Flying from PHL to CDG
 

Has anyone flown the Delta 8379/Air France 365 flight recently? It's a Delta flight on Air France "equipment," and I'm confused about which gate it leaves from. The Delta and Air France websites say E5, which in Philly is the Delta terminal, but not the international terminal which is "A." I called Delta and they say I should go to the A terminal. I would hate to get off at A and find I have to walk all the way to E. The PHL airport map also lists Air France as part of the E terminal. What do you think: A or E?

The airline that is actually doing the flying, in this case I assume that would be Air France since you say it is using AF "equipment"..is THE airline you will check in with..NOT Delta. The flight will leave from the Air France gate.

Try phoning 1-800-PHL-GATE. It's the automated system for information on arrival/departure times and for gate assignments at the Philadelphia airport.

Every indication other than a DL call agent suggests Air France departs from the E terminal of PHL. DL site, AF site, PHL site, actual gate use (E5).. I would definitely go to E...

Just flew AF365 PHL-CDG and returned on AF366 last week.

AF365 does indeed leave from Terminal E. Be forewarned--Terminal E is very barebones (unlike Terminal A, the new "international" terminal). A few food stands, a no-smoking bar, no real news stand (just a kiosk), no money exchange, no ATM, and no Duty Free stores.

If you have a lot of time before your flight and you're planning to grab a bite at the airport, you're better off doing it in one of the other terminals (D is not bad) before you go through security at "E".

On our return flight, we did land at the International Terminal "A". There's such a world of difference between these two. Almost makes me want to take USAirways instead of AirFrance, just for the terminal!

Elle, thank you! As someone else said, all signs pointed to E, but I've been to both and really wanted it to be A! I'm glad to hear from someone who's actually taken the same flight. Is it still necessary to be there two hours in advance, given that E is just a regular terminal? Did you have to do anything different since you were flying internationally?

Thanks to all for the replies!

Yes, we still needed to be there two hours ahead. Air France guidelines actually say two-three hours ahead.

Because our flight had a weather delay, we ended up being more like four hours early, which is why I was so frustrated at being in Terminal E, not the much more hoppin' Terminal A.

I hope you have a great time--do I remember that you're staying in the Marais?

you have to come back through the international terminal because that is where the customs and immigration are. But you can leave from anywhere. DL does leave from E. My daughter did it a week ago.

It's a good idea to be there 2 hours in advance.

Unless you're flying in first, business or you have status check-in privilages, you will have to get into the regular check-in line. The line will have people flying everywhere else, so it's not just your flight. It could be quick or it could be a long wait. You don't have a choice for the kiosk check-in, because you're flying internationally. After that, you have to go through security, which again, nobody can predict. If all goes well, you will probably have about an hour of free time, which actually is 1/2 hour, since they start boarding 1/2 before the flight. That leaves you just enough time to have a quick stop at a bar/restaurant/toilet without rushing.
At the end it's better to have few extra minutes.
2 hours should be perfect.

Yes, we are staying in the Marais at the Caron de Beaumarchais. The weather forecast looks delightful, though it has made me rethink my choice of coat - might be too warm, but then I really don't want to be cold. It's our first time to Paris so we are excited, anxious, etc.

Unfortunately, we are not flyng first or business class. Can we check our bags curbside? I think Delta still does that. I can't say I love the PHL airport, but since most people fly USAir it does keep the lines at the other terminals fairly short!

Thanks again for the information . . .

Regardless where you check your bags, you still have to check-in for the international flight, so it does not make any sense to check bags curbside.