I'm not really sure what's up with the AF codeshares. I've had trouble booking CDG-VRN online through the DL site over the last few months as part of a transatlantic itinerary.

For my last trip, the DL elite rep was able to build the itinerary on the phone, but it priced out 10% higher than the same itinerary from AF. This was a simple open-jaw itinerary with 3 DL flights and the AF CDG-VRN leg. I ended up buying from AF, though it cost me the double mileage on the AMEX and possibly an upgrade on the domestic segment.

Also, when I bought it, AF issued four ticket numbers (for myself and my fiancee on the same PNR). The DL website could see the reservation, but not change anything. After a few miscellaneous calls to the DL elite line, one of the representatives happened to noticed that AF hadn't linked the ticket to the reservation. Apparently this can cause problems at check in and cost you a good bit of time at the airport. He ended up reissuing the entire itinerary on two tickets (one for each passenger).

I'm not really sure what the moral of the story is. The DL website is broke, the elite line isn't any better, and buying from AF is a mess in itself. I suppose DL doesn't trust revenue-sharing partners the way NW and KL did. But connecting onto European carriers is the best way to get to most small cities. If Delta continues to force me onto a decrepit 767 from JFK/ATL to a hub airport 4 hours from the actual destination, I'm going to look into star alliance. Or maybe the oneworld antitrust immunity this year will provide fresh competition.

As for flights, it looks like MRS is mainline on AF, which is the same experience as any european domestic flight. As an aside, a lot of the AF regional flights are on Embraer's which are 1-2 seating. I much prefer the F70s that KLM cityhopper flies to smaller cities. Other than that, AMS is without question the better connecting airport.