I posted this on another thread, but I don't think it will be seen there.

I am flying to Florence thru Paris CDG. Can anyone tell me if I can check my bags all the way thru to Florence, or do I have to claim them at CDG and recheck them? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Most all airline will check you bag thru to your final destination. Is your flight continuous with AF?

Yes, our trip is continuing on City Jet via Air France.

I'm just not sure if we have to claim baggage and go thru immigration/customs at CDG upon entering Europe, as I have to at MIA when I go to the US. After all, Paris is my point of entry, just like MIA is. I've never actually connected with airlines in Paris, so that's why I'm wondering.

I recently flew to Paris on Air France and connected to a flight to Italy (Air France, but operated by Alitalia). When the plane touched down at CDG, we were herded onto a "bus" for a short drive to the terminal. When you enter the terminal, you have to wait to go thru passport control, since this is your first entry into the Euro Union. You shouldnt have to worry about your luggage (you should make sure that when you depart from home, they put on the correct destination luggage sticker) but of course to be safe you should always ask when checking in. Then run (!) to the departing terminal for your next flight, if youre able, don't wait for the shuttle bus. You should already have your boarding pass for your connecting flight, you will only have to go thru carry-on xray security before you get to the departure gates. Hope this helps!

Thanks, Nutella. That helps a LOT. I've always flown direct to Paris, rather than connected, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Thanks again.

I have done the very connection, via Air France and then CityJet. Once, when the connection was particularly tight, there was an airport employee waiting for me, who then drove me directly to the next terminal to an entrance closest to my departure gate.I've heard others mention this experience as well.

Ellenem, did your bags make it? We've got a wicked tight 45 minute connection in CDG (coming from Oslo) to catch our plane to Newark - Delta/Air France on both flights, and I'm a wee bit nervous that our bags will have an extended holiday in the City of Light. Is there a trick to us and our bags making the connection?

I don't know if this makes a difference, but when I arrived at my final destination, I noticed that my bag had a red "short connection" sticker on it. Maybe the baggage handlers look for these first?

Thanks for the tip, Nutella- I'll ask at check-in! Great name, BTW.
Statia, my apologies for jumping on your thread.

My bags made it, but that's because I'd carried them on. Concerned about my 45-minute connection, I didn't bother to check them at all. (I also started at Newark.) I was traveling very lightly--19-inch roller and large shoulder bag. For the CityJet flight, even though my bags weren't "checked", I didn't carry both onto the plane. Space is tight on this smaller plane, so when we arrived at the plane (on the tarmac), there was a rack on which you could place your carryon. All these bags were stowed on the plane, and were available at the bottom of the stairs when we deplaned. No waiting for luggage at the terminal.

Thanks to everyone for the helpful replies. I have nearly three hours at CDG, so I'm sure I'll have plenty of time with no problems (knock on wood).

Ahaugeto: No problem on jumping in. The more the merrier, not to mention more info.

Ellenem: When did you make this trip? We plan on taking only carry-ons, as we usually do, but according to the Air France website, you are allowed only one carry-on. We usually each have a small rolling suitcase, as well as a small shoulder bag, but we also have small garment bag for a wedding dress this trip. So, we figure we're going to have to check the suitcases.

Hi.
Air France are usually pretty strict on carry-ons. They put "cabine" stickers on the luggage that they allow you to carry on. I have known them to station a member of staff in the waiting line to check what you intend to carry on.
On the subject of baggage check-in, sorry to say (and it has been extensively discussed on this site) that CDG and Air France are notorious for leaving you without your bags when you arrive at your final destination. I have been caught out several times when transitting through Paris.

When was the last trip through Paris to Florence...hmmm...before the newer stricter restrictions anyway, but post 11 Sep 2001. Long enough ago that what I did with my luggage may not apply. However, I do remember seeing posts recently about passengers being met and escorted from one flight to the next.

Thanks for all of your posts. They've been very helpful. We're fairly well traveled, but haven't done much airline connecting in Paris. So, we just want to be prepared for what to expect.

We've decided to double check with the agent when we check in at SXM regarding carry on baggage, but plan to check the two small, rolling suitcases and only have to carry on my dress bag and a shoulder bag. That way we are safe in the area of "extra" bags and don't get caught off guard at the gate.

We have three hours in Paris, so there shouldn't be a problem with our bags making the connecting flight...at least we won't have to claim them. And, if they don't make it, that's life, right? I certainly won't let it ruin my vacation...or so I say...ha.

Thanks again for all the insight!

I will be flying to Athens from Mia through CDG connecting to AF. If the plane leaves on time from MIA I am supposed to havea 2 hour layover. I have checked out the AF website and it looks to me (and I can be wrong) that I should have enough time to get from Terminal 2C to 2D with enough time, hopefully. However, on the return flight - I have been checking out the AF website and most of their flights leaving from Athen to CDG leave late and if I am lucky I will have 45 minutes to connect to American in CDG. I only hope that I get my luggage when I arrive in Athens. I won't even worry about the trip coming home. Out of my last 4 trips I got my bag one time at MIA, but they seem to track it in 24 hours and I would much rather have my luggage arrive with me and not to worry when I come home.

the last two connections i have made at degaulle were without customs or immigration...exit the plane or bus and follow signs for transfer....this takes you to immigration...however just before immigration there is a turn to transfers....you go downstairs and take a bus to your new terminal and board for the new flight...seems strange but it has happened the last two times....approx time 20-25 minutes from one gate to another---just great...

It is great, but the airport doesn't do a brilliant job in signposting it. On my last transfer through CDG, I missed it by following the transfer signs and (as you rightly point out) ended up at immigration and then had to wait in line for the bus connection from T2 to T1. This one is slower and I got to check-in seconds after the gate closed. British Airways were really obnoxious about it, even though I was without luggage, and refused to let me through. Not only that, they charged me 150 Euro to transfer my ticket onto the next available flight which was 5 hours later. My company wrote a stiff letter to BA who refunded the extra charge conceding that it should never have been demanded.
I am going to NY on business this Saturday and am not travelling with BA because of this and have been booked on Virgin.
The moral of the story is - ask about this airside transfer!

Checked baggage can always be "checked through" to any connecting airline at any airport regardless of customs IF the two airlines have what is commonly known as a "luggage agreement"..some do and some don't. The usual non-agreement situations are between a "regular" airline and the so-called "low cost" carriers. The agent at check-in should be able to clarify this for you. This includes checking through even if all your flight arrangements aren't shown in the originating airline's computer (if you bought a second connecting ticket separately, for example) provided you show the check-in agent documentation that you do have the connection.

Statia,

An AF story on baggage that I have now cast in a humorous mode. It wasn't then.

A few years ago we traveled from JFK to CDG then to Toulouse on our way to Collioure by car. We checked our luggage through to Toulouse. On arriving at Toulouse I reported our bags missing to an attractive and very polite AF employee. She really tried to find our bags. It was her first day on the job. She would lug or kick over some bedraggled carton and ask "Is zis ze bag?" No luck. It took three days to get three of our bags. The fourth never appeared and it had my medications(Mistake) in it. AF did make restitution.
There are more humorous asides to this story. You can e-mail me at [email protected] if you are interested in them.
Anthony

Anthony,

Thanks for the humor (or not...ha). Glad to hear that AF at least gave you restitution on that last bag. Your story is one of the reasons we've decided to put some clothing, etc. in our carry-ons...just in case.

Funny how I never concern myself with lost luggage when I travel into the USA, but seem to have concern about my European vacation being hasseled by lost bags. Guess it's always better to play it safe.

Thanks again.