thanks guy.

i was worried that it'd be like connecting flights at american airports - customs, drag luggage to other terminal and checkin again.

just found this from the cx website
http://www.cathaypacific.com/intl/news/2nd/
"If you are departing from a French provincial airport or another European airport, and transiting through Paris CDG airport to connect onto CX260 Paris-Hong Kong, you are advised to check in your baggage to Paris CDG, and then to check it in again on to CX260, due to frequent delays in sorting transit baggage at the airport. The same applies to passengers flying on CX261 Hong Kong–Paris and beyond: baggage should be retrieved at Paris CDG and rechecked onto the connecting flight to avoid baggage delay."

any thoughts? would love to avoid the hassle of checking bags to CDG and re checking again - but would love even more to arrive at HEL with bag intact.