Hi everyone, I’ve got a problem… I don’t even know if it’s a small one or a big one. Back in May, I booked our flight tickets to go to New Zealand, and I just realized I misspelled my husband’s first name: Giiles instead of Gilles… I booked through Lufthansa, and on the outbound trip, there’s a Shanghai-Auckland flight operated by Air New Zealand, and on the return, an Auckland-Hong Kong flight operated by Cathay Pacific. The rest is with Lufthansa. We’re leaving from Nantes in February-March 2026. Have any of you run into this kind of issue, and if so, how did it go? It’s really freaking me out. Lufthansa added a note in our file about the ‘i’ instead of ‘l’ mistake, and they told us it’s not a problem for them, but what about Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific…??? Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific say they can’t do anything because the ticket was booked through Lufthansa. And Lufthansa added a note to our file, but will that be enough, or are we going to get turned away in Shanghai, Hong Kong, or Auckland?? After another call to Lufthansa, they’re implying that a correction isn’t possible and the solution is to buy a new flight ticket for 2800 €. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I’m lost and don’t know what to do.

Hi, I’m traveling to New Zealand in January 2026 with Lufthansa. To check the allowed baggage dimensions, I went to my "booking" account on the Lufthansa website. And that’s when I discovered that my last layover, the Zurich-Bordeaux flight operated by Swiffairlines, was canceled. I never received an email, and even worse, it’s not even noted on my booking. So I contacted Lufthansa. They told me that for now, there are no other flights but that there will be by the time I leave. They advised me to call them every week to get a flight. What do you think of their response? Has this ever happened to you? Emilie

Hi there,

Starting November 27th, Air France will offer a new direct route between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Phuket, in the south of the Asian country. There will be 3 flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from Paris, with returns on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from Phuket. The flights will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER equipped with 472 seats

Hi there! I’m planning my trip for next year in February—5 weeks total: 3 weeks in southern Australia and 2 weeks on New Zealand’s North Island. (We’ve already explored all of New Zealand a few years ago, which is why we’re only spending 15 days on the North Island this time.)

My question is about flights. What’s the most cost-effective and economical route: France → Sydney → Auckland → France, or France → Auckland → Sydney → France? Any airline recommendations? Thanks so much!

Hi everyone,

I have a Ryanair flight scheduled for 10/14 (outbound, returning on the 16th) from Charleroi in Belgium. A strike is confirmed, and the airport will be closed on the 14th. But Ryanair is still saying the flight is confirmed. I get that they’re trying to make us change and pay extra fees rather than wait for the free compensation.

If I make a new booking, can I still claim a refund for the first one?

Thanks in advance for your help—this is the first time I’ve faced this situation.

Hi Will the new airfare tax be applied to flights departing from Geneva on the French side for Air France flights to Paris? Mich74

New direct Paris-Orlando route with Air France

Hello, some (potentially) good news for Brazil lovers—GOL airline is launching a route to Europe from Rio, starting in September for Lisbon, then Paris at a later date that hasn’t been announced yet. They’ll be using their new A330-900 neo. No prices have been announced so far, but hopefully we’ll find direct flights from GIG at a more interesting fare than AF or Latam…

Dear members, dear travelers, The whole team sends you our best wishes for this new year. We hope you’ll have unexpected roads, light backpacks, and above all, that joy of sharing that keeps our community’s heart beating. Independence comes at a cost (but it’s priceless) The year that just ended was decisive. We made a strong choice: to keep VoyageForum and MyAtlas independent. In concrete terms, this means:

Zero selling of your personal data. No invasive advertising. Content that belongs to travelers, not algorithms.

The reality of the numbers: why we need you To be completely transparent with you, running a platform like ours—covering hosting, data security, moderation, and the technical team that supports us—costs 10,000 € per month. The 2026 goal: The site in your pocket Your support will go toward a major priority you’ve often asked for: making VoyageForum and MyAtlas more mobile-friendly. We want to develop a seamless smartphone experience so you can check tips and share your stories more easily. To maintain this standard, we’ve invested a lot technically and personally. But today, to keep the adventure going in 2026 without compromise, we need you. How can you help? (The price of a coffee every two months) The most direct way to support us is to subscribe to the MyAtlas membership for 19 € per year. To do this, you’ll first need to create a MyAtlas account before subscribing. This isn’t just a subscription to a travel journal tool—it’s an act of support to keep VoyageForum’s infrastructure online, secure, and thriving. Today, we’re a community of 100,000 active members. If just 10% of you choose to support us through the MyAtlas membership, VoyageForum’s future isn’t just secure—we’ll finally be able to invest in what you’ve been missing most. Let’s co-build 2026 Beyond the financial aspect, we want 2026 to be the year of dialogue.

What features are you waiting for? What are your concerns or desires for the forum? Are you a pro (tech, tourism, content) and want to lend a hand?

Write to us at service@myatlas.com—we read everything. VoyageForum has existed by and for you for years. Thank you for being its pillars. Wishing you all wonderful end-of-year celebrations, The VoyageForum & MyAtlas Team

Photo credit: Yonhap - Santa Clauses on Mount Bukhansan, Seoul

Hi there! Has anyone taken the direct flight from CDG to Las Vegas with Air France? Looking forward to your feedback!

Emirates just put out a statement, and for those of us struggling, it’s total nonsense. No concrete dates because they’re clueless, all dependent on military strikes. Don’t get your hopes up.

Good news for passengers stranded in the Gulf, though. Emirates expects its network to return to normal in the coming days. However, the resumption of commercial flights is still subject to airspace availability and meeting all operational conditions, Emirates said in a statement. The airline added that it transported around 30,000 passengers from Dubai on Thursday. By March 7, Emirates will operate 106 daily return flights to 83 destinations, covering nearly 60% of its network. The Dubai-based national airline was forced to cancel thousands of flights following Iran’s retaliatory strikes, which led the UAE to close its airspace and caused minor structural damage to its Dubai hub.

Hi, I made a flight reservation on Booking, but my reservation hasn't been confirmed and is still pending confirmation by the airline. It's been almost a full day now, and I haven't heard anything—I'm waiting for I don't even know what response... Will my reservation be canceled? In the meantime, I can't book another flight in case I end up paying twice... Has this ever happened to anyone? What should I do?

Hi there, I’ve flown with all three, and they’re all great. Nowadays, for the same flight, the layover duration can vary depending on the airline. Have a great trip! Bernard

Hi there,

I can't seem to find flights between the Cape Verde islands on the airline's website. No matter the date or route, I always get the same response: "no flights on this date." See the photo. Would anyone have an explanation? Surely not all flights are fully booked in July?

Best, Thierry

Hi there,

Since I’m not familiar with Australian airlines, I’d appreciate some advice.

I need to book a domestic flight from Adelaide to Sydney quickly, and I see Jetstar, Virgin, and Qantas as options. On paper, Qantas’s schedule and price are less appealing.

Which of the three is the most reliable (fewer flight cancellations, since this is the last flight of the day) and easiest to book on their website?

Thanks!

Hi, On October 30, 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued its ruling in case C-558/24 Corendon.

When an airline issues a ticket (or booking confirmation) and later issues a new ticket delaying the arrival time at the final destination, the delay of "3 hours or more"—which entitles passengers to compensation of 250, 400, or 600 euros (depending on the distance) per paying passenger—must be calculated based on the arrival time stated in the initial booking.

In the case examined, the airline had issued a new booking confirmation that delayed the flight. The passenger arrived less than 3 hours late compared to the arrival time in the new confirmation but was more than 3 hours late compared to the original booking confirmation.

This puts an end to interpretations that the previous texts allowed.

The ruling states:

"Article 5(1)(c) and Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 [...] must be interpreted as meaning that: in the event of a change to the departure and arrival times of a flight, announced in advance by an air carrier and accompanied by the issuance of a new booking confirmation to the passengers concerned, the duration of the delay suffered by those passengers upon arrival must be determined by taking into consideration the initially scheduled arrival time."

Full ruling here:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:62024CJ0558

Best regards

Travel is, above all, a story of encounters. Those that inspire us, guide us, and make us dream. That’s why we’re happy to announce a partnership between Petit Futé and VoyageForum, two worlds that share the same passion: travel experienced and recounted by those who truly set off.

In practical terms, you can now find VoyageForum directly on PetitFuté.com, through:

Over 190 destinations linked to the forum: on each “Discover the destination” page, a “Travelers’ Forum” tab lets you access discussions, tips, and testimonials from travelers just like you.

A link to the forum in the “Community” menu under “Discover the forum”, where you can chat, ask questions, or simply dream about your next getaway.

This partnership marks a new step in giving travelers even more of a voice. A way to connect practical information and lived experience, to share insights so everyone can plan their trips by relying on what’s most valuable: exchanges between enthusiasts.

Thanks to all of you who keep this wonderful community alive, day after day. Because travel is even more beautiful when it’s shared

The end of a golden age For years, travel forums embodied the spirit of mutual aid on the web. Travelers generously shared their experiences, tips, and secret spots. This collective generosity seemed endless. But behind this altruistic facade lay a more complex reality.

The silent infiltration of forums Free travel forums have gradually become marketing hunting grounds. Under the guise of "experienced travelers," professionals in tourism, affiliates seeking commissions, or aspiring influencers testing monetization strategies now lurk.

These fake profiles master the community’s codes. They build credibility by answering dozens of basic questions before subtly slipping in their paid recommendations. A "favorite" hotel mentioned insistently, an "essential" guidebook systematically cited, an "extraordinary" local agency that keeps coming up in conversations.

New travelers can no longer tell the difference between selfless advice and disguised promotion. This informational pollution has gradually eroded the trust that gave these platforms their value.

The rise of paid Travel Planners Faced with this decline, a new profession has emerged: the independent Travel Planner. These professionals fully embrace their commercial status and charge for personalized advice.

The model is transparent: you pay for real expertise, tailor-made itineraries, and guaranteed availability. Some offer packages for 150-300 € to plan a two-week trip entirely. Others charge by the hour.

This professionalization marks a turning point. Travel advice is leaving the realm of volunteerism and entering the world of paid services. Paradoxically, this acknowledged monetization can restore a form of trust: you know what you’re paying for.

The irruption of artificial intelligence But now, a third option is emerging: generative AI. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others can now generate travel itineraries in seconds, for free, with no commercial agenda.

AI promises neutral, synthetic, endlessly customizable information. It compiles thousands of sources in real time, suggests alternatives, and adapts recommendations to your budget and time constraints. It doesn’t sell anything, earns no commissions, and has no hotels to promote.

But this apparent neutrality hides its own limitations. AI feeds on existing data, often from the same polluted forums or marketing content. It can invent restaurants that don’t exist, mix up tourist seasons, or ignore recent local realities. It has never walked a city’s streets, negotiated with a tuk-tuk driver, or felt the atmosphere of a neighborhood at nightfall.

The forgotten alternative: authentic local experts In this landscape saturated with dubious information, imperfect AI, and monetized services, one often-overlooked option remains: consulting real local professionals.

Not the agencies at the top of Google’s first page—often the most expensive and generic. But small local businesses, independent guides established for years, still-free municipal tourism offices, and cultural associations organizing themed tours.

These players offer what neither AI nor forums can: embodied, up-to-date, contextualized knowledge of the area. They know the newly opened restaurant, the museum temporarily closed for renovations, the impromptu weekend festival, or the alternative route to avoid construction.

Finding them takes extra effort. You have to search in the local language, look beyond the first page of results, check regional institutional websites, and join community Facebook groups. But this approach is often rewarded with free or low-cost advice of unmatched precision.

Toward an ecology of travel advice The future of travel advice likely won’t be binary but hybrid. AI can rough out itineraries, propose logistical options, and compare alternatives. Travel Planners can refine, personalize, and reassure anxious travelers. Local experts can enrich, correct, and ground advice in on-the-ground reality.

But for this ecosystem to work, we’ll need to develop new discernment. Learn to spot fake profiles on forums. Systematically verify AI suggestions. Assess the real value of a Travel Planner before paying. And, above all, rediscover the habit of contacting those who live there directly.

Travel has always been a school of discernment. It teaches us to distinguish the authentic from the fake, sincere advice from commercial manipulation. In the digital age, this skill becomes more crucial than ever.

Because ultimately, the real question isn’t which information source to prioritize, but how to cultivate our own ability to evaluate, cross-check, and ultimately make informed choices. The best travel guide may still be our critical thinking.

Photo credit: Arakis Travel

Hey everyone, We bought a ticket a month ago on Trip. It was supposed to be a flight leaving at 2:30 AM to arrive in Kuwait at 4:30 AM to catch a connecting flight with the same airline (Kuwait Airways) at 8:30 AM the same day, arriving in Paris at 12:45 PM. But Trip just informed us that KA "modified" the first flight to depart at 1:20 PM, which means we’ll miss the second leg of the journey. No alternative offered for that portion. After checking, the only solution is to take the flight the next day—so more than 17 hours of layover. We have to go back to work the next day, even though we’d planned a rest day. Trip’s only options are to cancel or accept the change!!! We asked them to propose an alternative flight, but their response was to contact the airline. We did, and their answer? Wait a bit longer for the final schedule!!! From my research, this counts as a cancellation or at least a delay of over 3 hours, so the airline is obligated to find us an alternative flight and compensate us. Has anyone had this experience with this airline or another? Any advice? Thanks in advance

Dear VoyageForum community members,

We’re thrilled to share an exclusive offer from our partner Subocea for August: 80 € per person per day to board a private luxury boat in Egypt with friends, family, or colleagues!

The offer includes everything on-site (accommodation, meals, activities, etc.), except for the flight. Onboard, snorkel with turtles!

A unique opportunity to experience an unforgettable adventure in an exceptional setting while meeting other community members.

Hurry: only 26 spots available! 😉 Departure is imminent—a great chance to escape and reconnect. If you’ve been looking for a reason to pack your bags, here it is!

Interested? Contact us quickly to book or get more info!

Hi there, we’re looking at a flight from Montreal to Zurich, then Zurich to Brussels (final destination). There are two couples and two kids in our group, and the layover is listed as 50 minutes. I wanted to check if this is doable before booking...

Hi Voyage Forum members,

My wife and I took American Airlines flight no. 63 on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 9:30 AM, with a scheduled arrival in Miami at 1:30 PM local time.

After about half an hour of flight, a young passenger had a medical emergency. They were given care, and a flight attendant went to get an oxygen bottle. Then, an announcement over the loudspeakers informed passengers that the plane was diverting to London.

Once at London Heathrow (LHR), we were waiting to depart again. But a new announcement asked us to disembark because the plane wouldn’t be able to take off until the next day. (American responded to my follow-up, saying they’re required to limit their staff’s working hours to a certain number per day.)

A crowd of travelers gathered at the American Airlines counter, where they were told to follow instructions to get to a hotel. Meanwhile, I called the airline’s customer service to find a replacement flight that same day, since I couldn’t afford to leave the next day. If I had, I would’ve lost my hotel and car rental reservations due to late cancellation, which would’ve cost me a significant amount.

After discussing in English with customer service and the counter staff (who I handed my phone to), we managed to get two seats on British Airways flight BA 0209, which was leaving about 2 hours later.

That’s how, after a stressful wait unsure if we’d get our luggage back, and once we did, we hurried—heavily loaded—to reach the far-off terminal for our new boarding on foot and by train shuttle.

We finally took off for Miami and landed around 7:30 PM, which was 6 hours later than the originally scheduled arrival time of American Airlines flight 63.

On top of the stress, there were the costs of meals in the meantime, and I had to notify the hotel and car rental company about our delay.

As a result, I requested compensation for a flight delay of at least 3 hours (and I’ve involved my insurance’s legal protection to pursue this claim). American Airlines argued that exceptional circumstances prevented them from compensating me.

What do you think? Is my request unreasonable?

Space tourism took major strides in 2024, with the market experiencing strong growth, projected to reach $1,526.9 million USD by the end of the year.

Key highlights included the first private lunar landing with Intuitive Machines' Odysseus mission, SpaceX's record of three launches in a single day, and the first spacewalk by a tourist during the Polaris Dawn mission.

Virgin Galactic continued its suborbital flights before pausing operations to prepare its next-generation spacecraft. China made history with the return of lunar samples via Chang’e 6, while Europe launched Ariane 6 and Vega C.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House is expected to accelerate space tourism development, with an ambitious goal: sending humans to Mars before the end of his term.

Projections for 2033 forecast massive sector expansion, with the market estimated to exceed $40 billion USD. Read more...

Can you see the Statue of Liberty when landing in New York?

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen to the public on December 8th after five years of intensive restoration. The announcement has already sparked significant interest among both international tourists and French visitors.

Before the tragic fire on April 15, 2019—which deeply moved people and mobilized numerous patrons—Notre-Dame was one of Paris’s most iconic sites. With 12 million annual visitors, according to data from the Parisian Tourism Economic Observatory, it was the capital’s most popular cultural attraction, even outranking prestigious landmarks like the Louvre Museum.

The reopening of this Gothic masterpiece could mark a new chapter in Paris’s tourist appeal. Read more...

Hi there, I’m flying from Marseille to Bali this year and have a 1h30 layover in Frankfurt, from Terminal 1 to Terminal 1. Do you think that’s enough time, considering I don’t know the airport or the language? Thanks. »

Hi there,

When I run searches on Skyscanner, I see that only Lufthansa has flights to Seoul with just one stop. Air France doesn’t show up, even though I thought the French airline served Seoul? I can’t even log into the Air France website—it keeps glitching.

we have flights with Swiss and Lufthansa for January; our flights are still in our booking file. But after reading that the Cambodian ambassador in Paris advised against transiting through Bangkok (which is our case), I reached out to the airlines to potentially change our ticket via Singapore. However, both companies have canceled all flights to Cambodia, regardless of the day or airport. We’ll have our contact on the ground call us on Monday to figure out what to do, especially since no insurance covers war, conflict, etc. If anyone else is in the same situation with an upcoming departure, we can exchange tips

Hi there, I just booked a round-trip flight from Brussels to Da Nang on eDreams, with a layover in Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific. Does anyone know the check-in procedure for these flights? 1) For flight CX294 BXL-HKG, I’ll need to check in on the Cathay Pacific website, 2) For the next flight CX5552 HKG-DAD, what should I do? I only have a 2h25 layover. Will I need to collect my luggage, go through immigration, and then recheck in at the airport counter, etc.? I’m pretty worried about this layover—I thought check-in could be done on the airline’s website and that my luggage would be transferred automatically during the layover, like with most other airlines... Thanks so much for any help from those who’ve been in this situation!

On February 19, 2025, we traveled on Cathay Pacific flight CX702, which was supposed to take us from Bangkok to Paris Charles de Gaulle, with a transfer via their Hong Kong hub.

The departure from Bangkok was scheduled for 7:15 PM, with an arrival in Hong Kong at 11:05 PM local time.

The layover was supposed to last 1 hour and 10 minutes, and we were due to take off for Paris on flight CX261 at 12:15 AM, with a scheduled arrival at CDG at 7:35 AM local time.

From Bangkok, flight CX702 took off over an hour late. The scraps of information provided didn’t give us any real idea of the reason for the delay or whether we’d make our connection in Hong Kong on flight CX261.

Then, on the plane, the CX702 crew couldn’t tell us anything about the connection or confirm that our luggage would be transferred to Paris (we were pretty worried, as our bags contained research materials and results).

Upon arrival in Hong Kong, we were immediately told—without any explanation—that we wouldn’t be taking flight CX261!

The staff then rushed us through the airport corridors, past Chinese police checks, after handing us two non-regulation flight tickets for CX289 to Frankfurt instead of Paris.

These tickets were scribbled in ballpoint pen, with a departure time that had already passed and no gate information.

The plane took off on February 20, 2025, well after the scheduled 12:15 AM departure. We landed in Frankfurt around 7:00 AM local time.

From there, after going through additional security checks and completely exhausted from the journey, we had to walk through Frankfurt Airport’s endless corridors—only to find out we’d been dropped off at the opposite end from the gate for flights to CDG.

Not to mention, when we reached gate A01, we were told we had to backtrack to gate A24. And as if that wasn’t enough after 15 hours of travel, the gate changed again without any announcement or email.

You’d think Cathay Pacific’s management would know how long these walks are...

In the end, we arrived at Paris CDG at 1:30 PM—six hours later than scheduled, with an extra layover in Frankfurt.

Discussion: Cathay Pacific informed us via email on February 19—while we were already in the air—that our connection had been canceled for "commercial and operational reasons."

Yet, the plane for flight CX289 was full of passengers, so there was no reason the original flight CX261 couldn’t have been delayed. We concluded we were victims of overbooking—without being told!

Especially since the rerouting to Frankfurt seemed well-rehearsed...

Regarding the overbooking, our tickets were flexible, and we paid an extra 220 € for that.

We should *never* have been overbooked!!!

I also want to let other travelers know that Cathay Pacific initially told us via email that our delayed arrival in Paris would be at 10:30 AM instead of 7:35 AM.

We immediately arranged for colleagues in Paris to pick us up at that time.

Except the arrival time was changed *again* to 1:30 PM. And by then, we couldn’t get home before the evening of February 21, with all the extra costs that entailed.

Back in Frankfurt, we were stuck waiting from 7:00 AM to 12:15 PM on some of the most uncomfortable seats, with no refreshments, snacks, or assistance—right in the middle of the constant flow of travelers heading for short- and medium-haul flights. The least they could’ve done was let us into the international lounge, which would’ve been far more suitable for exhausted, freezing travelers. Right?

On this point, European law states that if an airline fails in its obligations, passengers can claim full compensation for material and moral damages without a cap. Moral damages can also be compensated (CJEU, October 13, 2011, case C-83/10).

And whether Cathay Pacific’s management likes it or not, commercial or technical issues causing flight cancellations or delays *do not* count as "extraordinary circumstances" that would exempt the airline from liability (CJEU ruling, November 19, 2009).

Most importantly, due to the over 6-hour delay and the distance between the departure airport and CDG, we should have been compensated at least 600 € per passenger under European law (Article 7 of Regulation (EC) 261/2004).

But that’s not possible because Cathay Pacific refuses to comply with European legislation guaranteeing compensation for travelers affected by such delays.

To bypass passenger rights, Cathay Pacific evades responsibility by claiming that, as a Chinese company headquartered in Hong Kong, it isn’t bound by European laws.

Yet that doesn’t stop them from enjoying commercial advantages by operating a French subsidiary for passenger transport, registered in the trade register and based in Neuilly-sur-Seine.

So it *is* subject to European law!!!

Air travelers are thus victims of Cathay Pacific’s strategies to circumvent European law...

In our case, we had to endure the cancellation of our access to flight CX261, an imposed layover in Frankfurt, no minimal assistance during the 5-hour wait in Germany, a delay of over 6 hours upon arrival, and the costs of an extra day to get home.

And as if that weren’t enough, we also suffered moral and financial damages due to the airline’s blatant disregard for its customers!

The fact is, Cathay Pacific and its executives subjected us to these damages because of an overbooking policy hidden from customers. We weren’t informed of our rights, the reasons for the delay or rerouting, or given any assistance during the imposed layover. We weren’t even refunded the extra we paid for flexible tickets—what was the point of that when overbooking was clearly planned?

And on top of it all, they excluded us from European law, which would’ve allowed us to be compensated 600 € each for the delay—totaling 1,200 €.

We wrote three times by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt to Cathay Pacific’s Group CEO, the France Regional Director, and the head of the French-registered subsidiary.

No response—except an email refusing to comply with European legislation!

Given this policy of circumventing European law and passenger protections, Cathay Pacific’s online and in-agency flight offers *must* clearly inform customers that in case of delays, cancellations, or rerouting, they won’t be compensated by the Chinese airline!!!