It's always a nightmare for me and so I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. I know I have to wait until 2 hours before the flight time to check in. I usually fly American Airlines. Maybe its just me but this airport always confuses me.

Hi AmyLynne -

Yes, you do want to allow at least 2 hrs. to check in and clear security. I agree, the set-up at CDG is crazy. It's like a maze. The snack cafe and bathrooms are on one level, and then depending where your gate is, you have to go around and down a flight of stairs.

don't go into security unless you are willing to be totally contained without restaurants or shops. Go through security at the last possible time. We were stuck 3 hours within the security section with all the great tuff in accessible....

Flying American Airlines is what makes it a nightmare. If you take an airline that flies out of CDG 2E or 2F the world suddenly becomes wonderful again.

Ker says,

>...the world suddenly becomes wonderful again.<

I wouldn't go that far, but it is better than Terminal 1.

Last summer I flew Vueling from CDG to Santiago de Compostela. There were no signs any where. It was downstairs and then the walk to the gate was equally confusing. Once at the gate it took one hour to get through security for a relatively small plane.

There were thousands of people on lines for international flights creating severe congestion in the terminal. For a industrialized world capital, it was pitiful.

Ten years ago we took one of the first American Airlines flights when they switched from Orly to CDG. That was a disaster as well.

"I have to wait until 2 hours before the flight time to check in"

- are you saying you cannot check in any sooner than 2 hours before? AA doesn't allow online checkin within 24 hours, like Continental does?

"I have to wait until 2 hours before the flight time to check in"

No you don't. AA itself recommends you be at the airport 3 hours before your flight to check in.
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...rivalTimes.jsp

<i>If you take an airline that flies out of CDG 2E or 2F the world suddenly becomes wonderful again.</i>

I agree on 2E, which is a very comfortable terminal (though I'm not overly crazy about the annex). However, I don't find 2F any great shakes. It is ok, but nothing special.

All in all, though, I don't think any of the T2 piers are that bad. As others have noted, just wait until the last minute to go through security (except at 2E). It isn't the best airport, but it isn't that bad. Terminal 1, though, is another beast and basically stinks.

Travelnut - AA does not offer OLCI for Int'l flights, at least not yet.

If they'd just not single me out for "extra" security inspections I could deal with CDG. Last month I made it through security fine, but at the gate I was selected for a "spot check". They even opened my box of macarons and inspected those. It was a more thorough check than at security.

Thanks everyone!!! I really appreciate all the advice!

We have used T2A several times, and I recall there is a cafeteria-type place and some shops in that waiting area. Which 'hall' is it that you cannot obtain any coffee, snacks etc. after going thru security?

Followup - we are departing from 2E this fall... so, are there places to get coffee & breakfast items -after- security at 2E or not..? The ADP floorplan implies there is a shopping area after security so am I misreading the map or what? (I keep seeing posts about no food options after security at CDG, but it's never clear which terminal or hall they're talking about). Here's the floorplan:

http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/R...GPversoV23.pdf

No problem at 2E.

I wouldn't say no problem at 2E. Yes, there are places to get a coffee and a pastry (which isn't as true at the older T2 piers, but there isn't that wide an array of options. Don't expect anything like some of the food court options you see at other airports.

The shopping at 2E tends very much toward indulgences, as opposed to travel necessities.

So, please tell me what is the WORST aspect about Terminal 1

The worst thing about terminal 1 is that once you are out in the boarding 'satellites' you are completely cut off from anything of interest.

Thanks, I'll remember that. We will be flying in and out of there in early September.

Of course, when you go through Terminal 1, you can then tell all your friends that you've been in an Alan Parsons Project album cover (I Robot).

Other than that, it's outdated and needs to be replaced.