Ewmahle From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 109 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 4909 times:
I am going on a trip with my college Business School next year to Paris and I was wondering who I should book to fly on, a US domestic or try out a foreign carrier? Air France has the most comparable rates to the US domestics. What do you think?
Also, can anyone refer me to a European travel site to do things like look up train routes? I have a few free days on the trip and would love to travel around.
BPS3458 From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 522 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 4875 times:
I'd certainly pick the foreign carrier over a US carrier. AF certainly pops to mind but if you don't mind connecting through another European hub you have lots of choices. Where in the US will your journey start (Raleigh) ?
Coal From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1628 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 4828 times:
AF all the way! Depending on where you're flying from, you might get the 744 configured for tourist destinations (less biz-class seats). If this is the case, and if you're flying economy, call AF (or go online) and get a seat on the upper deck. The seats are still economy, but since it's a smaller cabin the service is more personalized. I flew AF MIA-CDG-OSL and return in econ last May and we even got a pre-flight OJ on the upper deck!
But in any case, try AF. Their service is great, even in econ. Mind you, however, that if you are in a tourist-configured 744 and are on the lower deck, you won't find a PTV.
Coal
Nxt Flts: QR SIN-DPS | SQ DPS-SIN | 3K SIN-SGN-SIN | SQ SIN-PEK | CA PEK-FNJ-PEK | CX PEK-HKG-CGK
Semsem From Israel, joined Jul 2005, 1779 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 4780 times:
I have flown Air France, Continental and American transatlantic who operate this route. By a long shot I would highly recommend Air France.
The reasons are:
1. 32" legroom. CO on their 777 have 31" which makes a difference. Not sure about AA as I flew with them when they had 34" or 33". They added more seats.
2. The food on Air France is heaven compared to AA and CO which is the pits. In terms of quality and quantity AF beats them. And unlike CO, the food is "edible."
3. The crews on AF are great. At least they were on my trip to the USA in September. CO were so so and AA were nasty.
This is based on my experiences. You can get AF miles on your Continental or Delta frequent flyer.
1stfl94 From United Kingdom, joined May 2006, 1455 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 4684 times:
Quoting Ewmahle (Thread starter): Also, can anyone refer me to a European travel site to do things like look up train routes? I have a few free days on the trip and would love to travel around.
Thanks
Rail Europe website is probably your best bet, unless your just staying in France in which case it's probably easier just to go through SNCF
Ewmahle From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 4680 times:
Thanks all for your suggestions.
My appoligies JetsGo, wasnt paying attention to what I was doing.
I would probably be leaving from GSO over RDU based on the prices that I see now, there is not enough of a difference to drive and park at RDU.
Burnsie28 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 7419 posts, RR: 9 Reply 7, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 4674 times:
Usually when you do these trips the people running the trip book you anyway. If thats the case the easiest would be NW/AF GSO-DTW-CDG, both NW and AF run their A330's on the DTW-CDG runs.
"Some People Just Know How To Fly"- Best slogan ever, RIP NW 1926-2009
DZ09 From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 481 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 4626 times:
AF would be my top choice, then CO on the 777 or 767 service.
OzGlobal From France, joined Nov 2004, 2614 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 4580 times:
Agreed, AF, no-brainer. Try to check for a/c with the new cabin: all 77W's, 772's, A340's, with the rest on the way except perhaps Carribean tourist route 774's. Great food (champagne in Y), good service, PVT(already in most old cabins also), VOD.
Brace yourself for CDG, though. If you land at 2F, no problem. As for the rest, it can resemble something between the evacuation of New Orleans, ORD during a storm or a 3am arrival in Lagos. Having been thus warned, hopefully you will have no hassels.
Re: your free days, you're welcome to send me an IM and I can provide suggestions.
Cheers and have a good trip.
OzGlobal
When all's said and done, there'll be more said than done.
Aeroflot777 From Russia, joined Mar 2004, 2958 posts, RR: 30 Reply 11, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 4538 times:
For me it would be:
1) Delta
2) Air France
Both offer excellent service. I flew AF's JFK-CDG last January and loved every moment of the flight, even though it was a very short flight since I'm not accustomed to East Coast to Western Europe hops. The cabin crew were the best I've ever experienced in my entire life! The most amazing FAs out there!
AlexPorter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 4482 times:
I didn't ask the question, but I'm also going to France this summer and I've also wondered who would be good. One of my friends last year had the unfortunate experience of flying EWR-CDG on Air India so I'll avoid them, but otherwise for me it will probably come down to cost (from PHX in my case) since its an expensive trip, but a small price difference could persuade me so thanks for the input.
OzGlobal From France, joined Nov 2004, 2614 posts, RR: 4 Reply 14, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 4476 times:
Quoting AlexPorter (Reply 13): I didn't ask the question, but I'm also going to France this summer and I've also wondered who would be good. One of my friends last year had the unfortunate experience of flying EWR-CDG on Air India so I'll avoid them, but otherwise for me it will probably come down to cost (from PHX in my case) since its an expensive trip, but a small price difference could persuade me so thanks for the input.
If it's down to cost, do a search: expedia, opodo, and other fares search engines, also try airfrance.com (they have great deals if you're felxible and book in advance).
When all's said and done, there'll be more said than done.
Usair320 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 991 posts, RR: 3 Reply 15, posted (6 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 4432 times:
It would be a tie beetween AF and US.
Food-AF
IFE-US(on A333 flights)
Comfort-(US on both 762 and A333)
Service-AF
Staff friendliness-US(air staff) AF (ground staff)
Hjulicher From Liechtenstein, joined Feb 2005, 847 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (6 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 4422 times:
If it was my choice I would fly AirFrance or Northwest. NW offers the best economy class service on transatlantic flights for US airlines. Plus, I would consider what airport would be my first port of entry back into the US. Connecting in DTW is probably the easiest of all east-coast airports, and the flight, depending on which connection you take, will not be any longer than flying through EWR or JFK or IAD for that matter. DTW has great facilities, and NW offers great service... In fact, most of my european friends who fly NW are really surprised with the levels of service. In economy class, they really are on par with AF, BA, and LH. However, if you decide to fly with AF, you will most likely be routed thru Atlanta since their codeshare partner is Delta, and you could even end up on a Delta operated AF coded flight if you're not careful.
NW and AF offer A333/A332 service from DTW to CDG, and you get personalized AVOD screens in every seat. NW is pretty competitive on pricing too.
HighFlyer9790 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 1236 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (6 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days ago) and read 4402 times:
AF wins this one. Their service is far supirior to any US major. i just flew them in august, and their service was commendable. the only down side is that to me, CDG is a horrible airport. the only US airline you should consider is CO, i hear they are quite nice.
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