FOLKS .. if you can afford it (and do book as far ahead as possible to get the BEST price), BP Open Skies is a pleasure.

Its PREMS+ class is - well - classy. Has anyone taken the airline?

Yes, bon voyage and please post a trip report when you return.

Have a great trip!

So glad you're ticketed. You're coming at a super time of year. Bring some layers. It might get chilly.
Better to be safe than sorry. And, Continental is an excellent airline!

Thank you all for your advice and comments.
The agonizing is over: we went with Continental.
Best of all, we used credit card points, and only had to pay for two of the fares out-of-pocket!
We will be in Paris from April 14 - 21.
Everyone's getting very excited!

If your primary concern in choosing an airline is to protect the lives of you and your family, I would check airline safety records. Since Sept. 10, 2001, more plane passengers have died as a result of accidents than terrorism.

I don't know what the probability is of dying on an Air France flight. But I've hear the chances of a comfortable trip in coach aren't good.

Nous y venons,

I would choose whichever gives you the best fare and offers the most room (comfort, if that's possible). I've taken Continental on the EWR-CDG route and it's been fine. I prefer Newark to the other NYC airports. Whatever you choose, bon voyage!

If there were to be trouble at CDG, please know that a French ground crew is handling the baggage, etc. Locals always do. AND - CDG authorities do everything possible to ensure passengers are safe. With an increasing number of bags being checked (because of carry on regulations), don't be shocked if your bag MAY be lost.


That's annoying but hardly a terrorist plot or attack!

[[/quote]
Bonjour,
Here's at least one:
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadA...le.asp?ID=25388

[/quote]

I have had a look at the paper online you mentioned. It sounds terribly conservative, pro-Bush and fanatically attached to the fight against any muslim people... Seeing D.Horowitz's writing in that paper and discovering the following page : http://www.jihadwatch.org/# plus seeing that paper advertising Oriana Fallaci's books, etc. makes me wonder how one can trust such a paper... I'd be very prudent when reading all the assertions found on their site...

Which doesn't prevent me from going on listening to the radio and reading quality papers to see what is eventually taking place in European airports, French impoverished suburbs which correspond to "your" inner city areas, etc. Cordialement.

Bonsoir,

But here in the US, there was an article recently about how the ground crews and baggage handlers at DeGaulle are mostly Muslims, some of them with suspected ties or sympathies to extremist Muslim entities.



Bonjour,

May I ask you the name of the newspaper or magazine in which you found such info, please ? The staff in our airports is not only composed of muslim people... Beware of TV broadcastings such as the ones one can watch on Fow News and even on CNN since they often present you with a biased view of France... Even some articles one finds in quality papers such as the NY Times or else present facts in a very subjective way... I can't find the total number of people working in our airports versus the percentage of workers originating from the "Maghreb"/Northern Africa (from countries such as Algeria, Morocco, etc.), but I find some info in the days to come, I'll post on this forum. So far, 72 muslim workers have been deprived of their badges in Roissy airport, but I think they only represent a fraction of the total staff...

Now, I have to go back resuming the tests of my students, some of which are... muslim and I have charming colleagues who are muslim too... Cordialement.


Bonjour,
Here's at least one:
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadA...le.asp?ID=25388

I imagine that it's a similar situation in almost every Western European airport? And, just like here in America, the perfectly innocent are being mixed up with the less innocent.

Hopefully now off of politics, Air France now seems to be becoming quite arrogant in its pricing for my dates. I am now leaning toward Continental out of Newark, on one of their 777s.

Thank you all again!

Bonsoir,

But here in the US, there was an article recently about how the ground crews and baggage handlers at DeGaulle are mostly Muslims, some of them with suspected ties or sympathies to extremist Muslim entities.



Bonjour,

May I ask you the name of the newspaper or magazine in which you found such info, please ? The staff in our airports is not only composed of muslim people... Beware of TV broadcastings such as the ones one can watch on Fow News and even on CNN since they often present you with a biased view of France... Even some articles one finds in quality papers such as the NY Times or else present facts in a very subjective way... I can't find the total number of people working in our airports versus the percentage of workers originating from the "Maghreb"/Northern Africa (from countries such as Algeria, Morocco, etc.), but I find some info in the days to come, I'll post on this forum. So far, 72 muslim workers have been deprived of their badges in Roissy airport, but I think they only represent a fraction of the total staff...

Now, I have to go back resuming the tests of my students, some of which are... muslim and I have charming colleagues who are muslim too... Cordialement.

I do not mean to offend through my ignorance of issues in your country. But here in the US, there was an article recently about how the ground crews and baggage handlers at DeGaulle are mostly Muslims, some of them with suspected ties or sympathies to extremist Muslim entities.

When I said ... nationalistic elections ... what I meant was if there is the possibility of anti-Muslim nationalism becoming an incendiary issue during your upcoming presidential election. And with that, the potential for Muslim backlash during the French presidential election against French property. etc., including Air France.

Hope that is more dimplomatic.
I am coming across as an overthinking ninny, I think. Actually, we are all looking forward to our trip.

Bonsoir,

Being French, I'm a bit surprised to read this... Nationalistic elections... The only danger for France and French people is seeing Le Pen and his clique elected, but what has this to do with safety on board planes ???

Cordialement.

Thanks for the ideas and welcome. Normally, I would consider Air France a "drop kick" in terms of being less prone to terrorist attack. But I believe we will be flying right during the presidential elections (departing US the 13th, arriving the 14th, leaving the 21st), and was a bit concerned about some entity wanting to make a statement, particularly if the French national elections get very, well, nationalistic.

But, if I go with that sort of thinking I might as well stay away from anywhere, I know.

The funny thing about Delta/AF share-fares. I've been watching for a couple of months now, and there are certain flights that I know are AF flights, but are also for sale through Delta. At first Delta was charging more than AF for those flights. They are currently charging less. I will never understand how the airfare pricing goes.

I like to think that ALL carriers have beefed up their security. I fly a lot and never consider whether or not it's a US or foreign airline.

Do others? And please remember, most Delta flights are CO-shares with Air France and vice versa.

"Am I silly to think Air France would be less of a terrorist target than American or Continental?"

you're not silly at all!last april i went to nyc and the first thing i thought was which is the safest airline to travel with...so,i went to nyc with olympic airlines even though i knew that the quality of services is not as good as in delta airlines(where the ticket was less expensive)nowadays the first thing we ought to think about is our safety...that's a fact...if i were you i would choose air france.

or maybe via a connecting flight you'll find less expensive tickets...for example british offers these days an amazing deal!..119 the flight (either going or returning to nyc from london!)and from london you can find tickets to paris for only 40 or 50 euros!!!(i believe easy jet is the airline that offers this price)

Welcome -- All of the airlines are reliable and with four people, cost is a factor. I feel as if there is more space in American's coach class department.

But I could be wrong. Each airline has a seating guide. Continental receives kuddos. (if any airlines are stellar in the cattle car age.)

Which is more convenient - Newark or Kenndy?

AND by the way, welcome to Bonjour Paris.

Already have an apartment lined up. Now it's time to commit to buying airline tickets for our April 07 trip to Paris!
If you had to choose between:
Air France
American
Continental
which carrier would you choose?

My instincts tell me to go with Air France, but their fare is about $130 more r/t than American or Continental.
There will be four of us flying: two adults, children 14 & 9.
All three carriers would use the same equipment, it looks like.
Hubby and I are on the "big-boned" side, but not especially tall.
Any recent in-flight experiences -- good or bad -- that could help guide me?
Am I silly to think Air France would be less of a terrorist target than American or Continental?
Thanks!