Are there any low-fare airlines that fly within France? I need to fly from Paris to Toulouse, then from Montpilier to Paris. We are doing the Canal Midi. The Air France prices seem really high. Looking for alternatives.

See www.whichbudget.com - - it's kept updated quite thoroughly.

Best wishes,

Rex

topping

Thanks, Rex!

You're welcome.

Easyjet flys from Toulouse to Paris. I dont think there is a discount airline that flies from Montpellier to Paris. If you cant find a good price you might want to consider the TGV which goes either to Gare de Lyon or CDG airport from Montpellier.

Thanks all - what happened was, I ran out of time to plan this all myself, and turned it over to a travel agent, who got me great prices, including train Montpiellier to Paris.

Good news, daniel.

Just out of curiosity, what was that great rate on the train from Montpellier to Paris that your travel agent got for you?

I'm curious also, although I suspect that may be a reference to other great prices, not rail great prices, but maybe so. I'm looking at a very similar route and the regular first class TGV is around 120 euro from Montpellier to Paris (maybe 85 euro second class), although you can get perhaps get better deals if you try to hold out for a PREM, but maybe not.

By contrast, Air France fares were actually cheaper (around 60 euro one-way) from Paris to TLS, but that was an addon to the fare to Paris. Their fares are really high now for a one-way trip only between those points or back, around 260 euro one-way.

I think I may actually buy a France railpass this trip as you get unlimited train travel four days for $263 first class and with the value of USD vs. euro now, that's less than the cost of two of my TGV trips alone, which are 100 and 120 euro each.

Maybe Daniel got a good deal on the air down and train back, but one of those railpasses could have been a good idea in that case as it sounds like at least two people -- they are only $225 per person for first class unlimited train travel for four days when you have two people traveling together. That would easily pay for the train to/from Paris and give some nice flexibility on times/dates which is why I am thinking about it.

I womnder if you have you tried www.opodo.co.uk - - this is the website tht comes closets to being the "orbitz" of Europe - - and it can find fares on the major airlines whichcan b as low-priced as the "budget" airlines (i.e., the type listed on the website www.whichbudget.com). Due to maintenance, opodo says that it can't be used right this minute to check flights, but I think you check it to be sure.

Quite a few years ago, I flew the route MPL-ORY on a very low fare - - I kinda suspected that it was a fluke because ther was a major Wold Cup match IN Montpellier that weekend (i.e., demand was sharply increased to get TO Montpellier, and thus there was the prospect of airlines having to fly relatively empty FROM Montpellir BEFORE the match). The flight was on Air Liberte, and I don't even know if it exists anymore (a subsidiary of BA).

But it could be the kind of route where AirFrance has competition, but it doesn't show up on whichbudget.com - - and I don't know any other really good web resource for checking <i><b>inra-Europe</b></i> flights on &quot;other&quot; (i.e., major) airlines.

Best wishes,

Rex

yes, I have tried opodo

My rail cost for 1st class between Beziers (near where I get off the boat) to Paris is $149 ($114 coach).

I didn't need a railpass, since this was all about point-to-point getting to and fropm the boat on Canal Midi.

The whole thing - IAD - CDG - TLS - Bezier - Paris - CGD - IAd was $731 - AF.