Paris CDG transit
 

I just got a Continental Airlines reward ticket from SJC to IST in May, with a transit at CDG for 1 hour 30 minutes. The CO flight will arrive at Terminal 2A & then take the Air France flight leaving at Terminal 2E.

Do you think 1.5 hour is doable since need to go throught immigration & custom? Please help.

Just wonder may be I don't need to go through immigration & custom if only for transit? It might save me some time.

Since you will be flying to a country outside the Schengen Zone, you will NOT need to go through customs and immigration until you get to Istanbul. The CDG site recommends a minimum transfer time of 50 minutes. You will take an airside shuttle bus from 2A to 2E.

Do you have any idea how long is the walk fro Terminal 2A to 2E? I have heard the shuttle takes forever, so better walk instead.

<i>Since you will be flying to a country outside the Schengen Zone, you will NOT need to go through customs and immigration until you get to Istanbul.</i>

I don't think this is correct. First, as soon as you plan on taking the shuttle, you've must pass the customs and immigration, since you'll be in France at that time.

Maybe your bags may follow your ticket and maybe they don't. It's best to check with Air France.

From Gate 2A to 2E will take a bit of walking. Take the shuttle.

Blackduff

Mea Culpa
I just spoke with my Brother-in-law and he takes the shuttle which keeps you within the duty free shop still. It works fast on the shuttle and the time of 1.5 hrs is enough.

But, if you plan on walking, you must pass the customs, etc. and then follow the yellow brick road to the terminal 2E.

Sorry

Blackduff

Wow - congratulations on getting that reward itinerary! When I tried for it the best available was seats as far as AMS on the outbound so I had to book separate transit AMS to Istanbul (wound up on Austrian airlines.) Presume you re flying Air France CDG-IST.
Istanbul is spectatcular!

TimS is correct. There is an airside shuttle between the international gates at 2A, 2B, 2F2, 2E and 2C. You do not go through immigration, do not collect $200.

blackduff was talking a different landside shuttle.

There's a map on the CDG website with walking times between terminals.

I think you'd be better off walking. The shuttles can be 20-30 minutes apart and it takes considerable time for folks to get on and off with their bags at each stop.

I'd take the 20-30min shuttle than having to wait perhaps 10-15 minutes at each immigrations lines (or longer, who knows), plus a 20 minutes walk from 2A to 2E.

The airside shuttle runs at a counterclockwise direction. It doesn't stop at 2D or 2F1. From 2A, it only make one intermediate stop, 2B, before getting to 2F2.

Sorry, the shuttle does need to stop at 2B and 2F2, before getting to 2E, which is where you're going.

If you walk, you'll need to go through passport control twice. Once at 2A to enter Schengen and a second time at 2E to exit Schengen.

If you take the airside shuttle, you don't go through passport control.

Either way you'll clear security at 2E.

Check the departure gate of your IST flight as there are 2 shuttle stops for 2E. The first stop (after the stop at 2F2) is for gates E51-E76 (this is the newish S3 satellite) and the second stop is for gates E80-E97 in the main 2E terminal.

Thanks all for your input. I will take the airside shuttle. Just wonder how often &amp; how quick is shuttle?

The airside shuttle runs every 5-8 minutes and the ride takes 10-15 minutes.

We (four of us) are flying Air France from Athens to CDG and changing planes to a Continental flight to Houston. Could somebody please walk us through getting off the plane and getting to the Continental terminal either by walking (preferably) or by shuttle and the times it takes for each? Thank you...TRULY!

Athens come into 2D. Just follow signs to walk to 2A, where CO departs. About 10 minutes, I'll say.

seeksocean,
You do need to go through passport control and security too so allow time for that as well.

atam,
I should add since the re-opening of the collapsed part of 2E this past Sunday, there will be some gate number changes for 2E main terminal. I'm not sure what they are but I think they include E21-E47 (has anybody traveled since Sunday who can confirm?). S3 gate numbers remain the same.

The directions are still the same whether walking or shuttling. Just be aware that there are more gates now.

Thank you!