24 hour layover in Paris (CDG)
 

Hello,

I am travelling from India to US on a valid US visa via Paris and my travel agent inadvertently booked a flight with a 24 hour layover at CDG. It cant be changed now. I do not have a Schengen visa. What are my options for sleeping? (I am a budget traveller).

Thank you for your inputs...

1. Do not book through a travel agent.

2. Get on the phone to the French consulate. You won't get past passport control so they will probably send you back to India on the next plane.

3. Your travel agent needs to change this ticket at his/her own expense.

Gosh - what a mess but I wouldn't let the travel agent make me pay for their mistake. I am with adrienne.

What airline(s)?

Air France

travel agent inadvertently

Really? REally? Tell said agent to get on a stick and change it.

Adrienne - point no.2 is scary!

ok, repeated calls to Air France have representatives telling me that my only option is to remain in the terminal for 24 hours. My check-in baggage will be booked all the way till NY and I will not have access to it. The call center guys for Air France are not sure of hotels.

There are no seats in any flights on that or adjacent days, so I will have to take this.

I see that there is a Sheraton Hotel in CDG. Can I have access to that?

We are not equipped to answer your questions. Work with the French consulate and Air France to learn your options. I find it quite curious that there are no seats on flights from India to the US on that day or adjacent days.

Mamcalice - thanks... by no seats I mean no seats for economy with Air France. Business class is available, but then...

You can't rely on call center people as they may not have accurate information. You have concerns other than sleeping such as eating and health facilities. I don't think airport security will allow you to linger in the terminal for 24 hours.

The only option is if there is an airside hotel you can stay in without going through passport control. You won't have total access to the airport as you don't have a visa for France.

You should have been on the phone to the consulate immediately and not wasting time wondering and asking questions of a travel board. You only need a 24 hour transit visa if that is available.

You can sleep in 2E. You won't be the only one. You can't access the Sheraton as you would have to go through passport control. There are no airside hotels at CDG.

Here's an account from someone who stayed overnight in 2E http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1310042

There are more here http://www.sleepinginairports.net/europe/paris.htm

<<I see that there is a Sheraton Hotel in CDG. Can I have access to that?>>

Nope. As Patty said, you need to clear customs for that. There are various "rest areas" in the K gates. See http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/S.../CDG/T2E/T2E_D

Let's hope the OP comes into 2E.

Air France non-Schengen flights arrive and depart from 2E.

I would think you would have access to an Air France Lounge, wouldn't you? (at least they have one in the terminal). That would be very nice, it has showers at least and maybe a lounge-type chair (although that may only be in the Premiere Lounge). Normally you wouldn't be allowed in there without a first/business class or at least economy plus ticket, though, and it costs some, see if your dumb travel agent can work something out on that with Air France. If they had all info on you at booking re nationality and visas, they should have caught that, also, so maybe you can get permission to use it.


http://www.airfrance.us/US/en/common..._airfrance.htm

here's a photo of one in 2E, looks like only armchairs, but it would be more comfortable than being out in the regular area.
http://www.thewholeworldisaplaygroun...aulle-airport/

Even if you can get access to the AF lounge w/ just a coach ticket -- it is only open til 11:30PM so you'll still be sleeping in the airport.

You need your travel agent to fix this mess. There must be something -- like the TA should book a business class seat for you. At least give it a try.

Oh -- and there is an <i>outside</i> chance they won't even let you on the plane in India w/o a schengen visa. You'll probably be OK because you've been communicating w/ AF. But on the day they might deny you boarding since you are eligible to visit France.

I'd get anything they've told you in writing.

I believe the fact that the OP has a valid US visa makes him/her exempt from having to obtain an airport transit visa (which would normally be required of Indian nationals even if only staying in international transit at CDG) http://www.consulfrance-washington.o...php?article383

oops -- meant to say >>are<B>n't</B> eligible<<

Patty's post seems to answer that though . . .