Additional questions:

1. The itinerary that I want has only a 60 min layover in CDG, so is it reasonable to do the Schengen thing and switch from T2E to T2F in this time span? And will checked luggage make it (Delta to AF)? Conversely, is a connection with 75 (or 95) minutes enough? All choices are the same price.

2. We have an unpaid traffic violation (speed camera) from France earlier this year. We only know the time of the infraction and since we were driving 9 hours that day are unsure of the jurisdiction of the violation. We have not been billed for this except for a $45 "administrative fee" from the rental agency (thanks, Budget). Is it possible that the French authorities are so with it they could flag this at passport control and stop that person? As far as I know there is no way for us to pay the violation.

3. If we buy tickets from Delta.com for flights on Air France or Alitalia, who takes care of us if there is a strike on either of those airlines?