Eurostar vs. Flights between Paris and London
 

Could anyone advise me on taking a one-way trip from Paris to London in July 2016? I am trying to decide which would be the best (read: safest!) way to travel between these two cities: Eurostar or an airline. I will be traveling with children and am a little uneasy about transportation venues given the current situation. Thank you in advance.

If you are travelling city centre to city centre then Eurostar is no contest.

Can't see what the mode of transport will make to your safety when even with terrorism France and the UK are far safer than many places in the first world.

Eurostar has used airline security for boarding since day one. All bags are screened, many items are confiscated. Oh, but they don't have the silly rule about no liquids and nobody takes their shoes off.

If you are going to allow those children to be screaming all the way please go by boat.

Take the Eurostar. Don't understand what your "safety issues" are. If you really want to be totally safe, swim.

I wouldn't dismiss the OP's concern. But I don't see why the Gare du Nord or St Pancras should be any less or any more under threat than Charles de Gaulle or Heathrow airports. If anything there's likely to be more of a security presence there than in many other spots where people congregate, in either city.

As to which you choose, Eurostar is most likely to be the most convenient.

The security on the Eurostar is very high. The very last thing that they want is bombed train in the middle of the tunnel. The security is very airport light. IMO, the Eurostar would be safer than any airline.

In amission impossible, Tom Cruise nearly gets beheaded by a helicopter going inside the tunnel.

Looks a lot safer to me to fly.
Ah, no just watched 'air crash' on Discovery channel.

Thank you for your comments. I was just curious about the security of the train stations for the Eurostar and if they would have the same measures of security that the airports have. I appreciate the people that took the time to give me some more information regarding this.

But as a first time poster, it is pretty interesting that 1/3 of the comments were a bit snarky. Is that pretty typical? Dukey1, just in case we are traveling on the same train or plane as you this summer, I'll bring you a set of earplugs.

1/3rd snarky is actually quite under the norm.

You got more than 1/3 snarky. There is a high disdain factor from the Europeans on this board for anyone who has concerns about traveling in Europe regardless of the demonstrated incompetency of European anti-terrorist personnel.

But as a first time poster, it is pretty interesting that 1/3 of the comments were a bit snarky. Is that pretty typical?>

agree with whatgoodbye says above - this is endemic in Fodorgarchs treatment of first-time posters - many have been chased away by comments much more snarky than you got. In fact your snarks - from the same old sources - are mild and benign to some of the scathing comments newcomers sometimes get - yet the thread ain't over yet!

Welcome to Fodors and don't be turned off - there are many Fodorgarchs who are nice and will answer your questions sans attitude. Don't throw those babies out with the bath water.

As for security half dozen of one and six of other in terms of which is more safe - both are safe because of security measures in place but you never know- the Eurostar is such an inviting target and thus intense security probably makes it safer perhaps than flying.

Ha, I know, you are right! I was trying to give people the benefit of the doubt. We are really looking forward to our trip to Europe this summer, as half of my husband's family is Spanish and we are going to get to see many of his relatives, but I just wanted to throw that question out there in case anyone had further insight about the security/safety measures of our travel options. Even with the snarkiness mixed in there, I got some good information about safety and convenience. Thanks again, everyone.

No one can tell you which one will be safer, so your best option is to take the one that's most convenient.

Oh, but they don't have the silly rule about no liquids and nobody takes their shoes off.>

Ah a security lapse - guess air is safer after all - remember the shoe bomber going from Amsterdam to Detroit with explosives in his shoe?

Hi Beatles

I disagree about the impression given by PQ.

On Fodors, snarkiness is much higher between regumars than with newcomers. When you're here long enough, you'll get shellfire....

The non-snark takeaway:

Both methods of travel are equally safe.

It is a lot easier to leave from the center of a city and arrive in the center of a city than to make your way to the airport long before your flight and get yourself to the center of the second city.

It is cheaper to travel by train, especially if your time has any meaning to you

The truth is that any travel involves risks and there are no guarantees. (Just as in the US you run the risk of being shot by a maddened teen avery time you go to the mall or the movies.)

IMHO the Eurostar has security/passport controls - unlike regular trains - which occurs at the boarding end and IMHO is about the same safety as flying. And unless you are already at the airport it is much more convenient.

Fo the best prices you should get tickets 120 to 90 days out and be aware that different days of the week and trains at different times have different prices.

PalenQ -

Do not know where you got the term "fodorgarchs" but it is really stupid and you can;t imagine how much I want you to stop using it. Pick Fodorites or Fodorers or whatever - but your term makes us all sound as if we are evil inhabitants of some weird forest.

Just my two cents but I love traveling by train and I think it would be fun for the kids. Have taken this trip more than once and loved the city-to-city transportation vs. airport to airport and getting to and from.

Have a wonderful trip! :)