We're flying Air France from Biarritz back to CDG, landing at 8:45 AM in 2G. Right now, we're booked on a flight back to the states that leaves at 3:35pm, so a lot of time to stand around the airport. There's a direct flight to our city though that leaves at 10:10am from 2E and I'm very tempted to rebook on this flight, however I don't know if we'll be able to make it from domestic to international. The international flight is operated by Air France as well. Does anyone have experience getting around the airport quickly? Would an hour be enough to get from one terminal to the other or would we be cutting it too close? Thank you!
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5846 posts
CDG is not an efficient airport for transfers. I’ve encountered some very long lines for passport control when departing from CDG and I would never attempt such a short connection at CDG.
It sounds as though you are buying two separate tickets. 1h25 is not enough time on separate tickets. On two separate tickets, if you miss your connection you will probably have to buy a new ticket back to the U.S.
If you are buying one single ticket from Air France for Biarritz to the U.S. and Air France sells you that ticket with only 1h25 connecting time, they will be responsible for getting you to your final destination if you miss the flight.
Posted by
Paris
7300 posts
2G is isolated, you need to take a bus to other terminals. You cannot make the shorter connection.
Posted by
OP
Phoenix, AZ
2 posts
Thank you all! We'll stick with the later flight. Appreciate the advice :)
Posted by
Chicago
8550 posts
I would attempt a transfer with this time knowing that if the plane was late and I missed that the airline would put me on a later flight. But on two tickets it would be totally nuts. And note also that flights like your first one are frequently late. We were booked on a transfer last year Berlin/CDG/Chicago (one ticket) where the Berlin CDG flight was late over half the time and we would have missed the connection for sure about a third of the time. I had the airline change us to a transfer at AMS when they shortened the transfer time even further.
You don't have a transfer or a 'connection' as I read this but two separate ticket. No way I would book this with less than 4 hours between -- and that does not guarantee success but you are fairly secure with that time spread -- Go through the process and get airside and to your terminal and then get a leisurely lunch. If you plan any souvenir or food shopping to bring back home, leave it for the airport. Take a good book and your computer/phone to play on while waiting.