Charles de Gaulle check-in times - 2 or 3 hours? and Paris Bus Tickets (Carnet)

There's no need for a limousine service to the airport. Taxis to CDG are a fixed rate - 50 euros from where you're staying, plus the 7-euro fee to reserve in advance. A limo service will charge much more.

The general recommendation is to be at CDG three hours before your trans-Atlantic departure.

If it were me, I'd get a taxi for 7 am, for arrival at CDG at 7:45. You're already doing well in knowing specifically that you're departing from terminal 2F.

You can also check the AirFrance website to see if they have a specific recommendation for how far in advance to get to the airport. But I always feel like 3 hours gives me enough time.

About the bus, assuming I'm reading this correctly. If you can't locate a place to buy a carnet in the station, one bus ticket with no transfer can be bought from the bus driver for 2 euros. I don't, unfortunately, know exactly where you can purchase a carnet at the station, but there are Tabacs outside of the station that sell carnets. Just look for a Tabac that displays the RATP logo sign.

Like the previous poster suggested. I'd go with a taxi. G7 gets many points for reliability. You can book it a couple of days before by phone.

The last time I flew out of CDG the check in line for my United flight was really long and took about an hour. I would suggest arriving 3 hours prior to departure.

Thank you all for your advice about the CDG departure times. I just saw RS's e-mail about increased security at various venues in Paris so I guess the airport will be just that much more difficult. So 3 hours it is then.

Re bus tickets.

That is exactly what I need to know! I didn't want to arrive in Paris and find out I couldn't pay cash for the bus. (Our transit system won't take cash at all). Good to know 2 Euros covers it. Once I am settled I can easily buy the book of tickets but didn't want to wander around Gare du Nord wasting time...

Thanks again for the information.

Hi Carol;
I just did your same trip last month in reverse: Paris first then Thalys to Amsterdam. It was all great.
I've been to Paris twice in the past year, and both times felt that 3 hours pre flight was the right amount of time at CDG to get through all the lineups.
I wasn't rushed, but I didn't have any spare time to hang around either.
If you can't take public transport to the airport, take a cab, not a limo; it's cheaper.
With your luggage, could you manage the Metro or bus, then transfer to RER, to CDG?

You can get a carnet of local bus/metro tickets from a machine at Gare du Nord when you come in. Those tickets allow transfers and that is useful when traveling by bus. Once you get to your lodging if it is not near the metro it will be hard to acquire a carnet. Get it when you arrive at the station and you are set.

You need to be at the airport 3 hours ahead and a cab is much more reliable than a private service. Call G7 English line the day before and reserve a cab -- cost will be 50 or 55 (depending on which side of the river you are on) and 7 Euro reservation fee.

Hello Everyone

Thank you for the heads up about CDG departure times and G7 taxi service. And I just discovered AirFrance changed the flight departure to an earlier time so it will be a very early morning departure from the apartment. I'd rather spend the money for the convenience of a taxi rather than public transit especially as I have to leave so early. I use transit both ways in Vancouver which is very convenient on the Skytrain from home but this is in the afternoons (departure and arrival).

Good to know I can buy books of tickets from a machine in Gare du Nord.

Thanks again for the information, most helpful.

FWIW there are not 'books of tickets' -- the machine or clerk just gives you ten single metro/bus tickets. Be sure to always hang on to the validated ticket until you exit the system as random checks result in huge on the spot fines if you don't have the validated tickets. We get checked about once a week; one a recent trip we were checked 3 times in one week. Throw the ticket away AFTER you leave the metro or bus so it doesn't get mixed with new ones; make sure tickets don't get demagnetized (I have a magnetic closure on the pockets of my trench coat and it took me awhile to figure out why my tickets were getting ruined.

You cannot make transfers if buying a ticket from the bus driver, but you can transfer w/in 90 minutes if going in the same direction.
Here's the info on carnets - 10 loose tickets that can used on Bus or Metro:
ratp.fr
If your unused tickets become demagnetized go to the manned booth and change them for free.
(Choose British flag for English language and make sure to read instructions carefully)

I meant to say that bus tickets bought from the driver cannot be used for transfers in any direction.
Only the carnet tickets from the machines can be used for transfers going in the same direction during 90 minutes.
(typing too fast today...)

When I fly back from CDG to SFO, I get to the airport anywhere from 2.5 to 3 hrs prior, no problem since the night before I spend at the Campanille hotel at CDG.. I always have check in luggage.

Every time I've gotten to CDG, two hours was plenty of time. But always better to be safe than sorry.

Hi Again

Just saw the updates to my question.

I didn't realise they were "loose" tickets. A "carnet" to me means a booklet... according to my rusty Quebec French...
I'll tuck them away in a wallet with a zipper. My AMS Chipkaart will be much simpler I can see but won't bother with a Navigo pass for Paris as I am very central near the Louvre, so I anticipate a lot of walking.

I'm going with 3 hours for check-in. I don't want to be stressed out getting to the airport.

Thanks again for the info.