Both of these options will be around the same price. My wife is leaning towards AOM because she wants to go on a plane with more than two engines. I've explained to her that it's not necessarily safer but she won't listen. Let me now what you think. Thanks,
Ben
DeltaMan From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (13 years 2 months 5 days ago) and read 985 times:
Take Continental! Boeing planes are safer than anything else. Tell your wife not to worry. 2 engine planes can still fly with 1. I don't know about the A340 but I know that i would not get in a DC-10
Flyf15 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (13 years 2 months 5 days ago) and read 976 times:
I'd take AOM.
1. Continental is just another one of the boring megacarriers, and I have been on them, but I have not travelled with AOM.
2. With Continental you have to make a stop.
3. I have not been on the DC-10-30 or A340-200, both very interesting aircraft. 757s and 777s are pretty boring.
4. With AOM you get to fly into ORY, less used, less conjested airport then CDG (at least that's what I've been told).
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (13 years 2 months 5 days ago) and read 972 times:
Well we have 3 very safe aircraft to choose from, and two very good carriers. The 777-200IGW is state of the art and seeing that it is operating with CO less than two years old. It has proven itself to be the 300 seater of choice over the A330/340 and MD-11. Twin engined aircraft are just as safe as quads. ETOPS is always followed so explain to your wife that their is no difference. In fact twins undergo more strenuous maintenance examines before an ETOPS flight than quads do. The A340-200 is also new but not as new as the 777-200IGW. Flies slower so the flight will take longer. The DC-10 is the oldest of the bunch and will most likely look it. It will also get you across the pond but being close to 25 years old I wonder about a maintenance delay or what condition the cabin will be in. Continental is a top notch carrier with great aircraft. I don't know much about AOM but that they are French and not that large. They are replacing their DC-10s with A340-200s at the present moment. I would say that Continental is the better of the two choices. Great service, great plane, faster flight time and very comfortable seats.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
Iainhol From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (13 years 2 months 5 days ago) and read 968 times:
I found it funny that some one said that Boeing is safer but we are not going to get into that now.
I would go AF you get to go on a 747-400 they have 2 flights a day and a lot of there pilots come into my store and a really nice blokes! One even offered me a trip so I could jump seat!
Iain
Kohflot From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (13 years 2 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 961 times:
Personally, I would stick with Continental as well, but I would try to get an LAX-EWR (Newark)-CDG routing over a stop at IAH. It'll knock of at least a couple of hours in flying time. A few people I know have flown AOM and didn't have many good things to say about it.
Ben88 From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 1093 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (13 years 2 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 959 times:
Thanks for all of the replies! The reason why i listed these two airlines is because they will provide us with the lowest fare. (we are in college and funds are limited) I'm kind of leaning towards Continental. I think it would be fun to have a stopover somewhere, and going on the 777 would be awesome. I usually fly on Air France's 747's when i go to visit family in Paris, but their lowest fares are 200 bucks more than CO and AOM. Keep the posts comin'
CPDC10-30 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 4759 posts, RR: 26 Reply 8, posted (13 years 2 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 948 times:
Well, I'll give you two different answers:
1) For myself, I would take AOM because I have a fondness for DC-10s and would like to take another ride or too before they're out of service.
2) If you don't care about DC-10s though, for sure you should take the 777. It is much more modern and the interior is likely to be a lot more comfortable. I don't know if Continental has the PTVs, but if they do that is yet another plus. My guess is that your wife would be very impressed by the 777 compared to the DC-10-30.
Hmmmm... From Canada, joined May 1999, 2088 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (13 years 2 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 950 times:
As much as I dislike the DC-10 historically, it's a nice idea to travel on something which you might never get the opportunity to do so again. The 777 and A340 will be around for the next 30-40 years. Probably the very same ones. You may be students now, but you'll both be retired before the 777 and A340 is phased out of service.
I know nothng of AOM other than it is a charter line based in France. It's probably a good charter line. The French don't tolerate substandard entities as many other nations do. They're usually pretty fussy.
As far as the twin-engine thing goes, make your wife understand that airliners don't crash because an engine dies. They crash for a myriad of reasons, but not because they lose engine power. Engine power is not required to fly. It's only needed to get you to your destination in time. In your case, engines simply get you to France. Without all the engines working, you must land before you get to France, or you go on to France, but at a lower altitude. But you will land either way.
Ual747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (13 years 2 months 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 922 times:
Go for CO. If you go to AOM's website, you will notice that the DC-10-30's all have a 3-4-3 seating configuration in Economy. The usual is a 2-5-2 configuration. With a 3-4-3 they are cramming an extra seat in there and that means smaller seats for such a long flight. Not to mention that the 777 is so much more awesome to fly on. I have taken several DC-10 trips as well as 777 trips, and for a flight from Houston to Paris, I would prefer the comfort more than the experience. Save the DC-10 flight for something like a United DC-10 to Chicago or something. On a 10 hour flight home, you will be glad you went with the 777.
Phil
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (13 years 2 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 916 times:
I know that you stated the reason for using CO or AOM was cost but if you can find an Air France price that is close to their price I would take Air France. They have direct LAX-CDG 747-400 service. Their service is great, food fantastic and the 747-400 is a very comfortable aircraft, they are usually on time and your wife doesn't have to travel across the pond on a twin. So, even if AF's price is a little higher I would go with them.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (13 years 2 months 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 917 times:
I did some searching for you. Now, I don't know the prices that the travel agent is telling you but here are some of the prices that I found using two reservation systems.
Air France: LAX-CDG Roundtrip = 546.26
Continental: LAX-IAH-CDG Roundtrip = 1444.26
British Airways: LAX-LHR-CDG Roundtrip = 566.82
I could not get AOM because well, I don't speak French.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
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