Hey guys,

First TR, I will try to keep it short and to the point.

At YUL, check-in line was long and slow unlike my usual bag drop experience with BA. I was flying AF and made a huge mistake by not booking a day later when the first A380 would fly from YUL to CDG.

My return flight is in January 2012 and I am even considering paying $200 to change to A380, but I have to give it some more thought.

Security line was long, I am not exaggerating when I say that I waited 40 minutes....

Good service on board, but it didn't make up for the absolutely disappointment with the food and the IFE. Food was awful and I heard other people complain. I did not eat anything except the (very) small chocolate.The screen was small and for the first time in many years I did not watch anything, another remark was that I don't think the remote control's best place is next to the screen. (Plane was B 777-300ER)
(It might also be a good place to mention that LH and BA's food + IFE > AF).

I ended up pleasantly surprised at CDG, as I remember the last few times I was there I absolutely hated it, but I felt it was a completely different experience with well-designed signs everywhere and the touch of art.

I had a few days in Paris, which were absolutely amazing and I cannot stress enough how much I loved the city.

The lessons learned part....Feel free to laugh...

I lost my credit card the last day and I couldn't buy a ticket to get on the train to CDG. For some reason, my debit card didn't work with any of the Parisian ATM's and I thought that although I really like Paris I rather get to the airport! But: no train = no plane. I ended up going through the turnstile with some old lady claiming I was in a rush and showing an old ticket. So far, so good. I knew that I was in the correct place and got on the train with all the passengers with the big bags. To be sure, I asked a person next to me whether it was going to the airport. Well, of course it was!

Prochaine station: Notre-Dame.

Hm, why is the next station Notre-Dame, that's not in the airport's direction? Probably it is some other Notre-Dame! Brilliant thought! Well, the prochaine station after Notre-Dame was the Luxembourg gardens which clearly showed that I was going to the airport, but not the right one!

No big deal, I get off and get on the right train.

I arrive at CDG with a big grin and proceed to check in my luggage. Whoops, over 3kg overweight. As I cannot pay, I decide to throw some of that excess in my backpack. Long story short, my backpack decides to fall apart in the middle of the airport. Well, clearly I could've put everything back in the suitcase, but you might remember that, I cannot pay in any way to have that excess luggage put on the plane. Human ingenuity in action - I wrap my backpack with a sweater and tighten everything together so it doesn't fall out.

I proceed to check in again hoping I've hit the magical 23kg. Nope, 24kg.

I put all my charm into action and the nice French lady just mentions that I should be 'more careful' next time I pack....

In summary, always have local currency in cold hard cash with you....