Good ol' CDG
 

Arrival of CX 261 HKG-CDG on friday morning (Apr 15):

As most of the time, CX landed earlier than schedule ^.
- "Luggage will be arriving at belt 7": 20 min waiting, no luggage
- "Sorry luggage will be arriving at belt 5 due to technical problem": five hundred people (from two flights) have to move with empty cart from a congested luggage area to another even more congested one: 20 min
- AA flight from JFK arrived and have its baggage on the same luggage belt as CX 261: beginning of the chaos
-After a good heavy hour, luggage start arriving. As I have a first priority tag, I hope I will be among the first to get my suitcase. Forgot I was in CDG, first priority tag will usually put your luggage at the very end of the queue, maibe they cant read english... . Another 30 min wait.
- Finally manage to get the suitcase, just as I was going to file the form for lost luggage..., find my way out of the chaos trough custom and then arrive @ Hertz where I'm told that my car wont be ready before another 30 min.

As someone said recently, service is just not in their DNA in Europe, especially at CDG should I say.....

I dont even get mad anymore, just observe the chaos like if I was Claude Lévi-Strauss' assistant on duty..... ;)

Of course this is going to be generalization. However, as an Asian America growing up in USA but having roots in Taiwan, I have come to realize you just have to accept things the way they are. You can't expect NA and Europeans to match the level of service and efficiency of CX and HKG, but at the end, I would rather live in the comfort of high quality and standard of life in USA over HKG/Taiwan any day. Just have to take the good and the bad.

Thank goodness globalization is making that possible. So at least when we fly we can stick with CX, divert through ports like HKG, and minimize our pains as much as possible.

CDG is just a horrid airport, whichever way you look at it. Particularly the ghastly T2A/T2B.

Two basic rules in my travel schedule
1. Avoid CDG
2. If CDG can't be avoided travel with carry-on only (especially when connecting)

It is not just CDG. Even trains (along the Rivera) are not often on schedule. Perhaps try FRA next time...

Always AMS and FRA ahead of CDG ^

Last night, I landed from OZ five minutes late. Cos J class, Gate 2 and HKID, got to the luggage belt in a couple of minutes and FURIOUS to wait over ten minutes for bags to be delivered (they are usualy waiting for us). Many bags had priority tags and mine were delivered among the last ones (but ahead of non-priority bags). So a total of 15min wait in luggage area (and probably around 23min after the plane door opened). SHAME on HKIA/CX!

Although the above story is true, I hope that all readers understand that I am playing humour in showing what is a "poor" experience here as opposed to CDG. Contrary to Cathay Boy, I am a HK transplant of French origin but have less patience with CDG and French unions as I must go there often. Arriving in morning at CDG 1 or 2 is often an extremely unpleasant experience (assuming that they do not misplace or open your bags) and then the mostly inefficient way to get a cab in freezing cold....

BTW Cathay Boy, I noticed your preference of USA over HK. My beautiful wife and moi are in love with Hong Kong.

Hertz chaos at CDG has nothing to do with airport. Herz closed their Hertz Gold facility at CDG2/ABCD resulting in huge lines. After waiting for 40 mnts just to be attended with line not moving, I went to Avis as a walk-up, got a car for 80 euros more than booked, complained to Hertz which accepts to refund difference upon sending Hertz reservation and Avis invoice. They are aware of it. DO THE SAME....

I fully respect these rules as they are also mines and i just go through whatever it takes to stick to it.
I usually get to my final destination (Brussels) via LHR.

Heh heh, you are right. I was "furious" when HK Customs asked me to wait 5 minutes because I had a new passport. I guess I am used to E-Channel and the high efficiency of HKG, LOL

As for living in Hong Kong. I can't see myself living in HK or Taiwan long term. Sorry but I guess I'm used to big houses and carpets. As great as the food, proximity to Macau, Saunas, shopping, etc. My preference is always big house, big yard, carpet floors. Especially HK is not really dog friendly as I am a great lover of big dogs.

Not unique to CDG this...
 

HKG is routinely ranked as one of the best airports on earth, and we all know why: It simply works!

The CDG-experience is not unique to CDG. When flying into the relatively more provincial CPH airport, it always surprises me how they can put it on their screens that the first bags will arrive 25-30 minutes after you arrive at the conveyor belt...

Now, if anyone wants to complain about airports, you should try KTM on for size! :p

Sorry to go OT, but too curious about this comment re KTM... Will be going there for first time on Wed. Grateful for your experiences!

Walking carpets! :)