maitaitom

We booked our tickets on the Air France plane (A380) that carries about 100,000 passengers. Has anyone traveled on an A380 before? I think I've lived in towns smaller than that plane. Just wondering what experiences anyone has had.

kerouac

I can't wait to finally travel on an A380. I have never read anything bad about it.

maitaitom

I'm looking forward to it, too. One of my best friends and his wife flew it (well, the pilot flew...they just drank). He told me it was the best experience he has ever had flying, from the flight to the flight attendants.

tdk320n

Happy anniversary from one who has followed your previous reports.
Always enjoyed your reports.
I am looking forward to my trip to Paris this May and will certainly try some of the recommendations listed above.
Have a great trip and many many more happy anniversaries.

anna_roz

We flew A380 three times now and will fly again this May. We love it! We even named it big cheese, do not ask me why

Here are some tips which I can offer you:

I think you live in LA. Why do I think so? Must be from your other adventures.

So, you will take off from Bradley as opposed to from Delta terminal where Air France flies from. The reason must be that A380 takes two jetways to load the plane: one leading to the upper deck an one to the lower. But, they do it super efficiently in half-hour. Truly amazing.

If you are flying economy, see if you can get seats on the upper level. The economy cabin on the upper deck is small (not more then 10 rows), quiet and intimate at the back of the plane, behind premium economy. It just looks like a comfortable location as opposed to the lower deck, which seats 90,000 of your 100,000 closest friends for the next 10 hours.

If you are flying business or can upgrade to business, wow! The seats recline almost flat. We flew business on A380 once, but still could not sleep but surely enjoyed every dime+mile of the upgrade.

If you can splurge on premium economy, do it! Again, it is a small cabin on upper deck; seats recline plenty and there are leg lifts. However, I would not suggest aiming for bulk seating in premium economy, since the leg lifts do not quite rise that far and you will have extra leg room in any other premium economy seat. Any other seat in that cabin would be better, IMO.

Service is fantastic. Food is better than at some local restos here. Just a wonderful experience.

Happy Anniversary!!

Leely2

I took the AF 380 from CDG to LAX in 2012. We were flying business and sat upstairs. Great experience. Try to sit upstairs if you can whether economy, premium economy or business.

Have fun!

nukesafe

ttt

DebitNM

A concert in St. Chapelle, lovely and very romantic.

Cali

Maitaitom, we flew from LAX to CDG last Sept. on the Air France A380 and loved it. We flew business class and sat in the upper deck and everything was perfect. We flew out of the Bradley Terminal and it went very smoothly. Our return flight was on a 777 and we came back through Terminal 2 and that was easy also. We are planning to be in Paris again this Sept. but don't know our dates yet as it is going to be either at the beginning or end of a cruise. Can't wait.

welltraveledbrit

Sounds like a great trip and you are getting some fabulous local advice, I like much of the 20th too. We really enjoyed at meal at Le 6 Paul Bert in the 11th which I'd recommend and have used La Fourchette a great deal with no problems, you just need to read the fine print.
We spent four months in Paris last year and I reviewed at lot of smaller museums, gardens, walks, restaurants on my website which you may find useful, don't worry it's non commercial!
http://somuchmoretosee.blogspot.com/search/label/Paris
Hope this helps...

maitaitom

Thanks all. Interesting stuff. Unfortunately, we will be in the bowels of the plane downstairs, but as long as we arrive safely and they don't run out of vin rouge, just like Gloria Gaynor, I will survive.

tomarkot

Maitaitom, Paris seems the perfect place to celebrate your special anniversary. Congratulations, in advance!

We're in the planning stages of a trip to the Alps in Switzerland in September. But we can't be that close to Paris, our fav city, without a few days there en route home. Like you, we've been in Paris several times, but never in September. Who knows? Our dates may coincide. Happy anticipation!

maitaitom

tomarkot…keep me up to speed on when you're in Paris. First bottle of vin rouge is on me.

KTtravel

Ooh la la, some wonderful suggestions here! We will also be in Paris this September and I can hardly wait. Congratulations to you and Tracy, maitaitom!

bumper

There can be no more romantic a restaurant than Jules Verne as the lights slowly come on throughout the city below and the Bateaux-Mouches slowly make their way up and down the Seine. My wife and I celebrated our 25th anniversary there and plan to go back for our 40th. Granted, it is very expensive and you need reservations months in advance (especially if you want a table by the window) but it is worth every penny!

maitaitom

bumper, we've talked about going to Jules Verne (we've had friends who loved it), but we each are happier to dine at less expensive places. Less expensive meals = more vin rouge.

tomarkot

Hi maitaitom,

When we finalize our travel dates for September, especially our stop in Paris en route home, we'll let you know. We're in process, attempting to use FF miles. It would be fun if our dates would coincide a bit. The second vin rouge will be on us!!!

Thanks for your response to our Barcelona trip. We neglected to tag it as a TR, so we re-posted it. We're quite sure you'll really like Barcelona, as well as other areas of Spain. It's "on our list" for a return trip. Only problem: our list is quite long.

We also want to jump in on your thread about CA missions. We
added a couple last June. Right now we're getting ready for NYC and a few days in the Hudson River Valley. And, as often happens as the departure date nears, unexpected things occur at home. Do you experience the same? Not complaining, just sayin'.

Happy planning and anticipation! Paris. . .the perfect place for an anniversary celebration!

maitaitom

"unexpected things occur at home. Do you experience the same?"

yes, Tracy says she is going to put bubble-wrap around me before trips from now on. In 2006, I found I could barely walk two days before leaving for Paris, and in 2008 a "toenail trim" turned disastrous a week before we left for four weeks in Central Europe. Both trips turned out fine. Hope to meet up with you both in Paris.

tomarkot

Hi maitaitom,

We returned two days ago from a fun trip to NY, and are finally able to get our travel plan dates for fall firmed up. After traveling in the Alps (a bit of southern Bavaria, eastern Austria, the Dolomites, and finally Switzerland), we will fly from Munich to lovely Paris on Monday, Sept. 15th, but won't get in (presuming flights are punctual) until 5:50 PM. After a "too short" stay, we're schduled to fly home from CDG on Thursday, Sept. 18. (Using FF miles, that was the best we could get for a Paris stop-over en route home). So. . .we'll have the day and evening of Tuesday, Sept.16th and Wednesday, Sept. 17th, to enjoy Paris. Hopefully, you guys will be there on these dates and we can work out a get-together. And remember, that 2nd vin rouge is on us.

We're eager to hear back whether these dates might coincide. It would be fun to toast your anniversary!

maitaitom

We can catch you on your second day there (that's the morning we arrive). We have an apartment in the Marais. Stay in touch. With some jet lag, that 2nd vin rouge should be very interesting!!