Time from TGV to flight at CDG
Jun 23, 2014, 2:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: DL PM; SPG Gold; HH Gold
Posts: 10
Time from TGV to flight at CDG
I'm scheduled to be on DL271 from CDG-EWR in mid-July.
The flight departs CDG at 1:30pm. I'll be departing from Poitiers that morning and unfortunately the earliest TGV to the airport doesn't arrive there until 11:45am. Am I completely nuts to do that (even assuming that I'm just carrying on)?
Thanks for the help.
The flight departs CDG at 1:30pm. I'll be departing from Poitiers that morning and unfortunately the earliest TGV to the airport doesn't arrive there until 11:45am. Am I completely nuts to do that (even assuming that I'm just carrying on)?
Thanks for the help.
Jun 23, 2014, 3:13 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: DL DM; SPG Gold
Posts: 1,733
I'm scheduled to be on DL271 from CDG-EWR in mid-July.
The flight departs CDG at 1:30pm. I'll be departing from Poitiers that morning and unfortunately the earliest TGV to the airport doesn't arrive there until 11:45am. Am I completely nuts to do that (even assuming that I'm just carrying on)?
Thanks for the help.
The flight departs CDG at 1:30pm. I'll be departing from Poitiers that morning and unfortunately the earliest TGV to the airport doesn't arrive there until 11:45am. Am I completely nuts to do that (even assuming that I'm just carrying on)?
Thanks for the help.
Now if you know CDG well and start running right away in the right direction, have your BP printed and are eligible for skypriority, and your flight departs from one of the closest terminal (not the far away satellites), you might be able to make it.
Alternatively, you could take the last TGV the night before and stay at the Sheraton. Would make a much less stressful experience...
Jun 23, 2014, 3:36 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: Delta Plat, CO Gold, AF
Posts: 403
As long as your train arrives on time I don't see a problem with carry on only. 1:45 is plenty of time from the TGV into the terminal. That should leave you approx. 1 hour before boarding starts. When you arrive at CDG go up the stairs and you are in the terminal. Clear passport control and security and you are on your way. 30 minutes tops.
With that said, if you are checking bags or France decides to have one of their bi-weekly transit/train strikes you could be screwed.
I have seen the check in lines at DL/AF get really bad in the early afternoon.
I agree that the less stressfull answer is an overnight at the Sheraton if that works with your schedule.
With that said, if you are checking bags or France decides to have one of their bi-weekly transit/train strikes you could be screwed.
I have seen the check in lines at DL/AF get really bad in the early afternoon. I agree that the less stressfull answer is an overnight at the Sheraton if that works with your schedule.
Jun 23, 2014, 3:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 93
You'll probably be fine, but French bureaucracy is unpredictable. If immigration feels like being slow that day you might be in trouble.
If you don't want an overnight at the Sheraton, another option if you don't have too much luggage is to get to Montparnasse by 9:30am and take Metro+RER to CDG from there. That should get you to CDG by 11am.
If you don't want an overnight at the Sheraton, another option if you don't have too much luggage is to get to Montparnasse by 9:30am and take Metro+RER to CDG from there. That should get you to CDG by 11am.
Jun 23, 2014, 3:57 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,621
Do Not Do It
If the train arrives on time it will take 20 min to reach the counter. There will be a line, probably for the next flight. A different story if you are in F. T H E problem is security which can be really slow at CDG. Then you have a walk/train ride to the terminal. Don't do it. Spend the night in Paris or at 
CDG.
CDG.
Jun 23, 2014, 4:10 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: DL PM; SPG Gold; HH Gold
Posts: 10
Thanks for the help everyone.
I unfortunately can't depart Poitiers until the morning, so it looks like the Poitiers to Montparnasse and either taxi or Metro/RER to the airport is the best.
I unfortunately can't depart Poitiers until the morning, so it looks like the Poitiers to Montparnasse and either taxi or Metro/RER to the airport is the best.
Jun 23, 2014, 4:10 pm
#7
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One-hour and forty-five minutes between the scheduled TGV arrival and a flight's departure would be cutting it a bit too close for me. If everything -- train arrival, security, check-in, customs, proximity of the boarding gate -- falls the right way, then chances would be good. But a glitch or two in the process would be fatal.
As others have advised, it would be wiser to arrive at CDG the night before and stay at one of the many hotels at the airport.
As others have advised, it would be wiser to arrive at CDG the night before and stay at one of the many hotels at the airport.
Jun 23, 2014, 6:15 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 93
There is also an Air France bus from Gare Montparnasse to CDG. It's slower than a taxi (stops at Gare de Lyon) and way slower than Metro+RER (deals with traffic), but way cheaper than a taxi and more convenient than Metro+RER (especially if you don't know how to navigate the system and might have trouble getting the right ticket for going to CDG). The bus leaves every hour on the half hour - plan for 2 hours to CDG though it usually will be more like 1.5 hours.
Jun 23, 2014, 6:39 pm
#9
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Jun 23, 2014, 9:28 pm
#10
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Not if OP takes an earlier regular train to Paris from that other French city. Then OP must get from a train station in downtown Paris to CDG.
Jun 23, 2014, 9:33 pm
#11
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Jun 24, 2014, 9:55 am
#12
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Keeping in mind that I have Sky Priority, know CDG pretty well, speak French, and have a pretty high tolerance for close shaves, I'd do this without hesitation.
As long as the train is on time you will get to 2E within 5-15 mins. Leaving 1:30 to deal with passport, security and that shuttle train to L or M.
I haven't seen lines that long in a very long time.
(But again. I get Access 1 with SP, so it's possible I just never noticed huge lines.)
Adding the schlep from Montparnasse seems like a real...schlep.
As long as the train is on time you will get to 2E within 5-15 mins. Leaving 1:30 to deal with passport, security and that shuttle train to L or M.
I haven't seen lines that long in a very long time.
(But again. I get Access 1 with SP, so it's possible I just never noticed huge lines.)
Adding the schlep from Montparnasse seems like a real...schlep.
Jun 25, 2014, 1:39 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Greater CDG Area
Programs: DL DM; *A-Gold
Posts: 822
I'm scheduled to be on DL271 from CDG-EWR in mid-July.
The flight departs CDG at 1:30pm. I'll be departing from Poitiers that morning and unfortunately the earliest TGV to the airport doesn't arrive there until 11:45am. Am I completely nuts to do that (even assuming that I'm just carrying on)?
Thanks for the help.
The flight departs CDG at 1:30pm. I'll be departing from Poitiers that morning and unfortunately the earliest TGV to the airport doesn't arrive there until 11:45am. Am I completely nuts to do that (even assuming that I'm just carrying on)?
Thanks for the help.
Jun 25, 2014, 9:04 pm
#14
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My father lives in Geneva and I often take the TGV from Geneva to CDG.
I have cut it close a few times and have never had a problem.
A couple of points:
1. Despite the French reputation for less than stellar punctuality, in my experience the TGV is tremendously reliable and on-time.
2. It will not take you 20 minutes to go from the TGV station to the Terminal. I'm assuming you are taking off from Terminal 2E. That will take 10 minutes at the most, since the TGV station is adjacent to Terminal 2E.
3. If you have SkyPriority, security will almost certainly be quick and painless.
Of course, anything can happen, but I think this is a perfectly prudent plan going into CDG.
I have cut it close a few times and have never had a problem.
A couple of points:
1. Despite the French reputation for less than stellar punctuality, in my experience the TGV is tremendously reliable and on-time.
2. It will not take you 20 minutes to go from the TGV station to the Terminal. I'm assuming you are taking off from Terminal 2E. That will take 10 minutes at the most, since the TGV station is adjacent to Terminal 2E.
3. If you have SkyPriority, security will almost certainly be quick and painless.
Of course, anything can happen, but I think this is a perfectly prudent plan going into CDG.