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Taken February 2005 from Paris (Charles de Gaulle) - CDG to Cairo (Cairo International Airport) - CAI

First the bad point - CDG airport, terminal 2E. From arrival at the airport to reaching the gate took 40 minutes due to lengthy queues at check in and security. This terminal is currently working at reduced capacity. I dread to think what it will be like when the terminal is fully used. At the gate there were separate lines for different classes. Why, I don't really understand since all the passengers were compacted into the same bus afterwards.

Things improved immediately on boarding the aircraft. The crew were extremely professional and attentive throughout the flight (as has always been my experience with AF - am I just lucky? - but particularly so on the outward leg). Meal very good. On arrival I was out of the airport in 10 minutes.

The return flight, although quite satisfactory had a less attentive crew and an almost silent captain (apparently he was being inspected). Strange breakfast menu of smoked duck and smoked salmon on the same plate.

Same chaos on arrival at CDG. Plane parked at 2E, but were bussed to 2F where the arrival passageways were blocked by about 150 passengers in transit sitting on the floor. Does CDG have any competent management? I hope privatisation will help sort out this disgraceful messy airport. I wanted to take the Roissybus to go to Paris, but inadequate signage meant it took nearly 1/2 hour to find the stop.