swdke

GenevaFlyer, thank you for your reply. I'd like to clarify, I understand that by taking the transfer shuttle, I clear immigration at 2D which saves me from having to clear immigration at 2E instead, correct? Does this in itself save me time, is the immigration que at 2E longer?

I have a 1 hr. 20 min. connection time to get from 2D to 2E, will this be sufficient time?

Is my biggest challenge and time consuming process getting through secuirt at 2E? How bad are the ques at security at 2E that I will have to go through?

Thank you.

JOUY31

Well, if you are not an Elite+ passenger, it is usually faster to clear immigration in 2D than in 2E. In addition, taking the transfer shuttle is simpler IMHO than walking from 2D to 2E. 1h20 should be OK if your flight from CPH is on time, although a bit short. I usually prefer a more leisurely pace for my connections.

swdke

JOUY31, Thanks again for the reply. Should my 1 hr. 20 min. layover be okay, or too tight of a connection. Will Security at 2E be my biggest obstacle?

swdke

I am curious, I've read on threads here on FT that 2E can be difficult and resulting in missed flights. I was wondering, where is this bottleneck that is causing the problem? Is it immigration, and by the way, is immigraton same as "passport control,", or is it security that causes the long lines/ques? Or both?

I will be transfering from an AF CPH flight arriving in 2D and taking the transfer shuttle where I understand I go through immigrations which is reported to have minimal lines/ques. But, once I arrive at 2E for my continued AF flight to EWR, that I will still have to go through security. My impression is that since I will have clearned immigration at 2D, I'll not have to do it again at 2E which should save me from a que/line there. With bypassing this 2E immigration, how much time am I saving? Will I be avoiding what could possibly be a long line at 2E immigration? Last, how long of a line can I expect at 2E security, and how long does it generally take to get through security at 2E?

Thanks so much.

Thanks.

bmchris

I'm looking to book an award ticket, business class all the way, with a connection of ROM-CDG-SFO. I'm also NWA Platinum/Skyteam Elite+. This is for travel in June '10.

The itinerary calls for Alitalia 316 dep ROM 7.20am, arr CDG 9.30am, Terminal 2F. Connecting to Terminal 2E AF084 dep 10.30am.

Pros of getting the connection
- NWA shows this as a legal connection
- Business class
- Skyteam Elite+
- No need to wait for a shuttle
- Early morning flight

Cons of getting the connection
- Flight delays
- Alitalia being inefficient

Thoughts and comments on whether this connection is a risk worth taking? Will AF rebook us in Business for the next day if we miss the flight? What happens to our luggage if so? Will AF have a personal escort for such a tight connection to the USA?

TIA!

JOUY31

This is peak time for flights to the US. It could be done, but I would personally not risk it.

GenevaFlyer

Hi swdke,

Some answers:

- Yes, immigration and passport control are the same thing. Technically, you would be going through emigration control since you are leaving Schengen at CDG.

- The wait can be (a) at passport control, (b) security, or (c) both.

- Once you go through passport control at 2D, you will only have to face security at 2E indeed.

- Lines at 2E passport control can be short, as in almost empty (which was my most recent experience), or, especially if you are not elite/C/F passenger, 30-45 minutes long.

- 2E security can also be quite painful. The last time I went through, they insisted on not only having my laptop outside my backpack, but also any chargers/cables/GPS/mobile phone/...

In general, security coming from the 2D shuttle is faster than the general security checkpoint just after passport control at 2E.

Overall, the bottlenecks will vary, depending on the number of officers checking passports or the number of open security lanes. In 2F, it's always worth peaking on the side of 2F1 to see if the side entrance has a line. If not, it can be faster than the elite line at the main entrance. At other times, it's better to make the detour to the main entrance on the other hand ...

So no easy answer, but the 2D transfer shuttle is definitely recommended.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

dolcevita

Awesome thread, thanks so much for the great info. I scanned 30+ pages and did find some info about connecting between 2E and 2F but would appreciate an update. Here's my situation:

Arrive from ATL on Monday, mid-August, 8:40 am at 2E, depart to non-Shengen destination at 10:10 from 2F.
Is walking still the fastest way? That seems to be the most common recommendation I found here. How bad is passport control and security on Monday morning? Bad enough to make the bus the better option? US passport holder.

I had the same connection a month ago and made the mistake of taking the bus. It took FOREVER and the security line at 2F was out of this world, I've never, in all my years of flying seen anything this bad. I (and 15 people) from my flight missed our connections, so I wonder if walking might not be preferable.

Thanks a lot!

swdke

GenevaFlyer, thanks for the reply and information. Above, you state that security from 2D is faster than "the general security checkpoint just after passport control at 2E." Does this mean that there are actually two security checkpoints at 2E, one for those coming on the shuttle from 2D, and another after passport control for those needing to pass through immigration at 2E?

Thanks!

GenevaFlyer

Hi there,

Actually, looking at the terminal map ... the answer is slightly different ... at 2E, after passport control, there is a split, depending on which gate you are heading to.

If you are leaving from 2E S3, you will take the automated train to get to Security. If you are departing from gates E28 through E47, you will go through security right after immigration.

The shuttle from 2D leaves you at the same security for 2E S3 I'm sure. I can't remember where it drops you for the other gates.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

Winkdaddy

My friend will be flying from ATL-CDG on Delta 22...she lands at 11:30am. Then she connects to PRG and her flight leaves at 1:15 on Air France. Looks like a 1 hour and 45 minute connection time. The Delta website does not yet show what terminals she will be going in and out of. Is there a way to tell this now, or do you think this connection time is OK based on this info?

thx!

orbitmic

The air france website has a very nice CDG transfers' section where you can not only tell which terminals she'll be arriving at and leaving from but also what's the best way to get from the former to the latter. It is under the 'information and services' section then 'at the airport'.

Winkdaddy

Thanks! Its looking like the hour and 45 minutes will be enough time.

polarissilver

Long time lurker, first time poster. My friend and I are thinking of flying LHR-CDG-JFK on AF in order to get a flight on the A380. I looked through this thread but didn't want to read all 57 pages...Will all the flights be in 2E and will we have to pass through passport control/immigration at all to make our connection? Please advise and thanks for your help in advance.

Basset

Hi,

Scanned through as much of the thread as I can but can't find the answer so I hope someone can help.

MAN-CDG-MIA route with a 6 month old baby.

The plan is to buy the milk and baby-juice after security at MAN (using the Boots pre-order service) but this depends on security checkpoints at CDG.

We'll be arriving and departing from 2E - will we have to clear a security checkpoint again ?

There's a 1 hour 30 minute lay-over which I would have thought was ok unless security very very bad.