Strike news as of April 1

Thank you so much for adding further information. We will be traveling between France and the Netherlands several times in April and early May. We currently have some transportation needs on some strike days so are watching for news and making adjustments as we are able.

Thanks for the update!

This week looks like a tough one. It seems many people have questions about how they might be affected, Therefore, if it’s not done sooner, in a couple of days I’ll start a thread where people can post their personal experience and problem solving. We have one family member with an Air France flight and two with train tickets and I’ll post if we were affected and if so what the outcome and solution.

Does anyone have any insight as to where they are regarding reaching a resolution? From what I can tell we're still at the stand-off stage, where each side is waiting for the other to blink. No indications that either side is ready to talk- is that impression right, from what you can tell?

Bets, that would be very helpful as people work through various solutions. We haven't committed to an April 29-May 4 location yet after our 3 week Netherlands stay because of these strike dates. All we know is that somehow we have to be in striking (no pun intended) distance of Paris/CDG on May 4 in order to fly home...

Some things we are wondering about are the availability, price and driving times of taxis from the center of Paris to CDG in case the RER isn't operating. We also wonder about airport hotel availability because of the strike. We've never stayed at an airport hotel near CDG but we may consider it for one, or heaven forbid, two nights this time.

We've also been wondering about rental car availability and traffic near CDG on strike dates. This has added a new layer of stress to our vacation so any situations those of you there can report on are most welcome.

SNCF
So much depends on the support for the second round. The first round is always tough . . .but will support fall off and if so how fast? And if not, then what? As people have reported, this rolling strike is a new type of effort. Workers are getting partial pay for partial work instead of no pay at all. The confusion and disruption because trains will not be where they're supposed to be is another factor that can't be figured in. Then asides about the 1968 shut down of France which is celebrating its 50th year. Lots of factors. No blinking in sight.

75020: could you confirm this statement with a link

Air France has announced further strikes on April 10 and 11.

We looked on the Air France website and don’t see April 10 and 11 listed. We are scheduled to fly SFO to CDG on the 10th and CDG to AMS on the 11th. Where did you get your information?

Here’s an update — https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-air-france-klm-strikes/air-france-pilots-unions-call-new-round-of-strikes-for-april-10-11-idUKKCN1H81H7

Thanks Donna. I guess Air France will update their website soon. We are really struggling with all of our travel dates for this trip. We will call AF in the morning.

I called AF tonight and got through. Even though we have seen the strike information for April 10 and 11 in news reports, AF cannot rebook us (without a $300 charge per person) until AF officially has "the bulletin". The agent we spoke to said that when they get the bulletin and/or it gets reported on the AF website then they will be able to "accommodate us" at no charge by routing us on Delta or KLM. I've set my alarm for 5 AM tomorrow 😬

Good luck Mona!

Mona-- if your plane is cancelled, you probably won't know until 48 hours before. At that point all phone and internet connections will be swamped. Best to avoid strike days and yes, book a room at CDG now. You can book refundable rooms. I did start my thread.

Oh my goodness, my heart just jumped a beat when I saw the Air France notice. I am scheduled to leave for Paris on April 13. I have been planning this for months. Oh, please pray my flight is not affected. I guess I should call Delta (AirFrance partner)

75020,
I have prepaid tickets through Rail Europe on Thalys from Paris to Amsterdam on Monday, 23April. From Gare du Nord station in Paris to Centraal station in Amsterdam.
Our train is supposed to leave at 8:37 am. How soon will I know if this train will go as scheduled? Will my hotel have access to this information? I don't read French so it will be difficult for me to find out what is happening.
If my train is not running, will I be guaranteed seats on another Thalys train since we have prepaid tickets? On the same day?
Thanks!

I certainly am in no position to answer questions that should be directed to Thalys . . .wish I could but I can't. Thalys has not often figured in past strikes. However now that many drivers are SNCF hires, it does. Google translate should help with foreign language web sites. Thalys' website is available in English. Check today's posting to get an idea.

Thank you, 75020, the information on Thalys is very helpful. I will check their website for detailed instructions while I'm in Paris. Perhaps my hotel will be able to help me too.

Thank you 75020 for these excellent links. They really help.

This added link will give you more up to date info about the hows and whys of finding information and a strike calendar. Note that already announced is the fact that train tickets for strike days will not be sold. This does not include international runs.

https://www.oui.sncf/train/greve

Air France update: This afternoon AF finally listed April 10 and 11 as strike dates on their website. I immediately called AF and got an agent who put me on hold two times to find the "bulletin" which she said had just posted.

She said we needed to go through special handling by the "reissue desk" so she connected me. The reissuing person asked what we wanted and we said the nonstop KLM flight directly to AMS (we had two tickets with AF, SFO to CDG then CDG to AMS. The agent said ok and booked us! All in all we were on hold less than 15 minutes with each step. We called 1 (800) 237-2747.

Fingers crossed now for our return flight out of CDG on May 4. I know it is a train strike day but so far it's not an AF strike day.

Big relief and thanks for all the encouragement and information!

Congrats Mona! Such a relief to avoid that hassle!!

Mona, I'm sure you are relieved to know ahead of time so that you won't have to worry. Now you can just enjoy yourselves!

Today, the BBC provided a list of 36 days through June in which rail strikes will take place. This should help those planning rail excursions.

Mona, that's great!
It makes the planning much easier!

Has anyone seen credible information about whether long-distance trains from France to Spain will be running during the strike? Our train in June is not scheduled for a strike day, but I read somewhere that no trains to Spain would be running at all. The SNCF site just says that it's too early to determine what will happen in May and June.