We have flown the non-stop DTW-CDG once or twice a year since it started about 15 years ago. Arrived at Terminal 1, went to the rental car counter, took the elevator up a couple of levels to rental car level of the car park, and drove out of the terminal , all within 30 minutes (no checked luggage).

Returning was also a breeze: stay at a nice small hotel 2-3 hours from Paris, drive to the same level of the car park to return the car, down to NW checkin and check luggage, through security and passport control and up to the lounge (Salon Bleriot, I think) all within <30 minutes from arrival at Terminal 1. Last did this in January.

Ah, but in June or so NW moved to Terminal 2. Today checked luggage at AF in TLS,( visited the nice AF lounge with free internet access), then flew AF to terminal 2F at CDG, arrived 12:00, walked a short distance to Terminal 2E, then waited for ca 20 minutes to go through passport control, another 15 for security, another walk to "Gate" 87, and then a 12-15 minute bus ride for what seemed miles but was probably less to a free-standing building with no drive-up access for the public, no car park, and no jetways. Then another long wait for NW security. Altogether almost 2 hours of walking, waiting, bussing. And all this without having to check luggage or return a car at what must be some outlying area. Add those in and I imagine it might take 3 hours. Talk about "if it ain't broke don't fix it". I believe the long lines are the result of compressing many different areas for security and passport control into one area, without a corresponding increase in personnel.

The FA thought NW might have been compelled by Aeroports de Paris to make the move, so perhaps this was not just a poorly planned move by NW. In any case, our days of short pleasure trips to France are over for now