Iregeo

Thank you for all the information.

Nikki

"In the U.S., I'm pretty sure I have to claim my luggage at the port of entry, then send it back through for the second flight. I guess I'm assuming the procedure is the same in France."

The procedure is not the same in France. This is why I always try to make connections in Europe rather than in the US when I am returning to the US. I can avoid having to collect and recheck my bags this way. This is pretty easy for me since I am flying to Boston; it is obviously harder if you are flying to LA.

I believe the reason for collecting luggage at the US port of entry before connecting to another flight is that not all US airports have facilities for customs and immigration. So when you land at the first US airport, you go through customs and immigration there and then have to recheck your bags for connecting flights.

In Europe, you generally walk through customs at your last stop rather than your first. You may have to go through immigration at your first stop; however, you do not collect your bags to do this.

Sarastro

<<In Europe, you generally walk through customs at your last stop rather than your first.>>

You will always clear immigration at your first EU arrival city. If you connect to a second EU city, there will be no customs. You will arrive, pick up your luggage and be treated just as any other local (EU) passenger.

lincasanova

... If you connect to a second EU city, there will be no customs. You will arrive, pick up your luggage and be treated just as any other local (EU) passenger...

actually, you may THINK there is not customs there because of the set-up, but all international bags that have come from outside the EU are funneled into an arrival area that has "nothing to declare" "something to declare" exits.

Whether the customs officials are out observing is one thing.. but it is set up that way.

Christina

I've transferred at CDG many times coming from the US and then going on to some other city in Europe and have never once had to collect my bags at CDG.

I have always had a single ticket on Air France, however (for both flights).

Nikki

"You will always clear immigration at your first EU arrival city."

This has not been my experience. If you are departing from the same terminal as the one where you arrive, you may just walk to the gate. Or, as Greg said above, there are times you may go from one terminal to another and still not pass through passport control.

Patty

Assuming one ticket, 2:05 is plenty of time.

<i>You will always clear immigration at your first EU arrival city.</i>

You clear immigration/passport control at your first point of entry into the Schengen area. Not all EU countries are part of the Schengen agreement and not all Schengen member countries are part of the EU.

<i>If you connect to a second EU city, there will be no customs. You will arrive, pick up your luggage and be treated just as any other local (EU) passenger.</i>

There actually is customs when you pick up your checked baggage. It's just that most people don't notice this non-event.

And it's possible to through check bags on separate tickets and most definitely if they're both on Air France. Most airlines (although less likely with LCCs) have interline agreements to accept baggage transfer on separate tickets. I've done this many times with separate tickets on different carriers. The critical difference is that you won't be protected on a later flight in case of a misconnect on separate tickets.

Iregeo

Thank you, Nikki. I was doing a poor job of articulating my question, but you understood what I was getting at.

Btw, I will be staying at the rue Truffaut apartment again, this time with DH. I think you were there before, weren't you?

Nikki

I certainly was. I understand they have done a great job of restoring it after the fire. I would love to see it.

Iregeo

I'll be there in November. If you don't get there before then, I'm sure I'll have pictures.