I'm confused - I understand the issue in Paris- but why not just take an earlier flight to Boston. therer are flights from LGA to Boston at least once an hour.

And why take a 1pm bus to make an 8:30 flight? Why not a fligh at 6 or so - so you'll have plenty of time even if thre are delays?

(Frankly - I would take a train to Boston rather than a flight that arrives that late.)

Exactly, nytraveler. Since the OP already has the tickets, and probably difficult/impossible to change, I have suggested them to pay $25 at the airport to get a guaranteed same-day change to get on an earlier DL Shuttle flight to BOS. 7:30, 6:30, 5:30, even 4:30 is possible.

well, nytraveler, since I'm using FF miles & didn't book early enough for summer travel, this 8:30 flight is the only one that they had FF seats available. Of course I would have loved to have been able to go straight to Paris either from Newark, JFK or PHL but this is the only thing I could get.

Since I'm using FF I wonder if I would be allowed to go on an earlier flight to Boston after paying the $25.00.

And why am I leaving at 1 PM when my flight isn't until 8:30--because the airline told me to be there 3 hours ahead of time & 1PM is the only time the van service can pick us up & there's only ONE van service that goes to LaGuardia from my area!

and now--what does BTW & now OP mean?

I think you can still pay the $25 to get the same-day change.

BTW = "By the way"

OP = "Original poster" (i.e. you) or "Original post" (the initial post you wrote that started this thread)

Thank you.
We seniors don't always know all the lingo--or the best ways to travel. I can now go on this trip with relative few worries.

You're smart enough to ask us your questions, that's a good start!
:-)

Remember to stay calm, that's my best experienced travel tip I can give you. And remember that it's supposed to be fun -lol! (that's for "laughing out loud")

safe travels! -suze

Yes, don't worry, stay relaxed. While I don't think they are old, officially my parents are senior travelers, and they go on long trips 4-5 times a year.

Key things that you really don't want to lose are 1)medicine, 2)credit cards, 3)passport. Big hassle if you lose any of those. [Before, there wer also the plane tickets, but now with e-ticket, not an issue.]

Everything else can be replaced relatively easily, and travel insurance are affordable, which will cover those costs. Understand that delays and misconnects can happen, but the airlines will get you there.

Have the Delta and Skymiles phone numbers with you (assuming that's where your FF miles come from). It's almost always faster, easier and less stressful to sit down and call the airline than waiting in line with 200 other people waiting for 2 gate agents to rebook you, if there's a problem.

Enjoy your trip.

I agree the best approach is to stay calm. Do what you can with splitting your luggage, but dont assume it will be lost.

Even with tight schedules you can sometimes make it- on our last trip from France to Toronto, the flight from Toulouse to Frankfort had been canceled, and so we had to go to Dusseldorf, then Frankfurt, then Toronto. First flight was an hour late - 'that's ok because the second flight is an hour late' they said - but your're on the last flight to Toronto, and so you might not make it. Plus someone at Toulouse messed up our ticket so they couldn't print out boarding passes, couldn't find us on their lists, etc. But we still made all our flights with lots of time - and only a moderate amount of stress!

I am increasingly convinced that ALL airline information desks believe themselves to be on some Candid Camera version of a reality TV show. They create episodes of stress for travellers so that they can then look like heroes when you do actually arrive on time and with your luggage. If they didn't create the faux crisis, you wouldn't believe they had solved it!

It used to simply be assumed it would all happen without the feeling of stressed out panic and we just thought they were doing their job. Sigh...

I like the combination of checked and carryon luggage idea - we do that when we can't manage with just carryon. That way if the checked luggage is delayed, we've got clothes to wear until it arrives. And of course things can be replaced.

When my inlaws went to Europe last summer, one of my father-in-law's bags didn't make it into the cab when they went from home to the airport - a neighbor found the bag sitting in the driveway when he went out to get his newspaper in the morning - LOL. The bag happened to contain all my father-in-law's socks and underwear, so he had to go shopping as soon as they got to Madrid. And when they got back, he had lots of fun telling us about his shopping adventures - LOL.

Hi T,

I am probably as old as you (if not older).

I have finally gotten my wife to accept that two small suitcases are better than one large and one small.

You have two carryons, carry them on.

>I was just concerned about the suitcases holding us up on trying to get off the plane etc. Can't really dash off if we have to reach overhead & try to get them down etc.<

You ain't goin nowhere for at least 10 min while everyone ahead of you gets their stuff down.

Let the cabin attendants know that you have a tight connection. They might be able to help you with getting through the airport.

>Are these connections to close for comfort-running with suitcases?

That's why they have wheels - makes it easier to run through airports.

Don't wear high heels.

As noted, don't panic. Don't raise your voice. Don't cry. AF employees get especially stubborn if you do any of the above.

Enjoy your trip.

((I))

DON'T CRY!!!!! Now that is just asking too much from me. I'm not THAT mature.

People with a good sense of humor make the best travelers... so I can tell you'll do just fine!!!