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-   -   CDG Time allowance (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/cdg-time-allowance-568226/)

fishman Nov 1st, 2005 06:39 PM

CDG Time allowance
 
My flight will be departing CDG 11/26 at 11:00am. How much time should we allow ourselves without stressing out?

aggiemom Nov 2nd, 2005 03:52 AM

I've heard so many different opinions, based on what airline you're going on.

As an example, last Saturday DH and I were flying on American Terminal 2A. AA told us to arrive 3 hours prior to flight. We got there about two hours prior and breezed through check-in, security, etc in about 15 minutes.

What's your airline?

Gretchen Nov 2nd, 2005 04:13 AM

I would go with 3 hours as they recommend. You never know what may happen. We were held up for 30-45 minutes one time while a robot exploded a package. Then there was such a crush on the escalators that they were turned off and everyone walked up. There was an absolute crush until through passport control. They were calling out flights that were getting ready to leave so people could come to the head of the lines.

ira Nov 2nd, 2005 04:23 AM

Hi F,

I also recommend 3 hr.

You can always shop and/or have a late bkfst.

((I))

fishman Nov 2nd, 2005 05:20 AM

Thanks to all, I will have to forward this info to the wife...generally runs a "little late".
Aggiemom - We're flying Delta.

aggiemom Nov 2nd, 2005 06:10 AM

Hi fish

I'd follow the others' advice. I just remembered that DH is Platinum and we had the privilege of using Business/First Class entrance, so surely that took time off.

We also took the Air France bus. I was certain we needed Terminal 2 but DH insisted on asking the driver. Since DH had such a crappy trip I decided to indulge him. The driver told us to get off at Terminal 1. We did, and had to find the bus again when we realized it was wrong. We got to Term 2 about 9:00 AM for a 10:45 AM flight.

Still, if I were to do it again, I'd allow 3 hours.

StCirq Nov 2nd, 2005 08:32 AM

Yup - 3 hours. You may not need it, but you very well may.

missypie Nov 2nd, 2005 09:15 AM

Three hours. We arrived 2 hours before an American Airlines flight and barely made it. It was very stressful. There were three flights checking in at once. Eventually they had everyone on our flight go to the front of the line, or else we would have missed our flight. (I'm sure it ticked off the others who had been in that line for an hour and a half.) They looked through everyone's luggage VERY thoroughly. Every passenger. Every piece. (It was a week after the Madrid subway bombing, so that may have made a difference.) Then a very very long line at the metal detector.

Save yourself the stress and arrive 3 hours early.

dmkujat Nov 2nd, 2005 09:19 AM

Just flew out of CDG a couple of weeks ago....we flew NWA to Detroit, and gave ourselves 3 hours. After showing our passport 9 times, and getting all the way through security to what we THOUGHT was our gate, we were escorted by bus a good 15 minutes away to another terminal. All in all, we only had 15 minutes to spare before the call to board!


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