CDG experience anyone?
 

I am flying to Florence, Italy on 12/25 but my layover is at CDG. I only have a 1 hour layover and I have read all these horror stories about people not making connecting flights and the airline (Air France) losing their luggage, etc... Should I resign myself into believing that I may not make my connecting flight and that my luggage may not either? If that does happen, how helpful will the employees be on getting me onto another flight and maybe find my luggage? Help!!

I have had lots of tight connections at CDG and I've always made the flight, as has my luggage. One hour should be plenty. They also have lots of helpful counters.

Hi S,

So much depends on where your plane lands, whether it is on time when it lands, how crowded the airport is, and whether your connecting flight leaves on time.

I would go with the expectation that I would not make the connection.

Stay calm, don't shout (AF employees get very upset and unfriendly if you shout) and make the best of it.

If you are flying on one ticket, they will put you on the next available flight.

If you do make it, think how happy you will be. :)

((I))

Hi,

Last year, I took a flight from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) from Copenhagen (Denmark) by Air France, with a layover at CDG and the travel was so cool. No problems. No losing luggage. That's my good experience. Anyway, buy a Travel Insurance. Here in Brazil cost about US$ 60,00 (pp). And they take care of all, in case of losing luggage and give you some money.

I've had connections in CDG several times and never had a problem. Just relax and enjoy.

Air France does have a tendancy to book short connections......but it will probably work out. I notice it IS Christmas day...a good day to travel, however staff may be lessened at the airport, and on the other hand perhaps not a many people traveling.
They will take care of you if you miss your flight (if the first flight happens to be late ..or cancelled). Air France is fine, and you will get help if something happens ...and percentage wise, your luggage will not be lost!!! CDG IS an "unusual" airport, and sometimes a bit of a Mess.(whatever that means???)
But what a beautiful trip you are taking of Christmas Day to Florence!!Have a great time, and don't worry.

I made an hour connection going to Copenhagen. Just had to hussle. My bag didn't make it but that was during the baggage handlers' work stoppage. If you don't make it, they'll get you on the next flight.

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65 minute connection IAH-CDG-FCO on 12/25.

I was worried too a couple of months ago when I was traveling to Barcelona via CDG. We and our luggage made it. Don't stress, enjoy your flight, and just walk quickly when you get off the plane.

If there is any sort of delay, let the flight attendents know of your tight connection, you might be able to get off quicker, they might be able to move you closer to the front of the plane.

I agree with Ira...go with the idea that you will miss your flight, and you probably will be fine and thankful...but in the chance you aren't, you'll be sipping a cafe au lait in no time at the airport bar waiting for the next flight out.

12/25 might not be a bad day to fly...usually the day before and after would be the most hellacious.

Good luck, and Merry Christmas.

Jules

Just check with Air France online and see how often their planes fly that same route on the same day of the week you're going, from CDG to Florence. If there's only 1-2 flights on the schedule, you may just want to carry a day or two's necessaries in your carry-on. The luggage will find you eventually if it does get on another flight.

What flight are you on from the US? I found out that AF33 from Houston has basically zero chance of arriving in CDG on-time, at least during the past month.

Your flight may be similar.

Let me explain. AF33 is scheduled for 4:30-8:45. Today's flight left the ground at 4:56, which is not bad for a large airport like Houston. But it's scheduled to arrive CDG at 9am, 15 minute behind schedule.

So, to be on-time basically means the doors have to be closed ahead of schedule, a fast taxi, and no-to-little wait for take off. It probably happened 3 times in the last month.

CDG can be a real mess. In fact various websites/travel magazines rate it as one of the worst/most confusing major airports. In an hour you could make it easily -- OR, you could still be on the shuttle from the plane to the terminal. And signage and assistance is inadequate at best. Christmas day could be better because of less travelers -- or it could be worse because of less staffing.

What is the rest of the day's schedule like? Are there other flights they can put you on? If so, don't worry, you'll eventually get to Florence.

I never had a connection via CDG until last July. Now I know why it's infamous. It's okay if you don't have to connect in my opinion. And dealing with Air France from the landing on the tarmacs to taking the awful, slow shuttles, and the standing room only at the gates is another nightmare.

I have made several connecting flights at CDG. Including a couple from Chicago to Italy on Air France.
1# When you check in at your departing airport (I think you said Houston) they should book you all the way through to Florence. Your luggage will be marked Florence not CDG. And you will get two sets of tickets one to Paris and one for Florence with seat numbers.
#2 When you check in like this, the airline knows you have a connecting flight. On several occassions when my plane was delayed, there was a representative waiting as soon as people got off the plane to shuttle us to the waiting plane.
#3 If your plane is only slightly delayed, when you get off go directly to the nearest information desk. Show them your tickets for the connecting flight. They should call over to the connecting flight and tell them that you just arrived and are on your way so they will be expecting you. In fact they did this for one of my Italy connection when I only had 20 minutes to get across the airport.
#3 If for some reason you miss your plane on account of delays, Air France has numerous partner airlines and will get you on the next available plane to Florence.
#4 With over 100,000 miles on my Frequent flyer miles with Air France, they have never lost my luggage.
#5 Good news (but not for your trip) CDG announced they are starting construction on a shuttle/train service, much like Altanta, that will connect all the terminals and the loop will take about 10 -15 minutes.

Check to see when your next flight might be.
I recently landed @ CDG from Venice
@ Terminal A w/my connecting flight
out of Terminal F.
The bus took 20 minutes to get out to
the plane full of very anxious pax.
Then we had the colorful tour on the
next bus.
I only made my connecting flight due to a briefcase left @ check-in as pax
had been sitting on the plane for 1-1/2 hrs.
I was very lucky!

Air France magazine should have a map of CDG. Study it during your flight so you are familiar with the layout of the airport.

When I flew into CDG, my luggage had been lost, and they were very nice. They gave me a small kit of travel size items (like shampoo, razor, even a see-thru white tshirt!) to use for that evening. Then, they delivered my bag to the hotel the very next morning. I was so relieved. Of course the kit doesn't make up for your own things really, but it was a nice gesture, and since they were prompt with my bag, it was not a big ordeal.

We will be taking a connecting flight from CDG in Feb'06 on our way back to Los Angeles from Florence. Personally I am hoping we miss our connection (3 hour lay-over so doubtful). If we do, would it be impossible to see anything of Paris? Or will it be safer to just wait it out at the airport?

I know this sounds stupid, but I absolutely love Paris and would take an hour train ride to sit for a half-hour in a cafe as long as it is in Paris!

We had connections in CDG going to and from Egypt last Christmas. These were AirFrance to AirFrance. Also had connections last spring going to Prague. Each time it was awful. The shuttle between "gates/terminals" only goes in one direction, it took 20+ minutes to go one stop away. While we made the flight - by running - our luggage did not and the Air France people in Cairo were AWFUL. It caught up with us two days later. CDG doesn't have much space at the gates if you are early for your flight. If you want a seat you pretty much have to buy coffee at one of the cafes. Bad layout, bad attitude.