Departing Paris, Travel Day 12.14.2021

Our Blacklane transport arrived right at 6AM as ordered, both vans. Our Luggage was waiting on the street, we had moved down to be ready, as was a weekday and traffic can be a factor when getting to the airport. A little sad to lock the access to the apartment, as we have had a fabulous time, but when its over, its over.

Our ride from city center to CDH was right at 30 minutes, luckily no traffic delays. We were let out at the international terminal for Delta/Air France. Our driver helped finding carts, we were a short ways from the 2nd van, but quickly got carts for all and headed in toward our security process. In ATL boarding, you go to a counter, present your Test results, passport & boarding pass. Here we were directed to the "Documentation for tracing attestation" which is handed to you to complete. Here our passport, negative Covid Test, Vaccine card and boarding pass were checked, luggage weighed and tagged, if more that one bag checked you were directed to a person who took your credit card to pay (that option was not available online when checking in. We had 3 additional bags, so Myself, Diana & Dawn had to visit the payment kiosk, Kay was initially sent a different route(as we split a new suitcase with our Christmas bounty), the Delta retrieved her so we could stay together. Maria had warned us that she was late to boarding due to the security process. so we were trying to stay together and get to the gate.

Although we have TSA PreCheck, they do not honor here, so through TSA screening we go, shoes off, full body scans, all electronics out, no liquids over 3 ounces. We all survived this process, although Randy was taped for a search, which took about 10 minutes. So we made it behind security. Hurrah!

After searching for restaurants in the area between terminals, only found a Starbucks, so we just headed to our Gate area. Once to the gate, we found a bistro like food option and an alcohol shop. At our gate area about 9 we grabbed snacks and then to wait!

Well there was a second screening process that agents started a good hour before we were to board our flight. There were 2 long lines formed, an agent would check your boarding pass and direct you to a line, then once in the line select passengers were directed to tables where documents and your carryon luggage checked. Thankfully we all made our way through the process without a second security bag check, as that was a very long process. We watched a mom and two small children for the whole time we were in line being questioned and bags searched.

Once boarded we settled in for our 9.5 hour flight; snacks, two hot meals, and five movies.

Christmas Waltz

Frozen

Last Christmas

Ratatouille

The Holiday

Chicken Pumpkin Cashew Pizza

Clearing customs was a breeze compared to getting to customs from our gate. At least a mile walk, then retrieving luggage and out to the Park-n-Fly Plus pickup. After we waited a good while, learned the pick up point was at domestic terminal due to staffing shortages, so we just caught a taxi to go back to the car. Was by far our scariest ride of the last 2.5 weeks. Left Paris at 11:38, landed at ATL at 4PM and back home by 6PM, about five hours of time travel with time zone changes .

What a fabulous trip!