Delta or Air France to Paris

It looks like they both use 777 aircraft, so I would check seatguru to see if there is a difference in seating for your class of travel

Since Air France and Delta are close partners, it may not matter. If you book a flight on either website, it is a good chance that the flight may be operated by the other airline, in fact the deal you are seeing is probably the same flight/plane.

The advice about "avoiding US based airlines on International flights" is just garbage commentary.

I would book it on Air France.

European base airlines by law have to compensate you if your flight is disrupted while departing from or arriving to an EU member state. I'm not sure if USA based airlines are subject to that law, maybe someone on the forum will clear that up.

But you have to see if the Delta or Air France flights are code share. They are both part of SkyTeam airline alliance.

edit: ditto you would be wise to snag that fare tout de suite instead of waiting

I'm thinking the same thing as Paul...it may be the same flight. I overwhelmingly fly Delta and I think their international flights are great. I flew on KLM metal last fall (Delta/KLM/Air France are a part of the same alliance - SkyTeam) and I could tell no difference except the Flight Attendants were wearing a different color.

And my word...I would jump on that fare before it's gone.

I would also spring for their comfort plus or premium economy or whatever they call it. I had that recently on the Boston-Paris flight and it did make a difference.

With such a fare in May in Economy of $545 r/t non-stop, I would take Air France...immediately!

I like Air France, have flown with them to CDG from SFO several times, no problems, but Delta is not bad either. Forget about what you've been told.

To clear up the question about airlines and compensation under EU court rulings.
An EU based carrier is responsible to pay compensation under certain circumstances flying both to and from the EU.
An American based carrier would not be responsible under EU law to pay compensation flying from the US to the EU. It would be responsible when flying from the EU to the US.

It is the "operating carrier" that matters. You may be ticketed through Delta, but if the actual flight is operated by Air France, than it would be considered an EU based carrier.

If this is an important issue to you, I would pick Air France for the trip to Paris. I think you've found an absolutely fantastic price so I would grab it!

Since they code share, it could be the same plane.

Each of my traveling family members just received $700 from Delta because our Air France was from Paris to the USA was delayed so badly that it forced us to spend the night in Detroit. Delta also gave us food and hotel vouchers - and the hotel vouchers actually said BILL TO CUSTOMER. Delta is such an armpit! Had to fight with them for a few weeks to actually get our money back.

The flights are likely codeshare flights operated by the same airline. You could be on an Air France or KLM and the equipment and flight personnel are both Delta.

For example, if you check Flightview.com for SEA departures to CDG, at about 1PM and you will find that Air France 3653, Alitalia 3366, Jet Airways 8067 and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 6151 are all operated by Delta as DL 34. Fly any of these flights and you will get to Paris the same time.

Just to weigh in on the EU regulations. Yes, the EU rules provide for more generous compensation. However, the EU based airlines have figured out how to avoid it. If they are going to bump you, they will book you a day before your anticipated flight - thus circumventing the EU rules. Air France did this to my husband on a trip last year. Thus, I would book with Delta - a better flight experience (in terms of food and service) than Air France.

However, the EU based airlines have figured out how to avoid it. If they are going to bump you, they will book you a day before your anticipated flight

No We are not talking about overbooking we are talking about when your flight is delayed and it has nothing to do with acts of god

a better flight experience (in terms of food

really? you rarely hear people talk about airline cabin food being good

Wow, hope you were able to secure that price! We’ve flown both and generally have very positive experiences with them.

If the price and time are the same, they are the same flight. The real question is who to book the flight through. I'd book through the carrier actually doing the flying unless you are in a frequent flyer program with the other airline.

OP is in fact looking at and choosing between two DIFFERENT flights. The 1:20PM departure from SEA is Delta and the 4:30 PM is Air France. Each airline shows the 'other' flight, all at the $545 price ( very basic, no checked luggage economy class)

Last time I flew Delta, FCO-SEA I was in Biz class ( FF miles), so was well cared for. No idea how coach was.

Relative to airline food actually served during the flight, I prefer Air France over any other carrier. It's good.

Follow what Joe advised. Go to www.seatguru.com, look up both flights and compare both flights' economy product. Whichever has more comfortable seats, take that airline and buy the ticket NOW. That $545 might be gone by the time you read my post.

The more you delay, the more likely that phenomenal fare will vanish.

I've flown both airlines (out of Detroit) and saw very little difference. AF used to serve champagne in the steerage seats but that was long ago (and really it was just white wine with bubbles, not vintage.) If you are returning from Charles de Gaulle, allow lots and lots of time for the security procedures and perpetual crowds.

My point is that the airlines are increasingly abusing the contract of carriage and are using creative means of avoiding compensating passengers for such abuse. Airlines are the only industry in which a customer can be charged for a service they don't receive.

As for the food, the food on Delta was superior to that served on Air France.

Food for long-haul flights is acquired at the departure airport. While the airlines have a choice of menu, based partly on how much they pay, it's likely to be the same caterer for both airlines.

Thanks for the advice. Actually they are two seperate flights. The Delta one departs at 11am and arrives at 830am. The Air France departs at 430p and arrives at 1130am. They are labeled as each on the Delta website. The Delta flight is a 777 with 3-3-3 seating while Air France is a 777 with 3-4-3 seating. I am thinking of going with the Delta because of the time and seating but am afraid the Delta will sell out while I might have a seat to myself on Air France since it has more seats. What are people's thoughts on this?

Interesting. I, too, am flying SEA to CDG but in October for the BOP tour. I chose Delta airlines. My flight leaves at 1:19 pm and arrives at 8:10 am. I chose to upgrade to Delta Comfort +. I wanted the extra leg room for this 10 hour flight. My ticket came in under $900. Totally worth the price, IMHO.

I’m thinking that if you don’t buy one of these flights now you may lose out on this good price. Over the last two weeks we watched an Air France / Delta flight go from $550 to $1300. We then looked at other airlines and found an AA flight to Zurich for $466 which we immediately bought. Last week that same route was $1900 on AA. Don’t overthink this. Buy whichever airline, they are comparable.

Take the earlier flight and have three extra hours in Paris. And don’t base your decision on empty seats; they typically will fill those planes.

Just a comment - don’t overthink all of your decisions. This is a vacation; relax and enjoy it!

What are people's thoughts on this?

Stop twiddling your thumbs and buy the ticket while you still can.

The more time you spend analyzing & waiting for people to add their comments here, the greater the chance that the $545 roundtrip will be a memory.

The 'comfort plus' at under $900 looks like a bargain. Get treated like people, not self propelled cargo.

What are people's thoughts on this?

Buy the ticket at that amazing price NOW, and if both tickets are the same price then pick the one that best suits your own time frame. Do not delay. This ticket may go up at any second.

In early Jan 2018 I saw on Br Air dep OAK end of April to London Gatwick in Economy r/t for$500. At that price I don't care if the 10 plus hour flight has a sardine can seat or not, I booked it. Book it before that price is gone.