Tight connection...can it be done?
 

Hello all,
I will be flying home to the US from Vienna via Air France and changing planes in Paris(CDG). I only have one hour to make my connection and get from terminal 2D to 2E. Is this too tight? Can it work? If it helps to know, it will be a Thursday around noon. Thanks!!

They always say an hour is enough for me when flying from Dubllin and changing terminal to go out to Asia...its not and when I fly business they have a car waiting for me to drive me to the terminal as they know I will not make it. Its a nightmare. its possible you may make it but may have to run especially if there is any delay. I really dislike CDG airport from my travels.

1 hour is never enough for me, any time, any where. There are simply too many variables in air travel for mem to be comfortable with this.

That said, is this ticket already booked and purchased? Are both legs on Air France?

Can it work? Maybe, possibly, probably? Would it give me personally an anxiety attack, yes
;-)

An hour isn't enough. CDG is tough and if the plane is at all late it will definitely be impossible. It may be possible if....the flight attendants know you have a tight connection and let you off first and if there are no lines anywhere and finally if your plane from Vienna goes to a gate and does not disembark from the tarmac. Your plane to the U.S. is likely going to be boarded via remote gate w/a tram. In January I flew in from Rome to board a plane to the U.S. with almost a 2 hour connection. The plane from Rome deplaned from the tarmac and the plane to U.S.

Sorry hit a wrong button. Plane from U.S. boarded on tarmac. Making the connection took 90 minutes and we never stopped along the way. The construction at CDG may be better now. Good luck!

Maybe it won't be so bad to be left in Paris? I booked as a package, so I didn't know right away that the connection was this tight.:(

At that hour, the direct shuttle from 2D to 2E is still operating. You'll clear passport control before boarding the shuttle and clear security at 2E. 2E has two parts so check your departure gate. The first shuttle stop is for gates E21-47 at the main terminal and the second shuttle stop is for gates E51-76 at the S3 satellite.

You can see the transfer process on this site http://correspondances-aeroports.air....fr/_index.php

Click on the "Transfer shuttle in restricted area" tab for the direct shuttle option.

Your other option is to walk. In that case, you'd clear passport control at 2E main terminal, then depending on your departure gate either proceed through security for gates E21-47 or take the monorail to S3 where you'll clear security for gates E51-76.

One hour is tight but possible. There's also the possibility that you'll be met by ground staff at your arrival gate and escorted to 2E. They sometimes, but not always, do this for short connections.

Good luck!

PS - More long haul flights are boarding from jetways now since the re-opening of the collapsed part of 2E in April.

IMO...no. 1 hour is not enough time at CDG. Every time I have had a connection, the scenario has been different, but always hectic.

An hour is VERY tight and it's probable you - and your luggage - won;t make it. Be prepared to run if necessary.

Also, check out now what your options are if you don't make it. Since it's one ticket the airline is responsible for getting you on another flight - but it's best if you know your options - rather than letting them select what they might prefer.

Hi el,

Some folks have reported easily making connections in 0:45 hr.

Most folks, me included, think 90 min is tight.

>Maybe it won't be so bad to be left in Paris?<

It doesn't mean that they will put you up at a Paris hotel and give you dinner.

They have to put you on "the next available flight", which could mean 2 changes of planes to get you home.

((I))

As nyt said, check your options.

when I was leaving Paris last week from 2F,the passport and security control took 45 minutes.
I could not believe they had only 2 officers on duty for hundreds of passengers.

Well, after looking at what my options are, I think I am stuck with what I have. I gues I will start my sprint training now and hope for the best.

I assume your Paris to US ticket is on Air France or a partner..if so no problem...you may miss the plane but the company will put you on another plane at no cost if it was booked as a legal connection. If your second flight is with another carrier (excluding a partner airline) you have big problems that no amount of sprint training can overcome. Fortunately from your initial message I assume the first scenario is correct.

Regarding only 2 officers for hundreds of passengers.. only in France! My dream is to retire in France and even though I visit once a year I am still amazed that the notion of efficient and timely customer service is not a part of the culture. I am grateful for this notion when enjoying wine in a cafe; I want to strangle someone when I'm trying to get through CDG or just buy a quick Coke at a fast food stand!

Changing planes at CDG is hell. That having been said, we found that Air France flights always seem to depart an hour late, so you really have two hours.... We connected at CDG to/from Cairo and made both of our connecting flights without a problem because both departed late. I liked Air France, but punctuality is not much of a priority for that airline.

There's a new feature on the Air France web site "Transfers Made Simple".

Click on "At the Airport" under Services, then Paris-CDG Connections, then "Display Transfer Route".

Choose Arriving From and Departing To, and you're presented with walking, shuttle in public zone (which you would not want to do), and shuttle in restricted area - with maps and detailed instructions.