By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
We flew NORSE ATLANTIC from Miami to Paris and back. Norse Atlantic Airways is a low-cost, long-haul airline. Their desire is that their Miami to Paris new direct route will provide an affordable and convenient travel option for passengers seeking to explore Paris for only $165 one-way including all taxes.
Flights from Miami (MIA) to Paris (CDG) operate up to four times a week and depart at 8:00 p.m. EST and arrive at 11:00 a.m. the following day local time. Flights depart Paris (CDG) at 1:50 p.m. local time, arriving at Miami (MIA) at 5:45 p.m. EST the same day. Fares in Economy start from $165 one-way. Premium seating is also offered. : Passengers can choose from a range of fares - Light, Classic and Flextra. Light fares represent Norse’s value option while Flextra fares include the maximum baggage allowance, two meal services, an enhanced airport and onboard experience, and increased ticket flexibility.
We chose Norse Premium for our flights. There are seven seats in each of the eight rows in Premium. Each seat has a personal, video touch screen with a variety for complimentary entertainment options. The comfortable seats have 43 inch seat pitch and 12 inch recline. We chose Row One seats so that passengers fully-reclining in front of us wouldn’t be an issue. We enjoyed more leg room than any flight in recent memory.
If we had to list any concerns with our Norse experience, it would be at the Paris end. In Miami, the plane is boarded via a Jetway/Loading bridge.
In Paris, passengers must descend a movable stairway to deboard and climb the stairway to board the plane. To get from the gate to the plane or from the plane to the gate, passengers must walk from the stairway to a bus or from the bus to the stairway. The step into the bus is about 18 inches making it a challenge for passengers with mobility issues. Passengers stand in the bus as if they were in a subway.
Our Conclusion and Advice:
The NORSE ATLANTIC Miami to Paris new direct route provides an affordable and convenient travel option for passengers seeking to explore Paris at only $165 one-way including all taxes. It is well worth the added expense of upgrading to Premium seating. The boarding and deboarding in Miami is much better due to the use of its Jetway/Loading bridge. The Paris use of a movable stairway and bus is challenging and makes Premium boarding useless. When returning to Miami, if you have mobility issues, request a wheelchair. It is a long way to Passport Processing and a long wait in queues once you get there. We enjoyed our Norse Atlantic experience and any time in Paris is a terrific time. We hope to enjoy more Norse Atlantic flights to London, Rome, Oslo, Berlin and Athens!
To book and for more information on Norse Atlantic, please visit www.flynorse.com