If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
Planes in Europe
S Viemeister wrote:
Janet Wilder wrote: This will be my first trip to Europe. I'm a senior citizen and a little nervous about it. So shoot me. You'll do just fine. You may enjoy it so much that you decide to try it again! Thank you for your vote of confidenceg. This will most likely be our last long trip. DH has a bunch of medical problems. I'm a survivor of a particularly vicious cancer "cure". We are doing the trip as if it will be my first and last. If I'm awarded the opportunity to go again, I'd be very grateful, but I'm only looking at the present, not the future. -- Janet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
Planes in Europe
Janet Wilder wrote:
S Viemeister wrote: Janet Wilder wrote: This will be my first trip to Europe. I'm a senior citizen and a little nervous about it. So shoot me. You'll do just fine. You may enjoy it so much that you decide to try it again! Thank you for your vote of confidenceg. This will most likely be our last long trip. DH has a bunch of medical problems. I'm a survivor of a particularly vicious cancer "cure". We are doing the trip as if it will be my first and last. If I'm awarded the opportunity to go again, I'd be very grateful, but I'm only looking at the present, not the future. I hope the two of you enjoy every minute of your trip. Will you give us a trip report when you return? Sheila |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
Planes in Europe
S Viemeister wrote:
Janet Wilder wrote: S Viemeister wrote: Janet Wilder wrote: This will be my first trip to Europe. I'm a senior citizen and a little nervous about it. So shoot me. You'll do just fine. You may enjoy it so much that you decide to try it again! Thank you for your vote of confidenceg. This will most likely be our last long trip. DH has a bunch of medical problems. I'm a survivor of a particularly vicious cancer "cure". We are doing the trip as if it will be my first and last. If I'm awarded the opportunity to go again, I'd be very grateful, but I'm only looking at the present, not the future. I hope the two of you enjoy every minute of your trip. Will you give us a trip report when you return? Sheila I will be keeping a diary. I'll try to post my air experiences. -- Janet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life |
#24
|
|||
|
|||
Planes in Europe
Janet Wilder wrote:
Graham Harrison wrote: My experience is that even if you only say "hello" in the local language and then ask "do you speak English" that people (be they check in agents, hotel staff or just anyone) are almost always helpful and friendly. If they indicate they don't speak English then mime works surprisingly well and if that fails just smile, say thank you (preferably in local language) and move on. Many people see English as something they want to learn and practice (I'm not sure I think that's a good thing but there you are). I recently spent 3 weeks in Japan and that seemed to work for me (and actually, I don't think I ever had to move on). I have had the same experience traveling in Mexico and Central America. Most people want to try out their English on us. Turn the problem on its' head. If someone approached you and spoke no English but did speak French would you refuse to help? You might have to ask them to speak slowly and repeat a few words but I bet you would do your best. It's all a matter of give and take. You try their language, they try yours, smile, mime, be friendly. I can't begin to count the number of times I have interpreted for French Canadians traveling in the US and also in Mexico. This will be my first trip to Europe. I'm a senior citizen and a little nervous about it. So shoot me. My last trip to France went better than I'd expected. It's not like my French language skills had improved, so my best guess is that some gray hair (I'm in my 50s) bought me a little tolerance. I'll take what I can get. When I apologized to the security guard at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum for my lack of fluent French, he said, "On va s'entendre" -- "we manage to understand one another" (if someone else has a better translation, chime in). Enjoy your trip. Louis |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
Planes in Europe
Janet Wilder wrote:
I can't begin to count the number of times I have interpreted for French Canadians traveling in the US and also in Mexico. This will be my first trip to Europe. I'm a senior citizen and a little nervous about it. So shoot me. Sorry, I confused you with Joan Wilder and thought you had been around. No, you didn't confuse us. We'd be ignorant to know you are a seasoned world traveler. I am a bit confused. If you speak French, then you should be OK in Paris. You are worry too much... RELAX. You posted about the ability to check in at airports in cities that all get loads of English speaking passengers on a daily basis. It's not like you speak Swahili |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
Planes in Europe
"mul" wrote in message ... I just picked up all of my documents from the travel agent today. We will be doing 3 flights within Europe. One from Paris to Budapest, one from Amsterdam to Seville (with a change of plane in Madrid) and one from Seville to Barcelona. They are all e-tickets. I won't have a printer so I can't get boarding passes. Do we just go up to the check-in counter and show them the copies of the schedules the TA gave us? I'm assuming that they will not speak English. TIA, -- Janet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life English is widely spoken in the EU,most especialy in Holland,,less so in France,, But i doubt you will have any problems Even in countries where English is not widely spoken, I have never been to an airline check-in where it wasn't. tim |
#27
|
|||
|
|||
Planes in Europe
"Janet Wilder" wrote in message
... I just picked up all of my documents from the travel agent today. We will be doing 3 flights within Europe. One from Paris to Budapest, one from Amsterdam to Seville (with a change of plane in Madrid) and one from Seville to Barcelona. They are all e-tickets. I won't have a printer so I can't get boarding passes. Do we just go up to the check-in counter and show them the copies of the schedules the TA gave us? I'm assuming that they will not speak English. Janet: Let me give you some sensible advice as someone who actually lives in Europe. First, you'll have no problem communicating in English at the airports you list. Second, online checkin is available with *most* carriers, usually 24 hours before the flight. Can you tell us which airlines you are flying with on the legs you mention above, and I'll confirm it? Third, it *does* save time to check in online and it's the right reflex to have. If you are staying in the major cities you list, I'd be surprised if you have to go more than 500 yards from your hotel to find an internet cafe. 20 minutes - which is plenty of time for checkin - should be no more than $2 with maybe another $1 for the printed page (these are "worst-case" prices - any more than that is too expensive!). In Paris & Amsterdam, I would get to the airport no less than 90 minutes before your flight leaves (depending on time of day, and which airport). In the other airports, 75 minutes should be plenty. Bear in mind that when flying to Spain, you will have to provide Advance Passenger Information when you check in, so if you're doing it online, keep your passport handy - you'll need it. Finally, most full-service airlines in Europe are adapting an "online or kiosk" checkin policy for coach class travel - so if you don't check-in online, you'll have to use a machine at the airport. It's pretty straightforward - you generally just need your booking reference and the plastic you used to pay for the flight. The machine issues your boarding pass, and (sometimes) your baggage tag too; you then take your bag to a drop-off desk. There is no such thing as curbside checkin anywhere in Europe (unless someone knows different!) T |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Socialized medicine Europe:UK news media admits NHS cancer survival rate lowest in Europe and all of Europe signifigantly worse than US due to early diagnosis in US | P J O'donovan | Europe | 24 | August 27th, 2007 02:40 PM |
OT Low Planes | [email protected] | Cruises | 2 | October 5th, 2005 04:58 PM |
What can't be brought on U.S. planes? | Ablang | Air travel | 4 | January 25th, 2005 11:47 PM |
SPITTING ON PLANES | Peter Neenan | Air travel | 3 | September 22nd, 2004 03:06 PM |
Zeppelins are much better than planes | Frank F. Matthews | Air travel | 0 | January 13th, 2004 05:47 PM |