Ngaire told me we are a little to early yet for air
on this cruise. Need to wait to end of the month.

Thanks Jim

Carolyn

Actually to book FF miles or do your own air the first leg hit the airlines today. We are holding upgradable seats with AA - DFW to Paris. We can hold for 14 days just about enough time to get in the final leg without having to book a "fake' date and change it later.

Amadeus does not "come out with air". They do each itinerary individually and book it live so there are no set rates. So if you want their air you have to wait until both the USA - Paris and the Amsterdam to USA flights are in the system and then they can quote. They do get "contract rates" so these have to be in the system with AMA before they can book. So you may be able to get a better deal through them or it may be about the same as booking direct with the airlines. About two to three weeks to buy regular air from AMA.

Any updates on FF success for Paris??? We may be overnighting in Amsterdam the 13th which is fine - I know you have to be "flexible" unless you are willing to use zillions of pts - appears we can get in on good flight 12/2 arriving Paris 12/3 - I feel I have spent a week having a root canal but it was Delta not a dentist -

Yes, we are set. We bought and upgraded with miles to business. Direct flight DFW to CDG and the AMS to LHR and LHR to DFW.

Congrats Ngaire ! We currently have both a Delta and an AA res on hold. Both bring us home on 12/13 so no overnight for us. Will decide which we keep today. Fooling with getting f.f. seats is like having a root canal.

Actually in this day and age, I think a root canal might be easier and consume less time, maybe even less painful?????? <img src="http://smileys.sm...3Fi%253D3%252F3_9_6v/image.gif"> Good luck everyone with those FF seats.

No one is planning a post-cruise to Brussels?!?!? :mecry:

Sorry Marc, as much as we enjoyed Brussels (and Brugge!) we're going to head home this time.

Bing & Carol Cherry asked me to post this on LCT.
They are B&K'ers but not LCT'ers. (Yes I've tried), and are on "PARIS" with us.
Some of you have cruised with them before.
ANYWAY:
1st of all they are staying extra couple of days until 12/15/09. (Just thought I would mention that). MARC! :D
Bing wanted to know if anyone would be interested in a day trip to Normandy on one of our Paris days.
www.linkparis.com/daytripsfromparis.htm
or
www.linkparis.com/daytripsfromparis.htm?gclid=CI7g563MopgCFRIcawodpljYmg

AMA does not do things like this so you will be doing your own group.
It is not a cheap excursion and defiantly a ALL DAY trip. Bing and Carol have been there before and were so moved that they want to go back again because their last visit was to short.

In looking at the schedule December 5th looks like the day to do this trip.

If you have any interest or questions contact Bing.
bing@midrivers.com

Welcome Lynn. (Kirky5) to are roll call! :app: :chicken:
Cabin # 331

PS.
I posted some important information about a Normandy excursion at the bottom of page one
of our roll call.
If interested you may want to go back to it. :D
Since we have moved to a page 2 just thought I would mention it.

Would anybody be staying overnight around JFK
airport on 12/01/09? (and where would you recommend to stay?)
You just can't get anywhere from Montana in time so had some thoughts about flying into JFK on the 1st then booking on Open Skies Airlines the 2nd to Paris because they have a great price on business class.
Would return from Amsterdam Open Skies to JFK on the 13th, but can make connections back.
Any thoughts?

Jim, We're actually spending several nights in NYC before flying on to Paris but we'll probably stay with Tom's brother.

You all will probably enjoy a night or two in NYC before flying to Paris....if you've never seen Manhattan decorated for Christmas, it's SPECTACULAR.

Jim,

Andi here, I am from NYC and until recently had never stayed in NYC. Business meetings recently have forced me to stay over and I am able to recommend some hotels to you.

For a first timer to NY and as Marcie says, to see the lights and sights, I would recommend Mid-town (42nd street to 80th) and within 4 blocks east or west of 5th avenue. This year, there have been wonderful rates in NYC. I just stayed at the Waldorf=Astoria for $289 in a gorgeous room. You could stay at the Algonquin for $209. Both of these hotels are lovely, though the Algonquin's rooms can be small. The W, the Marriott East Side, the Intercontinental, any of the chain Times Square hotels are nice. You don't want to go any further east than Third or West than Broadway/7th. If you go uptown (80's), stay around the park/museums.

You might get much better rates downtown, near the financial district. There are marvelous restaurants and some great tourist attractions down there as well, such as Soho and the Village. But at XMAS, mid town is the place to be.

We'd love to meet, give us a call!

By the way, I am astounded at how low NYC hotels are now...and restaurant week (which is usually just a week) has been extended at many places through March, offering $35 menus. NYC is a bargain to visit this winter.

Reading Jim's post I thought he was looking to overnight at JFK the 1st? Not NYC.. BUT I agree, Andi and Marcie, NYC is magical at Xmas and if hotel rates are down YIPPEE!!! For all I know Jim and Jan have been to NYC a hundred times but if it is new to them it can be intimidating for a one night visit from JFK - Jim if time is not an issue I'd listen to Andi's suggestions and stay in the city for 3 nights!

I guess I misread Jim's post a couple of ways..that he wanted to stay near JFK somewhere and that he hadn't been to NY. Maybe I just read into Marcie's post....

Geez...what is nice and out near JFK? If that is what you mean, Jim, let me know and I will research it for you. It's not a great area. I'd trek into the city unless you are on a tight schedule. It's just an hour away.

Yea I was talking about JFK airport.
If we should do this are arrival would be evening
so would prefer something close to the airport.
Might do something the next morning but who knows.
By the time we get up have breakfast, get repacked it would be almost time to go back to the airport.
Appreciate your offer Sedona but probably not going to work.
Jan B has been to NYC twice. I have never been but know I will someday.

Jim - I got stuck at JFK overnight several years ago. They had a hotel reservation person at a separate desk - at least near the AA desk. She made a reservation for me. I think it was a Hampton Inn @ $195. It was clean & had a restaurant and free shuttle from JFK and then another in the morning back to LaGuardia.
It was fine for showering and sleeping, not much else. I was so angry with Regent Air & AA at the time, it could have been the Ritz and I probably wouldn't have been happy.

Jim, There is a decent Doubletree. I like Doubletrees. Do you collect hotel points..who do you have and I will let you know what is decent in the area.

Has everyone completed their flight arrangements
already?
Not us.

Jim we were able to use AA FF miles. Did it on their website. It was easy, no BC available but that's okay, it's not that long of a flight.

Carolyn

Has anyone been missing this "PARIS" roll call thread?

Jim, do you want me to move this to the 2009 escorted cruise forum?

I'm thinking we should move it to 2009 escorted cruises.

Tada, here is the post in it's new home :)

Yea!!!! :nw:

Delta called yesterday schedule change that stinks! When I balked they suggested I redeposit my pts (no charge so kind Delta) and see what opens up later. We now have 7 hr layover in Detroit vs 4 hrs and get into Paris at 11:30 am vs 8:30 am 12/3 - guess we'll be going to the Westin at Detroit airport for 7 hr layover more $$$ .. talked to 3 different gals, supposedly nothing else available on 12/2 including the perfect Jax to Atl to Paris flight - ugh! Told me to keep checking back of course I can and change for another $100 PP...

Sorry Joanna.
We have not booked yet but probably are looking at the same Delta flight that Bing & Carol have already booked. Salt Lake direct to CDG
Arrival is 11:15 am so can wait for you to arrive. As long as that is a Dec 3rd arrival date.

It is 12/3 Jim - notice on my schedule they have me leaving Detroit at 9:45 PM but no Paris arrival time - told me it'd be 11:20 am - bet there will be more changes before it all settles - thanks Jim

I think we all have gotten into airline time changes (combining 1/2 empty flights). MADE BY THE AIRLINES. We have had 2 airline changes this past month just flying within CA.

The one thing I learned is do NOT let the airlines charge you any change fee $ as you improve upon "their changes" I've been able to get out of each one they've tried to charge me but some times have to ask for a supervisor. I ask to have it noted in my record as well as get the first and last name of the employee and the call center city where they work.. I make it known that I'm "settling" but that I will continue working to improve times, flights etc. between now and our travel dates but any change fee(s) will be waived.

This has actually saved us lots of $$$ but you have to make sure they note it in your record.

Excellent advice, Marcie. Copying to my notes so that I remember to do this on my travels. Thanks.

Glad you mentioned that Marcie. Of course, I did not keep any details of people I spoke with BUT I will keep trying for better flight. Will remind them they inconvenienced me and hope for no charge to better flight. So much depends on person you deal with -

S0 how are the bookings for flights going??
I have seen a lot of schedule changes when I look.
We still have not done anything. Very Frustrating.

Jim, We're using Delta f.f. miles with non-stop to JFK, spending a few nights in NYC, then non-stop to Paris (purposely opted against LAX-CDG non-stop so we could stop in NYC). Return is Amsterdam to Memphis/Memphis to LAX. We ticketed back in January...so far so good.

Called Delta the other day to see if the Atl to Paris flight had opened arriving 12/3 at 8:30 am answer was no but gal said there will, no doubt, be more changes to my schedule before it all is finalized - I am scheduled to arrive 12/3 at 11:25 with LONGGGGGG lay over in Detroit - ugh!!!

.

Jim did you fall off desk chair??? Do you have your air???

:D Or is this just a way to bring it to the top? Joanna, my flight to Paris coming in at 10:25 a.m. Anyone else close so we might share a van into the city to the hotel? I hate CDG airport.

Let's check back once we know definite flight times - willing to wait an hr for anyone -

Olivia, we arrive at 8:35am from JFK on Air France. Where are you flying from?