Same plane turnaround TUN
 

So I was looking at tickets ex TUN and have been looking at ways to get the TUN sector out of the way. The easiest would be to just do a quick turnaround AF1184/AF1185. This would also hedge myself when it comes to delays (I tried looking at other options to get to TUN and none of them are all that convenient).

My question is : Do you think a 1hour same plane turnaround is possible in TUN ? Can I get my return ticket issued in CDG ? If not is online check-in available ? Lastly, will I bill able to access the lounge in CDG since I will be flying in J on the way back.

I wouldn't try it. If you have to clear immigration, which is a disorganized mess that can take a while, and then re-clear migration it would take well over an hour. The airport's a disaster, even with a La Premiere escort through the diplomat lane.

You can't have your boarding pass on the app and also at CDG, you have to clear immigration, and good luck to do that in 1hour

If you don't know the airport, then you should automatically assume it's not possible.

Same-plane turnarounds are very much the exception rather than the rule. I would never recommend trying one "on spec", or having asked for opinions online. If you miss your flight, you're the only person responsible for recovering your wrecked plans.

(Don't forget that you are not required to travel to TUN with AF - you could travel with Nouvelair Tunisie who also fly from CDG, or with Transavia or Tunisair who fly from ORY. Just make sure to allow LOTS of time between flights. If it was me, I would plan to arrive the night before.)

Having gone to the effort of booking a ticket departing TUN (presumably to save money?), wouldn't it be an absolute shame to lose your ticket because you didn't bother to make sure you get to TUN in time to actually depart on that ticket? This also means complying with all entry requirements for TUN, should they apply in your case.

FWIW, nice hotels are cheap in Tunis and if you want to spend the evening in Sidi Bou Said you'll have a nice time. Pre-arrange an airport pickup, have a nice dinner, then get an arranged car (taxis will try to scam you) to connect to your outbound in the morning with AT LEAST THREE HOURS OF TIME to make your flight. I had two hours and a La Premiere escort and I had perhaps 15 minutes to spare once I cleared immigration and two security checks.

So you have P escort now through immigration in TUN ? That's great because I flew P from TUN 2 or 3 times and I was on my own at immigration (the last time was about 3 years ago I think). And it can be very messy. The 1st time, I spent about 1 hr in line (on departure).

I second that. Why bother with a same day turnaround when you can enjoy a great dinner by the sea?
Very nice city, very nice people.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to visit Tunis and have nothing against Tunisia or the Maghreb in general. But as I spend most of the year in Asia, far from the family and will only be with them in Europe for a couple of weeks I am trying to minimize the time spent away, I'd much rather have dinner and sleep at home than being alone in a 4/5 star on the shores of the Méditerranée.
I was trying to avoid Tunisair and Nouvelair as it seems their on-time performance isn't too great. Its a shame AF1284 doesn't operate during my stay. I guess I could just take an early flight and hope for the best, AF's timings really aren't too convenient unless you're travelling for business or maximizing holiday time ....
How much time would you recomment I spend in TUN to transit? Any information about the lounge situation ?

I don't see why you cannot do OLCI for TUN-CDG and print BP. Maybe AF has special rules for Tunis, but I remember being able to do it on Tunis Air.

Unless there is a way to transit in the international zone, this is hopeless. Only posters who have done such intal to intal transfer at TUN can tell you.
If you arrive in Y at the back of the plane, possibly after other international arrival, you could have a very long wait at arrival immigration. It is frustrating to see all kinds of "priority" passing ahead of you. I suggest 4 hours transfer time.
It would be indeed silly to lose your ticket to Asia.

It was definitely possible to make an international airside transfer in TUN some years ago, but we cannot take this as granted now (things may have changed). Same for OLCI : it was possible in the past, but security measures are very strict in TUN due to all the terrorist attacks the country suffered those last years and it is possible that OLCI is now blocked from Tunisia. I mean I don't know, so unless OP is obtaining clear information from AF that OLCI and airside transfer are possible, I agree with you that a 3 to 4 hrs transit time is the safest option.

AF uses the TU lounge. A very poor lounge, unless things have changed. I made a review in 2015 in the AF lounge thread.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25666911-post178.html

Then I would recommend you reconsider whether this unnecessary TUN adventure is the best use of your time.

I agree.
Another option would be to consider a one-stop alternative to AF. BA often has good fares in J from CDG to Asia. Depending on where you fly to, there are several options that can be cheap like AY or LX. That would be easier and faster than doing CDG-TUN then TUN-CDG-X.

The lounge is indeed poor. Not a great option. As far as I could see, there was no way upon landing to opt for a transfer instead of going to immigration. Plus, you can't get a boarding pass without going to the AF desk.

Indeed, if you want to maximize time, spending any amount of time traveling through TUN is a bad idea. It's just not a fast airport, in a country that's also not very fast or easy.

And Goldorak: yes, I was immediately greeted upon arrival by a staffer that helped me through the lines. As I wrote, it still took a VERY long time, but it all got done. You still do not get the VIP side-room service, though, sadly.

Some updated info for those wanting to do a turnaround in TUN, the experience I'm sharing is related to VY and LH flights but I don't see whey they would be different for any other airline - I'm adding to this thread to help future searchers. Keep in mind is that they do not allow OLCI in TUN. So either you get your return boarding pass before you take your outbound flight, or you need to find one at TUN.

Once you have deplaned, as you leave the concourse and before taking the stairs going down to immigration, look to the left and you'll see a small doorway up a few stairs with an equally small sign that says "connection" - unless you're looking for it you might not know it was there. They have an expedited security line there, and a small checkin counter that was able to get me a boarding pass. There is no need to go through the rugby scrum at immigration (twice), in fact they won't stamp your passport. They do give you a little receipt that says you went through. Total time was about five minutes and I was right in the departures area.

Now that I've done it a couple of times and know my way around, I'm not at all hesitant to do it again. N.b., both lounges are dire.

Nice to see that you succed to have your boarding pass at this counter. Try twice to do that, they never wanted to give me my boarding pass for both AF and AZ flights