Air travel to Marseilles

How long are the layovers at the stopover cities (Madrid & Frankfurt)? I try to avoid any flight with a layover under 2 hours.

I agree about choosing a longer itinerary that leaves sufficient time for layovers. Remember, while you are waiting in the lounge, your luggage has to be moving from plane to plane. Computer searchs will turn up more European cities than you mentioned where you can make the connection for Marseilles. They will also try to sell you combinations with more than one connection. I looked at the Delta/Air France pooled flights and found several going through Paris Charles de Gaulle, which has many flights to Marseilles so you can easily be shifted to a later flight if for some reason the trans-Atlantic flight is delayed. They also work with Alitalia so, for instance, a Marseilles-Milan connection would also set you up. Read the fine print on the website schedules which will indicate which airline is actually operating the plane; I like Air France for its in-flight movies.
Since you didn't say when you will travel it is impossible to make price comparisons. But generally, if you can go in mid-September you will find tickets in the $800 range which is very much cheaper than trans-Atlantic travel this summer.

Thanks so much for sharing this helpful information. The travel dates are departing Sept. 6 returning Dec. 15 from MSY (New Orleans) to MRS (Marseilles). Do you check with the airlines directly or use Kayak, etc.? I've been using Kayak and this Delta/AF route was difficult to find. Your help is appreciated!

Karen, whenever possible I use the airlines instead of a website. If you need to be rerouted due to delays, you deal directly with the airline.

Bets has given you good advice. I do the same thing. Are you traveling for pleasure or are you going to school in France? I am asking because I noticed the dates you are traveling and it is over 90 days.

It is for studying abroad. If a flight is delayed and you miss the connection, won't the airline reroute you if you purchase through studentuniverse.com or kayak? Thank you for your help!

Having once flown from Philly to Europe on USAir (to Munich), I would advise against either the airline or the airport. Based on a dozen RT transatlantic flights on both US flag and European airlines, I think the service on European airlines is vastly superior. And of US Airlines, USAir is the worst I have experienced in over 20 years (last year on United was a close 2nd). IN 2007 I flew through PHL going both ways. Going to Europe was bad enough because I had to walk the entire length of the airport, between concourses F and A, but coming back, immigration and security were the most "passenger hostile" I have ever encountered.

I am with Lee, Philly and US Air are on my list of never, ever use again. If you are booked on a single ticket from A to D, and you miss a connecting flight it is the airline's responsibility to get to you on your way and not your travel or booking agent.

Kayak is just a multi-site search engine. When you find a flight there you want, it takes you out of Kayak to book it. Whenever possible, I like to book directly with the airline. But sometimes, Kayak finds cheaper fares with someone else, like CheapTickets or FlightsToEurope. I've used them without problems. Sometimes it's cheaper to use Expedia or Orbitz, as well. Kayak is a good place to learn about which airlines (or combination of airlines) fly your routes; you can then go to that airline's website to double-check. Since you have a minimum of two connections, and a very long travel day, no matter how you do it, I'd go for the best connections (not too long or too short) rather than just the best price. I also prefer the European airlines when possible. Yes, if you are booked all on one ticket and a connection is missed because of a delay, the airline is responsible for putting you on the next available flight, at their expense. But the key is "available." With cutbacks in flight frequency on many routes, and flights going full or close to it, you can't always count on there being space available on the next flight, or the next flight being that day. For instance, if there's one flight a day from Miami to Madrid a day, and you miss it, you have to wait a whole day.

Thanks to everyone for their help! Your advice is greatly appreciated.