N866DA,

Thanks for your report. I'm delighted to hear that there may have been some improvements in ground service at Charles de Gaulle.

Likewise, it sounds like BusinessElite continues to be a reliably good experience. I've feared that cutbacks would decimate the quality of service.

As a passenger, I've never noticed anything unpleasant about the MD-11. I've flown on Finnair and Delta MD-11s without incident. Delta's economy class, however, always looks pretty awful on the MD-11.

Do let us know about your trip to Belgium.
-Mats.