Checked bag vs Passport Control CDG

I believe you do go through an internal security check of sorts for those transfers at CDG. We have always had to do it for our onward flights. Our luggage goes through a scanner and we have a passport check or boarding pass check of some sort there, I think. Hopefully more people will weigh in for you. How long is your layover?

Assuming your flights are on one ticket. You will go through Passport Control on arrival at CDG. Your checked bags won't appear until Nice, for Customs. But unless you are bringing in goods for sale, all you do in Nice is to walk your bags through the "nothing to declare" green exit.

You will go through a security check in CDG, whether you check your bag or not.

Hi Carolyn, if I understand this correctly your itinerary is USA-CDG-NCE (e.g. JFK-CDG-NCE or ATL-CDG-NCE)?

If so, yes, you will have to go through both passport control (to enter the Schengen area) and a security re-screening at CDG. It should be a transfer from terminal 2E to terminal 2F.

(And as a minor point, your CDG-NCE flight will be actually operated by Air France, although presumably you have a Delta ticket and flight number. Delta does not operate domestic flights within France.)

"*If I have just carry on suitcase, will I have to go through luggage security before boarding the final flight? *"

Yes, absolutely you will go thru Security in 2F and then go thru passport control AFTER security. I agree with Andrew.

Follow the signs overhead saying "Correspondence" and 2F. Do NOT follow the crowd as they will be going to Paris arrival immigration and yours will be in a different place.

I'll add that you can speed things up by having your liquids in a quart ziplock bag. They will insist on this and when I went thru last year the guy at the beginning of the security belt had a handful of quart/liter baggies that he was handing out to people. I had my liquids out, held up the bag and he just smiled and gave me a nod. The lady ahead of me was fumbling to reassemble and throw away her liquids that didn't meet the 3oz/100ml size guideline (had an OJ and yogurt in her purse!). The security guy just looked at me and rolled his eyes. Have the liquids bag handy either in your personal item or if in your carry on, have it by the zippers so you can remove it easily.

BTW, even if you check the bag, you'll want to have anything liquid in your purse (toothpaste? hand sanitizer? chapstick - yes, they counted this as a liquid when I went thru) in a ziplock.

My experience was in October 2022. I do not know if they've since installed the kind of xray scanners that mean you don't have to take liquids out or not. I think not as someone was just ranting on a FB group I'm in that they made her put everything in a ziplock when she had it in one of those clear plastic bags sold that say "TSA compliant". I timed how long it took me to walk from my Seattle flight which parked at a tarmac location so had to bus to the main area to my gate on 2F and it was 1hr5minutes. I did not run. I walked moderately. I'd never done a transit there but I'd arrived there many times and kind of knew where the route was to 2F.

How long do you have for your transit? I'd also look to see what the next Air France flight is to Nice in case you are delayed. There are multiple flights a day from Paris to Nice so they will get you there even if you miss the flight you are scheduled on. I'd also go to the toilet on the plane about an hour and 15 minutes before you land. They will start a food service about an hour out so get up and go before the aisles are blocked. Then you can make it to the Nice plane without needing a pit stop.

The layover is about 2 hours. I read in another post that traversing the CDG with carryon luggage may slow us down going through passport control and any additional screening. I’m wondering if we should check it instead and hope it shows up in Nice. Thanks for tips on speeding thing up.

It won't slow you down at passport control. You go through security when you reach your new terminal. If your items are organized, it should be similar to any carry on. It could slow you down doing all the walking depending on your strength and physical condition.

I make this change to Nice or Montpellier a couple times a year with the same amount of time and always make my flight. But I don't like being encumbered, so I check a bag. In all the years, I only had one bag delayed and that was, I believe, by customs when we were moving. It was large, filled with Costco vitamins, pots, pans, and other strange items but was delivered four days later. The other five duffles and suitcases were right on time.

Connected through CDG last week with a carryon ( medium size backpack). Items required to be removed are spelled out ahead of time - laptop, cellphone, tablets, liquids, and things that I wouldn’t put in a checked bag, etc. Had items prepared before reaching the area. The transition was silky smooth. I’ve regularly used a carryon suitcase through there with zero issues or delays. My connection time which is the shortest I’ve ever agreed to was 1 hr and 20 mins. Total transfer time was an incredulous 15 minutes. I was connecting to an international flight headed for U.S.

"Had items prepared before reaching the area."

I agree with Raymon (and Bets) on this. As I stood in line (maybe 10 minutes) to get up to the security screener, I took off my belt and stashed it in my personal item. Took the kleenex out of my left pants pocket, hahaha. Took the chapstick out of my right pocket and put it in the 3-1-1. On the plane I'd put my iPad Mini and phone in a gallon ziplock and standing there I added my Apple watch to that bundle. Phone did not need to be pulled out but I had them all together any way. Easier. I was using carry on only for that trip as it was October 2022 and there had been terrible luggage problems in many airports last summer. I'm old, packed light (case weighed 16.1 when I left home) and it went straight thru the screening tunnel with no extra security.

Two hours is no problem at all!

I do recommend you don't tarry, don't stop anywhere, don't be lured in by stores. Get to your gate and see what's going on, then make a comfort stop or go to the Longchamps store, hahaha! My Air France flight to Milan started boarding about 10 minutes before the reader boards said they would board which shocked me.

Thank you