Do I have enough time to change planes?
 

We have 1 hour 40 minutes to go from an AA flight from New York at CDG to Delta at CDG. Do I have enough time? I havent booked the tickets yet so don't know what terminals are involved. Please advise. Thanks.

Hi E,

You _might_ make it if your AA flight arrives and your Delta flight leaves from CDG2.

Some people have reported making the change in as little as 0:45 hr, others have missed the change with 2 hr.

If one of them is in/out of CDG1, I suggest a longer layover.

((I))

Am I right that these will be two different tickets?? If so don't book that short a connection at CDG. If you miss the Delta flight you are SOL. Not only will they not put you on the next flight - you would have to buy a full walk-up fare ticket.

CDG is a zoo, many planes do not park at gates and they have to bus passengers to the treminal, plus security queues can be loooooong.

This is one ticket with a change of planes. I just went over to the travel office here where I work and they told me if I miss the flight, Delta (Air France) has later ones and would try to put me on one if there was room. What happens to my luggage in that case?

Also we have to get from Terminal 1 at CDG to Terminal 2? Is there a bus?

Thanks for your help.

Since it is one ticket, you will be fine - the worst that will happen is you'll get a day in Paris :)

AA uses CDG 2A, not CDG 1.

Yes, there is a bus between all terminals of the airport. If somehow you don't make it, your baggage probably won't either, but it will be transmitted on the airline either on the flight you are to be on, or the next one -- as long as it's tagged properly. It isn't that Delta will "try" to put you on a later one if you miss the plane, if you have a connecting ticket (I didn't know Delta and AA cooperated in that regard, that's news to me) on the same airline or its codeshare, they HAVE to put you on a later plane if you miss your connection.

I'd get that clear with your travel agent as to what this "try" business is about. If they have no financial obligation to do that because AA and Delta have no such agreement, I'd get that clear. I'm kind of surprised you have to change terminals, as AA used to be in Terminal 2 the same as Delta/Air France. But maybe that has changed. AA used to used Terminal 2A as I've flown them from Paris.

You're right about the terminals.

Thank you all for you input. I booked the flights (a good price) so we'll hope for the best.

AA flies into Terminal 2A. So I don't know what is up if they told you terminal 1. Air France domestic flights are usually 2D. Where are you going from Paris? Still, if you don't know what you're doing, just getting from 2A to D is a challenge, although doesn't take an hour. I encountered a lot of people last week who said it took them 2.5 hours to get through the airport and they missed their connections. Most of them had come in on British Airways. CDG is indeed crazy.

Hi E,

If you miss your flight and have to take the next available, your luggage _might_:

be on the same plane with you
be at your destination ahead of you
be in Timbuktu

((I))

We're going to Nice and I understand there are at least 3 flights after our scheduled one.

So, what would be an appropriate amount of time for changing planes at CDG? I know that I've made connections that were less than 2 hours in the past, but it sounds like things have gotten a little crazier since then. Or is it that if you change from an AF plane to an AF plane it takes less time?

2 hours should be comfortable. 1.5 hours mostly likely to be okay. Under 1.5 hours, risky. Under an hour, plan for the worst.

It isn't that changing from an AF plane to an AF plane is quicker, it's just the terminal location, I think. So, if they are right next to each other or close, it is easier. I have transferred to AF planes at CDG and to other planes, like Czech Air, and it took about the same time as I think both those departed from 2F or 2E (and I arrived probably in 2B or 2A).

I think 2 hrs would be fine, I've done those in 1 hr before. I think if one is in Terminal 1 and another in Terminal 2, that might make a difference.

For CDG if you can get a connection time that's over an hour I suggest taking it.