Did you fly directly into France from the US? If so, on what airline? It might be that only Delta is enforcing it, because the agent said she had to check the code they sent to our email before she could check us in. She said she could have gotten management to override it, but it would take some time. Makes me wonder if other airlines are overriding it or ignoring it. Another couple from Seattle that flew on Delta also had to fill out the form.
To add, I posted about how much this stunk and almost missed our flight on a travel forum, and got some snotty responses about not doing my “due diligence” before an international flight, and this has been required for over a year, and the form isn’t so hard, even a teenager can do it. I just don’t want anyone to get caught up in this ridiculousness like I was, but maybe not everyone is enforcing it?
I can confirm that this form is still required for travel from US to France (at least on Delta/Air France). My mom and daughter traveled there within the last two weeks and had completed the form on paper. I wasn’t super involved in this, but I think there was some issue with completing it online via Delta’s app. So they had to redo it at check-in and were expecting it to cause a delay. Apparently it all went smoothly, maybe because they each had the info in front of them on paper. Sorry to hear that it caused you delays/stress, I know my mom was very worried this would be the case for them.
They traveled with a tour group, which is the only reason they even knew this form existed.
We flew Delta roundtrip USA to France. We had a lovely trip and except for the 15 hour return trip due to weather and flight cancellations it was fairly smooth. We did go economy plus which thankfully got us into some shorter lines along the way. Coming back our original ticket routed us through London and we couldn’t get checked in on phone or the regular machines but had no trouble at the desk. Nobody ever said “you should’ve filled in a form” or whatever. I really don’t know.
As to “due diligence”–I just relied mainly on the Delta site for being “fly ready” and did the covid stuff. That was hassle enough for me. Sorry people are so “holier than thou” at times.
I read that the major airlines were ‘meeting with government officials’ yesterday to try and get this requirement dropped. Hope they will be successful.
My daughter had to fly on business yesterday from Denver to Dallas. Got to airport and her flight was delayed, delayed then cancelled. Another flight got filled fast. Finally got on a Frontier flight but it was delayed (plane was there but no crew available) so I think she was in the airport about 4-5 hours.
I wonder if it has to do with discretion of the agent, and if they don’t know what it is, perhaps they just check a box and it’s done. Delta was not our friend, this day.
Delta is reducing its number of flights starting in July I believe.
I do know the current regulations for covid that are affecting the airlines is a big factor–hopefully they’ll disappear soon.
Heard in Paris airport that there is a big shortage of pilots which is making things worse. Many retired or quit during Covid lock downs so plenty of planes with no one to fly them.
Our return trip to Miami was delayed because of weather. Well, we ended up going to Orlando after circling a couple hours to refuel. We were fourth in line for refueling with all the other planes diverted because of weather. The airline regulations are very strict so that was another 2 1/2 hours. Plus the fuel services don’t want to take care of anybody outside their regular schedule–it disrupts the machine.
In Paris the Delta line was HUGE–complete mess. They did send people down the line redirecting people to the correct spot. Pretty efficient. There was one guy near the beginning saying “Smile everybody! Keep smiling!” LOL.
When we finally made it to Miami at border control 12 midnight (800 people with delayed flights with 2 check in people but they finally added more) one of the officers who was directing people kept talking cheerfully, relaying info about the wait, etc. Think that’s the new tactic. Keep smiling and talking cheerfully despite all odds.
Here is a crazy idea. We need to “steal” pilots from Russia - maybe add pilots to the recent proposal to issue work visas to Russian scientists in some critical fields. The guys that flew Boeings and Airbus planes on international routes. They are sitting idle now since Russia has been cut off from the rest of the world… Kills two birds with one stone… we get pilots, Russia loses trained workforce.
No longer guessing. The EU form only requires direct border crossing travel info and not travel within the country while you are there. So only airline flights are required (and not incidental train travel etc. within the country) if flying in and out of same country. Makes sense that Delta was able to handle this.
I would avoid flying into and out of France, last time I got caught in June because of a strike, which I learned is quite frequent, I lost a night in a hotel in Florence. So I will not do that again.
H booked an April trip to Paris about 2 hours ago and I stopped by my computer to check CC and saw this, lol. Well fingers crossed. Air France for the eastbound trip and BA for the return.
Paris. What a God awful mess. I am going to avoid turning through there at any possible time
Aren’t you pleased you gave Delta and all the other carriers so much taxpayer money during 2020, so they could pay people big bonuses and benefits to retire early, as part of the plan to “be ready to ramp up when passengers return to flying”. Good grief. When they did it I was disgusted, and even more, now that I’m affected (like everyone else is). I wonder how it is that they conned their way through that one.
I wasn’t even using Air France, I booked British Airways as usual because I had points with them, plus I flew out of Marseille, not even Paris. But the strike didn’t let British Airways plane landed the night before, we had to stay in line at the airport rebooking, what a mess indeed. They love to strike in France for some reason, even train had some problem.
I’m flying through Amsterdam on Delta. Is KLM part of Delta? Because I found the right connection time and the airline is KLM.
My connection to Basel, Switzerland is 1.5 hours, is that too tight to make the connection? Do I have to go through customs in Amsterdam? My connection is at 10:30 am but the next KLM flight to Basel is at 4:10.
My flight isn’t until November so who know what flights will be then and I expect things to change but wondering how I should approach this.
Heading to France in 2 weeks Virgin Atlantic. Flying in and out of Paris but not spending any time there. Hoping I don’t run into any of these problems!
Many of the flights to Europe are shared routes. My daughter flew on United but the same flight was available as a British Airways flight or another too. We just booked it as United because it was easier for points and making changes (which she already did for the return home. It was available for $3 cheaper if she had booked through Cheap Tickets or Kayak or whatever (we paid the $3).
I think 1.5 hours is plenty of time, but you are right they might make changes by Nov. Go. Have fun. Don’t worry about the little things.
When we flew from Boston to Amsterdam via Zurich in 2019, we got to Zurich early but then we left for Amsterdam late, arrived late (of course), sat on the runway for at least 30 minutes waiting for a gate to open up, and taxied for what felt like forever to get to that gate. We were told that Schipol airport is overwhelmed with air traffic. Flew home nonstop from Zurich at the end of the trip—Zurich airport was a pleasure to use, even down to the train station in the lower level of the terminal that allowed us to take a train from Lucerne to the airport.
Delta has a lot of European travel partners (Air France, Virgin Atlantic, KLM and a couple more I think) so who knows what airline you’ll end up on. All our travel problems were coming back thankfully and mostly weather related. We had a wonderful time and so glad we went.
The biggest confusion on return trip was where to actually check in–Delta or Air France (it was Air France (partner of Delta) flight to Heathrow and then Virgin Atlantic to US). After getting shuffled around we landed at the Air France check in who took care of us.
KLM is a codeshare with Delta, and they are decent to fly on. Amsterdam is usually not too bad nor as confusing as CDG. You’ll have to go through passport control, so I’d head towards that next gate without delay. And you’re right, likely the flight will change by November. Sounds like there’s backups anyways.
Make sure when you get to AMS to “mind your step”. You’ll see what I mean.
I just don’t want anyone to get caught up in this ridiculousness like I was, but maybe not everyone is enforcing it?
Kills two birds with one stone… we get pilots, Russia loses trained workforce. 
Virgin Atlantic. Flying in and out of Paris but not spending any time there. Hoping I don’t run into any of these problems!
