CDG help
 

Hi, I am arriving at CDG T2D from Chicago at 08:50 (on a Tuesday) and leaving for Athens at 09:35 from T2E. can I make this? Any advice? Thanks!

Can you take this? Yes.

Will the flight be on time? Maybe.

Would I take even a domestic flight with 45 minutes apart? No way.

Jules

Thanks Jules--the short connection was all that was available at the price, I was hoping for more time!

I've never gotten in or out of CDG on time, and the airport is a nightmare of epic proportions.

I'd pay extra to have a few hours to change planes. Some things, like peace of mind, are priceless.

Happy travels,

Jules

Agree with all that's said.

Also, your AF flight from Chicago flight arrives at 2E.

Air France for ATH leaves from 2D.

so, you're going from 2E to 2D, not the other way around.

You don't need to pick up luggage, but you need to go through immigration, and then walk from 2E to 2D (through the TGV station), and reclear security at 2D.

Next AF flight to ATH leave at noon.

You're right of course, RKKwan, my fault on the order. Thanks for your help.

IMHO your chances are slim and none. It can take 35 minutes from touchdown just to the gate since they often park out on the tarmac and bus passengers to the gates.

Are these flights on sep. tickets - if so you are sort of up a creek w/o you know what.

Just in case you do decide to take this trip at those times, here is a pdf file of part of terminatl 2.

Just follow the link back to find one that includes 2E. Note the sign at the bottom right that says vers 2E.

http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/Adp/R...9-cdg2abcd.pdf

I know that lots of folks here relate horror stories about CDG, and 45 min is a short connection even for most domestic flying, but don't waste time worrying. If your entire itinerary is one one ticket and the connection is missed then AF will get you on the next flight out. As long as you do not have something waiting in Athens that requires your being there at the earlier arrival it's no big deal.

The operative point is &quot;<i>If your entire itinerary is on <b>one</b> ticket</i>&quot; . . . .

Thanks, yes, it is one ticket, and no I don't have anything waiting for me in Athens exept a beautiful girl!

OK - you'll get to her - eventually. As long as the flights sre on the same booking you awill be fine - if you miss your connection they will put yo on the next available flight.

So just relax - and have a change of clothes in your carry on in case you make it but your luggage doesn't for a day or two.

I wish we had ASKED about the &quot;one ticket&quot; part before we did.

These nay-sayer-filled posts about making connections use up a lot of egg on the face sometimes.

Dukey: We DID ask earlier . . . . .

(Even the one ticket doesn't mean he'll make the connection - which is what he asked about. He likely won't, but he will get to Athens on &quot;their dime&quot;)

Thanks to all.

I know I'll probably have a couple of hours to kill, but I feel better!

Just found this post, I have a 70 minuute layover arriving in CDG from Houston and departing via City Jet to Florence. Although two airlines, I booked it all through AF. Does this mean AF will get me on the next City Jet flight if I miss the first one? The last time I changed planes in Europe was in Frankfurt in 2001 and I never remember going through customs before getting on my connecting flight! If I'd known all that would happen I would have booked a longer layover time!!!

Yes, if you booked it all through AF, then you will get put on the next available flight with the second carrier. Note the word &quot;available&quot;. They won't bump somebody for you if the next flight is full, but odds are you will make it. Eventually.

Thanks, Linda. Yuck. I never would have thought 1 hour and 10 minnutes would be such a problem! How can I figure out my gates ahead of time so that I have a plan on how to get where I am going?

mary - You flight from Houston on Air France will arrive at CDG Terminal 2E. You will go through immigration there to enter Schengen (which France is part of the agreement), and then walk over to CDG 2D, where your flight to Florence departs from. Reclear security there.

You'll find the actual gate number once you get to 2D; all you need to know is you have to get to 2D.

Maps and other information can be found at CDG's official site:

www.adp.fr

Thanks, Rkkwan! You must be at CDG every day! Is it always 2E and 2D for these flights? And a very dumb question, what is Schengen? Thanks again.

Air France do not switch terminals often for a particular destination. But you may want to double check before you go. The boarding pass holder that AF gives out at Houston will also have the map to tell you how to transfer from one terminal to another.

Schengen is a group of European nations that share a common travel area, so going among Schengen countries, you don't go through passport control. Both France and Italy are Schengen countries, which is why you go through passport control at CDG. The CDG-FLR flight will be like a domestic US flight.

Thank you, Rkkwan, that is a great explanation and so helpful. I'm also happy to hear there will be a map with my ticket. I hope we make the connection. I've seen some questions about shuttle versus walking between terminals. It sounds like you recommend walking?

There is an airside shuttle, but it doesn't go to 2D, so you need to go through immigration at 2E. Once you're through, it's faster and easier to just walk to 2D rather than to find and wait for the shuttle.

From 2E to 2D, you'll walk through the TGV/RER station.

Thank you so much, this is wonderful information! One last question: It sounds as though some planes land on the tarmac and passengers are shuttled to the gate, which can be a big problem for connections. Do you have any advice if this happens? What is the reason for some planes not landing at the gate and is there any way to predict whether it will happen to me? Thank you again, Rkkwan!

They simply don't have enough gates at CDG for all the flights they have. There's no real pattern which flight will get the bus, but I believe it's mostly 2E that is affected the most. It just takes longer to get to/from the terminal.

That makes sense. I better cross my fingers and hope for the best.

Thank you so, so much for all this great information!!!

Well, I am off on this adventure later this afternoon (day changed from original post, but still same &quot;connection.&quot; Will advise how it worked, and thanks for all the help!

Good luck on the connection, Peter! And have a FABULOUS time in Greece! We can't wait to hear about it when you get back.

Believe it or not, I actually made this flight, but that was ONLY because the outbound was delayed by 75 minutes. Never again! You don't go to hell in a handbasket--you fly into CDG!

My one-night &quot;connection&quot; in Paris on the way back was fabulous, whetted my appetite for more, thanks for all the suggestions.