AF may provide transfer assistance on tight connections to long haul flights but I don't think you can request this service. AF LAX agents tried to request this for me but no one met us on arrival (we made our connection anyway). They even printed out the message they sent to AF CDG, so I know they requested it.

scrb,
If your last transit was July, it has further improved with the reopening of the main boarding area of 2E. I'm not sure you what mean by "annex" but I don't believe either the 2E bus gates or the remote boarding area (satellite H) are used any longer.

WOW! Thank you so much for the link and the advice. I feel like we at least have a chance now that you have given such good info. We leave 2 weeks from yesterday, so I'll be sure to update when we return.

In a word: No.

I forget the exact verbiage. But the last 3 or 4 times I flew through CDG, the CDG-SFO flight boarded at this annex or satellite or whatever which was way out away from the main terminals.

It wasn't just circling around the terminals in the usual bus.

They take us out past the runways into these brand new buildings where they have their own security checkpoints as well as lounges and stores.

But even with that, I managed to make my connections, which were scheduled for an hour or less on the return trip from Europe.

That must have been satellite H. Thankfully, I'm pretty sure they don't use it any more.

For those who have connections involving 2E. The two parts of 2E that I describe are well illustrated on the interactive site I linked to above. Basically, the main boarding area of 2E consists of gates E21-E47 and S3 (which is still considered part of 2E even though it's a separate building) consists of E51-E76. A quick monorail runs between the 2E main boarding area and S3.

There's also a long corridor which directly connects S3 to 2F. Again you can see this on the interactive map.

I would prepare to arrive FCO without your luggage. It's not you that will not make the connection it's your luggage. 80 minutes is tight. Especially if the flight is full. Just have the address of the hotel/apartment with you and your mobile number. They are very good at finding you. One time, I actually had my bags delivered to me at a restaurant because the owner told the delivery guy where we were eating. Impressive.

Don't worry about entry customs at CDG. As it is faster than anything I have ever gone through. Leaving is a different situation. Pack accordingly and prepare for the worst. Then you will always be pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, air travel has become a task at all levels.

I was worried about luggage arrival on our last trip. I printed special luggage tags with our full travel itinerary on the back. Hotels/dates and phone numbers on the front.

On the return trip I just slipped in my usual tag with my home info on it.

Never had AF fail to forward checked luggage through CDG and onto any European destination.

They did fail to have my checked luggage on a return trip once.

Just in case, pack some undies in your carry-ons. :D

OK, I'm sorry if this seems like a dumb question, but...when you do something like printing your itinerary on a tag, where does the tag go? Inside the bag? Folded up in the little tag holder?

I used to tuck our itinerary somewhere. There are even special luggage tags you can get with "itinerary inside" in a variety of languages.

But, these days, bags are tracked by number, sometimes with bar code scanners. If your bags go missing, you file a claim with the numbers and where you'd like them delivered.

The problem with missing a connection, depending on where you're going, is that the next flight, the one after that, etc., may be full. I'd rather spend a few extra hours at CDG than overnight, or worry about the checked bags. If you do have to spend the night, it will likely be without your bags.

I put the card in a luggage tag holder on the outside. It was a foldable card. In the little plastic view window it said -- in large letters -- "ITINERARY -- my name". Inside the card, one side listed Italy hotels, dates, phone numbers. Other side had my flight itinerary.

You'll also have the scannable tag from the airline. It's likely no one will even look at the printed itinerary. But I figured it doesn't hurt.

Thanks! I did not mean to give the impression that I have never heard of bar codes. : ) I was just wondering, practically speaking, what other people do with the extra information. We will be staying in Ayr our first night after flying into Edinburgh, and the next day will be driving to Skye, so I am anticipating that there may be some stretches of time where we are not easily reachable by phone...that's why I thought I would put the itinerary somewhere (and also have a copy of the information for the folks at the airport).

Sometimes these little pieces of information are as helpful as the big suggestions of where to go and what to see -- thanks!

Thanks everyone, there's great information on this thread. Patty, sounds like you've been to Paris quite a bit! Let me know if you want someone to tag along next time. There should be more than one person who knows so much about CDG...if I have to, I'll go and learn.