Sarastro

<i>These provisions vary from airline to airline, and generally apply only to delays that are absolutely the airline's fault, such as mechanical delays, and not to "force majeure" events such as weather, strikes, or "acts of God"</i>

I am not sure that a strike is an ¨act of God¨. Air France management could voluntarily remove the threat to the pilot´s job security and the strike would be over.

socaltraveler

We are still caught up in this mess. We are scheduled to fly on AF on Saturday from LAX to CDG, that flight has been cancelled 3 days this week, and I believe is cancelled for tomorrow. I am watching it carefully for Friday. Spent an hour on the phone with AF yesterday as they very graciously tried to 'reposition' us on Delta, but all flights and connections in the US were full on both weekend days, unless we wanted to pay $$$$ for business class. Declined that offer. We are meeting up with a small culinary tour in Rovinj, Croatia on the 23/24, so there is a bit of skootch room for us, even if it means giving up our 2 days in Zagreb. IF our Saturday flight is cancelled, and we are flying down to LA from our northern CA home on Friday, guess I will be back on the phone with AF, and will see what our next options are. AF will refund our tickets they say, but this tour is paid for. Very hard to get my head around packing today or tomorrow.

Christina

I don't think Delta has any Rule 240, that isn't a law. It's up to an airline's discretion whether they put you on another plane, they aren't required to (another airline). ANd I don't think it applies to foreign airlines, anyway. That EU law doesn't say they have to pay to put you on another airline.

A strike isn't an act of God, God didn't start the strike. However, I think the EU terms are about "extraordinary circumstances" which may exempt strikes. Maintenance issues are not extraordinary circumstances. But I don't think in the EU (or the US) any airline is required to put you on another brand of airline.

Satvik123

@Christina

Delta has rule 240.
Working at United,I myself got calls from their SLC office requesting for Rule 240 PROTECT on United especially in areas like Denver (Where UA has a good hold) and other areas like ORD.

I have myself got many passengers booked on Delta via Atlanta when UA flights took a bummer,whether it was out of ORD,SFO or EWR etc.

United I'd say had the best policy in these ,I still recall during those massive huricanes like the Irene and Sandy,we recieved an update from the Chicago HO that go ahea and get the Rule 240 done on case on case basis(meaning how serious or critical is for the pax to reach the destination on time) and United did honour it,even if it meant routing passengers via Toronto on Air Cannada.

Satvik123

@Ackislander

Thanks


But I'd still believe that a Strike within an organisation is the fault of the management and the passengers in no way should be suffering because of the neglegiance of the Airline Management.


Air France has had a good reputaion in the Market.Atleast in India,it is considered to be a good gateway to europe and many prefer it over the likes of British Airways,lufthansa and KLM Royal Dutch and Aerofloat.

The only down thing over the years that I have noticed is the fare structure of Air France,ie the fares being so restricted that once can not cancel the ticket and neither can make any modification to the travel plan.

Satvik123

@travelsis


Did you check the alternate routes and flight timmings possible if your IAD-CDG is cancelled by AF???


Check if you could take the IAD-ATL-AMS with Delta and KLM ,or if the same day IAD/DCA to ATL and then ATL-FCO/CDG.

travelsis

I have looking for alternate flights as recommended by all of you. Since my final destination is Naples I can really fly into any European city that may have a way to get to Naples, by plane train or even car. An guy at the office thinks that maybe since we are booked on the big airbus flight on Saturday that may have the best chance of going because of the huge money loss that flight will cause to both major airports. Do you think he may have a point?

hetismij2

You may get to Paris just fine, but your onward flight could be cancelled. It is mainly flights within Europe that are affected.
Because of that the chance of getting a flight from Paris to Naples is slim.
Maybe you can fly KLM to Amsterdam and then to Naples, since they are the same company.

sandralist

Travelsis

You can take a train from Paris to northern Italy (Turin or Milan or Venice) and then by plane or train onward to Naples. You can also take a train from Paris to Nice and then a flight to Rome. It might also be possible to take a train from Paris to Brussels or Amsterdam and get a flight to Naples (or Rome).


Satvik123 -- thanks for posting that info. I was familiar with EU rules but not the US ones.

Satvik123

travelsis


Your colleague has a point, Air France at this moment of time is bleeding because of losses courtesy this strike.

travelsis

Well as of last night the flight to Paris is still scheduled to fly. I called AF USA (Delta agent) and got right through- amazing! He told me they believe that flight will go. I should know for sure today, according him they are informing passengers aprox 48 hours before if their flights have been canceled. Has anyone out there experienced this?

We are due to arrive into CDG at 5:25 am, there is a flight to Naples out of Orly that leaves at 10:50am do you think we could make this flight? 5 hours 25 min between flights on a Saturday morning. It would entail customs and baggage claim at CDG then the drive to Orly ( I would get a car service transfer) an then the check in process at Orly. Is this doable?

Sarastro

As long as your CDG arrival is on time, you can easily make your ORY connection. The AF Buses are running normally. Bus #3 takes you from CDG to ORY in about 1 hour. Cost is 21€ or 20€ if you prepurchase tickets:

http://www.lescarsairfrance.com/

mariajohanna

Air France tells you 'they think that your flight will go', but that depends on the incoming flight, so they can't know that for now.
Check on the Air France site if the plane(s) has/have left CDG for IAD. And remember, there might be a lot of passengers already waiting to fly to Paris, if there haven't been any flights these last few days. So even if there's a plane, you might not be on it.
I know that sounds horribly negative, but that's the way it works.

Air France says on their site that scheduled departures may change up until the last moment, so even if 48 hours before your flight you have no message, it doesn't mean you are ready to go.

The only thing you can do for now is wait until you know if your flight is cancelled or not, and then have Air France handle the arrangements to get you to Naples. If you change your flight beforehand , I think all costs will be yours to pay.

There is some news going around that this strike might go on a bit longer...

socaltraveler

We are also waiting this out, and have explored repositioning options on both Delta and KLM with very helpful AF agents. I have also been told that they have been trying to cancel and notify 48 hours out, and for our flight on Saturday (I have been tracking the flight number), they have done just that. Of course anything can happen. As of this morning, the flight had been cancelled for 4 days running, but shows it will fly both Friday and Saturday, so we are more cautiously optimistic.

I was to,d yesterday that if we change our flights to a partner airline,there will be no costs.

I think you have two potential problems,if your connection is also an AF flight. Our connection to Zagreb is on Croatia Airlines, so if we can just get to Paris . . .

Best of luck to us all.

Lois2

Socal...I would agree with the opinion that the weekend flights with larger aircraft and probably more bookings originally and now with overflow will probably go but you will need a serious alternative upon arrival.

Traviata

I just read those dreaded words..."may be extended past the 22nd"

socaltraveler

Why do I need an alternative upon arrival? Our connection was booked through AF, but it is on Croatian Airlines to Zagreb. Croatian Airlines is not on strike as far as I know.

Judy

Traviata, any idea how long past the 22nd?

kerouac

Extendable strikes can be extended as long as there are employees willing to strike.

Lois2

sorry Socal...I had you confused with another person continuing to Naples on AF. No you don't or should not have a problem with that connection. Enjoy Croatia beautiful time to visit.