Booked Flights to Europe

Posted by Daniel (SF Bay Area, CA, USA) on 02/15/17 08:18 PM

I had a $1000 voucher on Delta and booked Air France nonstop from SFO-CDG-SFO with a fare difference of $133 more than what the voucher covered.

My Parents are flying on AA/BA for $910 from SJC. I'm flying to Biarritz with my Father for $160 r/t from Orly the day we arrive and my Mother flies a few days later for $170 both on Air France.

We prepaid our bags for 15 Euros each and my Mother pays 20 Euros each for inter Europe Flights.

My flight leaves SFO at 3:30 PM arriving CDG at 11:50 AM on the return I leave Paris at 10:15 AM arriving SFO at 12:30 PM. My Patents go via DFW going and LHR on the return.

I prefer the non stop over connecting in JFK DTW or ATL.

I think we did well for a mid July departure and a mid August return.

We booked a VRBO apartment in Bayonne(2 bedrooms) for $90 per night and a Air B&B 2 bedroom Apartment near Montparnas train station for $80 per night.

This is for this summer.

Your feedback is most welcome.

Posted by Jean

Idaho, USA

02/15/17 08:52 PM

7803 posts

MrsEB, we also received $1000 vouchers (actually AmEx cards!) one year when our flight from Amsterdam to Seattle was cancelled. We found out in Rome where we were supposed to fly to Amsterdam. We were routed from Rome to JFK, instead. The JFK to Seattle was overbooked (yeah, lots of fun on this day!), so I volunteered us to stay overnight for the $1000 AmEx cards, each, they were offering, plus a free hotel night near the airport.

Posted by acraven

Washington DC

02/15/17 10:40 PM

28078 posts

Daniel, I'm heading to Paris myself later this year but haven't been there recently.

I'm a little concerned about that 2BR Paris apartment for $80/night, for two reasons:

1) Paris is trying to crack down on people who rent out their individual apartments full time without the necessary license. Apparently there are not many legal rentals of that type but many people offering rentals. Enforcement activities seem not to be moving terribly rapidly, but there is concern that rentals may be canceled at the last minute due to the owner's fear of being fined. I believe the fine is now 50,000 euros; any owner faced with that would cancel all pending rentals without a moment's thought. Finding a nice, affordable place at the last minute could be difficult.

2) That seems to me a very low price for Paris. Are you sure the apartment is air conditioned? I would consider that essential for July-August, since you don't want to wait until you have a solid weather forecast before choosing your lodgings. Will you have real bed? I took a quick look at some inexpensive Airbnb places last week, and it seemed that they (mostly efficiencies) had futons or pull-out sofa beds. That wouldn't be acceptable to me for more than about one night. Have you verified that there's an elevator if that matters to you or your parents?

Posted by Daniel OP

SF Bay Area, CA, USA

02/16/17 12:37 AM

226 posts

The routing for $1,000 was San Jose-CA to LAX $800+$250 for another issue. I was delayed only 4 hours and given a Food Voucher too.

Posted by Daniel OP

SF Bay Area, CA, USA

02/16/17 12:40 AM

226 posts

The AirBnB has 2 bedrooms with 2 singles in one bedroom and a Queen in the Master. I know that Paris is bolting down on the rentals but that is for people who draw attention. We are a quiet family and if AirBnb is allowing people to rent out their apartments with a possible fine imposed then the traveler is not at fault as we are renting in good faith.

The apartment is on the first floor.

If our reservation is cancelled at the last minute or anytime before we check in we would find a place on Hotwire.com and try and hold AirBnb Accountable for this as we are renting in good faith. If a renter is doing something not legal then we as the renters would normally have protection. Perhaps we would use our Credit Card companies Insurance as we paid with a Credit Card as we have non-refundable airfare.

Posted by Daniel OP

SF Bay Area, CA, USA

02/27/17 05:19 AM

226 posts

Yes it could have been worse than 4 hours. I knew the people who run the Independent lounge at SJC and they let me in for free which was kind of them to do. I have helped to advertise their lounge so they returned the favor. Had some nice drinks and just relaxed and by that time the flight was ready to board.