Flights Changed...need some input

Any chance of a later flight?

Contact your airline and tell them then new time is unacceptable for you. They can change it for you.

What airline are you flying? They may have partner airlines with better times for you. Know what you want before you call your airline.

OTOH we had to stay at an airport hotel at CDG this summer and it was servisable.

I agree with Tim. Just because that’s the time they offered you doesn’t mean you have to take it. Do a little research on your airline’s and other partner airline’s websites to see if you can find a better alternative, then call your airline and request a different flight option. Tell them you have plans that conflict with the fligh5 they offered you.

This has happened to me several times. I reject their proposed new flights and they offer other options.

This is the changed flight departure for me after I called them....don’t want to change planes in US...prefer direct from Europe....final destination is DFW. Only 1 NS from Cdg and multiple ones from LHR. I still have a 2 hr drive from DFW. It is American Airlines

My question really was not about my flights but about leaving after RS final dinner or in early AM.

Hello Chris
Dallas,TX here.
Your question was not really about the earlier flight time (due the fact that you want a flight that is Non-Stop).
I just got back from the 7 Days in London and there were several people who had early flights the next morning and one couple that had to leave before the final dinner, and it was all cool.
As a single person in the group (I had a room to myself), but I am sure if you just let whoever you room with know of your early departure they will be fine.

You state that you want to attend the final dinner but are concerned about leaving the final hotel so early in the AM and disturbing your roommate. If it were me with these concerns, I'd go to the final dinner and then take a taxi to an airport for a few hours sleep and a quick walk to the tram and terminal on my flight day. We stayed at the new Holiday Inn Express in May. It cost less than 100€ for 2 people and was a 5 minute walk to the speedy, frequent tram that loops around all of the terminals. The taxi driver gave us the 50€ rate to the hotel because it was so close to the terminals--right by the new air traffic control tower.

I'd probably just apologize to the roommate if you have one and leave at 4A for the airport. I don't think you have to be there 3 hours ahead for a CDG->LHR flight. The hotel will organize a taxi for you to the airport and at that time of morning there will not be much traffic.

I'm glad you've got the time at Heathrow. It will give you time to get some breakfast and get thru LHR departures.

Who knows...your roommate might have an early flight or train to catch too!

My sister and I left Paris via prearranged taxi (hotel booked it for us the day before) at 3:30 am and that actually was a perfect time to get through Paris and the airport with ease. Our flight was scheduled to leave CDG at 7 something am, too. I didn't have a roommate but I am sure your situation will be perfectly understood by yours. I'd do the early morning taxi to airport route again.

I vote to enjoy the dinner and leave in the early a.m. Roommate should understand. You could also alert the RS tour staff ahead of time and also alert your guide. Maybe there will be a way for you to have a solo room the final night (seems the RS hotels could pull off that favor for the tour).......and as a previous poster mentioned, you may luck up and not get a roommate at all (if you are the only solo person on the tour). Ask your tour guide's advice early on re: transport to the airport early that a.m. Typically the tour guide arranges a group transport, so seems it would be easy for him/her to do a solo arrangement for you. I'd suggest taxi or airport shuttle...would not go on mass transit that early in the a.m., but that's just my preference.

Contact your airline and tell them then new time is unacceptable for
you. They can change it for you.

This.

Airlines do this and those who travel infrequently don't know that they can speak with the airline to alert them that the itinerary change they made to your return home is unacceptable. They have to work with you; just be polite on the phone and you will find something that works for you.

My flight has now changed due to equipment change/class of service not
offered.

What does that latter part mean? For example, did you pay for a "premium economy" seat and the new aircraft they selected 5 months ahead of time doesn't have that class? If that's the case, there is no reason this far in advance that they can't find a better itinerary AT NO EXTRA COST since they created the problem.

Have you considered flying out the following day and spending an extra day in Paris?

If you have to leave that day and 7:35 am via LHR is the only acceptable routing for you, I’d just plan to arrange for an early taxi. Don’t worry about the roommate. Bring a flashlight so you don’t have to turn on all the lights. I’ve been in the situation where my RS roommate had to get up in the middle of the night to catch an early flight and I just dealt with it knowing that they probably did not have good choices. Your tour hotel is already paid for and I doubt you’d get much more sleep if you switched hotels.

Thank you to all who have responded. I apologize for confusing some by starting with airline changes rather than the issue of needing to make a 7:35 AM flight the last day of Rick’s tour. I am an experienced flyer and know that when airlines make schedule/equipment changes they will work with the client to make things work. I also know things may change again in another 3 months.

I was looking to hear others experiences of either leaving Paris after dinner and staying at CDG or staying at the already paid-for room and departing 3-4 am. Either way I may get 4-5 hours sleep. I think what I’m hearing is that traffic at that early hour is not bad and I should have plenty of time to get through security. I typically air on side of not cutting things close and prefer having a cushion of time.

Thank you all again for sharing your thoughts.

Chris

I was looking to hear others experiences of either leaving Paris after
dinner and staying at CDG or staying at the already paid-for room and
departing 3-4 am. Either way I may get 4-5 hours sleep.

Got it. If it were I, I would stay at the hotel for which you've already paid and enjoy the last evening with the group. You're going to get little sleep as it is so why not enjoy the last night you're there to the fullest and then take car service to CDG. While not at CDG, when I have had 7am flights from LHR, I don't stay by the airport but prefer being in London and taking early morning car service to the airport. Whatever is more comfortable for you is your best bet.

As others have said, attend the farewell dinner and stay in the Paris hotel.

Your RS guide will arrange transportation to the airport for tour members and group people together where it makes sense. I’ve been surprised to be joined by others for early morning flights.

As for the roommate, they should understand. Perhaps just offer up an apology/explanation the night before and offer up a pair of earplugs and a sleep mask?

ETA: Enjoy the tour!

As someone who has problems with falling and staying asleep in unfamiliar locations, I would not be 'just fine' with a roommate getting to at 3:30am to make a connecting flight because it's doubtful I'd be able to fall asleep again after she left, and coming home transatlantic in general has me in a really awful head space by the time I'm making a connecting flight back to the beach, even when the sleep situation is better.

As someone who has problems with falling and staying asleep in unfamiliar locations, I would not be 'just fine' with a roommate getting to at 3:30am to make a connecting flight

This is why they now offer a single supplement. I’ve had roommates that snored like mad on RS trips. There is no guarantee of a quiet night when you choose to share a room.

There is no guarantee of a quiet night when you choose to share a room.

I do think it is reasonable however that a roommate doesn't hit the snooze button on their alarm multiple times before getting up or feels the need to turn the lights on and start stomping around three hours before sunrise.

If that makes me too much of a grump to do tours, then I'm okay with that.

If your flight changes and doesn’t work. I agree know what you want before you call. They will offer to cancel your flight. If you know what you want check to see if seat available. Then call.
I always stay at the Sheraton in the airport. To us the extra cost is so worth it. You walk from your room to the gate.

As stated above you can have the hotel arrange a taxi for your early departure or you can arrange it yourself. G7 Taxi has an App, or you can contact them the night before & arrange the pick up, https://www.g7.fr/en/, they do have English speaking operators if need be.
Enjoy your trip.