My fourth CO report - My first CO widebody experience
Past reports: to Portugal, Guatemala, Ecuador

I purchased the tickets for $700 after taxes on CO's website, about 2 months early. To my surprise, the price did not go up as the date came closer. It actually went down a little bit. My son and I selected the earliest flight both ways, for the added comfort of the 777, with the AVOD. We reserved two seats in the last row, so as to be by ourselves (the last row is 2-3-2).

CO56 - EWR to CDG - November 30, 2008
Seats 23D and 23F - Boarding Gate C123
On time 6:40pm --> 7:55am 75%full

I expected the worst as our departure was on the Sunday of the Thanksgiving weekend - with horrible weather to boot. But once we got to EWR, all went very smoothly. The international check-in line was very short, and so was the security line. The check-in agent kindly suggested better seats, a whole triplet in the center as she guaranteed there would be no one between us





Boarding was easy, but as always in that concourse, the PA is bad. You can't hear your flight's info. Where is it going? Which rows did they say?



The safety announcements were made on the video, in English and in French. We were fourth in line for takeoff, and pretty soon we were in the air.



The captain predicted a bumpy flight and kept the seatbelt sign on throughout: it was the smoothest flight ever! Dinner was very good, but there was no dessert, just trail mix.



There was a huge choice of movies and shorts. I watched a weird British movie with Maggie Smith "Keeping Mum," and some Chinese shorts. I slept a little.



The light came back on abruptly before breakfast (no mood lighting). The service on this flight was fine and understated, as befits a night flight. One novelty: a magazine and newspaper collection pass before landing "recycling...recycling..."



Landing was smooth, in near total fog. Immigration and luggage retrieval were a breeze. The walk from our gate to the TGV terminal was manageable.



We went to visit some family in Aix en Provence...



...and in Paris



CO57 - CDG to EWR - December 8, 2008
Seats 44K and 44L - Gate A51
One hour late 11:00am --> 1:30pm 60%full

Our taxi got to CDG fast before rush hour, but it was - again - quite foggy.



A delay was announced as soon as we arrived. The check in agent wasn't as courteous as the one in EWR, almost abrupt.



Boarding was orderly. I saw a couple of beauties while taxiing:





Lunch was less good than outbound, but there WAS a dessert this time.



We were comfortable in the back back seats, since bathroom traffic was light.



I watched a truly odd Hong Kong romantic comedy about breast cancer (?!?!) "Two become one" (Tin sun yut dui), and I read my book.



The pre-landing snack was a warm chicken and cheese sandwich. There had been many water passes, and our friendly flight attendant offered us more drinks and even extra entrees - which we declined.

The flight was somewhat bumpy, but the approach was smooth.





As usual, immigration at EWR is well-oiled and rapid. Four hours in the car, and we were home.



These were truly good flights. Of course, if we had had a connection in EWR upon returning, it might have been a bit tight.

When I recall past transatlantic flights, this was more comfortable than going to LIS with CO on a 757 (a bit claustrophobic). SIngapore Airlines, and TWA from long ago, had more flair. This roundtrip flight was comparable to UA or AF on a good day, meaning better than AZ (where the F/As disappeared for hours), or than TWA near its end.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this report. Next, I hope, EWR - PTY!