DL folks flying on AF

Hello all. Time for us to start worrying about our trip BACK from France end of June (outbound May 17 JFKNCE looks good). We MAY have to start coming to terms our demon CDG AGAIN (see my March 2004 post re non-reving out of CDG). We are encouraged that there are about 60 flts from CDG to the US daily (the CDG website has a good summary of them all). BUT here's a question: a few things I have read indicate that AF will NOT put us DL folks in First or Business class even if coach is full and F/J is not. Is that true?

I asked last time and the reply was, "not possible" (zed low)
Maybe your French will save you?

Our experience at CDG in Jan was fine--they now allow you to go to the gate area and get seat assignments there.

So we assume that DL does not put AF folks up front either?

why would you assume that? I understand DL is pretty good about OAL in biz class.
I've seen lots of OAL on DL overseas flights in the front. Even some of the long hauls like ATL/JNB!
I've recently been monitoring some LIM flts and I do see OAL going to coach more than emps/buddies but ehre are weight/cargo/load issues.
Pago Flyer--or anyone else, Jumper etc--do you have any idea what a priority K237 or K199 is for seating? I saw them today for the first time--they were all "DS" designated before being assigned seats.. (?) Thanks--it's just a mystery to me!

I concur with 767er re DL 'upgrading'. Well before 'my' airline NW was a mere gleam in Delta's eye. that is well before any merger thoughts, we consistently got up front out of JFK, often back from NCE, and usually out of BDL, all on DL.
So, mrs767er, here's a follow-up. I didn't realize that our fares w. AF were ZED low..can't tell from the OAL agreement chart, since AF is listed there unlike any other airline, as "Joint Venture" whatever that is. I asked Pinnacle's pass bureau, and they said it was because of a special AF-DL relation, that the tix were cheaper than normal ZED tickets. So you are saying they're equivalent to ZED lo? They said I can just go to any Deta ticket counter and they will know how to sell me an AF ticket just like any ZED ticket. I wonder if we can by First (or business) class tickets, just to have a better chance of getting on?
Thanks for your CDG January experience, but my trip being end of June makes me a bit more nervous.

I know DL is pretty good about OAL getting up front, including AF folks. So why can't those AF folks (who get up front) pass the word at CDG!

Looks like DL also runs a few flights occasionally between CDG-PIT. It's only on a 757 so not too many seats (and it's not as roomy as a widebody) but I can't imagine that route being very full. Don't know their exact timetable, but it looks like they go out on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays and return Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday?

Haltz and I have been digging thru rules and such and looks like the JV zeds are avail for them to fly AF, afterall. Think I'll just delete that MEA CULPA

Thanks all for your help. I'm not excluding anything to the US on DL: JFK, PHL, CVG (if I can find it), SLC, MSP, PIT, ATL. And there are 39 flts in all to the US from CDG on 6 airlines, so I'm gonna sleep a bit easier.

Two of us (both DL employees) were seated in business on AF with ZED tickets. The flight was from CDG to MUC last September. (Opening weekend of Oktoberfest:cool:)

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Originally Posted by haltz

Thanks all for your help. I'm not excluding anything to the US on DL: JFK, PHL, CVG (if I can find it), SLC, MSP, PIT, ATL. And there are 39 flts in all to the US from CDG on 6 airlines, so I'm gonna sleep a bit easier.

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If your options are so open, you might want to look at Wikipedia's page on CDG and study the airlines and destinations. Maybe even consider Air Canada?

Thanks, sb. I'd like much narrower options, since we want to end up in the Northeast US, but figure we can't be too picky end of June. Yes, I'll put Canada into the mix too. The Wiki article is great; the destinations are about the same as those on ADP's (Aeroports de Paris) CDG page.

From sunny south of France (near Toulon) thanks all. We got cold feet eastbound and abandoned our old standby JFK-NCE in favor of more space on BDL-PIT-CDG-MRS. And to head back June 29, we again got too apprehensive and have booked confirmed on Air Transat MRS-YUL (about 2x non-rev price, not too bad) , looking to non-rev YUL-BOS or YUL-NYC on AC,CO, or DL, and if all else fails take Greyhound from Montreal to Boston, overnight. Wish us luck!

Good to hear! If your options are as flexible as that, I'd take the risk nonrevving. There are plenty of flights within the region, just be prepared to do a little walking around.