Air France advises me to check luggage through from JFK to Barcelona and let the burden of the luggage making the connection from CDG fall on the airline. This will also enable me to walk to the next terminal without having to go through security a second time. If I choose to take only carry on from Barcelona to Paris so I will not have to wait for my luggage, I will be able to take liquids or gels because it is inter European travel.

We just flew (to SFO) back from Venice via CDG today. I had emailed my TA from overseas checking on whether the one hour connection would work out; she had emailed back saying it was a legal connection but it was tight and to avoid a lot of carry on.

As it turns out, we were surprised to be met right off the jetway with a special airport agent, "Ned," who was hired by the travel agency to make sure we made our connection. He walked us from Terminal 2F to 2E (seemed a long way incidentally and we walked quite rapidly). He cut to the head of the lines (security, immigration, boarding) with our passports and my bag; we would have had some breaks flying biz class but not this many, and we would have lost precious time figuring out where to go. We were extremely happy to have this help and would use this service again.

As it turned out the plane took off an hour late--according to the captain, due to the extremely thorough security (we were all patted down, and the agent went through by carry on bag at some length). So we likely would have made the flight, but only after an extreme amount of stress.

cases checked with no connection are misplaced also, or arrive later as lost luggage.
happened to us this summer going and coming, so i would not even consider thinking that is a sure option for not losing luggage.

check your luggage through to barcelona.. the ONLY way you can possibly make that flight.

Lincasanova, thank you for emphasizing checking baggage. I will do so and walk directly to 2F! Annw, glad you made your connection; I could get lucky too!!

I just did it last week in about 40 minutes and I waited in the first line....which in true CDG fashion was a checkpoint along a long narrow hallway with two persons checking boarding passes/passports a about 500 people in line. I did see people rushed to the front by AF employees ... I would look for assistance or just walk up the narrow hall and cut the line. The secret is to hussle ....also book seats toward the front of the plane ..... the time disembarking may make the differance.

It's me again...seeing that folks are still responding to my original inquiry.

We are changing from one Air France plane to another at CDG (to Rome) and I have read on another post that if you are changing planes from Air France to Air France then chances are they will hold the fight until all passengers from other Air France flights are aboard...anyone have any information on this??

Also, we are planning to check two pieces of luggage but we also are planning to bring on carry-on bags in case we don't get our luggage and need some extras (we've traveled a lot and this has never happened to us- but reading about Air France and CDG I want to be prepared)

However, will we be taking up extra time if we have too much carry on (one bag per person)?

I flew JFK-CDG-Florence in October, with a connection time of about an hour and a half on the outbound. We were late getting out of JFK and in CDG, most U.S. flights are now routed to terminal 2E, often referred to as the remote terminal (you have to take a bus to the terminal). I missed my connection and there were at least four of us on the JFK flight booked on the Florence flight and they didn't hold it for us (we arrived at the terminal at the time our CDG-FLR flight was scheduled to depart).

I was booked on the next flight, but my bag stayed behind in Paris and I spent five hours in the Florence airport waiting for it to arrive (the Florence airport does not have evening delivery service and could not get it to me until the next day; my only option to get my luggage that day was to wait for it).

I have learned that the best way to connect in CDG is to allow as much time as possible and be sure to pack a change of clothes in my carry-on.

If AF didn't wait for all to board a particular flight it's because there are later flights that same day. I don't know for sure, but it just seems likely that may be the reason.

There are frequent tales of travel trauma at CDG on this board, but I have to say that I never had a problem. Some tight connections, yes, but never missed one. I hope I have not just jinxed that record!

<< However, will we be taking up extra time if we have too much carry on (one bag per person)? >>

The Air France carry-on weight limit is 26 lbs.

Woody

two words.....BUSINESS CLASS. Our plane left Vienna late and with a scheduled 45 minutes between flights, the AF staff met us to the plane, drove us to immigration in record time, and held the plane.

I would not count on AF holding your flight. While I do fly with them on most transatlantic crossings/connections, I find them to be of the same caliber as US Aiorways in Philly .... in other words, the average customer and service to them means nothing.....

I realized I already posted to this thread last year. AF sounds like the French version of US Airways. We were bumped twice last month on both inbound and outbound flights with US Air (SFO/Vegas). It was their fault ("mechanical") so they paid for the hotel stay.

It would be nice to think that being bumped at CDG would be great so you could spend an extra day in Paris, but sadly usually the hotels the airlines pay for are near the airport and are good just for sleeping and bathing at most.

The issue above about luggage which richardab mentions I wonder if this is for international flights alone. Going back to my US Air outbound flight some of the passengers' luggage went ahead to Vegas. Doesn't make sense if they know that the passengers are stranded why they send their luggage ahead to the destination. Anyway, a good thing to do always is pack some extra clothing in your carryon.