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in general I hate airlines. And being American, I have an instinctive reluctance to admit that there could be anything good about France. But I'm sitting here in the Air France Salon at CDG and I will say that they are the only airline I've come across that seems to respect decency. I say this because of an incredibly amazing and altogether unprecedented feature, they have showers here!!!
It seems like sort of an obvious thing, someone getting off a 10 hour flight from halfway around the world is really going to want a shower. But I think this is the only airport that has them, at least the only one I've ever seen them at.
On the other hand, in the Riyadh airport they don't even have wash basins for feet. Now every Arab guy who comes through there wants to wash his feet, so he has to hike up his dress and stick one foot at a time in the sink, while balancing on the wet floor trying not to fall and break his neck. And then try to figure out how to dry it off before putting his sandals back on. All without killing himself or the guys next to him who are doing the same thing. Now is it really hard to figure out that some chairs and wash basins could be useful here?

So right now I'm really glad that I booked the flight through CDG, even though it was $500 more than the flight through Cairo. Of course, I wasn't thinking of showers when I thought I would rather avoid Cairo. The flight here from Sofia is only 3 hours, so it's not a big deal, but I'm really going to like this on the way back in a week.

So Air France gets my vote as the most civilized airline.

What a brilliant idea, so little effort, but a lot of thought.

Hi all,

Ralitsa,

Are you sure that your reluctance to admit there could be anything good about France is "instinctive"? Really? Just as Italy was the birthplace of Renaissance humanism in the 15th and 16th centuries, so was France, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the birthplace of those Enlightenment values--rationalism, separation of Church and State, democratic republican ideals--so dear to the founders of the United States. Food for thought.

Regarding your experience with Air France, I have to concur with you. Not so much for the facilities at the Charles-de-Gaulle airport (which, at 20 kms outside Paris, I think is too far outside the city's center--however, see note below) but for its excellent customer service. Last year, when we flew AF from Montreal to Mumbai, with a stopover at CDG airport, our flight was delayed at departure from Montreal. We hit the tarmac at CDG with 40 minutes to spare before our connecting flight was scheduled to leave for India from another terminal. Now, it's important to realize that CDG airport consists of more than 8 kms of hallways, corridors, and concourses. We thought we'd miss our flight from Paris, for sure. But, no, Air France staff made the transition incredibly smooth and stress-free; as we left the plane inbound from Montreal, AF staff was waiting for us (meaning all passengers bound for India) right there, in the terminal, holding up signs with our names written on them. They herded us (gently) towards a shuttle bus for the 10-minute ride (race?) across the tarmac to our connecting flight. It was a flawless transfer.

Moreover, on the same trip, our luggage did not reach Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai at the same time we did. We landed at BOM at around 2:00 am, waited an hour by the luggage caroussel, and finally went over to the Air France lost/delayed luggage counter to fill out forms. Staff there was extremely pleasant and helpful during what can be a taxing process. They gave us complimentary toiletries and shirts and promised to have our bags at our place of residence (in Lonavala, a three-hour drive from the airport) ASAP. Well, ASAP turned out to be about thirty hours later, on the morning of our second full day in India. Luckily, as we were staying with relatives of my SO, this did not present too much of a problem. On that day, we were out shopping for clothing. We kept all our bills and, upon our return to Montreal some twelve days later, sent them all to the local Air France offices. Within three weeks, we received a reimbursement check for the equivalent of €200 (about $275), as per the standard Air France policy in the case of luggage delayed more than 24 hours.

All in all, and despite some potential difficulties, our Air France experience was a pleasant one. I would use the airline again without reservation (so to speak).

A small note. On our way back from Mumbai, we had an 7-hour stopover in CDG--quite a relief after a 9-hour flight--during which I sort of coerced my travelling companions (my SO and her grandmother) into accompanying me to Paris for a couple of hours. It's eminently doable. Just like at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, the train station leading to the city's center is right there, in the airport. So, we landed at CDG at 6:45 am, took the train (known as the RER) from the airport at around 7:30 am, and arrived at the St-Michel--Notre-Dame Métro station just after 8:00 am. We walked about the neighbourhood for a spell in the shadow of the Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral and had breakfast at a little café across the street. Appropriately, the place was called Café Esmeralda. I swear, if you squinted hard enough, you could see the ghost of Victor Hugo sipping a coffee on the sun-drenched terrace. We hopped back on the RER around 11:00 am and made it back to CDG airport with more than enough time to spare to catch our 2:00 pm flight to Montreal. Again, a most pleasant experience.

Happy travels, y'all!

Love,
CJ

I must agree in general with CJ. My experiences with Air France have always been excellent - except fofr CDG: a huge sprawling piece of real estate. Connecting flights are always at the other end of the airport, and the shuttle bus is always packed full. The service personel are well trained and polite.
Parisians are often considered abrupt and impolite to Americans. Not so. They are equally rough and impolite to everyone. Actually, much like New Yorkers. It is the big city syndrome.
Many American tourists believe that the French (esp. Parisians) refuse to understand what you are saying - in any language. It is not refusal, it is inability. Get your vowels exactly right, particulaly when you are attempting to speak French. You can mangle English pronunciation horribly and still be understood. But in French you have to get the sounds, especially the vowels, right. I found this out when I was active on ham radio years back.
I am a card-carrying francophile - and I love Paris. My favorite city (except for home town NYC). I have not been back there for almost 10 years, and I hope it has not changed significantly. Next best is Quebec City.
Don't let politics affect your feelings about the French. Their worship of the Hedonistic life is catching.

Hugs,

Lydia