Airlines & Airport

I'm going to London and then Paris. So I was wondering can I just do the VAT refund when I just arrive at the Paris airport (CDG)?

B/c I know I'm just going to spent the most of in London and Paris its just going to be food/ cheap souvenirs. Also, for the reason that I did not account for how much time the VAT refund line may take and I already booked when my hotel car will pick me up to depart back home. Including, all the websites I checked they keep telling me that I should go do my VAT refund before I leave Europe.Therefore, it would to appreciated if I got an answer.

Can planes land in water?

Today I was in a commercial airline and I saw this medium sized red airplane, that looked like a commercial plane but it was all red and had a wing on the bottom about the same size as the wings on the sides, and it landed into Lake Michigan somewhat close to the shore. The plane didn't have any floatation things or anything. It looked like it crashed. I couldn t see if it began to sink because it stopped when it hit the ice (the lake is frozen). What could it be? Did it crash? Or what it supposed to land in the water?

How can I find a good deal to travel to these places?

So i'm planning a trip to either DC or New York City for the summer. I want to stay there two days. I want just travel for fun. I have been looking at the airlines official webpage. I noticed that it seems better if I get a package that includes the roundtrip flight and hotel. How much is too much for either places? Package deals for DC goes up to $1000 and the same for New York.

Do I need a visa when traveling to Beijing?

I have an 11 hour layover in Beijing while traveling to southeast Asia and I was wondering if I needed a visa in order to just leave the airport for a few hours to get some food/walk around a bit. Any info would be helpful!

If companies stopped making supersonic planes like the concorde because it was too noisy expensive why are they bringing them back?

Companies like nasa lockheed martin are working on supersonic air travel

And colorado company boom is developing a 55 seater plane

So if companies are working on supersonic travel does that mean airlines will have to cancel their boeing 787 dreamliner or airbus A350 orders or any widebody orders due to supersonic travel

What's the deal with airline peanuts?

And what's the deal with Charles Schulz's Peanuts?

Open cigarette's in carry on luggage?

I'm pretty sure cigarette's are fine in carry on but that accounts for an open pack as well, right? Obviously, am not bringing a lighter.

Secondary issue; I'm 18 and bought these cigarette's in Washington where it's legal, however I'm flying to California, where the tobacco age is 21. Is this going to be an issue at the airport? I don't know how they would know how old I'm based on my luggage so, just wondering.