lincasanova

Just so those wanting to know approximate transfer times. We arrived at 8:05 and taxied until 8:25 or so to a tarmac spot to park. We then boarded buses and took the well known "grand tour" of the airport and were finally taken to 2E, I believe. It was now close to 8:45 when we approached immigration. That took only another 10 minutes or so. Then we had to exit the baggage area and go towards 2F. The security there was not too horribly crowded but it took another 10 minutes or so. We finally arrived inside the gate area of 2F, walking fairly briskly, around 9:05 a.m.

Also, we were forced to go out into the public non -secure area to catch our connecting flight, perhaps because we did not unload at a jetway, but rather on the tarmac and by bus.

So you can see that all even going well, it is a long procedure at CDG. Those waiting for bags were told before we disembarked that it would be a 42- minute- wait for their bags at arrival.

lincasanova

Forgot to add that we were arriving from the USA

Andrew

What airline, from what city? What was your scheduled arrival time?

In April, from Chicago on AA, we arrived a few minutes early. From the time we got to the gate until I was past immigration to baggage claim (I didn't have bags) took seven minutes - I checked. When I got to immigration there was no one in front of me. So sometimes it can be very quick at CDG, too. Arrival was quick for me at CDG last May, too.

The time from taxi to arrival at the gate is irrelevant, because that should be built into the schedule, even if you are taking a bus to the gate. In other words, if your scheduled arrival time is 8:25, you should be AT THE GATE by then or you have arrived late. You could land 20 minutes earlier, but that 20 minutes should be built into the scheduled arrival time.

Patty

<i>Also, we were forced to go out into the public non -secure area to catch our connecting flight, perhaps because we did not unload at a jetway, but rather on the tarmac and by bus.</i>

You have to go through security when transferring from 2E international to 2F Schengen regardless of the method of deplaning.

lincasanova

Patty, I guess I was comparing the arrival from Valencia transferring to the Atlanta flight where we went through a wonderful new elevated hallway and straight to the new security area .. NOT through baggage claim like on our arrival from Cincinnati, transferring then to the Valencia flight. I know we have always gone through baggage claim but since we were on that hallway at the beginning of the trip, I thought maybe it would be so on the return.

Andrew.. it was Delta from Cincinnati, we arrived a few minutes before schedule, I think.

Patty

The secure transfer only works in the direction of 2F Schengen to 2E international but not in the reverse.

lincasanova

Thanks, Patty. It is SUCH an improvement!