Picking Flight time in Paris , how early is crazy?
 

Have a choice of a flight that leaves at 7:55 am or $400 dollars more at 10:25 am , both from CDG with KLM to Vancouver. This would be a Saturday or Sunday or Monday. I know nothing about logistics.

Nothing wrong with that. We have left at that time--or close to it. You need to arrange your taxi from your hotel for probably 5AM. In spite of "needing" to arrive supposedly 3 hours before, the desk will probably not be open that early. I would check with your airline for the time requirement.

Depends on if getting up early is a problem for you. I would check with your airline - and take very seriously the time they tell you to allow, since flights to the US require extra security and extra time.

If you're flying KLM, it means you'll be flying via Amsterdam and from there to Vancouver because KLM is Dutch airline and cannot transport passengers directly from CDG.

However, I cannot find a flight operated by KLM departing CDG at 7:55 am. The earliest and cheapest one departs at 9:35am on Sunday, 6 January and the ticket costs 979 Euros. Flight #KL1228

There's a later flight departing at 10:20am which costs 1,241 Euros and which lands in AMS at 11:45 am. That places it nearer the departure time of the Vancouver flight at 1:20 pm, but the time difference between the two doesn't warrant spending an extra 262 Euros I would have thought. Flight #KL1230 for that one though.

The only direct flight to Vancouver from CDG is operated by Air Transat.

What's the flight number for the times you have?

I'm not sure what the problem could be; I've been on many an early morning flight home from Europe. I certainly wouldn't pay an extra $400 just to get another hour or two of sleep - I can do that on the plane (well, actually, I usually can't, but it still wouldn't be worth it to me. And there are advantages - you don't have to get to CDG 3 hours ahead of time the way you usually do, because the counters won't have opened up that early, for one thing. And traffic on the périphérique will be light that time of day.

If you worry about the time, just transfer to a hotel near the airport for that last night.

There is NO reason to do a hotel transfer. You can do it from Paris.

A hotel within CDG would be a good idea.

"Near the airport" would not be a good idea. The hotel/CDG shuttle buses are not as reliable or convenient as you would presume and there are reports that one after another of the earliest buses fill quickly.

And, you do need to get there three hours ahead. It may not be as busy, but there will also be fewer people on duty at the counters, passport control, and security. (Most counters open at 5, 5:30 AM.)

My real experience is that they do NOT open at 5AM, hence, asking the airline would be the best information.

Gretchen, those with early flights definitely DO open early.

I have been at the desk and it was NOT open. I'll stand by my advice to ask the airline, IF he doesn't just want to be there at 5, which is fine too.

I agree with Gretchen, best to check with the airline. I have taken many early flights within Europe where I have stood around waiting while the counter opens. My last flight had my sister worried. We where there at 6am for a 9am flight and the ticket agents didn't open the counter for another 45 mins to an hour later.

Agree w/ Gretchen on all counts:
1) Take the early flight
2) Contact airline to see when they open their counter at CDG
3) Stay IN Paris your final night and have your hotel arrange a taxi or driver (the roads will be empty at that hour)

7:55 is easy! I am unhappy when I have a flight before 7:00, though. If the actual flight is to Amsterdam first, there is absolutely no reason to be there more than 90 minutes before the flight and even that is too much (but I'm like the rest of you -- I prefer to be there too early than too late).

Xircal, there is indeed a flight at 7:55. In fact it appears about 5 times on the list because it is a codeshare with most of the other Skyteam airlines (Air France, Delta, Kenya Airways, China Eastern....).

Gretchen is correct - BTDT quite a few times. Counters are NOT open at 5 am, at least not any when I've been there at that time; get there 90 minutes ahead of time and you'll be more than fine.

You really need to let the airline be your guide. They will tell you when to get there - and take it serouisly.

Frankly - that isn't that early a flight. I have several times taken a NY to LA flight at 6 am - and yes, the check-in desks were open shortly after 4 am - with people standing there with piles of luggage.

My flight is 8:55am from CDG T3 and we are staying in IBIS which is supposedly across T3 (if I read the map correctly) and probably cheaper than staying in Paris (we paid 71€ for double). We'll spend the day in town, have dinner there and go to IBIS around 9-10pm.

Last time in Paris we tried to rely on Paris transit (metro + RER) being on time which wasn't a good idea as subway broke and we lost 30-40min stuck on the train. We barely made the flight.

Well then, you'll have no problem this time.