I don't think we've ever obtained boarding passes for the return trip prior to arrival at CDG. We should be able to do this on our Continental return flight next month. With self-printed boarding passes in hand, and carry-on only, may we go directly to the Security line, bypassing the airline counter (just like we do when leaving from our home airport)...?

It's been a couple of years, but if I recall correctly, there is a "security" check as you "leave" the place where you check luggage and they check your carryons. They put a little sticker on your bag.
I would guess that Continental would be the people to ask.

American carriers insist on the ridiculous security quiz -- "Did you pack your bag?" etc. They think that terrorists would not know how to reply to these questions.

"With self-printed boarding passes in hand, and carry-on only, may we go directly to the Security line, bypassing the airline counter ".

I was able to do this but I was flying AF , don't know about Continental.

French security often ask those kind of questions, also. For some reason they targeted me once (must have been around some terrorist event so they beefed up security), and the French security lady was asking me questions like what did I do in Paris, what did I see, etc. Like no one else has ever heard of the Eiffel Tower, so a terrorist wouldn't know how to answer.

I am not sure what Gretchen is referring to, as I've never had any special sticker on carryon bags on CDG, even though I always do check baggage. I usually, but not always, fly Air France from CDG and I will admit sometimes I've seen people with stickers on their carryons, but even though I've gone through checkin, I don't always get one and it is pretty meaningless because you must go through security anyway. No one has every questioned me not having that sticker. I think that sticker has to do with maybe them supposedly sayinhg your carryon bag is okay for size (but is meaningless, as I said, in my experience).

It is a minute little square sticker--black and white. As the guy is asking the questions he just very gently sticks it on our case that is in front of him.

Gretchen - the sticker you're talking about... The security person always sticks it on the back cover of my passport. I have 3 or 4 of those stuck on top one another on the passport. Never had one put on my carryon, and I only take a carryon suitcase.

Yeah, I've had those stickers put on both the back of the passport cover or on the bag itself. Kinda hate to peel it off once I get home. It's probably just a 'visual' that you've been through a security check.

I did call and ask Continental Intl Reservations.... but you know, sometimes you guys know more than the 'phone clerks'.

So Danon has printed the boarding pass and gone directly to the security/ xray screening line. Maybe when we arrive at the check-in area, we'll see an official to ask.

"So Danon has printed the boarding pass and gone directly to the security/ xray screening line. Maybe when we arrive at the check-in area, we'll see an official to ask."


first, of course, you go through the passport control ( as you do in European countries on departure - unlike the US and Canada), and then the x-ray screening .
As I mentioned here several times,
it took 45 minutes to do just that on August the 1st. when I traveled.
I was glad I had my boarding card and carry on only.

Yeah, I am careful to leave them on too--comforting, even if I'm not going to Paris.
They just put mine on the bag usually.

We made this trip from CDG to EWR in April on Continental, carrying on all of our luggage.We printed out our boarding passes at our hotel, arrived at CDG and proceeded directly to the security lines, then to the gate area.It was all very quick. The gate area was very crowded with little seating.

I forgot that the Passport check is done on departures, but that is what I'm thinking of when I say 'go directly to Security'. (I promise not to try to 'skip' it!) It sounds like we can trim off some waiting time by not going to the ticket counter. I'm all for that.