I should know the answer to this, but I'm not sure. Can I purchase a ticket to get back to CDG at a metro ticketbooth? In the past I have been close enough to Chatelet to walk to the RER and purchase the ticket direct to CDG. I am thinking that if I purchase a ticket at the nearest metro, it will cover me on the metro and RER (if I pay the 8 euro). Is this correct, anyone?

Yes. If you buy your ticket at a metro station it will cover you all the way to CDG.

Thanks, now the bigger question; will the metro and RER be running on April 5th? There is supposed to be another general strike on the 4th. It looks as though everything is back to normal today. I leave for the airport this afternoon.

Your "bigger question" is impossible to answer today, of course. Nevertheless, have a great trip!

as long as the unions don't extend the strike april 5 should be ok.
on a brighter note:
there's supposed to be a council vote today to decide if the CPE is unconstitutional. if they vote against it, the whole brouhaha is squashed. no CPE = no strikes. hopefully it all gets figured out soon.

<< I am thinking that if I purchase a ticket at the nearest metro, it will cover me on the metro and RER (if I pay the 8 euro). Is this correct, anyone? >>

Yes, it's correct. We were in Paris last week and did exactly that.

To be safe, we bought our RER tickets a day in advance (in case of an unexpected booth closure or long line).

Woody

Bon voyage!

Watch the RATP site carefully. It is the most immediate source of news affecting service.

Sometimes they don't get service restored to 100% right away (they have to reposition the rolling stock), so the trip you were planning to take might not run.

To be on the safe side, allow an extra hour.

Thanks, all. It could be a very interesting trip. I'll certainly allow plenty of time to get to the airport. I have been checking the ratp site often. I won't have access to a computer unless I find an internet cafe, so I may just throw caution to the wind and chance it. Since I tend to get obsessive about the details, maybe this could be a healthy thing. We're taking Icelandair and on the way back will relax in a soak at the Blue Lagoon.