Will this be a problem??? - connecting flights and different airlines
 

Hi! I'm booking my own trip for the first time (here I am a youngun at 19yo) and it occurred to me that I may have made a big mistake. Since it was cheaper I'm flying LAX to Paris, and then switching airlines entirely and flying from Paris to Berlin. I'll have about 2 hours between flights in the Paris airport, and I'll be checking a bag.

Here's my question: is that enough time? I think I'll have to leave the airport and pick up my bag and then re-check it in and go through security before flying to Berlin. Clearly this was a poor decision on my part but I'm wondering if it's at all possible.

Any input is wonderful! Thanks so much!

When you say checking a bag, I imagine you mean it is in the hold and you have to retrieve it. In that case, yes you have cleared immigration and must reenter.

So, no not the cleverest decision however it might be ok.
I consider one hour sufficient to make an intra schengen flight. Normally no more immigration just security.


However it can derail... your flight might be late or you might be delayed boarding the other one.

So, i'd say you have a 96% probability of being ok.
And 4% to have to buy another ticket.

The FIRST thing we ALL need to know is what are the two airlines and if they both fly into and out of the <B>same terminal</B>.

Second thing would be if the two airlines are in any/the same airline alliance or whether or not they have a luggage agreement.

Please give us more information about your airlines and flights. Otherwise we can not give you proper advice.

The risk is that the flight from LAX is delayed. Then you miss your connecting flight and you have to change to another flight. It depends on your booking class which fees are involved to change.

But as said, with the sparse information you gave us we cannot give you sound advice.

In case you don't know, you have 24 hrs from the time you bought your air ticket to get full refund on any type of tickets covered by the DOT. https://www.transportation.gov/airco...ur-reservation

I have done that in Frankfurt but only had a checked bag. Can you pack lighter and carry on? I didn't dilly dally around and that was hard to pass by the pretzel vendors but did and made it in time for next flight. I think I booked it all together though so must have been an alliance. Are you switching to Lufthansa?

Lesson here for everyone!

(1) Misconnecting is always a possibility. If you're booked on one airline, you're protected. If you book two different airlines on two separate tickets, you not zero protection.

(2) If when checking in, you show your continuing ticket at the counter, your originating airline MIGHT tag your bag all the way through to Berlin. If so, this will help a lot. You won't have to go through customs until you reach Berlin. But if they don't, you're out of luck. You'll have to retrieve your bag, re-check it with your second airline, get through security, and get to the gate in time.

(3) Bear in mind that CDG is a far flung airport. In some cases, you'll need to take a 15 minute train ride between terminals. Realize also that some gates at CDG uses busses, not jetways. If that's the case with your short flight to Berlin, have have less time than you bargained for.

(4) If you're within the 24 hours, cancel if you're able and re-book everything on Air France. (Don't know if CDG-BER would be covered under the 24 hour rules of the DOT as it's entirely international).

(5) Saving a little bit of money is often a false economy. This may be one of those cases in which it will at least cost you a great deal of stress and may end up costing more money if you misconnect on your Berlin flight.

HI If you can figure out how to get by with a wheeled carry on, and there are some good ones, that would help a good bit. Sue

I would never risk this. If it were me I would change the ongoing flight to a later one. Have you checked out the cost of changing this flight? Since it seems that you don;t have both on one ticket if you miss this flight at the airport you are a no show and your ticket is worthless and you have to buy one at a walk up price. It might cost a lot less to buy a later flight now.

It is possible that you will make this - but it is by no means certain.

To understand, when you land you need to:

Deplane (sit as far forward as possible - can save 5 to 10 minutes)
Proceed to Immigration (jog or run with your carry-on, can save you 10 minutes or so over others on your plane
Head to baggage carousel (here is your potential problem and you have no control over it. We have had it take more than an hour to get our luggage off the plane).
As soon as you have it head out through the green lane to wherever your next airline is (search the airport map in advance so you know where to go an fastest way)
Check in you luggage (this can also be a hang up and there is a fixed time after which they will not take your bags - find out when it is)
Go through security again and make your way to the next gate

Only you can decide how risk averse you are - versus spending more now,

Hi everyone! Thank you all so much for your help.

It's been past 24 hours so I can't cancel anything, and one of my tickets doesn't yet say what terminal I'll be flying in on.

My first flight is Norweigan, and the second is Air France. I can however change my flight time. Would four hours be enough for this? Or should I book a flight to Berlin for the following morning?

Thank you all so so much!!!
Ashley

You need to be certain Norwegian are flying you to CDG.
You could have booked through to Berlin with a change in Stockholm with Norwegian.
However if you can change the AF flight then do so.

The bag check makes it near impossible. IF you arrive on time, you have to get your passport stamped for arrival into Europe, then pick up the bag, then exit customs, then go to Air France check-in, check the bag, and go through security to get to the connecting flight.

There is actually a chance that this is all possible in 2 hours, but if you miss the cutoff (either for bag checking, or getting to the gate) for the connection, then Air France bears no responsibility to put you on another flight.

EXCEPT for the human element. Whatever Air France agent you encounter could feel sympathy, and put you on the next flight at no charge - - but technically this is bending the rules. But if you have a good enough sob story, they might just go ahead use the "flat tire rule" to give you a break (this refers to the fact that most airlines will give you a break if you show up late, saying that you had no control over the circumstances that messed up your timing). The more sympathetic and genuine individual you are, the more likely they will give you a break.

But there's no guarantee, so, indeed, the 2 hours is basically a bad crapshoot. Four hours is better, but still no guarantee, in case of delayed flight or any other kind of mishap on arrival into CDG. 24 hours is MUCH better, but then you have to overnight, which is a royal pain at CDG.

Thank you everyone for your input! I changed my flight and have 4 hours between flights to hopefully make it. Fingers crossed!

I really appreciate all of your advice and thank thank thank you. :)

Four hours should work unless there is a major problem/natural disaster - and you can't really worry about that.

4 hours is totally fine.
Unless 'force majeure' ....