Hello, travel friends. I am going to book a trip to Paris from Tues July 25 to Tues Aug. 8 from Columbus, OH to Charles de Gaulle. I would really appreciate your recommendations for the best airline to fly, best routes and anything else you can suggest about summer travel. I know there are many options, but I'd like to know if there are airlines to avoid and those that have a good track record. Thank you so much!

I would think if you go to Cincinnati you could fly Delta direct. But for many options google Matrix - ITA software.

Why is this even a question? For being the most populous city in 7th most populous state in the country, the air travel options you have are not great. Your city and the three mid-size cities near(ish) you have basically regional airports. The only city with a decent set of international options is Cincy.

Ultimately, isn't Cincy a Delta hub? Aren't your choices basically Delta to Orly or Air France to CDG? Or are you wanting to figure out a way to make your trip longer and less convenient? If you really want to go to CDG, then your only option in your state is Cincy on Air France. If you really want to take connecting flights, then that's a question of where you want to connect from out of Columbus.

There are no other direct flights out of Ohio, are there? The hub in Cleveland died a few years ago, Pittsburgh's died before that, and Columbus is one of the largest cities in the country with no hub for a major airline (like San Diego and San Antonio). The next closest airport with a decent set of international flights would be Detroit.

And what's "track record"? Major airlines in the US and those permitted to fly into the US (especially those with partnerships with US airlines) tend to have good safety records, which means extremely safe.

Looking at Google Flights: Looks like AA through Philly, United through Washington Dulles, or Delta through Detroit (but flying Air France) are your best choices from Columbus. Check to make sure there are later flights after the ones from PHL, IAD, or DTW in case you miss your connection and you could get on the next flight out.

I'd probably choose AA. Delta would be my first choice, but the flight out of Detroit is Air France.

Thank you for the helpful suggestions. I haven't flown to France in 10 years, and I would like to know if there are certain types of planes that are more comfortable than others or any aircraft to avoid. Thanks for your patience.

Not much comfort on planes these days unless you pay the big bucks. I always try to get the two seat, window, aisle seating instead of the window, middle, aisle. Delta also offers Economy Comfort - gives you about 5 more inches of leg room, no extra width.

I don't think you really have a lot of choices in terms of planes to Paris. I would avoid flying a smaller jet (like a 737 or 757) to Europe - I like the wide body jets better for long flights. Otherwise, to me, schedule and price are probably more important.

I tried Economy Comfort on Delta once and found it a waste of money (and I'm tall). I personally prefer more width and don't mind tight leg room. I hate fighting for the arm rest, and having an empty seat next to me on a long trans-Atlantic flight is pure joy. (has happened a few times but not this last trip unfortunately.)

Even EWR (Newark Liberty) which is United's hub, partnered with AirFrance, usually only flies a 737 or 757 to Paris! You may want to shell out $160 or so for upgraded economy and get yourself a window seat; if travelling with someone, they should take the aisle, as someone will not pay extra for economy-plus and take the middle seat; this strategy of mine has worked several times in past with empty middles and more legroom for us to curl up into. I love the wide-bodies but around here, they usually fly out of JFK. Just my experience so far....

AA flies an Airbus A330 wide body jet from PHL to CDG. I just took another AA flight from PHL to Venice - same kind of plane.

<<I would like to know if there are certain types of planes that are more comfortable than others or any aircraft to avoid>>

You're dealing with varying degrees of suck. But the levels of suck tend to increase with flying a 767 or 757, which often include overhead monitors instead of seatback video (good gosh, and Olympic had seatback video in 2001).

Check seatguru.com.

I'm in Pittsburgh and I like the AA A330.

Flew Delta's Comfort Economy, or whatever they call it, this winter to London, and it was not a jot more comfortable the the two seater on AA. I'm sorry I spent extra on it. Also, my flight connected in Atlanta, and I hated that airport.

You can also connect through Charlotte on AA, and even though it adds a little time over PHL, I like it. Charlotte is IMO a much nicer and easier airport than Philadelphia. Cost are the same on AA.

Cripes. Just book the cheapest one and call it a day.

The only direct Europe flight from CVG to Paris is Delta. All the rest disappeared when Delta pulled the plug on CVG. I recently flew AC to Paris via Toronto. Decent flight and service but upgraded to their "Economy Comfort." Not an exact description anymore of what used to be taken for granted.

However, StCirq has a way with words which hits the nail on the head.

Since your dates are fixed, you will not be able to do much with the price. Suec1 identified ITA Matrix as a tool to manage airfares if your travel dates are flexible. Works well.

I feel blessed after reading these post to live on the east coast where we have so many choices. I do hate the 3-3-3 configuration of seats. Get a cheap flight to NYC or Philly and go from there.

<<Even EWR (Newark Liberty) which is United's hub, partnered with AirFrance, usually only flies a 737 or 757 to Paris!>>

United is not a partner of Delta/AF, and no airline is going to fly a 737 to Europe. It doesn't even have the distance range that would allow that, at least not from NY or farther cities. Maybe from Boston to Dublin it might just, it can't fly over 3000 miles. United flies both 757 and 767s to Europe from EWR, La Compagnie uses 757s and Delta/AF uses 767s from EWR. I have never been on any AF or United flight to/from Europe that didn't have individual seatback videos.

Personally, there isn't any plane I would refuse to fly on from US to Europe on any major airline, I choose by price and schedule. And I prefer nonstop, if possible, which I can get where I live, but that means only 2 choices. I prefer Airbuses to Boeings, but AF is the only airline I've been on to Paris that flies Airbuses. Other people probably prefer Boeing to Airbus, it's just a personal preference.

The only airline that I really don't like flying long distance is KLM because their planes are uncomfortable based on what they do to them. But I have still flown them when they had the best schedule and price for my trip.

Delta doesn't fly to Orly from the US.