IMADreamer wrote:Maybe this would be a good time and place to ask this. We are thinking of going to Europe next year. As you guys know I'm a complete Hoosier and I've never flown before. I'm not afraid to I just love driving and I think the journey is half the fun of a trip. Obviously we can't drive to Paris so this means it's time to for me to fly. I dread the idea of being on a plane with 200 strangers and having to poop in a tin can. Yeah I know these are the things I think about.
So economy is like a grand round trip. Economy premium is double. Business is 6k and First class is 9k. First class seems absurd and business seems kinda crazy but whats the difference between economy and economy premium? Basically it's half a day on a freaking air plane so I kinda don't mind ponying up for more comfort on what amounts to a once in a lifetime trip anyway. Well probably.
Check Google Flights every day, and be flexible on your dates. Go when the price works instead of pre-specified days. Whenever there's a great big fare sale, Google Flights has it. So when, say, Delta does a big blow-out and it's like "You can go to Paris for $500 r/t if you book by X and travel between A and B", it's on Google Flights, which is an awesome tool for travel.
Economy to Paris is not that uncomfortable unless you are over 6'2" or are a heftier fella or both. If you qualify as that, then you might find it worth ponying up for Economy Plus or whatever the airline calls it. I assume you're making a stop somewhere, so if you can you should make the stop happen on the east coast rather than the Midwest. That will mean a shorter second leg to Paris, less time on one flight. Stopping over in NYC instead of Chicago means a 7 hour flight to Paris (sometimes less if you get a good tailwind) rather than 8+ hours.
Also, if being comfortable on the plane is a priority, check as much as you can so you carry as little on the plane as possible. If you and a companion each have a decent-size duffel bag and have to stuff them under the seat in front of you because the overhead bins are full because some people who got on before you are cheap-o's who refuse to check bags, then your legroom is effectively reduced by about 70%. Try to carry on just a small bag with a toothbrush, a book, some headphones, etc. so that if you do have to stow it under the seat in front of you you don't kill your legroom. This happens on every flight ever. Some couple going to Paris for 11 days crams everything into two roller bags and two duffel bags, hustles onto the plane, and crams it all into overhead space meant for four people. Multiply that by like 15 such couples on your flight, and there's not a ton of space.
I think you'll find if you download a few two-hour movies to your iPad or iPhone via Netflix (a neat little upgrade for them), then watching those in-air and spending 30 minutes eating whatever meal they provide will leave you finding the flight to go quicker than expected.
