We are flying into CDG on Air France (operated by Delta) - arriving at 8:50 am - and we need to catch a connecting Air France (airbus) flight at 10:15AM . Will this be cutting it too close??? I'm assuming the flights are at least in the same terminal, but maybe not.

Any help would be appreciated!

I predict that you will be okay. Air France will respond to any passengers who are "cutting it close" and escort you through/past lines of people, whizzing you almost faster than you can walk at times. There is still the dependence on the "tarmac buses" in many cases, but I would not be worried about an 85 minute connection, unless of course, your 8:50 arrival is grossly delayed.

Best wishes,

Rex

I'm afraid I cannot concur. I've flown this route twice, and both times we were late arriving at CDG and barely made the connection. Once they slipped us out a side door and zipped us to the connection. The other time, they looked at us like it was our problem. The only way we made it that time was because the connecting flight was also late. Keep your fingers crossed. Of course, there is probably another connecting flight if you miss the first one. J.

I agree w/ jmw. Anything less than 2 full hours at CDG is cutting it really, really close. It is a vast, confusing airport - even with airline staff scooting you through the maze. Have a plan B . . .

(I usually try to have a minimum of 3 hours so I don't have to run)

I do believe AF cuts it too close with its connections at CDG. Though I have never missed a connection of 80 minutes it has always been a hassle, and I am not O.J. Simpson and I do not like running through airports! You will make it, but it will not be a pleasant experience.

I have the same problem as emt only an 80 min. connecting time at CDG airport. My travel agent didn't see a problem nor did my travel mates. I did call Air France and they stated their legal connecting time is 45 minutes. My flights aren't even in the same terminal and I have to change carriers. The person I spoke with at AF assured me no problem since everything was booked with them and the change of carriers is one of their air partners. I definitely will be carrying a few days of clothing in my carry on just in case the luggage gets lost.

Look carefully at your tickets/itinerary. The CDG terminal should be listed next to your arriving flight and departing flight.

A 45 minute connection time at CDG is an absolute laugh and is probably one of the reasons AF has fallen in customer satisfaction. The early As advertisement praised the quick connection times at CDG - they lied - 80 to 90 minutes is an absolute minimum!

I had flights an hour apart in different CDG terminals, and although I made the flight, the experience was very stressful. Air France offered NO HELP; the flight attendants on my first flight said someone at CDG would direct me, and so on and so on. And I speak Frence!

It's possible you won't make it, but I've had connecting times of only 45-60 min at CDG about 3-4 times in the last few years and have always made them. That time frame wouldn't concern me.

Don't assume your connecting flight is departing from the same terminal. If it is, you should have no problem. If it isn't, it's cause for some concern. Air France always cuts it way too close for connecting flights, especially when they involve departures from another terminal. Like a lot of other posters, I have always made it, but I have NEVER been offered the slightest help from AF, and have feared cardiac arrest on several occasions.
The only "help" I ever recall getting from AF, by the way, was in making a connection from CDG to Marseille that involved a terminal transfer; there was a large group of prisoners, shackled together, who were loaded onto the same shuttle I was. The were accompanied by a group of police of some kind. AF dispatched a couple of staff to make sure the prisoners and police all got on the shuttle before we did, and got on the shuttle with us to make sure we stayed at the opposite end of the shuttle. Then when we arrived at the terminal, they made sure we all waited on the shuttle while all the shackled prisoners got off and were escorted into the terminal, leaving me with exactly 3 minutes to get to my flight. Some help!

Check the Air France site. You can check the location of your arrival and departure terminal. It also gave advice re: shuttles, walking time from one area to another. I know it may not be 100% accurate, but gives you a little knowledge. There are maps of the airport and terminals. I found it helpful. My flight times are similar to yours, I'll pray for both our planes to depart ON TIME so that we have a chance of catching our connections!! Good luck!

Message: OK, I've posted this many times before, but here goes. 85 min. is cutting it VERY close for a connection to/from a transatlantic flight at ANY large airport!

Your flight will land at terminal 2C.

There is NO POINT in waiting for an airside shuttle bus to take you to the connecting flight's teminal (assuming you're flying within Europe it will be 2B, 2D or 2F - check your ticket or the Air France web site to find out which). Just follow the signs for the exit to Paris, go through immigration, walk right through baggage claim (you don't need to pick up your luggage, it will be checked through) and customs, then either walk or take a shuttle bus if going to 2F.

If your flight leaves from 2B or 2D, simply follow the signs for the rental car area, take the escalator down, walk through the counter hall and take the up escalator on the opposite end.

If your flight leaves from terminal 2F, here's a map of the shuttle bus routes:
http://www.adp.fr/webadp/a_cont01.nsf/0/7D6D3B8F4EDA9373C1256B1F0059E5CB/$File/NavCDGj.gif?OpenElement

You can take line 1 from exit A10, line 3 from exit C8 or line 5 from exit C1.

You're cutting it quite close, but if you travel with the attitude that you're lucky if you make the connection, but can live with having to wait for a later flight, you should do fine

Finally, there are SOMETIMES Air France employees present at a flight's arrival to assist passengers connecting to a particular flight. Obviously, if you see someone holding a sign with your flight number, just go over to him/her!

Hope this helps,
Andre

Just a little clarification:

When I said "your flight will be landing at terminal 2C", I was refering to EMT's posting, as his/her flight is OPERATED by Delta.

Allison, if you're flying transatlantic on an Air France operated flight, you could dock at either 2A, 2C or 2F. The arrival information provided on your ticket or the Air France web site is WORTHLESS! The crew will announce the arrival terminal while you're taxiing to your gate at CDG.

Hope this helps,
Andre

Since we're all dumping on poor Air France (I've enjoyed both my flights while in the air), has anyone mentioned that while you just might touch down on time, it may be 45 minutes or so before you are actually out of the plane?

Hey JMW,

I'm not "dumping" on Air France - which I think is one of the better (or is it least bad) carriers out there - and I've flown them very often.

They just tend to schedule unrealistic layovers at CDG, which also has a pretty confusing layout for the "uninitiated". Especially when you dock at a different terminal from the one printed on your itinerary

Andre