Sorry to CDG
 

Most know How I feel about Air France and the staff at CDG. But, this past March while waiting for out flight to take off for Detroit, I misplaced my back pack that had almost everything in the world to Me. My money, credit cards, grandma book and goodies for my grandbaby. I did have my Passport on Me along with my boarding pass. I was so busy helping get 25 teenagers on the flight home that I paid no mind to the fact as I walked down the tarmac to board a bus to the plane I didn't have my back pack, I totally freaked out. I ran back up the hall out to the boarding area to the protest of several AF employee's. I couldn't get the words out in French to explain My problem. One lady spoke English and told Me no one seen by back pack and to get back on the bus and go to the plane or I would miss the flight. I was utterly weak in the knee's. Scared and shaking I got back on the bus and called My Husband in Detroit where it was 2 am to tell Him as calmly as possible what happened and to call and cancel My credit cards. People on the bus were staring at Me and I was so upset. I kept waiting for the bus to pull away and that would be the worst way to end a 10 day trip through Spain France and Italy.

I stood on that bus praying My little heart out, and wondering what was taking the bus so long to take off? Slowly all these people started boarding the bus, children and parents, elderly and handi cap. I was also worried about missing the flight and thinking what was My group thinking and they were worried because I wasn't on the plane yet.

As I was helping a young Woman with Her bags and stroller with a crying Baby in it and the look on Her face it made Me feel like I wasn't the only one there suffering. Suddenly the Lady from AF who spoke English came down the ramp and asked Me to follow Her,no She stood there and waved for Me to come to Her. I was so weak in the knee's and trying to ask Her if they found My bag? When I got to the boarding area there stood 2 Police officers and lying on the floor at their feet was my back pack. Big ole tears were just rolling down my face. They wanted to see some ID to prove it was My bag and they wanted Me to open it so they could look inside. I showed them My Passport and boarding pass I had and opened the bag for them to take a look and showed the credit cards with My name on them. They were so Nice and understanding to Me. And I was so grateful for that. The staff at AF stood around watching this whole scene with NO expression, which is better then looking at a disgusted one I guess. I walked down the ramp and onto the bus and several People clapped for Me. I called My Husband who was on the other line with American Express. He and the operator at Am Ex. were happy to hear I got My bag back.

When the bus finally took off (all this in 35 minutes, though it felt like forever) I boarded the Plane along with the Mamma and Her Baby I carried the stroller, the kids and adults in My group were so relieved to see Me walking down the aisle. They thought the plane was going to leave without Me. Nope, I'm like a bad penny....

I emailed CDG and asked them to Thank the Officers at CDG again for Me. And I recieved a reply. They Thanked Me for My positive feed back and said they forwarded the email to the Police department at CDG.

So I have to say, Though Air France Staff at CDG still S*ck, the Police there are Great and treated me with kindess and respect.

Its a common scam done by french police to relieve the boredom. They all got a huge laugh after your plane took off.

Theresa - I don't think you ever finished that trip report.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34785718

Hey KY Yep that trip is done and posted to the inth degree. I just went through all the Pictures from Spain Italy and France.

The Teacher who heads these trips do a Fantastic Job on their web pages. I wish I could use some of the Pictures to show off, however there are Kid in them and I don't want to post their faces.

I am so trying to get to Italy in March. I am saving, serving trash talk at my restaurant, over charging customers and just plain begging. Wish me luck, I go no pride when it comes to Italy and Cancun. Which me and My Man just got back from Cancun, and We had the BEST time...

Here's where I stayed last time I went to Cancun. It's a little outside of Cancun, but has shuttles into town.
http://www.palaceresorts.com/Resorts...lace/Index.asp

Some of the Palace Resorts are nice and others aren't.

I'm always trying to get back to Italy.

So you hate Air France because they wanted you to stay put rather than delay an international flight to Detroit with 270 people on it so you could wander CDG in search of your backpack? You had already been screened by security and were on the way to the bus which is the point of no return. Errant behavior can be percieved as a security risk.

You know, the Air France agent DID get involved. Otherwise , how would they have known to bring the back pack to you?

You know what happens to items that are abanonded in the airport? They have to close off a large section of the airport causing delays and the bomb squad comes and BLOWS IT UP. I saw a lady in tears at CDG after they had blown up her bag. Trust me, she had ample time to come and claim the bag along with zillions of announcements.

I am not sure why you expected the Air France agent to give you warm fuzzies but they did reunite you with your bag which is a risk in itself. Normally they do not even touch abandoned bags as they could be loaded with explosives and moving it could trigger them.

Dont get me wrong, I am not blaming you for forgetting the bag, with 25 teenagers internationally I would forget everything! I just really dont understand your beef with Air France over the bag.

Theresa10

Glad you got your bag back.

Now, when "the staff at AF stood around watching this whole scene with no expression" it could well have meant they were concentrating on the problem. Emoting at such a time isn't what you want a trained staff pereson to do.

You want them to act. They did. They called security to check for your backpack. Police secured it for you. As MorganB points out, an unattended bag is a security risk and would be seen so at many major airports and other public places (major churches, major department stores, etc.)

You have an eclectic writing style - lots of Capitals everywhere, lots of Drama. Very distracting after awhile to read. If you want to be understood quickly, keep it simple, keep calm, and keep perspective - the worst way to end a trip is with a member of your party or yourself in a coffin, not minus a backpack, which can be replaced.

Distracting for content--great for creative writing.
Son lost his backpack with all he had for 6 months in Russia. Now that is a subject for a long story. Long story short, it went back and forth between CDG, Jerusalem, back to NYC and then CDG--and was delivered 4 days later.

MorganB - I think Theresa's problems with AF started on a previous trip. See her Rome trip report. It's one of my favorites.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34720147

Hi Everyone...
I did not expect anyone to do a thing at AF. I knew better. I would not want them to delay a flight over my bag. I just wanted to get into the area where I left the backpack. After all we sat in the terminal there at CDG for 3 hours due to the plane being delayed. And I don't expect warm fuzzy from anyone at AF either. Wandering is not what that was all about. Sue xx if my style of writing is eclectic to you, stay away from any of the reviews I wrote. It's a bumpy, drama thing, and I'm sure you won't like it. I wish I could say I'm sorry. And cato, I hope they got a laugh out of it afterwards, but I worry their faces might have cracked.

Theresa, I was pulling your leg. The Air France folks are often a cold, distant bunch, but not always. Glad it worked out for you in the end.

Oh Cato, I took no offense! I do often wonder what the French think of Us Americans. I guess their reactions are so different from what I'm used to that it's really hard to understand them. The AF Flight attendents are so different from the ground crew at CDG.

How's the restaurant,Theresa?

Theresa-don't listen to what anyone says about your writing style-why do I think you don't?!!

Kybourbon listed your trip report as one of her favorites and I read every bit of it and LOVED it! It was an exciting slice of life. People that criticize style are not paying attention to substance and the big picture.

I am enjoying the creative use of capital letters.

Theresa, I read your trip report recently when it was mentioned as a favorite. I loved it. OK...your writing style is different but all the emotions and experience come through. I would love to travel with you. And I think anyone who does is lucky for the experience.