France Trip Day 9: End of Trip

Friday, June 16 (-Saturday, June 17): CDG > SFO > SMF

Since our flight didn't depart from Paris until early afternoon, we were able to have a leisurely breakfast in our apartment, finishing up the fruit, bread, and cheese that we had purchased and enjoying the coffee capsules that were provided with our rental. Then we headed off on foot to Les Halles station to catch the RER B to Charles de Gaulle airport. 

We still had two bottles of wine purchased during our time in Bordeaux, and Mr. E was able to carefully pack them in his hard-sided roller-board so we decided to check both of our usual carry-on bags for the journey home. The ride on the RER was a bit toasty due to minimal air conditioning, and we were both quite pleased to have some time in the airport lounge to cool down before heading to our gate. 

I was in Polaris Business Class again, and we had thought up until yesterday that Mr. E would get his upgrade, but within the final 24 hours before the flight, all of the available Polaris seats were taken. Darn! He was OK with Economy Plus, but I was very glad to have the lie-flat seat as I ended up sleeping for most of the 11-hour flight back to the US.

We were again delayed (with no real reason and minimal communication or updates -- arrgh) but had a longer layover in SFO so didn't have to worry about making our connection. Thanks to the mobile CBP app, we breezed through customs and passport verification, re-checked our bags to SMF, and headed to the United lounge to wait for our flight home. Although we boarded on time, there were more delays as we waited to take off, so we arrived about 20 minutes late, just past midnight.

Mr. E had arranged in advance for a taxi pick-up so that we wouldn't have to wait for a ride share. Luckily, our bags didn't take too long to come out on the belt, so we were home and in bed around 1am. The kitties were very vocal and assertive in their need for affection!

And the two bottles of wine survived the voyage just fine...