I can maybe agree with you on Beauvais-Tillé but when I landed in CDG, a major international airport and asked a police officer directions to the nearby Hilton she answered very rudely in English "I don't speak English!" and walked away.
Another incident, this time at Hilton CDG, when the staff at breakfast couldn't understand any English at all so my strong latte order was translated to hot chocolate!
There is a valid reason why so many tourists complain about the French attitude to those who can't speak their language, especially when it happens at international airports or big (American) chain hotels.
I am at a loss to understand why anyone expects French people to speak English.
Have you ever tried asking for directions in French at any Australian airport?
Have you ever tried ordering breakfast in French in any big chain hotel in Australia?
Parisians are also at a loss to understand why tourists - especially Americans - assume they speak English.
I have seen so many Americans walk up to Parisians and start speaking English, expecting the Parisians to understand them.
And then they wonder why the Parisians are rude in response!
Often - though not always - simply making the effort to ask "Parlez-vous Anglais?" is all it takes to elicit a more friendly reaction.
Assuming someone in another country - where they speak their own very respectable language with a rich history - can speak English is extremely arrogant.
Yes CDG is a major international airport but English is not the only international language.
Incidentally I had the opposite problem during a recent stay at the Hilton Paris Opéra - staff who wanted to speak English!
When I am in France I try to NEVER speak English because it interferes with my capacity to speak French.
Also I am not sure it is the responsibility of police officers to give tourists directions, or that Australian police would always be willing to play tour guide, even if you asked them in English.
I can't imagine we have many police officers who could give you directions in French!
Although there could be a few in Sydney's inner east where there is a sizeable francophone community.