SFO - CDG Question
 

I am going to France, but fares from Midwest have been steep. Thought of making a mileage run out of it. Visit my brother in CA, and then SFO to CDG on UA via Orbitz is < $600 now on the non-stop.

No chance of an upgrade, so recommendations on taking the non-stop or connecting. Connection is $7 more.



[This message has been edited by ToddETurner (edited 04-25-2002).]

I just checked orbitz and the cheap fares are all connecting through Chicago or Wash.D.C. The direct flight SFO-CDG isn't bad--11 hrs nonstop and arrival is a decent early afternoon one right now. If you can find a nonstop from SFO for less than $600, grab it, as they keep going up all summer long.

Fare on non-stop is $593, when around. Seems to come and go during the day. Ual.com does NOT seem to have the low fare non-stop. They will have the $607 connection flights.

Questions about E+ or not from SFO, made me consider connecting in ORD or IAD.

I believe the SFO-CDG is operated by the longer-range 777. I have not seen E+ on it, but basenji might have an update.

Plus, would the fare allow flying that far West to turn around and fly East?

I was going to purchase a separate fare to West Coast (family visit for a bit) and then pick up the SFO flight.

CVG-CDG has been $1400. I was getting $198 base from CMH-SFO on UA last week - up some now.

SFO-CDG does have E+; I have used it often enough.

I stand corrected. I was thinking C+.

All the planes that have E+ also have C+. The main topic at hand here has been debated at length in past threads. A few points that come to mind:

1) the April MP newsletter boasts C+/E+ on all UA flights to CDG;
2) the SFO-CDG airplane goes to IAD after it turns at PVG. Therefore, if the SFO-CDG is corrupted, so is CDG-IAD;
3) 12 hrs is supposed to be the rough cutoff for the shorter range (better endowed) airplanes. SFO-CDG is a little shorter than that.
4) People here swear they have seen both aircraft types in service on SFO-CDG.

My most typical route on UA is the 961/960 CDG-SFO and I have never seen E+ on a single flight. My last two flights were routed via IAD, so perhaps they are finally using E+ planes of the direct route. Basenji did state that the last (if ever) planes of the fleet to receive E+ would be the trans-Atlantic routes to the West coast. That was some time ago, though.

Anyway, whatever you decide, have a good trip.

I have been on SFO-CDG 6 times in the last 6 months, and I have never seen E+ or C+, not once.

I might just have been unlucky, but my experience does sync. with basenji's info.

I checked the aircraft routing for the past week; none of the SFO-CDG airplanes had E+ or C+. I don't know if that's always true, but it seems to be fairly consistent.

--Mark Rogers

"Theoretically", I'm booked in E+ next week SFO-CDG on 960, waiting for an upgrade, so I'll see what I can find out then.