KLM Airlines vs Air France

[thescadaman]

IV Members,

Please share your experience with traveling to India using KLM Airlines vs Air France. My wife and I, will be traveling with our 2 year old and we intend on using Advance Parole as our immigration document to return to United States.

Please provide comparisons on the following
1) Acceptance of AP Document at their hub in Europe - Is Trasit Visa required?
2) Service
3) Food
4) Comfort for little kids

Their prices are comparable and favorable right now. Are there any other options? The Emirates route may be just too long for our 2 year old.

Note: I have posted this in Interesting Topics section!

[thescadaman]

I checked the following link just now.

Airport transit visa. - Consulat Général de France à Houston (http://www.consulfrance-houston.org/spip.php?article339#3-Frequently-asked-questions)

It clearly says in the FAQ - that a Transit visa is needed if we are holding an Advance Parole document and don't have a valid unexpired H1B visa stamped in our passport.


What about KLM Airlines?

[ivgclive]

IV Members,

Please share your experience with traveling to India using KLM Airlines vs Air France. My wife and I, will be traveling with our 2 year old and we intend on using Advance Parole as our immigration document to return to United States.

Please provide comparisons on the following
1) Acceptance of AP Document at their hub in Europe - Is Trasit Visa required?
2) Service
3) Food
4) Comfort for little kids

Their prices are comparable and favorable right now. Are there any other options? The Emirates route may be just too long for our 2 year old.

Note: I have posted this in Interesting Topics section!

Take Emirates. No transit visa issues. Good for a 2 year old. Kid can eat, sleep, watch 20 cartoon movies, play 20 games and you will be at Home comfortably.

It is WORTH paying $200-$300 more to Emirates/Singapore Airlines if you are travelling with kids.

[abhay]

KLM via Amsterdam does not require transit VISA, Air France via France requires transit VISA, took me half a day to French Embassy and 50 plus dollars for the VISA, Please avoid going though the countries that require transit VISA, they are just milking passengers in the name of 9/11

[h1_b_visa_holder]

IV Members,

Please share your experience with traveling to India using KLM Airlines vs Air France. My wife and I, will be traveling with our 2 year old and we intend on using Advance Parole as our immigration document to return to United States.

Please provide comparisons on the following
1) Acceptance of AP Document at their hub in Europe - Is Trasit Visa required?
2) Service
3) Food
4) Comfort for little kids

Their prices are comparable and favorable right now. Are there any other options? The Emirates route may be just too long for our 2 year old.

Note: I have posted this in Interesting Topics section!

If you have to choose between the two then KLM is better as the Amsterdam's airport has a great baby lounge for your lil ones... Check it out on their site

[sam_hoosier]

The best option is to e-mail the consulate near where you live. Even though their website says transit visa required, I e-mailed the consulate (Chicago) and they said not required in case of AP. So I just took a print out of their e-mail and traveled to India last Dec/Jan.

Coincidentally I went through Paris and came back through Amsterdam and no problem on either leg.

[a.j.2048]

Avoid KLM as it flies old planes on the India route. Plus, being Europe, you never know when some crazy Breivek type fellow might decide to let loose.

Try Emirates, Korean, Cathay, Singapore or any other Asian airline. You'll get visa on arrival and stopover if you ask for it.

[xyz0011]

I would avoid Air Bus 330. I am not comfortable either with Air France after Flight 447 incident. Try to simply fly by American Airline via Chicago-Delhi.

[a.j.2048]

Regarding Air France, I was told about this from my brother in law as well. Being a USC, he was allowed to go shop and bring back food for the passengers who were stuck.

Indian passengers Paris airport (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-13/india/28152068_1_indian-passengers-paris-airport-indian-fliers)

[bandoayan]

Lufthansa has 1 stop connections from most US cities to India. The service is good and there is no transit visa requirement in case of AP or expired H1B stamp. We have traveled by LH several times with our kids with and are reasonably satisfied.