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90 minutes CDG

We have ninety minutes to catch our Air France flight arriving from Raleigh Durham at 8:00 AM on a Delta Flight. Into CDG.The flight arrives on a Thursday.
Are we Okay? I have read so many things about clearing customs,I have no idea if it's enough time?
Any body recently traveled through CDG in the AM can tell me about their experience.
Thanks

Posted by
8550 posts

If it is on one through ticket you will transfer airside (be sure to follow signs for 'correspondence' and not exit with others to baggage and immigration. ) 90 minutes if the plane is on time is enough for an airside transfer. You can go to CDG website and look specifically for transfers from TerminalX to terminal y and it will show you how long it takes and the process. Schengen passport check for immigration will occur along the way and is just for those transferring airside. Customs occurs if at all at your final destination.

I had to do this last spring and actually changed my connection to Amsterdam when Delta changed the time of the incoming flight from Berlin. I looked at the actual on time record of that flight and it was late half the time and we would miss the connection; Delta re-routed us through Amsterdam where we had 90 minutes. This was enough even with a bus from the plane, but it did mean stepping lively

I would recommend going on line and watching some of the youtubes that show this process or the information on the CDG website about transfers between your two terminals e.g. 2E to 2F or whatever yours are. Some involve a shuttle. All are designed to facilitate an efficient transfer.

If you are not on one ticket then you could not make this connection. If you exit landside you will not make the connection, so be sure you understand exactly where you are going and what you have to do.

Posted by
2703 posts

No one here can definitively assure you that you will make your connection. If you are on a single PNR with your luggage checked to your final destination, it will be up to AF/Delta to get you there. There are special passport control and security for connecting passengers. If you are attempting a self connect at CDG, you do not have sufficient time.

Posted by
5196 posts

If all goes well, it should be enough time. However, personally, I'd see if some changes can be made to give a longer connection time. It seems like tight connections always bring out Murphy's Law. Just food for thought.

Posted by
2784 posts

I clocked two hours from arrival from US to being at gate for connecting flight. Now we stopped at bathroom and cleaned up along the ways

On the other hand, we had another connecting flight at CDG this year and I changed the connection to 3 hours from 90 minutes. This time we would have made it in 90 minutes, even stopping to go to the bathroom.

All this to say 90 minutes is tight. Do not stop along the way and move as fast as you can.

Posted by
8550 posts

The key is knowing what you need to do by previewing the exact transfer you need on line AND go to the bathroom on the plane and don't make any stops en route once you arrive. If you can get a seat as close to the front of the plane as possible do so. Where you have a bus from the runway it doesn't matter, but if you use a regular gangway then getting off the plane earlier rather than later helps.

Posted by
1321 posts

Assuming the flights were booked on ticket... it will be close but 90 minutes should be fine although I would feel better if it 2 hours. But in May our friends flew from Atl to CDG to Venice with 90 minutes and made it fine.

Posted by
14731 posts

Where are you headed to?

You will go through Immigration at CDG. You follow the overhead signs to your departure location. On Delta you'll arrive at 2E. You'll probably transit to 2F. Just look for the overhead signs saying 2F and don't follow people into the Immigration hall.

You'll go thru Security to enter the 2F terminal area so have all your liquids in a ziplock baggie. Don't use a fancy clear pouch they sell that says they are "TSA compliant" - the French security guys usually will be holding ziplocks to hand to people but you'll be quicker if you've got this handled already.

After Security you will go thru Immigration for that terminal to get into the EU.

You will go thru Customs at your destination.

Immigration = people

Customs = goods

To me this would not be enough time. I transited last Oct on a Delta flight from Seattle to an Air France flight to Milan. I had allowed 3 hours. It took me 1 hour, 5 minutes of steady walking from the time I stepped out of the plane to when I got to the gate.

Is there an option of a later flight to your final destination?

Posted by
16274 posts

It all depends on your final destination and whether or not it is in Schengen.

If outside Schengen, you will stay airside. If inside Schengen, you will have to go through immigration at CDG. Customs will be at your final destination.