Originally Posted by
Saidoh
I had a connection choice of JFK-AMS or JFK-CDG, so I went for AMS hands down.
Guess you haven't transited CDG in a while. Both DXB and JFK operate out of 2E, meaning best case there's no terminal (pier) change, and worst case there's a short train ride (to an adjacent pier). Under most circumstances, this is less than a 15 minute transfer, plus a few minutes to reclear security.
Originally Posted by
injera
I disagree with everyone and would take the earlier flight out of CDG. This way if theres an issue with your DXB->CDG or CDG->JFK flight and you miss your CDG->JFK flight you can try and get on the second flight.
If you opt for the 2nd CDG-JFK flight and it has problems you'll then run the risk of missing your flight to DCA (or even getting stuck in Paris overnight.)
I agree with your disagreement. CDG-JFK operates around 5 times a day, so we're not talking about a single flight. As long as you don't book a connection to the last flight of the day, you'll have plenty of rerouting options out of CDG (including not via JFK).
If you arrive in JFK early enough, there's even the possibility of SDC/SDS to an earlier flight home (since the itinerary is no longer international at that point).
IMO the only argument for a longer break in CDG is the lounges there are nicer, especially if the JFK flight departs from 2E-M.