Mark, who works for an international cargo company and is a frequent business-class traveller, joins us: “This plane is superb. And I saved a lot of money.” Richard, an architect on the eos flight, was also positive: “It’s the best business-class I’ve tried.”

And who were we to disagree? BA and Virgin had better watch out: Stansted has got two classy new airlines — and we’ve drunk the bubbly to prove it.

Page 2: How about a private jet to New York?

()How about a private jet to New York?

PRIVATE jets don’t come cheap — about £5,500 for a six-seater to pop to Paris for lunch or £50,000 for a return on a 14-seat transatlantic jet — but that’s not stopping the post-Concorde, I-want-to-be-alone crowd.

The biggest market for private jet flights is in Europe, but more people than ever are going long-haul to the States, where a full 14-seater can work out at around £3,570 per person — just £70 more than eos’s lead-in rate after its promotional period of £2,800 fares ends in January.

Christian Rooney, managing director of Bookajet.com, which began in September 2003 and has been used by the Beckhams, the Osbournes and Dido, estimates that door-to-door transatlantic journey times with private jets are two hours less than on normal scheduled journeys owing to shorter before-flight check-ins and faster speeds at higher altitudes.

He believes that business-class services offered by BA, Virgin and — now — eos will continue to be popular with smaller groups of business travellers as they work out more cost-effective.

Since Concorde flew its last commercial flight in October 2003 companies such as Jeffersons, Marquis Jet, NetJets, Flights of Fantasy, Captain’s Choice, ITC Classics, Kuoni World Class and Aspire Holidays have reported booming interest in private jet travel.

Flights of Fantasy, which began last May, offers a £105,000 per person, 45-day “World Air Cruise” on an A319, which has seating for 28. This includes a suite with a washroom, reclining swivel chairs, a dining table and a three-seater sofa that converts into a double bed.

Meanwhile, Jeffersons has exclusive-use jets for flights to Paris, with lunch at the three Michelin star Grand Vefour and champagne on board from £1,759 per person.

Tom Chesshyre

Details: www.jeffersons.com, www.marquisjet.com, www.netjetseurope.com, www.flightsoffantasy.com, www.captainschoice.co.uk, www.bookajet.com, www.itcclassics.co.uk, www.kuoni.co.uk/worldclass, www.aspireholidays.co.uk.