Airbus A321 planes are reshaping transatlantic travel. I visited 3 airlines’ business classes – here’s how they compare.

• Airlines are increasingly using Airbus A321neo family aircraft for their transatlantic flights.

• These single-aisle aircraft offer effective long-haul savings for routes to Europe.

• JetBlue, La Compagnie and Iberia offer flatbed business class on these narrow-body planes.

More and more airlines are flying single-aisle Airbus A321neo family aircraft across the Atlantic.

These aircraft are a popular choice due to their favorable long-haul economics. They can efficiently operate flights on routes that may not have the demand to fill a widebody, while remaining profitable for airlines.

Because the planes can cross oceans – with the longest-range variant, the A321XLR, flying up to 11 hours non-stop – many airlines have fitted them with flatbed business class to maximize comfort (and income).

I have seen three examples of these premium transatlantic Airbus cabins: JetBlue Airways, French airline La Compagnie and Spanish national airline Iberia.

Iberia is nice, but it and The Company lack the perk travelers prefer, while JetBlue offers the most amenity-rich business experience.

All three have reclining seats, but prices vary.

The Company is a small, all-business class airline serving Paris, Nice and Milan from the United States with A321neoLRs. It offers many affordable fares, with round-trip tickets starting at $2,500,

Iberia’s new A321XLR will cost customers up to $5,000 or more round trip, depending on the season.

JetBlue’s A321neoLR offers discounted Mint fares to London, but other destinations typically cost between $3,000 and $4,000.

Only JetBlue offers private doors.

The Company and Iberia do not have the sliding door that is standard on every JetBlue Mint seat. The privacy benefit is becoming more and more popular on premium wide-body seats.

The French carrier’s 2×2 layout would make fitting one impossible, while Iberia has carefully designed its 1×1 cabin to be private without one. It has reclined seats, high walls and large wings.

Forget privacy on La Compagnie.

The Company has the most awkward layout of the three. The 2×2 layout maximizes space, but it means travelers could sleep right next to a stranger on a full flight – and the window seat can’t freely access the aisle.

There’s a small separation between the seats, but it doesn’t do much to keep travelers away from each other. The airline is largely aimed at families and couples, so you may not have an unknown neighbor.

Iberia lacks additional seats up front.

Two of JetBlue’s 24-person Mint business class seats are designated the extra-large “Studio” with a companion seat for dining or meeting another traveler.

The Company offers more legroom in its exit rows and in its partition. This makes it easier for the window passenger to climb onto a seat neighbor in the aisle.

Iberia’s smallest business class, seating 14 people, does not have extra-wide seats.

Iberia has a Bluetooth TV.

Iberia’s 18.5-inch TV has Bluetooth built-in, allowing travelers to connect their own wireless headphones to the screen.

JetBlue provided customers on its inaugural flight from New York to Paris in June with a free AirFly Pro Bluetooth audio transmitter, but that’s not the norm: Future travelers must bring their own.

The Company’s 15.6-inch screen was also not equipped with Bluetooth. All three had a remote control, with JetBlue’s Studio having the largest screen at 22 inches. Its regular suites have a 17-inch television.

Storage on La Compagnie is minimal.

The Company had almost no storage space, aside from the top compartment large enough to hold larger items, like a laptop or a small backpack.

Iberia’s storage under the TV and behind the screen provides more spacious storage space, just like JetBlue’s design. And both have more space on the table, something La Compagnie customers have in common.

JetBlue has a “Do Not Disturb” sign.

JetBlue’s “Do Not Disturb” sign instructs flight attendants not to wake passengers, even during meal service.

This is probably a welcome benefit for night flights. Iberia and La Compagnie do not have the same functionality.

All three offer the usual business class benefits.

All three airlines offer the same standard business class benefits, including an amenity kit, hot meals, a tray table, linens, Wi-Fi and electricity.

For power, the airlines each have a USB-A port and a universal outlet. Both JetBlue and Iberia also offer a USB-C port, and the former includes a wireless charger that the other two don’t have.

JetBlue does not yet have a dedicated lounge.

Iberia has its own business class lounges in Madrid. In the United States, travelers can use Oneworld partner lounges. The Company offers its travelers access to the lounge via partnerships.

JetBlue does not have a dedicated lounge, however. However, JetBlue plans to build airport lounges to expand its premium offerings.

For now, travelers can access airport lounges via a credit card, such as American Express or Chase.

JetBlue is my preferred choice.

Despite the absence of a lounge in JetBlue, the cabin seat is the most equipped with its door and “Do Not Disturb” sign. In addition, its Studio offers more choices.

Iberia comes in a close second with good privacy and comfort, but I would personally prefer JetBlue on a transatlantic flight for the price and amenities.

The Company is inconvenient but worth splurging on.

The Company has the most clunky design, but there is no other logical way to configure its planes because it must 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 is offering more routes to Europe.

JetBlue offers the most A321neoLR routes across the Atlantic with services to London, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin and Edinburgh, Scotland, from New York or Boston.

Iberia flies the A321XLR to Boston and, soon, to Washington Dulles. JetBlue plans to eventually receive the A321XLR, which could open new European routes, such as Italy and Spain.

The Company 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 reclining beds.

There are a few other narrow-body, flat-body business classes that I haven’t seen yet, 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 other carriers planning A321XLR flights with business class beds – with United replacing its flatbed Boeing 757s with the A321XLR in 2026 and adding new routes.

Read the original article on Business Insider