Why is CDG airport so ghetto?
 

I had to book a flight with a 3-hr layover just to make sure I could make my connection. What exactly causes all the delays? Why does their train go 300+mph but their airport so slow?

Does anyone what terminals we use if we're going on Delta from the U.S. to Paris then from Paris to Athens?

Ghetto???

>Why is CDG airport so ghetto?

Mind explaining your title?

As a former high school teacher, I've heard that word used often to express negative feelings. If it's "ghetto," it's bad.

Teenage slang. Reminds me of the first time, as a 50-year-old, that one of my students called me "Dude." I assume they just don't know any better.

The world is going to hell in a handbasket.

It's forty years old and showing its age.

Now that's funny.

OP should be a fine representative of our country as she whines her way through Europe.

Good luck finding your terminals hun.

As someone who lives close to (some might even say "in") the "ghetto," I have to add my two cents: I hate that term. It carries all kinds of negative connotations. In the States, people tend to use it as veiled reference to poor, urban blacks and their choices of clothing, speech, lifestyle, etc. It is disheartening to hear intelligent, enlightened folks (or who I used to think were intelligent..) use this word to disparage a school, a neighborhood, a city... I find it reprehensible and recommend it be banned from usage. And that's my two cents.

I was surprised to see that subject too - was expecting a different sort of question than why there are so many delays.

weird.

Why is it so unusual to have 3 hours before an international flight? Most airlines request that you check in that early these days.

First, one main reason for having lots of layover time is because flights departing from the US are often late - especially those leaving from congested airports like JFK or ORD. Which has nothing to do with CDG.

But there are specific CDG problems. One is the lack of gates at some of its terminals, like 2E which DL and AF use for many of the flights from the US. One will need to ride a bus from plane to terminal.

Then, there's the unpredictable nature of immigration lines at CDG. Most of the time, no wait; but sometimes you have to wait a long time. But this is not a CDG-specific problem either. Ask any non-US citizen/resident about their wait entering the US.

As for "ghetto", well, some parts of CDG do look very run down - like the whole Terminal 1. And even at many parts of Terminal 2 (especially ABCD), there seem to be a severe lack of place to just sit around. You'll often see people sitting or sleeping on the floor, just because there aren't enough chairs.

Hi Peg,

>If it's "ghetto," it's bad.

Thank you.

>Why is CDG airport so ghetto?

That's bad.

((I))
Does that mean it's good?

I thought these days "bad" meant "good"?

No, no, no! Sometimes "bad" means "bad" and sometimes it means "good."

Got to admit. I agree, this is a bad excuse for an airport. Those buses.... (Am I the only person who thinks it takes as long to drive to the terminal as it did to FLY to CDG?) And since the collapse in Terminal 2, you do wonder if your safe.... (Ghettos aren't safe either!)

Nothing like teachers trying to act "cool' and using the " language" of their students.
What is wrong with just saying " so bad"

CDG was built in the late 1960s/early 1970s. Its load exceeds its design capacity. It is the #2 airport in Europe in terms of passengers (over 200,000 each day), #2 in terms of cargo, and #1 in terms of plane movements. There are 48 airlines using Terminal 1 alone. The airport deals with customs, immigration, and security issues. It's amazing it works at all.

A few of the questions that KimikoPi has posted recently.

2. United States: Why do people come here to the U.S.?


3. Europe: London is so expensive! How do the Londonners get by?

4. Europe: Where should I eat pizza in Italy and what kind?

5. Cruises: If ship schedule says dock at 6 am, when will they let us off?

12. Airlines: Does the date change when flying from Los Angeles to Athens, Greece?

13. Europe: A Day in Athens - what to do?


Obviously, I had a few minutes with nothing to do. :)

Cameron, you are not the only one with a few minutes spare. It looks as if KimikoPi also has time to waste.

despite the KimikoPi's choice of words, I was too unimpressed with CDG. It was out of character with the general well-kept and clean environs of Paris and France in general. Tiles peeling off the walls, cracked plaster on the walls, exposed wiring, grime on the floor, lack of queues in the immigration line, incorrect signage..
Having high-throughput is not an excuse, there are many airports with higher throughput that are just maintained much better.

Duh - if this is real you are amongst the most stupid posters ever... but giving you the benefit of doubt - come on if i were taking two flights like this i would ask the airline(s) exactly what terminals are involved. 3 hours is a minimum i believe to have between flights as your trans-Atlantic plane could be late.

I feel bamboozled even replying to this farce!