I am traveling with my family from Chicago to Nice in August. The
cheapest fare is currently on Iberia, transferring in Madrid (I have no
experience with Iberia). Another option is to take Air France,
transferring in Paris, although this will cost approximately $175 extra
per person (there are six of us).

We have flown Air France to Paris before and it was a good experience.
The food was better than most, and each person had their own TV with
numberous channels to choose from. This is somewhat important to our
teenaged travelers.

Is Air France worth the extra $175 per person, or should we go with
Iberia? Thanks for any advice.

Michael W.
Chicago, IL, USA

    >>>Is Air France worth the extra $175 per person, or should we go with
    >>>Iberia? Thanks for any advice.

My one international experience with Iberia was poor, because of bizarre,
arrogant, FA's (who spent 5 minutes berating the poor, kind woman next to
me for asking the passing FA for a glass of water--although actually getting
the water would have taken far less time than the lecture about how full the
flight was, etc., etc.). Horrible, irritable, bitter, self-absorbed FA's.

Then, at MAD I waited half an hour to get a boarding pass for my connecting
flight to Seville (not available at departure from ORD) only to be told that
I had mistakenly waited in line at the International terminal (where I had
arrived), but since the boarding pass I wanted was for a domestic flight
this could not possibly issued at the International terminal, and that I
would have to go the Domestic terminal to wait in line (for another half
hour) for the Seville boarding pass.

That was 3 years ago, but maybe things have improved. Even if they HAVEN'T,
I would still be very much tempted to save the $175 and go with
Iberia--unless Skyteam frequent flyer miles or benefits are a factor.

I prefer Iberia.
By


"keybdwizrd" <[email protected]> escribió en el mensaje
news:[email protected] oups.com...
    >I am traveling with my family from Chicago to Nice in August. The
    > cheapest fare is currently on Iberia, transferring in Madrid (I have no
    > experience with Iberia). Another option is to take Air France,
    > transferring in Paris, although this will cost approximately $175 extra
    > per person (there are six of us).
    > We have flown Air France to Paris before and it was a good experience.
    > The food was better than most, and each person had their own TV with
    > numberous channels to choose from. This is somewhat important to our
    > teenaged travelers.
    > Is Air France worth the extra $175 per person, or should we go with
    > Iberia? Thanks for any advice.
    > Michael W.
    > Chicago, IL, USA
    >

keybdwizrd <[email protected]> wrote:

    > I am traveling with my family from Chicago to Nice in August. The
    > cheapest fare is currently on Iberia, transferring in Madrid (I have no
    > experience with Iberia). Another option is to take Air France,
    > transferring in Paris, although this will cost approximately $175 extra
    > per person (there are six of us).
    >
    > We have flown Air France to Paris before and it was a good experience.
    > The food was better than most, and each person had their own TV with
    > numberous channels to choose from. This is somewhat important to our
    > teenaged travelers.
    >
    > Is Air France worth the extra $175 per person, or should we go with
    > Iberia? Thanks for any advice.

Not all AF equipment has the TV screens, so you may be disappointed on
that front. Also, transferring at CDG is not always a nice experience.
That said, I have zero experience with Iberia- but, if it were my choice
I'd get the cheaper flight instead...

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn wrote:

    > >
    > > Is Air France worth the extra $175 per person, or should we go with
    > > Iberia? Thanks for any advice.
    > Not all AF equipment has the TV screens, so you may be disappointed
on
    > that front. Also, transferring at CDG is not always a nice
experience.
    > That said, I have zero experience with Iberia- but, if it were my
choice
    > I'd get the cheaper flight instead...

I'm quite a frequent Air France flier and although I have few
experience with wide bodies, I recall that Airbuses and 777s had TV
screens but 747s did not (I assume we are speaking cattle class here).

However bad stories I've heard I am yet to be hit by one, so I keep
flying them... for the moment :)

As per Iberia, I only have taken the odd short hop, so I cannot really
tell. Anyway, their newest A340s have personal screen, too.

Hope it helps,


J.

Jordi <[email protected]> wrote:

    > chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn wrote:
    >
    > > >
    > > > Is Air France worth the extra $175 per person, or should we go with
    > > > Iberia? Thanks for any advice.
    > >
    > > Not all AF equipment has the TV screens, so you may be disappointed
    > on
    > > that front. Also, transferring at CDG is not always a nice
    > experience.
    > > That said, I have zero experience with Iberia- but, if it were my
    > choice
    > > I'd get the cheaper flight instead...
    > >
    >
    > I'm quite a frequent Air France flier and although I have few
    > experience with wide bodies, I recall that Airbuses and 777s had TV
    > screens but 747s did not (I assume we are speaking cattle class here).

That would make sense- as it was a 747 I was travelling on recently
which didn't have a TV screen. I do agree that the seat back screen is a
good way of passing the journey though.

    > However bad stories I've heard I am yet to be hit by one, so I keep
    > flying them... for the moment :)
    >
    > As per Iberia, I only have taken the odd short hop, so I cannot really
    > tell. Anyway, their newest A340s have personal screen, too.

Might be worth finding out for the equipment for the flight is then.
FWIW, I've not had problems with AF service per se.

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

[email protected] (chancellor of the duchy of besses o'
th' barn) wrote in news:1guyc46.5owgd01mliozkN%
[email protected]:

    > Jordi <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    >> chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn wrote:
    >>
    >> > >
    >> > > Is Air France worth the extra $175 per person, or should we go with
    >> > > Iberia? Thanks for any advice.
    >> >
    >> > Not all AF equipment has the TV screens, so you may be disappointed
    >> on
    >> > that front. Also, transferring at CDG is not always a nice
    >> experience.
    >> > That said, I have zero experience with Iberia- but, if it were my
    >> choice
    >> > I'd get the cheaper flight instead...
    >> >
    >>
    >> I'm quite a frequent Air France flier and although I have few
    >> experience with wide bodies, I recall that Airbuses and 777s had TV
    >> screens but 747s did not (I assume we are speaking cattle class here).
    >
    > That would make sense- as it was a 747 I was travelling on recently
    > which didn't have a TV screen. I do agree that the seat back screen is a
    > good way of passing the journey though.
    >
    >> However bad stories I've heard I am yet to be hit by one, so I keep
    >> flying them... for the moment :)
    >>
    >> As per Iberia, I only have taken the odd short hop, so I cannot really
    >> tell. Anyway, their newest A340s have personal screen, too.
    >
    > Might be worth finding out for the equipment for the flight is then.
    > FWIW, I've not had problems with AF service per se.
    >

Old planes won't have personal screens unless they have been re-fitted. New
planes usually do have the screens on all seats.

As to the question of the OP, I'd check the equipment listed on the two
flights to see if they are old or new planes. Personally, I would do this
to avoid flying on an old plane not necessarily for the entertainment.

keybdwizrd <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Another option is to take Air France,
    > transferring in Paris, although this will cost approximately $175 extra
    > per person (there are six of us).

Most foreign passengers find CDG a nightmare. I can understand them
although I don't think it *is* that nightmarish... How many time is your
connection at CDG?

Also, on transatlantic flights, it's possible that you book Air France
and fly Delta or Continental. I think of the three Air France has the
newest planes (B777s, A330s and A340s) except for their 747-400s, who
are expected to leave North Atlantic soon.


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inversez "kertanguy" et "de" pour me joindre

We would have approximately 1:40 to make our connection at CDG.

By the way, I called Iberia, and the planes they use from Chicago to
Madrid do NOT have individual video screens in economy class. Air
France's website says that the A340's they use for long-haul flights DO
have individual screens.

"keybdwizrd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
    > We would have approximately 1:40 to make our connection at CDG.

Years back I worked in a job with frequent trips from San Francisco to Nice.
The Americans would always take Air France, the French would always take
Delta. I can tell you, of all the folks I worked with who took Air France
and checked their luggage, not one ended up with their luggage in Nice on
the day they arrived. But if you only had carryons Air France was great.

keybdwizrd <[email protected]> wrote:

    > We would have approximately 1:40 to make our connection at CDG.

That's well enough. And in case your flight from Chicago is hours late,
there are 7 flights a day from CDG to Nice, so you'll get any of them -
I'm not sure there are that many from Madrid.

    > Madrid do NOT have individual video screens in economy class. Air
    > France's website says that the A340's they use for long-haul flights DO
    > have individual screens.

Fine. A last bit: if you can get your seat&boarding pass on the Airbus
from Paris to Nice in Chicago rather than in Roissy, then choose:

- if you sit on the left, you'll have a very nice view of the Mont Blanc
and the Alps.

- if you sit on the right, you'll certainly (but it depends on the wind
in Nice) have a very nice view over the city and around when landing!


Stanislas



--
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