Clearing Custom at CDG
Apr 15, 2008 | 2:54 pm
#1
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Clearing Custom at CDG
Assuming an on-time arrival of 7:45 AM at CDG, how long does it usually take to clear customs/immigration? Thanks.
Last edited by BlindPilot; Apr 16, 2008 at 4:56 am
Apr 15, 2008 | 3:04 pm
#2
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Clearing customs at CDG usually requires a few ... seconds. Clearing immigration is another issue altogether, and it depends on your arrival time, whether it is a weekday or not, and your terminal.
Apr 15, 2008 | 3:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Ditto...
I have actually NEVER seen anybody at Customs when arriving at CDG so early in the morning - which is virtually every time you fly transatlantic USA --> France.
They probably check in at 9:00 and start with a coffee break like most people here in France
Immigration should be longer but still okay, few flights arrive around this time. Mid-day is hell.
If I remember correctly, there should be the first customs checkpoint you run into right out of your plane (this one the most crowded), but keep walking further a little bit, like you're doing a circle around the terminal, and there should be another one, usually much less crowded.
@Jouy31 - do you confirm ??
Cheers,
J-
I have actually NEVER seen anybody at Customs when arriving at CDG so early in the morning - which is virtually every time you fly transatlantic USA --> France.
They probably check in at 9:00 and start with a coffee break like most people here in France
Immigration should be longer but still okay, few flights arrive around this time. Mid-day is hell.
If I remember correctly, there should be the first customs checkpoint you run into right out of your plane (this one the most crowded), but keep walking further a little bit, like you're doing a circle around the terminal, and there should be another one, usually much less crowded.
@Jouy31 - do you confirm ??
Cheers,
J-
Last edited by JudgeJ; Apr 15, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Apr 15, 2008 | 4:53 pm
#5
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Bobette
Apr 15, 2008 | 7:59 pm
#6
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D
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:12 pm
#7
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Passport control (for immigration) at that time in the morning is usually not busy at all.
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:29 pm
#8
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Customs at CDG works in much the same way as at German commercial airports -- go through the designated channel as indicated by the signs and rarely get flagged for a check unless you selected and walked down the channel for "have something to declare".
Passport control (for immigration) at that time in the morning is usually not busy at all.
Passport control (for immigration) at that time in the morning is usually not busy at all.
didn't get one at all in Berlin, Hamburg, or Barcelona.... but have at least ten from Amsterdam, and those were all for just passing through the airport.
D
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:42 pm
#9
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I'd love to offer an answer but my last experience with French customs was when, due to a medical reason, I had to postpone a trip back to the states after checking in @ CDG.
The next morning, after being reticketed, I was told to go into the customs area to the AA baggage desk to get my baggage in order to re-check-in.
Picking up the baggage was no problem, but on the way out I was stopped by French Customs.. who searched my bag even though it had never left France!
Greg
The next morning, after being reticketed, I was told to go into the customs area to the AA baggage desk to get my baggage in order to re-check-in.
Picking up the baggage was no problem, but on the way out I was stopped by French Customs.. who searched my bag even though it had never left France!
Greg
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:48 pm
#10
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Is that being a bit too anal about foreign travel these days?
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:51 pm
#11
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If you arrive in business class (at least aa had this feature) you get a "fasttrak" card (similar to LHR,) which allows you to go on the fast line. (This is a new feature, which I used in December 07.)
Apr 16, 2008 | 12:21 am
#12
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I wouldn't say 'anal', but it's certainly unnecessary. The sole purpose of the stamps is to check you don't overstay your allowed time in the country, and this is mostly recorded by computer now (when they swipe your passport) anyway.
May 3, 2008 | 2:32 pm
#14
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Never flown into CDG 3 - thankfully - but, yes, luggage delivery at CDG is horrible. At CDG 1, it's at least 1 hour. At CDG 2 (Air France terminal), it's sometimes less... But overall the worst airport I fly into in terms of baggage delivery...
May 3, 2008 | 6:33 pm
#15
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Not as bad as the BA flights into LHR T1 ...