France - Beware of CDG connections to non-AF airlines with checked baggage!!!

FYI all, got burned today big time and witnessed and heard of this ongoing issue directly. CDG baggage handlers are letting non AirFrance/KLM/Delta bags miss their connecting flights!!

We Checked luggage for Aus-ord-cdg on AA in Biz, then Thru checked at check-in to Air France cdg-vie..the tags clearly showed the various airlines and flights.
ALL of our 3 bags (2 people) missed the connection. 4 hr layover in cdg so no issue there they also missed Multiple connecting flights!

In Vienna lost luggage agent tracked bags to still in CDG and not arriving until 8 or 10 pm... 3rd or 4th flights after the one they were supposed to be on.

agent said 14 people had their luggage left in CDG just from our flt and it's an issue with Air France Doing it on purpose for United and AA bags

I witnessed 2 van loads of hotels "to be dropped" bags ALL with United or AA luggage tags!!! 1/2 the bags also had priority tags on them. At the lost luggage counter ALL the bags I saw sitting out front or being take off the conveyor belt for lost luggage storage also had United or AA tags on them.

Seems like the <redacted> at CDG are purposefully Leaving non Air France partner thru checked bags from UA and AA and it appeared that they were specifically targeting Priority tagged bags.

Ridiculous and beware!

being without our suites, ties and dresses won't go over well at the Opera and Xmas events etc...
Read the t&c's of our travel medical insurance and delayed luggage is covered if not received within 12 hrs to $250/ in necessary personal items so if the bags arean't here when we wake up at least we'll have $500 to buy some clothes.

Bigshaker

most baseless/non-facts post in awhile. I love that the OP saw and visually checked ALL bags and tags from 2 full vans.

most baseless/non-facts post in awhile. I love that the OP saw and visually checked ALL bags and tags from 2 full vans.

Yes In fact I did check every bag, the vans were parked by the taxi's and outside the lost luggage area. I wanted to be sure my bags were not amongst them. Total between the 2 vans was about 30 bags.
Outside the lost luggage center same thing, I wanted to see where the flights were from, and there were 2 nicely sorted groups of about 8 bags each.

"This is the most non fact post in a long time!!??" All fact from what I saw and was told

WADR anyone who connects at CDG and is not AF to AF (or other ST alliance) is asking for trouble. It sux- checked bags or not.

Yes In fact I did check every bag, the vans were parked by the taxi's and outside the lost luggage area. I wanted to be sure my bags were not amongst them. Total between the 2 vans was about 30 bags.
Outside the lost luggage center same thing, I wanted to see where the flights were from, and there were 2 nicely sorted groups of about 8 bags each.

"This is the most non fact post in a long time!!??" All fact from what I saw and was told

and even so, are we suppose to believe from this ONE data point/instance that CDG baggage handlers are sabbotaging ALL AA/UA bags??

fyi....lost baggage agent told you whatever you wanted to hear to make you happy. this is by no means a fact.

most of us here carry-on :)

Yes In fact I did check every bag, the vans were parked by the taxi's and outside the lost luggage area. I wanted to be sure my bags were not amongst them. Total between the 2 vans was about 30 bags.
Outside the lost luggage center same thing, I wanted to see where the flights were from, and there were 2 nicely sorted groups of about 8 bags each.

"This is the most non fact post in a long time!!??" All fact from what I saw and was told


I am a regular (monthly for 25 years) traveler on AA between the US and CDG, sometimes continuing onwards and I believe that I know what I am talking about:

What you saw are bags from groups (who may have traveled on AA) claimed out of customs and going to places like Disneyland or other resorts / Hotels. NOT connecting bags.

THIS BEING SAID, it is a well known fact that bag transfers at CDG are horrendous (even AF to AF) and that, unless one has a 6 hour connection, one should claim bags in CDG and recheck. This is what I do whenever possible, not only in CDG but also regularly at LHR. I actually try to do it everywhere excep for connections in Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore.

One exception is if you do not materially have the time to claim and recheck. AVOID these connections. They may be "Legal" in airlinespeak but they are hopeless. Not only won't your bag make it, you probably won't either. The situation is diametrally opposed to, say, AA connections in ORD, DFW or MIA where, as one agent once told me : "Bags transfer quicker than pax. If YOU make the flight, your bag will". With very rare exceptions, I find this to be true.

PS: Connecting bags on the same van from AA and UA at CDG are a TECHNICAL IMPOSSIBILITY: The 2 airlines use terminals (1 and 2A) which are 2 miles apart and the transfer routes are totally different.

being without our suites, ties and dresses won't go over well at the Opera and Xmas events etc...
Bigshaker

PS2: You can't bring your suite to the Opera anyways..... If it comes to the worst, try listen to the opera in your suite...:D

Sometimes bags make it, sometimes they don't. More often than not, they do. But, 2 vans is hardly anything conclusive. CDG handles over 150,000 pax a day.

This has nothing to do with American Airlines, nor any specific airline at all; it will relocate to the France Forum, as it is really comprised of allegations about baggage handling at CDG / Paris - Charles de Gaulle International Airport.

Closed pending review.

Jouy31
France forum co-moderator

Edited to add: review completed