JIM123

We land at CDG, with luck, at 9:50 AM on a Friday. With Customs and baggage pick up, how much time would be safe to get to the TGV station? Would the 11:50AM to Avignon be a reasonable risk?

kerouac

You need to say from where you are arriving, since immigration and plane size play a major role in timings.

JIM123

Coming Air Canada from Toronto

kerouac

"Reasonable" risk depends on whether you are getting a non-exchangeable ticket. Most flights from YYZ arrive about 30 minutes early, but the other variables are all of the other flights arriving -- if there is an immigration jam, you can be stuck for an hour or more. Then again, this means that your baggage will just be going around in circles on the belt by then, and customs is almost always just a walk-through. Getting to the TGV station is 15 minutes tops.

If you are feeling confident (or have an exchangeable ticket), go for it. If it were me, I might choose a later time and/or use the Air France coach to Gare de Lyon to give me even more flexibility for Avignon trains.

Sarastro

There is no way to know with certitude when your flight will arrive, early or late. There is no way to know how long the lines at Immigration will be, how long you will wait for luggage, or how long the lines will be at the SNCF service window if you do not have your tickets in hand upon arrival.

At a minimum, I would allow 3 hours scheduled ground time between planned aircraft arrival and train departure.

JIM123

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

The next available train is at 13:58

I may just change my outbound flight to the Montreal flight which arrives at 08:30

Thanks again for your thoughts.

kerouac

That would be wise.

Michel_Paris

I arrived at Terminal 2E at ~9.30 and was at TGV before 11, walking, stopped a couple of times. Had carry on luggage.

StCirq

Even when I arrive at aérogare 2, the same one the TGVs leave from, I allow 3 hours. I usually have at least an hour or so to hang around before the train leaves, but better safe than sorry, as I'm usually holding nonrefundable train tickets.

Judy

We usually try to buy Prem tickets, which are non-refundable, and always plan for 3 hours between landing and train departure. I would much rather sit a drink coffee for an hour or so than stress over running to catch a train.

djkbooks

Ditto what Judy said.

However, I prefer to opt for a later departure from North America as it's easier to sleep later than earlier and I swear kids and babies sleep better on later departures.