bardo1

I'm planning a spring trip to Prague (from IAD). My best option (days, times, cost, etc.) currently appears to be Delta ($631) with a one hour layover in Paris at CDG (coming and going). I will need to switch termianls at CDG each time. Is this too tight???

My next best option is United ($783) with a 2hr layover at AMS outbound and 2hr layover at FRA (returning).

Any thoughts???

Dori

I had to connect through CDG last May. I thought it was a nightmare. It worked out only because I always insist on a minimum of an hour and 45 minutes. Preferably two hours. There would have been no way I would have made that connection with a one hour layover. In fact, many people missed their connections (they were all complaining on the shuttle bus). They did mention they only had one hour layovers. Get a longer connection layover

Christina

Why don't you just book that flight through Air France to be on the safe side? I am assuming that Delta flight is really completely Air France -- therefore if you miss the connection, AF has lots of flights from Paris to Prague and you will have to problem getting put on the next one. That may be the case with Delta, also, but I think it's always best to use whatever influence you have, and a ticket with Air France on it might have a slight edge over Delta, at least can't hurt.

I've done that flight and made that connection in CDG (to Prague) including a terminal change. It is tight, but do-able. I think the flights to Prague are often delayed a little, also, which may have helped. My bags were late once, I will admit -- I got on the flight but the bags didn't. They were delivered to my hotel in central Prague by 8 pm that evening with no problem, however.

I do think the United layover connection is more likely, but there's no way in the world I'd pay $150 more to United for that route than Air France. Besides, aren't they on the edge of bankruptcy? That may not affect international flights, though, often they start cancelling domestic flights.

PalQ

Plus you're Delta plane could be late; you probably have to change terminals. Delta should land at Terminal 1 and the other probably leave from Ter 2; free shuttle buses connect the terminals; taking about 20 minutes; but you could wait 20 mins for a bus, though they seem to run frequently. Even if you don't switch terminals one hour is not much - unless it's the same airline and they guarantee the connection so that you can use your ticket on a later flight.

richardab

Delta doesn't fly between Washington and Paris so that flight is a Air France code share. What airline are you connecting with? I assume that if there is a terminal change then the connection is with Czech Airlines.

Frankly 1 hr is extremely tight. You could always opt to have yourself on a later flight and allow more time to connect. Sit, relax, have a croissant. I believe the next best connection is a 3 hr layover.

You should also be sure you are booking your flight either on the same airline or an airline within an alliance. Czech, Delta and Air france all have an alliance so if you have a problem they will be sure to accomodate you.

Also.... This is a Spring trip so there is time to plan and book. That United flight thru AMS could get cheaper.

You should also check options with Lufthansa thru Frankfurt (very efficient) and KLM thru Amsterdam.

travelbunny

..one hour is NOT enough if your ticket is non-refundable..If a later connection(assuming you miss your plane) can be guaranteed that is another issue.

socialworker

I think it is *impossible* to switch terminals in one hour. A lot of people gave you a lot of good detailed info and as someone who has been left at the gate at CDG thru no fault of our own, I would say 2 hours is a minimum. ( BTW Christina--you would think that would work, but there were about 15 of us on an AF flt from Rome that was late and our continuing AF flt to the US left all of us behind!!) The problem is that you are not the one who can control when your original plane gets in so in a way, all bets are off b/c who knows how much time you will really have. I think the CDG system is very hard and we try to only go there when that is our actual destination. Sorry to be a downer, but that is our experience. PS to richardab--I tried to thank you a long time ago for the as advice you gave reur trip to Strasbourg and could not *find* you so I will cut and paste that old post here...

Author: socialworker
Date: 03/27/2004, 03:31 pm
Message: we went to strasbourg and stayed in the hotel you recommended. we had a wonderful huge room overlooking the quiet back of the hotel which is also a pedestrian-only street. the king size bed was extrememely comfortable and it looked as if the room had been redecorated right before we came--beautiful curtains and bedsreads, and you were right about the cleanliness of the bathrooms. we loved the location--thanks for mentioning its being on a pedestrian street. that made it quiet but the double windows were completely soundproofing, even if there had been some noise. although we did not travel the whole wine route, we did take the train to obernai on a day in mid-march that enjoyed an unseasonble temperature of almost 70 degrees. i can only imagine the beauty of it when all the flowers are in bloom and the window boxes are out. again, thanks.

socialworker

PS--I have No idea where that little face just came into my just posted note!! I did not do it so there must be gremlins on this site!!!

Marija

It can be done. Last week we changed terminals at CDG in less than an hour, but it was very tight. Also, our flight landed at a gate so we didn't have to shuttle to the terminal, saving precious minutes. One problem was that we couldn't find the "secure" transfer point shuttle that would have eliminated the need to go through passport control and security again. Does it really exist? We ended up walking. I made sure both sets of tickets were on Air France so that if there was a problem Air France would be responsible. It was on the way home, so missing a flight wouldn't have been a big deal.

ira

Hi bardo,

You might make it, but if you have luggage it probably won't.

Have you considered flying into London Gatwick or Heathrow and taking a cheap European flight to Prague?

www.whichbudget.com shows RT London/Prague for as little at 12GBP + tax for late March.

www.whichbudget.com shows RT DC/London for as little as $300 for the same period. You could spend a day and night in London for the savings.

OReilly

bardo - I was debating about a 1hour 40min transfer and the good people on this site convinced me to think again

Terminal 1 is an absolute NIGHTMARE at the moment (they have moved several of the international carriers there). I would not chance the one-hour transfer, two hours is the minimum as long as your bags are checked through, which they should be if your carriers are partners.

Play safe and avoid the hasstle

Grasshopper

I had a 45 minute change and I made it but my luggage didn't. You take a shuttle "behind the scenes" so you don't leave the terminal and then re-enter security. I made it without any problem (my flights were ontime). Luggage came later and was delivered to my hotel.

mgmargate

1 hour at CDG is a crap shoot. If everything goes just right you'll make it if not you won't.

Christina

I don't think there is any risk if you have a ticket for the entire route on the same airline that you won't get to Prague (I know the AF flight to Prague is Czech Airlines codeshare). I wouldn't book it through Delta if it's really an Air France flight, myself, but I suppose it's not supposed to matter. Usually AF fares are a little cheaper than the same flights on Delta, in my experience (not much).

It is tight, I do agree with that of course, but it is not impossible because I've done it several times (changing terminals at CDG within an hour). I think I've done that exact route twice, actually (AF from Wash to Prague), with those kind of connections.

I would book it myself (and have twice, so I guess that's redundant to say). I would not book a RT to London and then a different cheap airline from there to Prague unless you wanted to stay over in London a while. I wonder if you really can get a 12 GBP RT ticket from London to Prague, I'm sure that can't be the total price--don't they add on a lot of fess and those fares aren't often available? Even if you stay over in London going over, you'll run up expenses and time getting to/from the airport, and on the return, you will be responsible if you don't make your connecting flight (assuming you won't stay over in London twice). I would not want to risk losing the value of a ticket from London to the US.

I think $631 RT for that route is pretty good as it isn't cheap to get to Prague.

ira

> I wonder if you really can get a 12 GBP RT ticket from London to Prague, I'm sure that can't be the total price--don't they add on a lot of fees...<

Figure with extra fees about $60 RT.

amp322

Have you tried flying into Amsterdam & taking Smartwings into Prague? Look at the smartwings website, because you could get a flight to a different city, and then do low cost into Prague.

bardo1

Thanks for all your quick responses - I believe you've helped us avoid a potential disaster. As a result, we ended up changing our dates slightly (now Mon. to Mon.). The result is that we now have a great flight w/ great times on Lufthansa for $640. You gotta be flexible.

richardab

Lufthansa! Thats a good airline! They aren't the most friendly but they are very professional and have a great "on time" record. Frankfurt is an easy airport to connect thru. If you have extra time it also have a number of good "travel value" shops.

When passing thru Frankfurt just remember one thing... On arrival head directly for the passport check because lines can be long. You will clear the passport check in Frankfurt, not Prague. On your return you will also have to clear passport check AND a second security screening before your flight back to the USA. The second security screening is near the gate area for your flight to Washington.

Have fun.