie is one of two all-business-class airlines in the world. The other, Beond, has a similar 2×2 layout.
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La Compagnie has the most awkward design, but there isn't a logical other way to configure its planes because it needs to optimize space.
Still, the prices are among the cheapest ways to cross the Atlantic in business class. I think it's a good option for leisure travelers willing to splurge but don't want to pay for more expensive airlines.
JetBlue has more routes to Europe.JetBlue flies higher-demand routes with its A321neoLR, but the A321XLR may open new niche ones.
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JetBlue offers the most A321neoLR routes across the Atlantic with service to London, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin, and Edinburgh, Scotland, from New York or Boston.
La Compagnie indirectly competes with JetBlue in Paris. Instead of flying from New York-JFK to Charles de Gaulle like JetBlue, it flies from nearby Newark to Paris-Orly.
The A321XLR will add narrow-body routes to Europe with lie-flat beds.Aer Lingus is among the carriers adding more narrowbody lie-flat seat across the Atlantic in 2025.
Aer Lingus
There are a few other narrow-body, lie-flat business classes that I haven't yet seen, like Aer Lingus 'A321neoLR. Starting in 2025, the airline will also fly bed-equipped A321XLRs on routes like Nashville to Dublin.
American and United are among the other carriers planning A321XLR flights with beds in business class — with United replacing its lie-flat Boeing 757s with the A321XLR in 2026 and adding new routes.
