CDG connection times? only an hour between flights

At CDG, you go through passport control and security. Customs will be at Biarritz, but you probably will not even notice. There are special lines for those connecting, follow staff instructions exiting the jetway.

1 hour is shorter than I would like, but it's AF´s responsibility to get you to Biarritz. If you miss the connection, AF will place you on the next available, which may or may not be the next scheduled flight.

Since you’re booked through on 1 ticket with AF, if you miss the first flight, they will try to get you on a later one. I would certainly try again to reserve the later flight even though AF claims the transfer time between the two terminals is 35 minutes including customs and security.

Check their transit time link but note it doesn’t mention passport control where there are often delays.

1 hour is not enough. You could be stuck on immigration lines for 1-2 hours and that is assuming your transatlantic flight is even on time. That you spoke with an agent who said a later flight isn’t available to you would be reason enough to say thank you, hang up the phone, and call back and speak to somebody else. 1 hour is absolutely not enough time for a connection to a domestic flight especially at CDG. Depending upon where you are seated on the aircraft, it could take you 15 to 20 minutes to deboard that plane. Plus, Air France could close the doors on the domestic flight 15-20 minutes before boarding.

Others above have said that because you are on one ticket, when you missed the domestic flight, a gate agent will put you on a later flight. this is true ONLY IF A LATER FLIGHT ISN’T OVERBOOKED. If there are no seats available, you may have to wait until the next day. So I really hope you change your itinerary.

From our past experiences, 1 hr is not enough. We most recently had a 95 minute connection and would not have made the flight had it not been delayed. CDG is huge and busy. Walking distances can be long and the security line can be frustratingly slow and long.

One hour is within the minimum connection time at CDG. I once made a 40-minute connection at the airport despite arriving 15-20 minutes late on the incoming flight (Atlanta to CDG to Budapest). BUT (1) it was a super early flight into CDG and (2) I was near the front of the plane. What time does your flight arrive and where are you on the plane?

I agree it would be ideal to have a longer connection time.

We've made a one-hour connection US to CDG to Nice. Lots of variables.

In January, we spent over an hour in line for passport control at CDG on our way home from Spain. And we got priority treatment because my son is disabled. It was a horrible, disorganized, mob scene, and we barely made our connecting flight (2 hour layover, both planes on time). No way would I risk scheduling a 1 hour connection time (actually, no way will I ever fly through CDG again, but that's me).

I would call again and see if you can get a different answer from a different agent; if not, (politely) ask to speak to a supervisor.

Also if this is timed to barely get there in time for the tour it is madness -- how will you join the tour if you are a day or two later. I would never accept this connection at CDG. EVen if I made it, it would be with anxiety through the roof.

And note on carry on -- what is a carry on TO CDG may not be acceptable as a carry on for a domestic flight where the limits are generally a lot lower.

For what it's worth, we too have the same issue with a 1 hr. layover at CDG for our flight to Nice. We spoke with Air France and they checked and said it is enough time. We arrive at CDG at 8:15 AM to Terminal 2E and our flight to Nice is out of Terminal 2F leaving at 9:25 arriving 10:55. If we miss the flight for any reason, our stay in Nice was short term (3 days), so we may just ask them to leave us in Paris then.

For me, the key question here is if you are arriving the same day your tour starts or a day or two in advance. If it is same day, I would be quite concerned. If you have a day or two "buffer" before the start of the tour, even if you miss the first connection you will still get to your tour in good time.

I had a short connection recently at a busy airport (40 minutes connection time, last flight of the day) and I knew going in that I might be spending another day in transit if I didn't make that flight. I decided not to worry too much and trust the airline on this. I walked off my first plane and onto the next plane which was at the next gate. (no passport checks needed) I share this to point out that short connections can work. You can make things better by choosing seats as far forward in the plane as you can, having all documentation easily at hand, and having a "plan B" in your mind in case you miss it.

If this is the same day as your tour starts, I think you need to make different arrangements.

Thanks for everyone's input. Some people have made the connection and others have not.
Fortunately, we are flying in two days early before the RS tour starts in Bayonne. That's my standard procedure: fly in a couple days early.
Traveling by air takes a toll on both my wife and I, so we spend one day resting and having nothing scheduled. On this trip, we are flying into Biarritz and spending the two days in St. jean de luz on the beach with nothing planned other than to rest. (and to geocache-- but that's another topic.) before heading to Bayonne for the tour.
So if we are delayed one day in Paris, we won't miss the start of the RS tour. But of course, we would lose out on one day at the hotel in St. Jean de Luz, and the pre-booked car to take us from biarritz to SJDL.
My feeling is that if we miss this flight due to Air France, they would book us on a later flight- most likely the latest flight that evening and that would get us to Biarritz late at night around 11 pm.
I hate arriving in the evening (dark) for any type of travel. We buy our airline tickets so we arrive at our destination in daylight.
But we shall see..... An adventure, either way.

My feeling is that if we miss this flight due to Air France, they would book us on a later flight- most likely the latest flight that evening and that would get us to Biarritz late at night around 11 pm.

They will indeed book you on later flights which could be the following day if there are no available seats that sat. You risk spending the night at CDG at your cost if your inbound flight to CDG were not late. If there is only one seat, one of you should go.

You were smart to book a couple days early --- if I were you I would just relax, do your best to move fast and hope for the best. Odds are fair you make and that you don't. The problem is not arriving late, it is arriving a day or two later if the next flight has no space. Good luck to you.

We talked to Air France and expressed our concerns about the 1 hr connection time, but they said this was standard.
We tried to get a later flight to Biarritz, but Air France is telling us the later flight isn't available to us even though the website says there are 6 seats left on that later flight.

I would be inclined to call back and hope to get a rep who is more helpful, or will transfer you to someone higher up the food chain.

Time needed to get through CDG immigration varies wildly based on the time your flight comes in and how many other flights are coming in at the same time. I've made it through immigration, claimed my bags, and gotten to the SNCF train station in under 30 minutes on multiple occasions, with flights that get in before 8a. Flights that arrive from 8-10 can take quite a bit longer, and then the lines clear out again. I think people tend to overestimate how long it actually takes them to get through the lines because they can seem daunting but should move quickly. Air France would most definitely not book the ticket if it they couldn't reasonably expect you to make the connection.

As you go through passport control, be sure you're in the correct line (I'd assume non-European for you). However, pay attention because they will often waive non-Europeans into the European line if it's moving faster--I've seen lots of travelers be confused and not move over and get stuck waiting in the longer line while those behind them take advantage and move through.