Chances of making 40 minute layover (ATH -> CDG)
 

I have a flight with United that has only a 40 minute layover from ATH to CDG. I stupidly glossed over this fact when I bought the ticket because I was just happy to see bulkhead seating available. I am traveling with an infant so it makes things even more interesting. The flight from Paris is heading to DC, so when I Paris I will have to go through border control and security again and I'm thinking my chances are at least 50% of missing my flight. I would have normally just changed my flight, but I got great seats on this flight and I don't want to be stuck without bulkhead seating and a bassinet for my son.

The chance is higher than 50% imo. Check the minimum connection time with the airline (the one to DC). Usually the OTA doesn't let you book too tight connections, but check with the airline anyway, the're the one who will have to put you on another flight in case you miss the original flight. I'm assuming this is all on one ticket. If not, don't even think about it, rebook now.

Most likely you will have to switch terminals - in that case your chances of making the connection are close to zero. CDG is a royal pain for connections, endless walks, bad signage, you name it. I would try to change the flight, with an infant I would allow 90 minutes connection time just to be sure.

Is this all on one ticket?

I'm assuming you mean you have 40 minutes in CDG. What airline is your ATH-CDG flight?

The standard minimum connection time for an International-International connection at CDG is 60 minutes, some airline combinations allow 45 minute minimum connections.

It's United, but the flight from Athens is operated by Aegean. I did check CDG to see where each airline is located, and they are both in terminal 1, so I'm hoping that will help quite a bit with time

Yes, it's all with one ticket. I did talk to the airline and they didn't seem concerned with the 40 minute layover at all and said it was within their guidelines. Still seems incredibly short to me though for an international flight unless somehow the connecting gates are next to each other

40 minutes is not a valid connection time at CDG from Aegean to United, and hence your ticket is not valid and should not have been sold to you like this.

I am assuming you are booked on A3610 arriving 11:05AM and UA914 departing 11:45am. This is the only UA flight each day, and there is no earlier connecting Aegean flight, so you will have to change it to an overnight layover (at your own expense).

Did you book this directly with United or with a travel agent (or online travel agent)?

The official Minimum Connection Time for Terminal 1 to Terminal 1 is 90 minutes. There is no over-riding rule for a connection from A3 to UA that is lower than this.

If you leave it as is, you will most likely miss your UA flight and may not be re-booked since your connection is not valid.

Well, it's not really United.....it's Aegean.

Code shares are largely a fiction.

The representative on the phone claimed it was? :confused:

The flight number is UA9848.

I booked it through United.com

The representative also claimed I'd be bumped to the next flight from Paris if I did miss my current flight. I asked how much the next flight from Paris would be, he said a few hundred dollars more, but he kept insisting that he thought I should stick with my current flight and I'd be fine.

Call back and speak to somebody else. 40 minutes is not a valid connection.

Where do you get this information from? I ask so that when they insist it is a valid time, I have something legitimate to throw back at them

It is the published MCT (Minimum Connection Time) list for CDG Airport. Taken from ExpertFlyer.

However as I said your only option is an overnight, and UA will not provide accommodation.

If UA allowed you book the connection all at once, you are safe. If you built your connection, the airline does not have to accommodate you on the next flight. If your ticket states you are traveling with an infant and you request a bassinette, they will move people that do not require bulkhead seating to accommodate you. If the occupants are handicapped or already require a bassinette, you are out of luck. )o:

I called again and they told me it was a "married connection". She claimed the gates would be either next to one another or very close and I would have "ample time". She also claimed that if I did miss the flight for whatever reason, United would put me on the next flight from Paris to DC (I did forget to ask when the next flight would be, could very well be the next day)

This.

Another issue is that if the check in agent notices the illegal connecting time, you will not be allowed to check luggage or board the first flight. You don't want to deal with this in a foreign country with a baby when space available on alternative flights may be very limited.