melj... I too concur with the others who hate transfers at CDG based on problems I had flying Delta/Air France to Florence. Missed flights both directions and delays getting baggage in florence and in JFK. However, if you depart on time you should arrive on time in Paris.

It's here where the problems may arise. It takes time to deplane and get to your next terminal, particularly, if the French authorities don't make you stand in line to check your passport (even though you are just passing through enroute to Italy) When you finally get into the terminal it could become a long xcountry walk/run hauling your carry on bags through the terminals. Hopefully you'll have looked at a map of the terminal which may help a little. However, some of the departing flights actually leave the boarding gates 10 minutes prior to the flight departure time. Just be aware of the potential delays and if you miss your flight have a backup plan to perhaps spend a night one of the nearby airport hotels, and leave the next morning after a good nights rest. I vowed that I would only use CDG for flights that terminated or originated there. Better to be forewarned than to be caught by surprise by insufficient time between your connecting flights.

Socal, I appreciate your insight and agree completely about the risks. There was really no other way to do this, once I'd booked the flight to CDG. Problem is that originally we were going only to Paris, but decided to tack the 10 days on in Italy first AFTER booking to CDG. Otherwise, I would have routed us directly into Italy-UGH! The best laid plans...

And, BTW, I also hate CDG! Very few times have we had a smooth exit from there!

The good news is that DH and I are pretty good about changing gears so we'll roll with it if we have to (but the 200E for the Venice hotel will hurt if we miss that first night:()

We had same experience as carol above---bought our tkts as "Delta", thus accumulating Delta FF miles but we flew on Air France planes.

<i>I prefer AF.

TV in the seat backs. Better food.</i>

I disagree that AF has better food than DL. Particularly in business class, DL's food is quite good. AF is okay in coach (though nothing special), but below average to poor in business class.

<i>We traveled Air France and didn't have tv's on seat backs. Was this added in the past year?</i>

Not all their planes have seat-back TVs. I believe that it is the 747s that don't have them.

Some of the 747s have them. Last time I flew to Miami, the flight out did not have them but the flight back did.