I flew back to Paris from LAX last Sunday on United 932 and arrived around noon. UA flights use Satelite 1 of Terminal 1 at CDG. I got off the plane quickly and hurried to Immigration (on the "Transit" level - way before Customs, which you go through after claiming your luggage).

I found a HUGE mass of passengers waiting to funnel their way through the one immigration booth open (obviously more than a few flights had just arrived). There was no line whatsoever - just a giant blob of pax pushing and shoving and cutting into the "line". (Theodore Zeldin, an Oxford historian who studies France, once likened a French line to a triangle: the base of the triangle is the front of the line and the tip of the triangle is the back).

Anyhow, CDG 1 is circular and my jet-lagged brain lurched into action: I remembered that the other times this had happened I did a 180° half-lap around the terminal and found a second, empty and well-staffed Immigration station.

The two Immigration and Passport Control stations are on oppsite sides of each other - if one seems really busy, chances are the other isn't (this has always been my experience). The same trick applies for departures from CDG : you must go through Passport Control to leave France, and there are often crowds at one station and not at the other one half way around the circular terminal.

To make my above rambling even more coherent, here is a map from CDG's web site:

http://www.adp.fr/webadp/a_cont01.nsf/0/2DE4024A64B03C86C12569EE004E8C3C/$File/cdggrand.gif?OpenElement

The map is about as confusing as my post, but if you look at the diagram of the "Transfer Level", you will see two candy-cane striped areas exactly opposite of each other.

That's Immigration, there are two stations, if one is horribly crowded, try the other.

Thanks for the tip! I was not aware of the second immigration station, and have suffered more than my fair share of CDG's human inverted triangles. But the worst lines in my experience have been on departures trying to get through security into the satellite. Too bad there isn't an alternative method for that!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by robinhood:
Thanks for the tip! I was not aware of the second immigration station, and have suffered more than my fair share of CDG's human inverted triangles. But the worst lines in my experience have been on departures trying to get through security into the satellite. Too bad there isn't an alternative method for that!</font>

There is. See above:

"The same trick applies for departures from CDG : you must go through Passport Control to leave France, and there are often crowds at one station and not at the other one half way around the circular terminal."

Thanks blairvanhorn,

I was actually referring to the lines to get past security (x-ray and the like) prior to entering the satellite and after passing through passport control. I think passport/immigration is only half of the headache when travelling through CDG.

Great idea, blairvanhorn. I have found out thesame about six months ago, also coming from LAX on UA.

The problem since then was that whenever the other immigration post is not busy they close it down to have their coffee break. Civil servants after all !

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by robinhood:
Thanks blairvanhorn,

I was actually referring to the lines to get past security (x-ray and the like) prior to entering the satellite and after passing through passport control. I think passport/immigration is only half of the headache when travelling through CDG.</font>

You're absolutely right, ROBINHOOD. Those security checkpoints at CDG are really poorly placed. Passengers have been wandering around the duty free mall, shopping, eating, drinking, etc and then try to rush to their gate. Many don't know that the security checkpoints are waiting for them at the entrance to their boarding satelite, and then they have the long "people mover" ride out to the boarding area. It does lead to lots of congestion (and stress).

But whenever there is a big line (or not) they French customs people just wave you through. No looking at the passport, no stamps, nothing. I just did this on the way out of CDG today. There was a long line and they just waved us all through.

I go in and out of CDG many times per year. However I think it's been over 4 years since they stamped my passport.

Great stuff, blairvanhorn! Thanks for posting.

If I make a &lt; 23h 59m stopover on my way to/from the PiP in November I'll try this out. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

They might wave you through but somewhere someone will be scrutinised by immigration staff - especially if they arrived from some African / Asian / Indian nation. Then the queue will be held up no matter what!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by Guy Betsy:
They might wave you through but somewhere someone will be scrutinised by immigration staff - especially if they arrived from some African / Asian / Indian nation. Then the queue will be held up no matter what!

</font>

Very true. You can be sure that if you arrive at the same time as a flight from Pakistan or Egypt, for example, the French Immigration officers will take plenty of time to look over each pax travel documents. The problem of illegal immigration is a major one in France - though it doesn't merit the kind of rude treatment that pax from certain countries sometimes receive from overzealous Immigration officers.

Thnaks for the info......I'm going there in September.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Guy Betsy:
They might wave you through but somewhere someone will be scrutinised by immigration staff - especially if they arrived from some African / Asian / Indian nation. Then the queue will be held up no matter what!

</font>

This is certainly true. We were a bit surprised last month to simply be waived through at CDG, along with the other "white" people -- Americans, Canadians, EU, Argentine passengers, while African, Indian Subcontinent, etc were scrutinized.

I found the same problem at CDG 2A(?) a few weeks back. Long lines to get through security and immigration (AA flight to JFK as well as a AF 742 flight to some Caribbean country) caused a hugh backlog. I found another (empty) immigration and security line to go through and got to the gate area which involved having to go upstairs through an airport restaurant.

Blair, dude, you are a stud! Are you American??? You are either American or you speak the best English for a Frenchman http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif.
I am impressed.

Ok, for CDG, the worst is Terminal 1 in the afternoon, departing. They had a massive line going out, with EVA Air being the main culprit, with only 2 officers checking and I think that the Taiwanese had to have departure cards, hence, it took longer. I was grateful that I had more time to spare, though I would have preferred to spend it at the lounge/salon.

Also, leaving on AA to Miami, an early afternoon flight, they leave from 2A, the same as the African flights, ah, need I say more? The officer(ah, she was cute! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif ) looked at each page of the passport, hence, the lines were insane. Again, cost me lounge time (growl! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif ). Plus, the terminals are too small and narrow. I have no idea why they designed these things like this, vs. Frankfurt and London which is much bigger and roomier.

When I arrived, I did the same trick you mentioned, went around, and it is fun to see all the shops. With the new Schengen area(which seems to keep getting bigger), it doesn't take that long. I had an ELAL flight come in and the dear souls just cut in line and walked to the front and ingored doing that waiting in line thing. I was not pleased that the French didn't chastize them, as it was so rude. They did the same thing in Zurich, more growl. It is fun to watch, was not in a hurry, but I hope that waiting in line counts for something.

Again, these are good posts. I think I have found a new home. Ciao.

------------------
MD
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold

Blairvanhorn:
Thanks!
I was not aware of this. Entered CDG only arriving/departing from/to Schengen-Euroland, with almost no checks, immigration.
Question: What do I have to expect when I arrive (with UA,AA, AF) at CDG with transfer to Euroland (Rome, Lisbon..)??

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">... but I hope that waiting in line counts for something.</font>

WT36: It counts if you believe in karma! I'm American, living here in Paris 14+ years.

USAFAN: I'm not sure about your question. If you are traveling into CDG on UA, you arrive at Terminal 1. With AA/AF, Terminal 2. I never transfer at CDG, as it is my home airport, so I can't answer your question about the transfer to inter-European flights between terminals. I've seen this information here, though, and I'll try to find the thread(s) that discuss the shuttles between terminals. Also, if you fly UA, you should try to stay on Star Alliance carriers for ease of transfer to your final European destination (if at all possible).

This may be tangentially related but for a 1pm flight (Feb 27) on CO from CDG to EWR, what time should I arrive at CDG to have enough time to do about 30 minutes of shopping once I've been 'processed' by security and immigration? Is getting there at 10am enough or must I arrive earlier?


One more question. I arrive at Orly midday from BCN. Any pointers about going through immigration there as an American citizen flying from BCN on Iberia? Is it easy to get a shuttle into Paris? I'm still trying to find a hotel. The recommendations here have been great, but they are all booked.
Thanks,
Analise

[This message has been edited by Analise (edited 01-15-2002).]

Posted by Analise:
One more question. I arrive at Orly midday from BCN. Any pointers about going through immigration there as an American citizen flying from BCN on Iberia?
======================================
I can answer this one.
There is not much immigration, may be nothing at all; you are within Schengen-Euroland. It's almost like you go from NY to NJ, almost. Sometimes they "close boarders". They did this in 2001 when this meeting was in Genoa/Italy to prevent riots.

USAFAN:

There is a 'secure' shuttle between terminals for transit passengers; however I don't recall seeing one for Schengen countries.

The procedure for transferring to a Schengen country (plus Geneva, for some reason) now seems to be: clear immigration at CDG, enter France, go to your Schengen-area terminal by your own means. The reason being other Schengen countries do not check flights from France. Let us know if you find something better!

As blair mentioned, I would try to avoid an annoying CDG1-CDG2 transfer (about 4 busses per hour)

Many AF Schengen flights leave from terminal 2F, which has a better selection of free newspapers (available to everyone) than most lounges. No complimentary drinks though http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif . If you have a long layover, the restaurant in the left corner of 2F is one of the better airport eateries in Europe I find.


Analise:

All transfer info at: http://www.adp.fr/webadp/a_cont01_an.nsf/$$Affich?ReadForm&cle=X400

I usually favor the Air France busses.

No immigrations or customs at Orly for Schengen arrivals, barring special circumstances.

Not much shopping to do in the CDG2 terminals IMO; it is the only advantage CDG1 has...

If you are a CO elite, arriving at 10am should be good enough. The time consuming part is the 'interview', last conducted (in my case) by a 'guilty-until-proven-innocent', unpleasant contractor who spoke neither French nor English well; as an American you should have no problems.

[This message has been edited by monahos (edited 01-15-2002).]