CDG Airport tips?

If you're flying out of SeaTac instead of Bellingham, arrive sufficiently early there, as well, since security lines have been much longer this year than in my previous experience. I guess there wasn't really consensus on your last CDG thread, but I would probably plan on three hours ahead at both airports. Did your friends have three hours and find it not enough?

CDG is huge and you need to know what terminal you're headed to before you arrive by RER, bus, or taxi.

Bags being cut open in the security lines? Really? Your friends witnessed this or is it the usual FOAF nonsense? Why would bags be 'cut open' in security lines. Ridiculous.

I always check bags especially going home, because I don't want the hassle of them, but security steps at CDG are no different than US airports i.e. x-ray, manual search if there is a problem etc. If you don't get there 3 full hours ahead you may miss your flight because lines are often long. This is also true in the US right now given the significant TSA delays at major airports where people are missing flights due to long lines and inadequate security.

I flew home to Sfo from Cdg last month. There were two long lines. One line was to make the Schengen check on passports ( this was new to me). Then there was the real security line for putting things thru X-rays. I was patted down fairly thoroughly since I have a chunk of metal in my hip joint. Together, the lines were probably around half an hour. This was terminal 2E. I did a fair amount of walking getting to the gate. I was glad I had the three hours. I always like to have a time cushion on case of hang ups. Checking in my luggage was quick. I had enough time for some breakfast. There was a shopping mall there, similar to the one at Heathrow terminal one. I saw Starbucks, Paul, and other places for food, plus some high end fashion shops. Might as well spend all those spare €€€!

I arrived by taxi, straight to T2E. If you arrive by RER you may have to walk a ways to get to the right area. On arrival at CDG, when flying from home, I did a lot of walking to get to the RER station after retrieving my luggage.

I would arrive at least 4 hours early. Better to sit past security for 2 hours, than to stand in security line and watch your plane take off without you. How are you getting to CDG? If by cab, know which gate you are flying from. The cab can drop you off close. How many bags will you check? If more than one, it will cost you. Buy the bag fee online, you can save some money. Be sure to put something to identify the bags if they are black or dark blue.

Maybe by cutting open bags they're referring to that new (odd) service in airports where vendors will put your luggage on a spinning wheel and cover it in shrinkwrap. Never understood how that was supposed to be a good thing, since if security wants into your bag, they'll just get in.

You should also search the forum, this is a common question.

Bags cut open?? Maybe they had a non-approved lock. The shrink wrap doesn't make much sense in this day and age of security checks if those bags are chosen for opening, but it's a service that has been traditionally used by people visiting home in African and Asian countries, traveling with bags bulging at the seams with tempting gifts.

There has always been a departure passport check when you are leaving the Schengen zone. This is not new.

Security in Paris - and most of Western Europe - is at the highest level, but checking your luggage won't help you navigate through security. Your carry-ons will be passed through the X-ray machine like everything else you own. What will help is not wearing clothes and shoes that are difficult to remove and replace, and not bringing too much stuff aboard if you don't need to - all this piles up on the line, and there is very limited space to claim your belongings, put on your shoes and dash to the gate. This is also an excellent opportunity to "forget" something important, or have someone else "remember" to take it for you.

4 hours in advance of your flight might be a little too much time, especially if you're on the first flight of the day when there aren't too many people there. Plan on at least 1 hour travel time by taxi, then add the amount of time recommended by your airline.

CGD is a large airport, and you have to walk a long way to get to your gate. Most of your time will be spent in check-in lines, however.

It is highly doubtful that anyone would be wandering around in lines cutting luggage, since the commotion this would cause would soon be dealt with. Professional pickpockets look just like ordinary travellers, and are very, very good at what they do. I would advise being conscious at all times of the whereabouts of your wallet, purse, camera and gadgets - people can and do steal them without needing to cut anything - all it takes is a moment of your being distracted.

There are always risks with checked baggage, but this occurs during the storage and loading process, mainly on flights with many connections, where workers have the opportunity to steal. If you have a one-stop or direct flight, or a very tight connection, it's doubtful that you have anything to worry about.

My family returned home from CDG last July. I allowed an hour to get from the hotel to the airport, think it was a little less than that. We arrived at 8AM and plane was scheduled to leave at 11AM. A good amount of walking but it would have been easy with lots of time left when we got to the gate BUT grandson has some fly fishing hooks in his carry on. If you've every been fly fishing for trout you know they are tiny tiny hooks. Lots of concern by the security inspector, probably 30 minutes spent there. Grandson had to go all the way back to luggage check in and back thru pass port control, security.. We got to the gate about ten minutes before boarding or about forty minutes before scheduled departure. So if we had not had the problem three hours would have been plenty of time even though it was very crowded. Yes grandson learned important lesson.

In my experience 3 hours is enough. We almost missed our flight home one year because I allowed 3 hours from leaving the apartment not getting to the airport. We have always checked luggage with no issues.