3 1/2 hours enough time from CDG to Eurostar?
 

I am due to get into CDG at 7:45am. I'm not sure that I'll need to check any luggage, I plan to travel very light (on the way there, anyway!). I haven't gone through CDG since 2002, but should I have enough time to get through customs, on the RER and to the Eurostar by 11:13? If not, I'll choose an hour later - but I'd like to get to London as soon as possible (I do plan to take the Eurostar, not fly).

Thanks!

You'll be fine, assuming, of course, that your flight into CDG is not delayed significantly. Maybe look up the on-time statistics.

Thanks for the quick reply! Where can I find the on-time flight information? Normally, I end up on flights that get in early, not just on time (when going to Europe). I figure if I was even an hour late, and then an hour through customs, I might still make it with a few minutes to spare.

should be OK - but me personally, I'd book the later train. Your flight might be late. Or it could easily park out on the tarmac and then they bus you to the terminal.

(BTW - it isn't customs you are talking about - it is immigration and how long it takes depends a lot on how many other flights land around the same time)

Thanks - I really wanted to get in earlier, but I may take that extra hour just in case (for immigration, not customs). :)

At least the hours will be longer in April/May than in September, so it won't get dark until after 9pm.

There are probably better ways to find the on-time statistics, but I look up the flight on Orbitz and see what it says. The main problem is that it doesn't give statistics like 1 hour late, 2 hours late, etc. - just on-time performance. But like Janis says, I would just book the later train. I'm a real pessimist when it comes to airports and flying times.

I'd definitely book the later train. You might land early or on time but the bus ride from the plane to terminal .if you land at 2 , can take over 30 minutes! I swear they could just drive you right into Paris Central!

Hi N,

You will probably make the 11:13.

You will definitely make the 12:13.

Why not spend an extra hour in Paris and have a relaxed transfer?

((I))

You have 3 hours since you need to check in 30 minutes in advance for eurostar. Lets say it takes you 1 hour to clear immigration and get your bags. Thats a generous amount IMHO as I often spend no more than 30 minutes. Now lets say it takes you 30 minutes to get from your terminal onto the RER. Thats 1 hour. Add 35 minutes of travel time and you have about 1 hour to play with. I think thats plenty unless you are on a flight that is very late.

When I do have to ride a bus from the airplane to the terminal it has never taken more than 15 minutes and I am counting that in the 1 hour.

"When I do have to ride a bus from the airplane to the terminal it has never taken more than 15 minutes "

Count yourself lucky then , this Nov it took 30 minutes from the time the plane landed until I reached the terminal on the bus, and I was in BC so was among the first off the plane. Only so many people are left off at a time and the others were held back until the next bus arrived. If you are in the back of coach I wouldn't count on a 15 minute wait.
Boarding the AF return flight we were 35 minutes on the bus with the doors closed. I have an apology letter from AF to prove it!

Wow yikes thats bad! 35 minutes. Absurd! I will admit that I do tend to be at the front of the plane when I land at CDG so am always on the first bus but the last time I arrived, 3 buses were there and ready to go so maybe they have gotten a bit better at it. Things got a bit crazy when terminal 2E collapsed and it took them a bit of time to get the kinks worked out.