CDG is such a dump
 

Terminal 1, I guess 2 is better.

But, my God, what a hole. Third World at best. Furniture is ratty, floors are horrid, and it smells.

Is this thing going to be torn down any time soon?

Some of the most modern airports in the world (though not necessarily the bests) are in the Third World eg KUL

And I dont understand the concept of having so many "independent" terminals at CDG. I find the AMS concept of having a central plaza with different "sub-terminals" more user-friendly.

I feel a kind of affection for CDG. It's screwy, but I kind of get it.

Well, Terminal 1 is the oldest... It was a revolution in design when it was built... Tastes change.

I don't mind CDG: By now I almost know every nook and cranny and I like it for connecting flights.
AMS I have never liked as every time I had a connection, the gate I was supposed to go seemed always to be the farthest of them all. Miles of walking... Each his own taste.

Bad it may be, but it beats LHR anytime.

mike

^ ^

I love terminal 1 if you can see past the layer of dust and grime it is a revolutionary architectual design. It's so 1960s Kubrick, Barbarella, The Jetsons and I think reflects the spirt and hope of jet travel from that time. It is easy to get about the terminal and everything is logically placed. I have never suffered the delays at terminal 1 that I have at terminal 2. That said, in what I perceive as a great tradition for French "grand travaux", it suffers from the "build it and forget it" syndrome. It has fallen into great disrepair and should have been renovated ages ago. Fortunately renovations have begun and it should be returned to its former glory in the next few years.

Terminal 2 is nice if you are in the newer Air France terminals that are very open and airy with the high uninterrupted ceiling and large glassed walls. The older terminal 2 buildings are similar in design but the checkin area is much smaller causing pedistrain flow problems and the inside of the terminal is more cluttered with small structures. They also are starting to show signs of "build it and forget it" as they are falling into disrepair and need a thorough cleaning which I would assume will not happen any time soon.

Cdg
 

Second that ^ ^ .And my partner LOVES the smoking room at the CDG RCC.

Ahhh Terminal 1, aka The Human Habitrail

Terminal 1 is a dump. Plain and simple. Add in the marvelous French "efficiencies" at Passport Control and you get all the downsides of a 3rd world country with none of the fun adventures.

Fly into SFO and get a nostalgic whiff of what it was like in a totalitarian state such as China and the Soviet Union and of a police state à la Berlin 1938...

Paris anytime ;)

speaking of passport efficiencies, we are thinking of arriving at 9:20am on a UA flight from the states, is it likely that we would be able to make a 10:35am on Air France flying from CDG-NCE or should I just book the later flight at 12:25?

I've never spent more than 10-15 minutes in Passport Control at CDG, but I assume you will have to change terminals and if so, that seems to be cutting it close--your UA flight could easily be 20 minutes late, and UA won't check you in for an AF flight. On the other hand, EVERY AF flight I've taken in the last 2 years has been late, so maybe it's an acceptable risk.

I don't think you'll have any problem making the connection. When coming or going to/from ATL and going to ZRH, we seldom have more time and always made it, and this since 7 years at the rate of once to twice a month. If UA at the point of departure does not want to issue you with a bc for the CDG-NCE leg, just call AF. They always have been helpful.

Well, UA arrives at Terminal 1 and AF uses Terminal 2 - I'd go fo the later 12:25 flight.

Connecting from UA to AF at CDG
 

As soon as you exit your UA flight, look for ANY agent around (they're scarce!) and ask to be directed to the nearest connector bus to Air France terminal. These buses pick you up at the gate, within the secured area, and bus to the secured area of terminal 2.

This is not to be confused, though, with the public shuttles going outside of the secured area. They also go between terminals, but here you'd have to go through Customs & Immigration first, and then again through Security and Passport Control. Save yourself precious time, and take the shuttle from the arrivals gate.

Good luck!

If you've never been to CDG, trust me you will have difficulty finding your way around. The first time I was there I was laughing aloud about how ridiculously un-user friendly it was. That said, passport control is usually a breeze and they don't even stamp most passports.

CDG not user friendly
 

agree , was there last may at t2 . Had difficulty locating the check in aisle for Qantas. The terminal is ever so long from 2A to 2 E ... etc, its cold hard floor, almost empty (we were on an afternoon flight) there was hardly anyone that you could ask for help and if you found someone thay cant speak english. Imagine having to lug yr heavy baggage on the never ending lane to another and another and another and finally there is someone that you could ask and it turns out to be wrong, The signs not helpful, vague directions. not a well designed terminal. :td:

There are maps that show you the layout of the terminals. There are signs in english. There are also shuttles between the terminals in case you dont want to walk. There are also baggage carts. The signage might not be the best but all you have to do is read the map.

Indeed - though I guess not all airports can be as fun and user-friendly as, say, landing at ATL-Hartsfield's Terminal E. ;)

I tried to be open minded about CDG terminal 1 as I had only connected through there before and thought that the condition of the terminal was due to a hectic weekend. Check in with NW wasn't smooth but I think it was NW final day in that terminal. Experienced no problem with customs or inspections besides a poor restaurant referral.

On the RER, the signage inside the train shows the stop marked Terminal 1 but when you arrive, you aren't in Terminal 1. You arrive in a new looking concrete structure.

The sign pointing the way to terminal 1 isn't well located to see as you step off the escalator unless you know to turn left at the top and then look for the sign. I had been warned of having to take the shuttle to Terminal 1 but pity those who don't know ahead.

Inside the terminal, there is one woman's toilet down the basement by the McDonald's and it is very hard to find. Beware if you find it, it's the filthiest, most vile mess in a bathroom ever seen and I used to work at a nursing home.

The cafeteria down there is a total tourist rip off where they charge more for the per plate supplement than they do for the meal. And don't warn you ahead of time about these excess rip off charges. Then they hide behind the language when you complains. They say it's the system and agree it's unfair but that's just the way it is.

It really amazes me how an amazing city like Paris can have such a crap airport.

I had to face CDG T1 last month on a rainy Monday at 7 AM and it was exceedingly grim. The UA lounge was nice, though, with good coffee, fresh croissants, and smiles from the staff.

As opposed, say, to the exhiliration of JFK or the undiluted pleasure of Heathrow.

Re:cdg 1
 

Bravo.

:D

I think the problem with CDG is that as soon as you leave the immigration area and out to the main terminal/arrivals area you are greeted by a wide variety of people of all different ethnicities and economic classes. It can be daunting to try and push your way through everyone who is waiting for their loved one coming from XXX blended in with folks pushing their carts through towards check in. It can be rather unnerving if you have only experienced airports with barricades separating the passengers from the greeters (LHR) as an example.

I don't mind it so much, I used to scramble through there to get to the AA CDG arrivals lounge pushing my way through (excusez-moi, excusez-moi) to get to the stairs that would lead you there. However, now I'm more apt to wend my way through the crowd towards the RER/TGV station and wonder where all these folks are going.

As far as terminal 1 is concerned. I liked the habitrail like qualities of it and the very cool TWA check in desk (for Ambassador Elites), with all that mosaic tile, it was very retro.

The duty free in terminal one was/is better than AA's terminal 2 duty free for sure.


lala

Was at CDG today and noticed a couple of things.

1. The automatic vending machines for RER tickets to Paris still do not take US credit cards. :td:

2. There was some construction going on at 2F and they had a sign up indicating they are building a new tram line to connect the terminals. ^

Did they have any completion date estimate?

Come on, crowd, CDG T1 (located in Roissy en France, not Paris btw., if you ever have to program a car navigation to get you there ;) ) is an architectural masterpiece of the later 60s and mid 70s.

Opened in '74 T1 still, more than 30 years later, is a postmodern structure of incontestable beauty for anyone who sees architecture as a looking glass of contemporary history. I travel to CDG two to three times a month and each time I go there (Sat. 6 on LH, most of the times) I am stunned again by this momument of the "grande nation's" achievements.

Of course the satellite concept is antiquated, the automated walk ways often don't work and driving an S class mercedes through the cramped and narrow driveways of T1's structure is a real pain in the a**.

But I salute Paul Andreu for this, his first of many masterpieces including Beijing's new opera house, the Grande Arche of La Defense and many, many airport terminals throughout the world, though I regret that CDG 2E was one of his not so fortunate designs as one could witness last May.

In France the very best estimation date is "when its done". :p

Seriously, they didnt give one and I could find nothing on the ADP website.

:-: ^ :-: ^ :-: ^ :-: ^

I completely agree with you bob! I am excited about the renovation and can't wait to see it with all of the years of grime removed.

"Terminal 1 is a dump"... OH YOU NOTICED.

Ok...so this is a bit odd. And probably very geeky. :o :D

But I love the chimes that are played before PA announcements in CDG. I've scoured google for them, but no luck.

So, I'm wondering if anyone might know where I can download an MP3 or WAV file with these chimes? I want them for my mobile phone message notification. :)

Hmmm ... I don't have sound on my system right now, but try this:

http://sonnerieportable.sonnerie.net/sonneriehifi.php

and click on the "Appels/Pubs" category, then on "Appel aéroport" ... I have no idea if this is what you want or if it will work, but I definitely know the sound you are looking for!

sidebar, s'il vous plait
 

Hmmm . . . Didn't several Omni experts warn you that those bottom-of-the-line Altec Lansings couldn't handle Motörhead at full volume? :rolleyes:

Good try but unfortunately not it... I want the sound too! I have looked in the past and was unable to find it.

Indeed ... I got home last night and played the file and it definitely wasn't the Roissy chimes! :D Sorry about that.

However, I did find a site with some pretty funny Roissy ATC recordings:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/controleaerien/enregistre.html

Truand! Vas-t'en! :p

Vas-y mollo, pantouflard! @:-)

L'architecture française est très mauvaise!
 

Isn't it falling down on its' own? L'architecture française est très mauvaise!
:td:

Ha Ha very clever. So funny to think that people died in that collapse.