Strike in France September 18-19

I would rate the chances of high.

Although there are no guarantees, I would favor flights to, say Marignane (MRS) over flights to Paris or Lyon, followed by train travel south. Trains probably would be more likely to be interrupted than flights.

I have friends from the U.S. coming during this period and have been monitoring news media. 10 September got off to a shaky start but seems to be firming up. 18 September is the unions' chance to weigh in.

See the recent post and many replies on this site "Impact of nationwide shutdown.....". Lots of discussions there.

No, you aren't overreacting. You guests need to arrive before the evening of the 17th or on the 19th if they want to be sure about their transportation.

Thank you all for your insights!

Following changes in the French government and the absence of a transport minister, the SNCTA, the majority union representing air traffic controllers, announced the suspension of its strike notice scheduled for September 18.

The strike notice has been postponed to October 7, 8, and 9, pending negotiations with a new minister.

Thanks for the update JoLui!

Thank you so much for this vital information JoLui!

Just to clarify, this postponement is only planned by 1 of the 3 main air traffic controller unions.

So far, the Air France unions are still calling to strike on the 18th.

I've experienced strikes in France. They can be memorable. The biggest thing is a higher level of inconvenience traveling, sometimes much higher, unless you're lucky. There are still trains, planes, etc. moving - just fewer of them. Everyone gets where they are going but many don't do it on their planned schedule. I don't think you're overreacting since you are counting on people being there as planned. Without trying to alarm you, is there any room for flexibility for the wedding? Most people in France are pretty understanding about strikes. Can the wedding be later the same day, or the next day, if worse comes to worse? Even that flexibility might save massive stress, even if you don't end up needing it.

We’re arriving in Paris early afternoon of the 17th and staying till the 24th at a hotel right by Shatelet Des Halles transportation center, and thinking about canceling given the protest by there. We would be ok with one day being effected, but wonder if any insights about the likelihood of significant protest carrying over from Thursday the 18th through the weekend 19-21.

Much appreciate any insights you might have. Thanks so Much!

Demonstrations and strikes are only on the 18th.

By the morning of the 19th, it will be over; the strikers will have returned to work, and the demonstrators who aren't working will have other things to do than staying in the streets.

It's always been like this, except in May 1968.

Has anyone heard if Eurostar Paris to London be affected on September 18? I’m scheduled to travel that morning.
Thanks to all the people keeping us informed.

I'm wondering if anyone in France can update how today has been.

Limited impact on high-speed train travel, but high impact on regional and urban transportation. Only a trickle of metros in Paris, for example - but normal service in Marseille.

Thank you. I hope everyone manages OK today.

We flew out of CDG this morning. There seemed to be little impact on flights. Our flight, as well as almost every other flight on the board, left on time. We had been worried because although the largest air traffic controller's union had delayed their strike, other airport-related unions had not. But we were surprised how normal things seemed.

We drove from the area around Caen to Dinan today with friends visiting from the U.S.

I recall seeing signs on individual businesses (pharmacies, bars, restaurants) that they intended to honor the strikes but beyond that little disruption.

Once in Dinan, there was a rather noisy union-led march that sounded more or less like a marching band as it made its way through town, but there was little disruption other than a little bit of physical obstruction until the demonstrating crowd dissipated.

More gendarmes on the street than normal, but other than that and the marching demonstration, no problem.

I am in Paris. We were able to use metro line 1 (automatic). A bus line was limited so we walked instead. Later in the day we took a taxi which cost as much as a weekly pass. There were a lot of sirens but we didn't see any disturbances.

My husband and I were on our way to walk the Coulee Verte Rene Dumont yesterday only to see hundreds of gendarmes and their vehicles of all sorts. They were dressed in some sort of gear which included hard plastic-like coverings over their shins and kneecaps. The gendarmes were lined up single file to form a barricade. There were blockades using their vehicles. I stopped and asked a gendarme what was happening. He replied, "There's going to be a riot." I cocked an eyebrow and said, "Riot?" He changed his tune and said "Demonstration." There never was a "riot" and about an hour after that, we saw @ 1,000 plus individuals with small banners walking in a very orderly fashion up to the Bastille. You could have heard a pin drop. No bull horns. No chants. And, then, it all went away.
We walked, so no idea about the Metro or other means of transportation. Today, the 19th, we saw nothing. We used the Metro 1 several times today without disruption or issue. My husband and I had much more fun marching January 20, 2017 and we and the crowd were much noisier on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. . .