Laddb From United States, joined Feb 2001, 165 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 1005 times:
I booked a flight from Rome (FCO) to Atlanta (ATL) on AF and it has a change of planes in Paris (CDG), of course. The flights are AF 1505 and AF 304. It shows that I only have 45 minutes to make my connection. AF 1505 is only on time 65% of the time, and averages 20 minute delay. If I'm lucky, that gives me 25 minutes to get off the plane, change terminals and get on the other plane.
Is that realistic?
I arrive terminal 2F and depart from terminal 2E. Is E back in operation, or will I be on a bus?
I hear of horror stories with lost luggage going through CDG, and with such a short layover, I bet some of mine gets lost. But I can't imagine AF would book me on these flights if they did not think I could make it.
I'm eventually trying to get to PBI, and if I miss AF304, I'll be spending the night somewhere other than home.
Jano From Slovak Republic, joined Jan 2004, 775 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 999 times:
Your biggest trouble would be a long line before passport control. Once you make it through the security check then walk fast. It is still a long 3-4 minute walk.
EI A330-200 From Sweden, joined Apr 2001, 398 posts, RR: 7 Reply 2, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 978 times:
I'm pretty sure, though, since both legs were purchased together and are both on AF, they will at least re-accomodate you (assuming the delay is not WX/ATC related). Double check the contract of carriage!
Avi8tir From United States, joined Feb 2004, 368 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 978 times:
I have had some real tight ones @ CDG. Its an absolutely horrible airport to transfer in. however, I have made my flight every time. I dont think youll have a problem. your bags may be a different story!
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 970 times:
AF will probably sort you out if you miss your conx, but it's pretty tight, esp changing 2F to 2E - you'll have to clear passport control at CDG (leaving Schengen area) and security (and worse, flying-to-the-US security), and its a bit of a run from 2F to 2E, or a tedious inconvenient bus ride. Any chance you could change to an earlier inbound ?
Laddb From United States, joined Feb 2001, 165 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 958 times:
Quoting Jano (Reply 1): Your biggest trouble would be a long line before passport control.
Do I need to go through this as I will have done it in Rome and then won't be going outside the secured zone? Last time I flew through Frankfurt to Milan I don't recall having to show my passport in Frankfurt, (but I could be mistaken).
Goldorak From France, joined Sep 2006, 1092 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 953 times:
if your FCO flight is on time, you'll make it without pb. If you arrive at 2F, then walk to 2E (DO NOT TAKE ANY SHUTTLE BUS that will make you loose a lot of time). Exit the 2F baggage claim area (where the customs are) and at this custom gate, go straight ahead and 2E is 200m ahead. Then proceed at 2E with passport control and security checks. In any case, if your incoming flight is late, an AF agent will wait for you to transfer you directly to your ATL flight.
Regarding luggage, you shouldn't worry : the luggage situation at CDG is not worse than other similar airports.
Have a good trip !
Goldorak From France, joined Sep 2006, 1092 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 948 times:
Quoting Laddb (Reply 5): Do I need to go through this as I will have done it in Rome and then won't be going outside the secured zone? Last time I flew through Frankfurt to Milan I don't recall having to show my passport in Frankfurt, (but I could be mistaken).
You won't have any passport control at FCO going to CDG (I mean by police, because you'll have the usual ID check upon boarding). Your passport control will occur when you'll leave the Schengen area, that is to say in CDG to reach the sterile zone at 2E.
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 3159 posts, RR: 71 Reply 8, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 935 times:
I wouldn't recommend less than 90 minutes, CDG can be a mess for changing planes. When I connected through CDG last time I arrived on the first flight from JFK (slightly delayed) and we got a remote parking position which seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. I only got my connection (planned transfer time 60 minutes) because I was picked up at the aircraft door by car.
Quoting EI A330-200 (Reply 2): I'm pretty sure, though, since both legs were purchased together and are both on AF, they will at least re-accomodate you (assuming the delay is not WX/ATC related).
Even if a delay is ATC related they will re-accomodate. Exactly that happened to me and I had the pleasure to spend a night at the IBIS...
Ikramerica From United States, joined May 2005, 18437 posts, RR: 60 Reply 10, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 916 times:
If the delay is weather related they will help you too. I think people get confused on this. Airlines are not responsible for weather in that they don't have to give you vouchers or hotel passes, but they are still obligated to fulfill their contract: flying you from point A to B...
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 909 times:
Quoting Goldorak (Reply 7): Your passport control will occur when you'll leave the Schengen area, that is to say in CDG to reach the sterile zone at 2E.
And as a US passport holder (I'm assuming) you'll be in the SLOOWWW line. Not that the EU line is much quicker, but they don't have to pretend to care.
Laddb From United States, joined Feb 2001, 165 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 897 times:
Since my reservations are through the cruise line, they will take care of hotel and food and will get us on the next flight they can. I've checked, and if I miss that AF 304 flight, there is nothing more for the day.
Possibly, if I get to Rome early, I will request an earlier flight. Looks like there is about one per hour.
Thanks to all who responded. I'll put up a trip report when I get back.
Goldorak From France, joined Sep 2006, 1092 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 878 times:
Quoting Laddb (Reply 12): if I miss that AF 304 flight, there is nothing more for the day
yes, it's the last of the 4 daily CDG-ATL flight
Quoting Laddb (Reply 12): Possibly, if I get to Rome early, I will request an earlier flight. Looks like there is about one per hour
you can try, but if it's a leisure trip you probably have a non-flexible ticket. And keep in mind that loads on FCO-CDG are usually very high. I flew this route 3 or 4 times this year and even with a fully flexible ticket, I was not able to take an earlier flight because they were all full. But, definitely, try it !
Jano From Slovak Republic, joined Jan 2004, 775 posts, RR: 9 Reply 14, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 800 times:
Quoting Laddb (Reply 5): Do I need to go through this as I will have done it in Rome and then won't be going outside the secured zone?
Yes, there is no way to avoid passport control 2E. What happen to me a few times in CDG when my inbound from VIE was late that an AF person lead us from 2D to 2E and then cut in the middle of the long passport control line. That saved me at least 10 minute wait.
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 651 posts, RR: 6 Reply 15, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 752 times:
Quoting Jano (Reply 14): Yes, there is no way to avoid passport control 2E. What happen to me a few times in CDG when my inbound from VIE was late that an AF person lead us from 2D to 2E and then cut in the middle of the long passport control line. That saved me at least 10 minute wait.
I'll be tranfering from 2D to 2F this Saturday and have 55 minutes to do so. I presume AF will already issue the boarding card for the flight from CDG at the airport I start the journey from, or will I have to get that sorted out as well in 55 mins?
Goldorak From France, joined Sep 2006, 1092 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 744 times:
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 15): I'll be tranfering from 2D to 2F this Saturday and have 55 minutes to do so. I presume AF will already issue the boarding card for the flight from CDG at the airport I start the journey from, or will I have to get that sorted out as well in 55 mins?
If you're flying AF (or skyteam airlines) for your whole trip, you'll have all your boarding pass at your first departure airport. You don't have to pick-up luggage as well, they will be tagged until your final destination.
Jano From Slovak Republic, joined Jan 2004, 775 posts, RR: 9 Reply 17, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 689 times:
Quoting Goldorak (Reply 16): If you're flying AF (or skyteam airlines) for your whole trip, you'll have all your boarding pass at your first departure airport. You don't have to pick-up luggage as well, they will be tagged until your final destination.
And if they tell you in the origin that they cannot give you all BPs (like they told me 2 times in VIE they they could give me only AF BP, but not NW BP) then remind them of SkyTeam Benefits http://www.skyteam.com/EN/benefits/skyteam_top10benefits/index.jsp and insist on getting all BPs at the start of your trip.
Single check-in
You only check-in once when connecting to other SkyTeam airline flights. ****
**** With a maximum of two SkyTeam airlines in your itinerary, and a maximum of three connections.
DABZF From Finland, joined Mar 2004, 1167 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 678 times:
2 hours was not enough for my parents to connect onto flight to MIA (AA) from HEL (AY) via CDG. They had luggage checked to MIA from HEL and they had boarding passes for the CDG-MIA flight - they missed the flight because of the security control took for ages!
So, good luck with your 45mins... *evil grin*
I like driving backwards in the fog cause it doesn't remind me of anything - Chris Cornell
Sponsor Message: 
From United States, joined Feb 2001, 165 posts, 
From Slovak Republic, joined Jan 2004, 775 posts, 
From Sweden, joined Apr 2001, 398 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From France, joined Sep 2006, 1092 posts, 
From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 3159 posts, 
From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 651 posts, 
From Finland, joined Mar 2004, 1167 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
