CDG experience late December- to and from

You were scammed on the taxi. Did you go to the official taxi rank where they have large signs explaining the flat fare zones?

1. It's 56 euro for right bank and 65 euro for left bank. Latin Quarter is left bank. And absolutely no additional meter. Did you go to the official taxi line at CDG that everyone on this forum adamantly posts about nonstop? Or did you just find someone who asked if you needed a taxi, because that is fraught with scam.

2. On our first trip to Paris nearly 40 years ago, we were young, inexperienced international travelers; jetlagged and exhausted and were a little perplexed while trying to buy train tickets at CDG. A woman who obviously didn't work there offered to help. We were so ready to get on with it, we decided if she actually helped us get authentic tickets and somehow took a small bonus from us she earned it. Back then we were paying in cash. We successfully came up the stairs when we arrived at Saint-Michel-Notre Dame full of awe at the sight of Paris. The next day we saw the woman asking for money/handouts near Notre Dame. Oh to be young again. Now I'm on full alert for scammers, pickpockets and those who will take advantage.

3. Yes, that is what always happens at CDG. I'm pretty sure we also had that happen in Vienna.

Otherwise, hope Paris was magnificent! Our most recent trip was last spring, and I always marvel at how magical it is every time!

1. Scammed

2. Scammed

3. Common practice at many airports outside the US. Fortunately, the bags they give you are reusable, so you are fine for subsequent trips abroad.

I’m sorry you were scammed by your driver. I’m assuming you did not take pictures of the inside of the cab so that you had the information to file a complaint because no the meter does not start once they get into Paris it’s

To anyone else as soon as your scam, taxi driver says something like that start taking pictures. You want to photograph all the information that’s on the back of the driver seat in the door that indicates the name of the taxi, the name of the driver and how to file a complaint. when they see you do this they get really nervous and start backing down on their lie. Please do what I did take advantage of whatever they give you to make you not file a complaint and then file it.

My driver gave me a free ride because he told me that if he got another complaint, he was going to lose his license. I took the free ride, butas soon as I got my hotel room I filed that complaint. I hope he lost his license and this was not a flat fare ride but he did something else that I knew it was illegal.

The plastic bag thing is very common. They don’t really seem to give much on that at lot of European airport Heathrow was really strict. I got to watch one woman who was used to the USA “trick” of a baggie for every piece of luggage have a nervous breakdown because her very expensive cosmetics wouldn’t all fit in the baggie Heathrow gave her. We were in the business class check-in for Virgin Atlantic and she kept screaming, but I’m in business. They were not impressed.

That stinks that your taxi driver scammed you. Your fare was supposed to be 65€ since you were going to the Left Bank.

As for the plastic baggie, that is very weird. I flew out of CDG ten times last year, the latest being 12/21/25, and never once did anyone say anything about my quart-sized Ziploc bag or try to force me to change it.

When we got out of Terminal 2G (coming from Spain), we followed the signs from the terminal that led to the taxi stand. The signs are like "footsteps" (I think blue footsteps) on the terminal floor for "taxi." There was someone directing people to available cabs just outside the terminal door. But I did not see a taxi stand like they have at JFK.

Ah, that’s where the scam started, interception at the terminal door. You did everything correctly but were misdirected at the last step by a ringer. In fact, the footsteps continue to the official line that is separated from the sidewalk by a railing. Luckily, it was a small amount. Sorry this happened.

Glad your time in Paris worked out.

There are signs all over baggage claim, in English, explaining about taxis and the fixed fares into Paris; 56€/65€ to the Right/Left Bank respectively. Do not accept rides from clandestine drivers soliciting from within the terminals. If you are exiting customs after an international flight, follow the big blue dots on the floor to the official taxi station.

In a Taxi Parisien, the driver's information is on a window sticker, located on the left rear, passenger seat window. Take a photo with your smartphone. Let the driver see you take a photo. However, I have found the official taxi drivers from CDG to be very honest, mostly family men, many of whom own the taxis they drive, only using Taxi G7 for dispatch purposes. Unfortunately, the most likely place to be scammed by a taxi driver is departing from Gare du Nord.

Taxi drivers are licensed and managed by the Préfecture de Police. If you have any problems, file a report. Reports are available in English and if you file online, it must be done while you are still in France.

https://www.prefecturedepolice.interieur.gouv.fr/demarches-et-services-en-ligne/particulier/contact-us-customer-complaint-form

Thank you for all the replies! I will tell my friends who will be traveling into Paris via CDG and yes, Gare du Nord. I did avoid that train station in for RER B in favor of Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame.
There were several people ahead of us and behind us at the exit of Terminal 2G. One was a big family being directed to a larger tax! But yes, the short visit to Paris was very good with Notre Dame cathedral being open for church service and visit.
Safe travels, everyone!

GMS, it sounds as though you were in a proper taxi (if, as you say, there was someone directing travelers to an appropriately sized vehicle). I don't think you did anything wrong.

I had a legitimate taxi driver try to tell me about a supplement for Sunday taxi rides on the way in to the city. I knew better, so I challenged him rather sweetly and he told me that, because I was so nice, he'd waive the supplement.

Nice, my foot. We both knew there was no supplement to waive.

So even legitimate Taxi Parisien drivers try to pull things. Unfortunately, it's up to the traveler to know what's what, I guess.

Sorry you were cheated. your phone camera is your friend if this sort of thing happens again -- the driver, the inside door information about the cab, the outside with license plate.

I fly in and out of CDG at least twice a year sometimes more and have never been asked to transfer my liquids from the quart bag they are in, into another bag. Last trip was the second week of October flying out. They have bags but I didn't see them forcing them on anyone else wither.

Last time I was at CDG, flying BA from somewhere in T2, not only did I not have to transfer my liquids to their bag but I didn't have to take them out. This was March 2024.

It also sounds to me like you were in the right place for the official taxi. I usually have had someone at the head of the line directing people to taxis to keep the line moving. But even then, some drivers will try to scam you once you re in the taxi. Sounds like this happened to you. Another less severe scam (for those who may read this post later) is to say once you are in the taxi that their card reader is broken and they can only take cash. I don't blame them for trying to avoid taxes, but if you prefer to pay by card just tell them it is a credit card or nothing, and their card reader will miraculously start working again. The taxis are required by law to charge the flat rate from CDG to Paris, and to take credit cards.

He said they were stopped as they were just out the door and didn't see the taxi stand. Sounds like they were hijacked before they even got to the taxi rank.

In my experience, the taxis are right after you get out the door, and there isn't always a line.

I have always had to walk a short (very short!) distance to get to the taxi lineup and its built-in queue guides upon exiting the door of the terminal.

I have never been funneled directly from the door into a taxi right there.

It is a short distance away. Not much, but it exists.

The taxi queue is covered with a back and forth queuing space and is a short walk from the exit -- It is not 'right outside' the terminal door and that area is full of thieves asking if you need a taxi or directing you to the 'line' --- The real deal is pretty obvious when you see it. Even without people waiting, it is clearly set up as a managed queue with some weather protection.

When I was in Paris for the first time with my husband and 2 children, I was so sure I was prepared for any "funny business" and was well aware of the flat rate for a taxi ride to the Right Bank as well as the fact that taxis take credit cards. All was going well until we arrived at Gare St. Lazare from CDG and the driver demanded cash (as per the scam mentioned by Pharmer Phil). I knew this wasn't correct but he was hustling us out of the car with crazy traffic all around and whizzing by us (I think he was pulled over in a zone where he shouldn't have been - no doubt to add to the franticness of the set-up). I had some euros on me and I just couldn't get my argument out of my jet-lagged brain, so I paid him the cash. It still bugs me to this day! ;)

I don't care if a taxi driver wants cash; that's his business and I don't consider it a scam. These people work hard, pay high taxi fees for the license, and have enough suspicion surrounding them due to a few black sheep.

I don't care if a taxi driver wants cash; that's his business and I
don't consider it a scam

I agree in general and am sympathetic to any small businessperson trying to make a go of it in France. But if they demand cash, or lie and say their machine isn't working, that is when I object. If you were planning on paying with a CC, you certainly can and should.

I am sure most taxi drivers do work hard and I have had many excellent ones, but I certainly consider demanding cash when I tried to pay with a credit card, which I am entitled to do by law, as taking advantage of a jet-lagged person with little power or recourse in the moment, which was clearly deliberate and intentional on the part of the driver. If someone has no problem paying cash, they should, by all means; but if I want to pay by credit card, whether we call it a scam or not, I should equally be able to do so.

Add my wife and me as travelers who were not asked to put our liquids into a bag provided at the airport at CDG. In fact, I got through screening with a full bottle of Perrier water (0.5 L) that I didn't know I had.