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2 hours to connect in CDG. Is it enough?
Flying ATL-CDG-DXB on December 20. ATL-CDG is on Delta and CDG-DXB on Air France. I have never experienced CDG. When I booked the flight I thought two hours to connect should be plenty, but now I've been reading some things about CDG that worry me. Should I be okay with a two hour connection time? Are there any tricks more experienced CDG travelers know that might help me move through the airport more quickly?
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You should be fine with a 2-hr connection. There is a lot of CDG-bashing in this forum, but much of it is unfounded.
This link might be useful. |
Originally Posted by gypsycsc
(Post 17510383)
Flying ATL-CDG-DXB on December 20. ATL-CDG is on Delta and CDG-DXB on Air France. I have never experienced CDG. When I booked the flight I thought two hours to connect should be plenty, but now I've been reading some things about CDG that worry me. Should I be okay with a two hour connection time? Are there any tricks more experienced CDG travelers know that might help me move through the airport more quickly?
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2 hours should be enough.
Originally Posted by mAAine_flyer
(Post 17510403)
You should be fine with a 2-hr connection. There is a lot of CDG-bashing in this forum, but much of it is unfounded.
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Should be OK; have done it with less several times; but CDG is very confusing (especially first few times) so be prepared for a little anxiety! The gates are 'over named' in my opinion, e.g., 2F23, adding to the confusion. Long haul DL and AF gates are likely to be close, but no guarantee. Keep in mind your PM card will allow you to use Access 1 lines (expedited passport control - which is the most likely bottleneck).
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why don't you take the non-stop on Delta from ATL - DXB? Much better hard product and experience all around, you'll be on the 77L. And, did I mention non-stop? No connection in Paris?
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My typical CDG transfer experience: land on time or even a bit early, taxi around the perimeter of the airport at a leisurely pace, double back and then taxi a bit more, stop. Recommence taxiing. Look out the window and see the actual gate from which my next flight is leaving, then taxi for MANY more minutes, then see the gate where we're supposed to deplane, taxi past that, turn around, come back, dock up and deplane. . . . then get ready to power walk from one terminal to another -- and you'd think that the distance between 2E and 2D in one of the largest airports in Europe must be just a stone's throw, right? It's not as if you had to transfer from 7Q to 2D. But don't get complacent . . . . RUN! It's actually a nice aerobic workout between flights. Sacre bleu!
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Many bashing is unfounded? Oh please...I've connecting via CDG 4X and every time I had heartburn. I now avoid it like a plague unless my destination is Paris. In saying that, 2 hours should be okay. AMS is better by every way.
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Originally Posted by lepdx
(Post 17510624)
Many bashing is unfounded? Oh please...I've connecting via CDG 4X and every time I had heartburn. I now avoid it like a plague unless my destination is Paris. In saying that, 2 hours should be okay. AMS is better by every way.
... especially if your outgoing flight is delayed (not uncommon on Air France or CDG), in which case you may be spending a lot more than those 2 hours in the airport. |
Originally Posted by gypsycsc
(Post 17510383)
Flying ATL-CDG-DXB on December 20. ATL-CDG is on Delta and CDG-DXB on Air France. I have never experienced CDG. When I booked the flight I thought two hours to connect should be plenty, but now I've been reading some things about CDG that worry me. Should I be okay with a two hour connection time? Are there any tricks more experienced CDG travelers know that might help me move through the airport more quickly?
Regarding the CDG airport. Indeed it's difficult to navigate, too many options how to move from one terminal to another (2E to 2D is probably the worst connection), and the airport personnel very unhelpful. But to be honest, I get equally tired of walking in Atlanta as in CDG - I do some 20 connections per year in both. |
2h is more than sufficient, you arrive in terminal 2E and continue to DXB from 2F. There is no need to pass immigration. If you arrive in 2E satellite, transfer to 2F is very easy and fast, just follow the signs, if you arrive in 2E main hall, you have to take an airside bus to 2F, also follow the signs. Alternatively, you could walk from 2E to 2F, but that's landside, i.e. you have to pass immigration, which is usually painless as long as you can use fasttrack access #1. You might want to check immigration queues before taking the airside bus, as the bus will make a long tour with several stops before arriving at 2F despite walking is only about 200m once you have cleared immigration.
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Originally Posted by florin
(Post 17510459)
It is NOT unfounded. CDG is a toilet and everybody knows that. |
Originally Posted by mAAine_flyer
(Post 17510403)
There is a lot of CDG-bashing in this forum, but much of it is unfounded.
I had a 3 hour 45 minute layover last month that was shortened to 50 minutes from IAD via CDG to BUD. Even having to walk between terminals, going through security and getting to my gate I made the connection just as boarding was starting. Fortunately my luggage didn't make it - the airline delivered it the next day to where I was staying. No need to carry it with me! |
Originally Posted by florin
(Post 17510459)
It is NOT unfounded. CDG is a toilet and everybody knows that.
“Calling CDG the worst airport has practically become cliché… it is said so often that we’ve turned it into the ugly duckling,” said a representative of the ADP. http://plus.lefigaro.fr/note/the-mos...0111117-602084 No worries, this is a link to the English version of Le Figaro ;-) |
My typical CDG transfer experience: land on time or even a bit early, taxi around the perimeter of the airport at a leisurely pace, double back and then taxi a bit more, stop. Recommence taxiing. Look out the window and see the actual gate from which my next flight is leaving, then taxi for MANY more minutes, then see the gate where we're supposed to deplane, taxi past that, turn around, come back, dock up and deplane. . . . then get ready to power walk from one terminal to another -- and you'd think that the distance between 2E and 2D in one of the largest airports in Europe must be just a stone's throw, right? It's not as if you had to transfer from 7Q to 2D. But don't get complacent . . . . RUN! It's actually a nice aerobic workout between flights. Sacre bleu! Which reminds me of when my then 2 year old daughter threw up right after boarding one of those buses. It's the only time I've ever had an acceptable amount of personal space on one of those bus rides. :) |
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