Weather you are planning your trip to France or you are already installed in here and are looking forward to go ‘home’ (Mainly if it is in the Americas) I recommend you to travel with American Airlines.
This information may be a little confusing since there are so many European airlines you could choose from before choosing a ‘foreign’ company. Below my personal experiences and opinions:
I flew once with Air France because I had no other option. During this travels, both flight (return) were delayed, the ground personal wasn’t very nice and the check in lines where simply impossible. If you fly with them please make sure you arrive at the airport with anticipation. – This information concerns only international flights-
My experience with Iberia… I agreed to travel with them only after British airways bought the company, believing that the service would be good and I got highly disappointed! My connection was delayed, I lost the international flight, Iberia didn’t want to respond. I had to pay for a new domestic ticket to replace my lost connection and run (literally) to make it on time to the Iberia flight. (I bought the whole trip with Iberia so they were responsible for my connections as well). In these cases usually the airline takes responsibility and helps you get thru the immigration lines faster, well not with Iberia.
Also, they lost my luggage and it took them 8 days to find it and deliver it to me. There were a lot of things missing from my bag and they denied reimbursing me because I didn’t have the bills. Don’t recommend it at all.
I’ve been flying back home (Colombia) with American ever since I moved to France and I have no complaints, they are always in time, unless there is a technical problem or a weather condition in which case they will take responsibility instead of ditching you at the airport. They’ve never lost my luggage. I get to choose the seats online for free –unlike Iberia where the service cost is nearly 50€-. You can cumulate miles easily and their AAdvantage awards are very interesting. I could say that for every 4 return flights to NY for example you get enough miles to have a free return ticket on this route.
I leave it to you to decide but do keep American as an option (www.aa.com) Plus they have sweet deals all year long.
T-
Hi,I love your blog,It's very useful four us "étrangers", personally, I've been living in France for a year and a half and I'm still learning and understanding stuff about la France et les French hahaha...about Iberia, you're right!! it sucks!!! I travel onced with them and at least if it's the only remaining airline in this planet I would not travel with them never again!. When you travel with AA, do you make connections in the USA? if so, do you need any type of visa? I'm curious because I while ago I found very cheap tickets from Paris-Lima (I'm Peruvian) with connections in NYC or Miami but I'm not sure If I need a transit visa or with a tourist one would be enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
hi! I'm sorry for my late repose, I was off duty for almost 2 months but I'm back on writing!
ReplyDeleteusually everytime you go thru the states you need a visa. If you have an american toursit visa then thats perfect! If not then I'm afraid you wont be able to transit.
I found this on the American Embassy in Peru site:
Q. I will only change planes in the United States. Do I still need a visa?
Yes, individuals transiting through the United States must have either a tourist (B1/B2) or transit visa.
Good news is, if you are living in France you can get your american visa in here! i did it and the process is soo much better than in other countries. They are very helpfull and friendly. You can enter the site: http://france.usembassy.gov/visas.html and read all about it.
On the other hand, you could try flying thru panama with continental airlines (paris-panama-lima) or maybe give a chance to lufthansa. (a friend of mine flew Lufthansa from frankfurt to Bogota, he had no complaints). Write me back if you need any help!
T-