DL to France in May and back to ATL in August

Hi everyone! This is my first time posting on this forum, so sorry if I forget to mention anything relevant, or say too much!

I'm a college student going to Europe for a study abroad program over the summer. From Atlanta, GA, I need to reach Metz, France by 5 PM on May 14 to check in to dorms, and I have to leave the dorms by 5 PM on August 3. A Delta employee I know has offered to let me use a buddy pass. He's retired from Delta, but worked there from the late 1960's. I believe the buddy passes cost $400 round trip, while trips to and from CDG and FRA are about $1200+ otherwise. Should I buy the buddy passes or should I just buy a confirmed ticket? I'm willing to fly into any airport in the Euro zone and even stay in a youth hostel for nights if I need to, but I absolutely need to be in Metz by 5 PM on May 14 to check into dorms.

Any answers, advice, tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

P.S. This is my first time non-revving and also flying into Europe.

I'd do the pass because you can change the return date as well as the city for a small amount ($25+ mileage difference) Give yourself several days flexibility to make the flights and BE FLEXIBLE (did I say that already?) \You're going to need every penny being in Europe that long!

We'll help with city options when it gets close to departure.

Thank you for the quick response and advice! I'll make sure to ask for help with city options later. :)

Welcome aboard gt7

M767 has given you some excellent advise and will be a great resource. In addition I encourage you to talk to the employee that gave you the pass; will you be able to call on them for advice?
For right now, read the pass travel procedures, keep an eye on airfares ( I know, but there “could be” a great deal), and because there’s an absolute “5PM May14” deadline -FLEXIBILITY ( as M767 said) will be key. Your trip will require lots of planning, back-ups, “what if’s” and “worst case scenarios”. It will be nerve-racking, but if you’re up for it, we’re here to help.

For sure. The employee who gave me the pass is great. I talked to him today, and he's willing to check flight loads and do his best to help me get to Europe and back.

Actually, I just realized another complication today. The program dates (from May 14 to August 3) altogether are 82 days. I can only stay in Europe for 90 days total without an additional visa before running into immigration problems. Is it realistic to be able to get in and out of Europe within 90 days? (May 14 is a Monday, and August 3 is a Friday).

Thank you mrs767er and Migflanker for all your help and advice! Sorry my situation's so complicated and somewhat restricted, but I just want to cover all my bases before I commit to the buddy pass.

In a desperate pinch, you can always get to Dubai--what about Turkey? Is that EU? Or is your visa a Schengen (sp?) visa?