I always fly business elite to Europe with flier miles. I have heard that Continental is better, but they don't fly into many hubs in Europe. I believe they do fly more 777's.

I have used the open jaw tickets many times, but how do you get a layover flier mile ticket. I always end up flying domestic airlines all over Europe. I am going again next June and have already bought my tickets. Could I have had layovers instead of buying all those domestic tickets?

Question to LisaB:

Please give me particulars on your bad experience on Air France Bus. Class.
Am flying Delta Bus. Elite through Atlanta
from LAX, but Air France provides non-stop service. On return, have daughter on non-stop Air France Bus. Class CDG to Boston
and I have to fly economy on the long non-stop CDG-LAX. What city did you fly from?
All information would be appreciated.

Finally took my trip in early September. I did a trip report (if interested do a search with: trip report Paris Venice).

I copied my comments about the flights here:

First flight on a Delta 767 (I think) in Business Elite, Los Angeles to Atlanta. Seat was very comfortable -- recline and leg rest excellent. Blanket skimpy. Individual movie screens additionally offering video games. Food just so-so.

Second flight from Atlanta to Paris on same type plane, and again very comfortable, nicer blankets/pillows and amenities such as toothpaste/brush, comb, mints, hand cream, etc. Service was excellent. Meals not so great. We were to have a three hour layover. We had just carry-on luggage, something I like to do at least for the trip over. That gave us the opportunity to catch an earlier flight eliminating two of the three hours. My carry-on bag is 20x14x10, and my personal item a large satchel. It was amazing how much I could fit into these two bags. We landed in a remote area and had a long bus ride to the terminal.

Flights between Paris and Venice were first class on Air France. There is not a lot of difference between coach and first class. They draw a curtain, probably because the seats in both classes of service look exactly alike -- three seats across in each section. In first class the center seat is a bit narrower and there is a tray sitting across it. One of the best airline meals I ever had was on a similar Air France flight. Not this time, however. The meal was mediocre at best. Very good service.

I flew back to Los Angeles via Paris and Cincinnati on Air France. The flight between Paris and Cincinnati was an Airbus 340 with three classes of service. In my opinion, Delta's BusinessElite was better than business class on this plane. My friend flew back on an Air France 777, and said business class was better than Delta's BusinessElite. The service on board the Air France flight to Cincinnati was about the best I've ever experienced. The last flight was first class on a standard domestic plane.

I took advantage of the busines class lounges at both airports. The one in Paris is huge, offering shower rooms, a "relaxation" room, and about half a dozen computers set up with free internet service. Lots of free beverages: booze, soft drinks, juice, and water, but the only food I saw was biscuits. The one memorable thing in Cincinnati was the massage chairs. I don't like vibrating chairs, but this one didn't vibrate; instead it made me feel as if my back and legs were actually being massaged. I'd like one of these at home.

Air France was strict about carry-on baggage. Delta did not even weigh our luggage going over. Air France weighed the luggage on the return, and even though I was slightly over the allowance, they made me check one of my bags. Also, Air France required that we reconfirmed each flight 48 hours prior.