Travel to France advice

I've always found that by the time you've factored in travel time to the airport, checking in, then clearing security, boarding, actual flying, then waiting for the bags at the other end that flying takes the same sort of time as the train to somewhere like Lyon

It depends. I go to Geneva a couple of times a month, and it's lots quicker to fly from City than take the train. Which is a shame, because I'd rather the Eurostar.