[DrJim]

Imagine booking a great table at a restaurant and looking forward to a perfect evening. Instead, you show up to find your table was given to someone else, you are shoved into the family section with 5 year olds running around and crying, the waiter does not get your drink order right three times, and when you finish your entree the waiter plops your dessert on top of your dirty dishes rather than removing them. This happened to my wife and me on our recent Air France trip.

We booked row 3 seats months in advance, validated them that morning, and again received the paper ticket at the airport. We were among the first people in line to board the plane. Our tickets had been changed to row 12 - while still business class, we now shared the small section with three families with 8 children, most under the age of 6. Crying and mayhem ensued - we were in a playground. The attendants could not get our drink orders right - I had to go to the galley and pour myself (yes, I know that is obnoxious, but I was not in a congenial mood). Lunch was eventually served - it was reasonably good. The highlight came when the attendant brought out the dessert and, rather than clear my dirty dishes, just plopped the dessert on top.

In case you are wondering, I have several million miles on American and a million miles on Delta - an experienced international traveler. And I speak both English and French, so no language barrier.

Between having my decent seats taken away (yes, I checked, there were people in them) and being shoved into a playground, along with the poor service, this was the worst airline experience I have had in 30 years of international travel.

It has been several days since I filed a formal complaint, the only thing I have heard from Air France is that they are behind in responding to complaints. It is no wonder.