Pat_in_Mich

I'm trying to plan a trip to Andalucía for April/May. We're not interested in going to Madrid or Barcelona since we've been there before. We fly out of Detroit and it appears that most itineraries have 2 stops, which we'd like to avoid. I've looked at Seville, Granada, Cordoba, and Malaga. It looks like our best bet is to fly to Malaga, where there is a Delta option that stops in Paris each way. The outbound layover is 1 hr 25 and the return layover is 1 hr 50. This makes us nervous because we've had 2+ hour layovers at CDG that we've barely made. And if we miss it, I'm wondering how long we could get held up in Paris.

Other options are 6.5 hours outbound layover and 7.5 hours return layover in Paris on Delta or Lufthansa with layovers in Frankfurt 3 hr 40 outbound but 18+ hour layover on the return.

Anyone have any insight on how reasonable those under 2 hour layovers are for CDG? Or I'd welcome any other ideas you might have on how we can get there. Thanks!

Rubicund

It's impossible to predict how a layover in April/May might go this far in advance and I would feel a little worried about such a short transfer time at CDG. It's certainly achievable if all goes to schedule but your question is one of those that is impossible to answer.

neckervd

As an alternative, you may fly via Amsterdam (3 hrs lay over)

Pat_in_Mich

A 3 hour layover in Amsterdam would be great but I can't find an option like that. Can you point me to it? Thanks

J62

Look at google flights, and be flexible with your dates.
I see the 3hr layonver in AMS outbound, but nothing similar for return.

Pat_in_Mich

Yes, I see the same. The shortest return layover is 11 hours

shelemm

FWIW, in June we had a 2h10m layover at CDG. CDG was a mess. Our connecting flight was delayed 40 minutes. Unlike the 'before times' everyone is in the same boat, so your connecting flight will probably be delayed. Though you may feel uncomfortable counting on that.

neckervd

You can of course combine DTW dp 20.55 - AMS 10.25/13.35 - AGP ar 16.35 with AGP dp 6.00 - CDG 8.40/10.30 - DTW ar 13.00 but all fares I can find for this solution are sensibly higher.
As to me, I would never book a flight leavng at 6am (which means that one has to leave the hotel brefore 4.30am). The flight via Amsteradam would be much mor comfortable as you could leave Malaga at 17.20, dine, sleep and have breakfast in a Amsterdam airport hotel before reaching your flight leaving at 10.05.

Pat_in_Mich

Thanks for your response. DTW dp 20.55 - AMS 10.25/13.35 - AGP ar 16.35 sounds like a possible option depending on how much higher but I can't find any such flight.

janisj

I haven't looked up flights so not sure, but would there be more options using ORD as your gateway airport?? How about flying DTW into ORD the evening before (short/probably cheap flight).

Pat_in_Mich

Thanks, good thought! We did take a brief look at that , perhaps it's worth revisiting.

mike1728

We fly Boston to Jerez de la Frontera (Andalusia) every September thru Madrid. The layover is usually 1 hour 15 minutes or so and we always make it....9 years in a row and counting. We always panic because of the short layover and Madrid is a huge airport, lot of walking and taking the airport tram to your next gate area. Apart from Spain, we also travel to Europe on two other occasions during the year (May & December). I actually will not book a flight if the layover is longer than 2 and a half hours (I don't do well with sitting idle in airports) after the 7 hour flight from Boston to Europe. only missed a connection one time in over 75 flights to Europe and that was Air France which circled over Paris for an hour prior to landing-causing us to miss our connecting flight to Berlin. We missed our flight and had to wait 4 hours for the next connection. It turned out great as Air France advised us that because the missed flight was the airlines fault we were entitled to a monetary compensation of $360 each (me and wife) provided with a 25 Euro food/drink voucher for the airport and we arrived in Berlin with no issue except being 4 hours late. Well worth it!!

neckervd

"Thanks for your response. DTW dp 20.55 - AMS 10.25/13.35 - AGP ar 16.35 sounds like a possible option depending on how much higher but I can't find any such flight".
I searched for the random dates April 2nd - April 17th and got
https://www.delta.com/complete-purch...049&app=sl-sho
The fare would be much cheaper if Basic Economy wouldn't be sold out for the inbound flight