Regular readers will know just how much I love answering questions from this awesome community. As with my day job, and my coaching, I prefer sharing things you’d actually like to know, rather than just guessing what you’d like to read about. So you’ll know that I was very happy to write this post, given it’s completely devoted to answering questions from a reader named Vaughan.
Unfortunately, due to a variety of factors, Vaughan had to cancel his travel plans last month. But this hasn’t stopped him from being curious about flying to France. Vaughan was especially keen to learn about how we fly long haul comfortably – and whether that involves first class travel to avoid aches and pains. He was also interested in our views on the best places to fly into in France. So let me answer all of these ‘flying to France’ questions right now.
Flying To France In Comfort
Let’s start with flight classes. As I’ve said before, Australia is a very long way from anywhere. A ‘fast’ flight to Europe, with only one stop, takes a smidge under 24 hours. Unfortunately, that also means flying to France can get rather pricey. When it comes to comfort I recommend travellers choose the best flight class their budget allows. That said, we’ve only splurged on Business Class, with its luxurious space, flat beds and superior dining options for a few flights over the years. And we’ve never flown First Class. (For context, return Business Class flights for 2 from Melbourne, Australia are currently sitting at approximately $16,000 AUD which is around $11,000 USD.)
Which means we’ve become quite good at travelling Economy (or Premium Economy at best) over the past 15 years.
How I Make Long Haul Flights More Comfortable
I shared some of my must have items for when you’re flying to France long haul in this post. And they all still apply. But I’d also recommend the following moves to make things more comfortable.
- Stand up as often as you can on the flights and stretch. The movement makes a big difference at around the 12 hour mark of the flight, when you’re wondering if you’ll ever be able to stand straight again.
- If you can, pay a little more for an extra leg room seat. It helps you to feel less claustrophobic and means you can stand up more easily. We’ve also paid extra for normal seats but that have just the two of us in the row. Again, it means we’re more likely to move if we’re not disturbing anyone.
- Pack a flat cushion to make the seat more comfortable. I have one that was made for sporting events and it helps my lower back tremendously.
- Drink lots of water. My experience is the more dehydrated I am, the more aches and pains I seem to have when I’m flying to France.
- If you do have a stop over, walk around as much as you can, even if you’re feeling exhausted.
Flying To France – Favourite Places To Fly Into
I remember the first time we flew into Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport. It was our first international trip and we were reeling from the 24 hour flight time. I remember being concerned that we wouldn’t actually make it out of the airport. Of course, we did, but even all of these years later I still find CDG a bit intimidating. That said, it is still very convenient for flying into France, and obviously Paris.
Having said that, we’ve actually flown into Frankfurt in Germany numerous times, and then caught a train to Paris. Frankfurt airport is very easy to navigate and airport railway station has regular links to France. And Frankfurt is a great option if you are travelling to the east of France, especially Strasbourg.
If you’re flying into the south of France, Nice is a good choice. Another easy to navigate airport, with quick and easy links to the city and its beautiful surrounding villages.
Over to you now travelling friends – how do you make things more comfortable when you’re flying to France? And do you have a favourite city to fly into? If so, I’d love for you to share it in the comments below.
Finally, a great big thank you to Vaughan for inspiring today’s post.
And until next time – au revoir.
7 thoughts on “Flying To France In Comfort”
I learned a long time ago that I have to have a bottle of water and a snack in my bag; I once flew from Chicago to Dublin, and the entire flight was so turbulent that there was virtually no food nor beverage service. Anybody with a bottle of water and a couple of granola bars looked like a genius – especially if you had enough to share!
Thank you for sharing such an excellent tip Janice. No one wants to be hungry or thirsty on a flight – especially a long one. I’m actually wondering now why I forgot to share the importance of snacks…
Heading off to France in a couple of weeks (all things going to plan) I fly Singapore Airlines from Melbourne or Sydney to Singapore. A short stop over in Singapore for a few hours then to Frankfurt (to see my brother) and then the train to Paris.
The flight into FF arrives at 6.45am. I count back 10 hours and take something to make me sleep. I wake up ready to go.
So good to hear from you Claire xx Planning your sleep around your flight times is so important. Navigating airports and train stations is so much easier if you have managed to get some sleep. Good luck with your upcoming trip – travel safe and have the best time!
We’ve been flying premium for a few years now & use Singapore Airlines. We stop over in Singapore & spend a few hrs at one of the airport hotels that are situated inside the airport. We have a room booked for both ways so we can rest, shower & generally freshen up before continuing our journey. I wear comfortable clothing when travelling, hydrate my skin every couple of hrs or so & bring along a good book. I’m not a great traveller but try to make myself as comfy as I can, getting to Europe from Australia is not easy but if we want to travel we just have to suck it up.
Your comment made me smile Denise – we often joke about the fact that if we want to travel, then we have to be prepared to suck it up when it comes to the flights :). I love the idea of an airport hotel, especially in Singapore. We’ve opted for lounge access so far, but I can see why a hotel room would be a good choice too. Definitely something to consider for the future xx
Hi Janelle, I am going to be traveling from the south of France to the US soon and I am trying out the route through Barcelona. I am taking the train direct from Narbonne to Barcelona. Staying the night in Barcelona then a direct flight to Chicago (10 hours). On returning it will be an overnight flight so no need to overnight in Barcelona. There is a train from the airport to the train station in Barcelona. I’ll let you know how it goes! Also flights out of Barcelona are usually cheaper…