January 8, 2005

10:23 AM

So I appear to be trapped in Paris. Flew to Europe over the holidays for a conference in Berlin, and thought I'd spend a week in Paris and fly out of there instead. British Airways is informing me they'd like about a grand to get me out of Paris, and no less if I take the chunnel up to London to catch the London-SFO leg there. Best option I've found is to try to delay the return flight until I can actually make my way back to Berlin (it's too late now). Still on hold finding out how painful that's going to be. Anyone have any better ideas?
posted by effugas to (8 comments total)

I was introduced to JustFares through AskMe, and it's the best I got for international flights. I'm not sure if they do one-way fares, but even their round trips from Paris/London to SF are gonna be better than what you're looking at.

One thing: you might try calling them, as their general mode of business is to get the dates you want through the webform and then call you.
posted by jeffmshaw at 11:09 AM on January 8, 2005

You might be able to get a $300 or so trip from Paris to SFO via Airhitch. There are lots of consolidators in France who can do the same, and I flew back on standby for $425 two years ago from Heathrow on British Air.
posted by luriete at 11:49 AM on January 8, 2005

Rebooking the return flight should cost you $100 or so, AFAIK. That's the easiest. You have to take the whole flight I think - as I understand it you have Berlin - London - US with BA. So you have to get on in Berlin. When are you supposed to be boarding in Berlin? Whenever, I'd change the flight ASAP, to a time when you know you will be there. Good luck.
posted by carter at 12:02 PM on January 8, 2005

Go back to BER and catch your flight there. EasyJet flies PAR-BER.
posted by grouse at 12:08 PM on January 8, 2005

jeffmshaw - do you know how much extra taxes etc end up putting onto the JustFare air fares for a transatlantic trip say?
posted by Mossy at 12:43 PM on January 8, 2005

You're trapped in Paris with millions of gallettes des rois? I think it best that no one help you. :-)
posted by Dick Paris at 5:39 PM on January 8, 2005

A bus departs from near the Paris Gare de l'Est train station every evening at 8 PM and arrives in Berlin central train station (ZOB) at 9 AM the next day. You can buy the ticket on the bus or from the Gullivers Reisen ticket office. It's quite cheap, and there's a sleeper option. It's not the most high-comfort or high-class transportation option, but it's ok. The sleeper option can be quite fun. It all depends what stranger you end up sleeping next to (I've been lucky so far).
posted by Turtle at 6:49 PM on January 8, 2005

Mossy, I've only been to Asia with JustFares, but the taxes/fees were pretty standard -- less than $100, comparable to other services.
posted by jeffmshaw at 9:28 PM on January 8, 2005