In fairness, this is more a CDG issue than an AF problem. The ADP buses are the #1 reason I dislike CDG.

Blackduff,
Huh? We're talking about a shuttle bus door here, not an aircraft door. I've come very close to doing the same myself as have other fellow passengers.

Author walkinaround wondered "how the heck it is that 15,000 people can die from heat in a "civilised" country.

...now we know how these things can happen in france".

May we remind him of two words: New Orleans. Nothing civilised about the lack of flood preparedness, the lack of caring during and since - civilised? I think not.

Clean out your own stables before you complain about the muck in your neighbors'.

WK

Patty
I did read again the first post and I did mis-read. But, I still that I don't want some fool to take control of the bus.

The controlers from ADF are in control. If they didn't open the door, since it wasn't safe or for some other reason.

When the fool opened the door, this forced this whole procedure make things much longer. This poster spent more time in the bus than what was required.

I still think I don't want to fly with this fool. From the time I departure gate until I pass through the return gate, the carrier is in responsible. This includes the bus travel.


Blackduff

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/d...00/2514823.stm

This is an article about the DC 10 from Turkish Airlines. It crashed right after takeoff.

The review of this crash it was found to an improperly closed cargo door. The door was closed by a flight attendant, putting some late traveller's baggage. This attendant cannot read French, English nor Turk. The door had a small window with a flag showing the door wasn't closed correctly but this attendant isn't capable of doing this task.

Like the passenger in the bus who opened the door without authorisation, the serious consequences are sometimes causing events.

Blackduff

>>>>>
May we remind him of two words: New Orleans. Nothing civilised about the lack of flood preparedness, the lack of caring during and since - civilised? I think not.

Clean out your own stables before you complain about the muck in your neighbors'.
>>>>>

what exactly does pointing out the irony in this situation have to do with new orleans?

i'm not from the US...you can put your overly sensitive french anti-defamation league lectures away.

i guess some of you american europhiles are so busy fighting against the freedom fries crowd at home that you completely lost the ability to engage on any level other than that of the the silly, t1t for tat squabbles at home. sad.

Hi Rmkelly

It may help also to post a review on this site - http://www.airlinequality.com/index.htm.

Judi, I find it incredible that the airline can overbook 55 people in the age of computers!

I think it is incredible as well. I understand the policy of overbooking but not fifty five people! We did eventually all get on.

I've flown Air France on many occasions and never had any problems.

This, as others have pointed out, isn't an Air France issue either. How & ever - is it possible that it might have been for insurance reasons that the driver had to keep you on the bus?

"Judi, I find it incredible that the airline can overbook 55 people in the age of computers"

It's precisely BECAUSE of computers that an airline can overbook by 55 and still get everyone on. If the plane's capacity was 300, clearly the program that forecast 18% wouldn't turn up for that flight was spot on.

Judi's story has dramatically improved my assessment of Air France's professionalism, and subtantially increased the likelihood of my choosing them in the future.

Re the bus. It has *always* been my experience, anywhere, that if the bus arrives at the plane - or indeed the terminal - and there isn't a member of staff ready to supervise, you wait on the bus with the doors shut. I assume it's an airport rule, and I think it's a question of basic safety. You might have just stayed on the bus with the doors open, but other idiots (or small children) might wander off in front of a vehicle.

I may be way off base, but I wouldn't be surprised if AF deliberately overbooks because they know lots of people are going to be "no shows", because they have missed their ridiculously tight connection!

Or, is this something everyone else already knew?

Caroline Edinburgh, there were several crew members who were at the door of the bus literally in seconds once the door was opened. They made it very clear that no one was to leave the bus. Again, it wasn't a question of getting off the bus - just getting some relief from the terrible heat which was rapidly building up.
BTW, for those of you who fly out of Atlanta as we do and who want to avoid CDG, there is now a direct Delta flight to Nice.