Kagetora

Hey all.

I am going to be flying from Montana to Cairo (Egypt) next February, and I basically have two choices for my flight (which will start on Sunday, Jan 31 and arrive on Monday, February 1st):

1) Stop first in Minneapolis, have 49 minutes to make my connecting flight to Paris (CDG airport), where there is a 5-ish hour layover until continuing on to Cairo.

2) Stop first in Salt Lake City, with a 2.5 hour layover, then fly to Paris, with another 2.5 hour layover, before continuing to Cairo.

My concern is the layover in Paris...I have read horror stories about CDG airport and not having enough time to make connecting flights. I'd love to have the 5 hours there (grab some food, have plenty of time), but I am worried about the 49-minute connection in Minneapolis. I've only been in that airport once, and it's a lot bigger than Salt Lake if I recall...trying to make a connection to an international flight, I am wondering if I will have enough time there. So, I guess the question is this:

Will 2.5 hours be enough time in CDG airport in Paris to make my connection to Cairo, or should I chance the 49-minute connection in Minneapolis to give myself more time in France?

My first choice is the leisurely 2.5 hour layovers in both places, but since the departure and arrival times for the flight are essentially the same (one flight leaves Montana a half-hour earlier, but that's meaningless). I don't want to end up being late for a connection though, for obvious reasons.

Any suggestions as to which to pick?

As a follow up question, will I be required to go through customs/security in France, or is it not considered a "point of entry" since I am just catching a connecting flight to another country? I know when I came back from Mexico last month, I ended up in Huston before coming back to Montana, and I had to go through customs and then back through security before my connecting flight home. Hopefully I don't have to do that in Paris? I know I will in the way back...the return flight has a 23-hour layover in Paris, so I am going to get a hotel and stay the night. But that will be fun, not a chore. At least, I hope. =)

Thanks for any advice you can give...

suze

I would NEVER start a big trip with only a 49 minute layover before I even made it out of the US!

Kagetora

Kind of what I was thinking too, but, like I said, I have read horror stories about Paris connections. LOL. On another board, I got some advice to take the flight out of SLC, as they mentioned 2.5 hours in CDG should be plenty. Anyone else agree with that?

suze

I hope other people who are familiar with your particular airports chime in soon.

But for me personally, I'd be OK with a 2.5 connection pretty much anywhere, and not OK with 49 mins. pretty much anywhere.

If you are seriously considering trying the 49 mins. one, I would definitely research what are your options if you don't make it (before deciding).

janisj

I would never EVER count on flights Montana through Minneapolis w/ a short connection . . . in <B>January</B>(!)

2.5 hours at CDG would be by far the better option. OR -- fly out the day before and have a day to enjoy Paris (or in Minneapolis )

sassy27

I've connected before in Paris. I don't remember how long I had but it wasn't long and made my flights. I could have been lucky but I'd rather take the 2.5 & 2.5 layovers than .49 & 5 but then again, I've not been to Minneapolis to know if 49 mins is easy or not.

You will get your passport stamped in CDG and as long as all flights are in the same reservation, I would think what the airlines offer in connections should be fine.

janisj

I don't see much of a problem at the CDG end. I see weather issues at the Minneapolis end . . .

Sassafrass

With 49 minutes, what if your first flight from Montana is delayed by even 15-20 minutes? You would not make the flight to Paris. Hope this is all one ticket so if there are any problems, they will take care of you.

As someone suggested, it is especially worrisome in Jan/Feb. Any way you could possibly go a day earlier to Paris?

DebitNM

NO way would I ever take trip #1. You have 2 issues to start right up front - departing from Montana on time [weather delays] and making the flight connection is Minneapolis.

Is the flight from MSP non-stop to CDG?? I only see one flight on Delta/Air France that is non-stop. That would figure into this plan.

I cannot fly to Europe from where I live; I always have to take a positioning flight first. I always fly to a coast [usually east, but sometimes west] a day early, no matter what time of year. There is no way I want to risk my trans Atlantic flight by having arrival issues on the coast. I spend the night and am not stressed on the day of the TA flight.

Patty

I'm assuming this is Delta/Air France. 2.5 hours at CDG is plenty of time to make this connection under normal conditions. You'll need to clear security but you will NOT be going through passport control as this is an international to international connection within 2E. 2E is quite large and consists of 3 parts so you may need to take a very quick train but that's a matter of minutes.