Transfer times in CDG

S

shaking

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Looking to book flights with a lay over in CDG, i've two options 1st is a 45 minute transfer time to get from Terminal E To F 2nd option is 2.5 hrs wait. The 1st one is €250 cheaper, anyone familiar with CDG is it enough time? What happens if I miss my flight do they put me on the next one or do I have to pay for a new flight?
 
will your bags be checked straight through? even if they are i doubt they'd make the second plane, in which case you could be a day or two without your bags, bit risky but if you're prepared for it and have a few bits and bobs in your carry-on bag you could try it. not sure how long it takes to get from E to F though.
 
I agree, also the last time I was there the Security was quite stringent and there were a lot of time consuming checks so 2 1/2 hours while long may not be too long.
 
this will be tight for you with 45 mins between flights, if your flight is delayed on arrival wont make it. transport system between all terminals is good, if you are flying with one airline bags will be checked through, they will hold a flight if you are booked through may be for 15 mins, look a cdg website and it gives maps, had a situation last year where was booked on air france flights from dublin to paris and paris to dubai, flight leaving dublin was delayed 30 mins, originally had 90 mins between flights but just made it, were been called to board,this will be tight if any problems, if not you will make , your call
 
On a through ticket they'll look after you so if you miss the connection they'll book you on the next available flight (this could, but probalby wouldn't, be a problem though if the next available flight was full)

If you're flying outbound from Dublin - Paris - XYZ then I wouldn't risk a 45 minute connection as it would disrupt your holiday/business trip

On the return journey I'd maybe go for it though as a chance to get home earlier and not too disruptive if it didn't work out
 
45 minutes is not just tight, it's NOT long enough in CDG. Even though you're in the same terminal you have to re-clear security and in recent trips its taken between 20-90 mins to do this. I'm an Elite frequent flyer with Air France so transit through CDG a fair bit.

Bear in mind that Dublin flights arrive at a remote gate and you get a bus to the terminal.

So lets say your flight is 10 mins late getting in, it takes 20 mins to get everyone on buses and to the terminal...your new gate is already shut before you get near security! 2.5 hours is the minimum I'd leave to be honest.

Don't rely on them putting you on the next flight either. You have to be put on the next available flight if you have a through ticket ie one PNR reference (not if the flights are booked separately). Depending on availability you might not get out on the original travel day.
 
You haven't a hope of making that transfer in 45 mins, unless your flight arrives early. In an case, it takes at least ten minuts to actually get off the plane, so you're looking at maybe half an hour to get to the gate. Not a chance, IMO. Definitely your bags won't make it in less than an hour in CDG.
I would certainly go for the other option; two and a half hours is nothing, way better than the stress of trying to do the impossible.
It might be worth going for it if you are very fit and only carrying hand baggage, but even then I wouldn't advise it.
 
shesells said:
45 minutes is not just tight, it's NOT long enough in CDG.
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Yes - I'd generally agree, but AF will still sell tickets with a 45 minute connection .. in fact I think 40 minutes is actually the Minimum Connection Time (e.g. the "legal" limit below which they won't sell you a through ticket)

I wouldn't risk it on the way out .. but with hand luggage only on the way back (and especially if the next flight wasn't that full) I'd certainly risk it.
 
CDG can be quite a chaotic airport - I get the impression that, in spite of it looking nice and modern, its not the most efficiently run airport in the world. No chance of making a transfer in 45mins. Take the 2.5hr option - chances are you'll be delayed somewhere in the airport, so even 2.5hr wont seem too long.
 
EvilDoctorK said:
Yes - I'd generally agree, but AF will still sell tickets with a 45 minute connection .. in fact I think 40 minutes is actually the Minimum Connection Time (e.g. the "legal" limit below which they won't sell you a through ticket)

I wouldn't risk it on the way out .. but with hand luggage only on the way back (and especially if the next flight wasn't that full) I'd certainly risk it.
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AF computers will allow 45 min connections but if you speak to an agent they won't even offer it to you IME. Remote gates and fast connections do not go hand in hand at any airport.
 
To be fair highflyer it's a bit more than zero chance - I'd say based on my experience of sub one hour connections in CDG I'd put it at 50/50 (though I've never done 2F-2E .. that's 2F-2C/D or within 2F)

However if you're traveling with luggage I'd give the luggage zero chance ! (And based on my AF experience even on a longer connection your luggage hasn't got that high a chance of making it :) )

If you're traveling with hand luggage only and if missing the connection wouldn't inconvenience too much then I personally would go for it
 
I've done it once successfully heading out of Europe to Asia via CDG and missed the connection on the way back. The way out it was very late at night so the airport was pretty quiet and the plane landed reasonably on time and to the gate. Both I and my luggage made it. The way back was a different matter, in addition to our flight being delayed from Asia, they then proceeded to taxi past the gate at which I was supposed to be boarding for the flight to Dublin (there was a bus at the gate with my flight details on it, I saw it as we trundled past!) and parked out in the field somewhere, then bussed us back past the gate I wanted to be at (where a bus was now loading!) to get to the gate we were due in to. Needless to say I had wanted to jump off one bus and onto the other but alas that isn't allowed so I had to stay on and just went straight to the flight connections desk and was rebooked onto the next flight (through ticket booked). I'd consider hard before opting for such a short transfer time again!
 
So-crates were you flying Aer Lingus? I have never had an Air France/Cityjet flight dock at a gate in CDG?
 
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