Customs / passport control from cdg returning to US

Unless you have purchased expensive gifts you have to declare, customs is a 10 second walk exiting baggage claim, as it is for most travelers.

To save time at the airport, try to check in ahead of time on your phone and get your boarding pass that way. This will save you a line at the airport. I haven't flown out of CDG in years, but I flew out of VCE (Venice) last fall directly to the uS and checked in on the AA app on my phone, and since I had only carry-on bags, I was able to go directly to the security line once I got to the airport.

Airports vary in how busy they are, and that changes over time. Someone who just flew home to the US from CDG might have the most useful info for you on how busy CDG has been recently. But I'd guess arriving three hours ahead is plenty of time. Check with your airline and see what they currently recommend for CDG.

You’ll go thru customs in the US-just a matter of walking thru a door-“nothing to declare”

I’d be there no later than 3 hours pre-flight as recommended by your airlines

You are exiting Schengen in Paris and will go thru passport control in the US

Thanks so much for those comments

When going through Paris airport after I check in is there not a passport control we go through before or after security ?

If so do we know how long that is and if any tips on getting through ?
(Not sure if having business class helps )

Yes, you go through passport control at CDG, after security, when exiting the Schengen area (most of Europe) to fly to the US. Customs is something else entirely, nothing to do with that.

The line at passport control at CDG just depends on how busy the airport is. How many other international flights are departing near yours? Is it a busy time in Paris? That kind of thing. Sometimes you arrive when it's very slow and it's quick, because some new agents just showed up before anticipated busy time. In Venice last fall, there was literally no one in front of me at passport control and there were several lines. Took about two minutes tops. Other people flying through Venice weeks earlier said it was a zoo with long lines (maybe because cruises were disembarking that day). So it's just varies, at CDG too I'm sure.

I’d err on the side of caution; i.e., allow more rather than less time. About 5 years ago ,we returned to the U.S. via CDG. As I recall, there were 3 parts to the pre-boarding procedure. We had to check in with the airline. We had to go through another line for non-Schengen residents exiting the Schengen zone. Finally, we had to go through security. The airport was moderately busy, and I was surprised at how long all of this took. We had allowed 3 hours and used 2.5 of them.

Business class makes no difference at passport control
All passengers wait in same line

Yes and no, Christine, at least on Air France, KLM, Delta there is a business class side entrance for passport. You jump the whole line. I don't know how it works with other airlines, though. The line where everyone waits equally is security as you are entering the airside departure terminal.

I think your US Customs experience depends on the arrival airport. The last 2 times I’ve come in thru Seattle I got the same Global Entry Customs officer who grilled me on where I’d been (France), what I’d bought (I’m not a high end purchaser or dresser), what I did for a living (retired), where I worked before I retired (am Global Entry and he’s got that on his screen) and why a Senior woman was traveling alone! 🤨. He is such a jerk. Fingers crossed he is not in the Global Entry lane this time. He also grilled the Delta Pilot in uniform who’d just flown in from an international destination - wanted to know how much money he had.

(Editing to add that my entries to Seattle were May 2022 and Oct 2021. In Oct 2022 I flew through Atlanta.)

Even with Business class I’d get to CDG 3 hours before.

We have in the past nearly missed a plane at CDG after arriving 3 hours early. It is hard to predict. Sometimes we are through in half an hour and cooling our heels at the gate; other times we don't have time to use the restroom. Never plan less than 3 hours -- you won't need it, but will be really glad you had it if you do.

Customs is always about the country you are arriving to; the country you are leaving doesn't care what you are carrying. Americans tend to call the whole immigration/emigration process 'customs' hence the confusion.

And Pam we have never been questioned in Global Entry -- literally stared in the machine last time and that was it -- we have never been questioned going through Global Entry. That is weird --

AT CDG, you will go through security then exit immigration (you need to get your passport stamped). Whether or not you need to check in at an airline desk prior to the above depends on whether or not you are checking luggage and/or can get your boarding pass prior to getting to the airport.

At your first port of entry into the US, you will first go through immigration and then customs. You walk through customs and only have to be concerned if you are stopped.

How long immigration takes depends on how busy it is. They are really just checking to see you didn't overstay your 90 days and aren't wanted by Interpol.

You'll need to look up your airline on an electronic sign in the correct terminal (this is made-up numbers: "Delta 115-121"); the check-in desk areas (hundreds of them) are generic, and will only say Delta on a signboard-screen.

I like to look up (before leaving on the trip) a few days of my flights on the airline's website "Flight Stats" to get an idea of the likely gates and confirm the terminal.

You will do US Customs in the US. At EWR Newark, this was more perfunctory than ever, in December, 2022, when we resumed traveling.

I just got back via Air France last month, this is what happened:

Terminal 2E, scanned my detax, easy peasy, then got my bag checked in to the AF counter.

THEN, Export passport control. Terminal 2E has the Electronic gates (Egates) for US, Canadian, EU passport holders. Not the FASTEST, because not everyone can figure out how to get it scanned right, but faster than when I was there Oct 2021. Then, you get your passport stamped by a human.

I flew from porte L, so I had to jump on the train to get there. THEN Security (and remember, France's requirements for 3-1-1 are different than in the US). Then, I was free in the terminal.

Please note that you need to know more than "Terminal 2" for your flight departure -- you will need to know whether it's 2E, 2F, 2A, 2C, etc. Each one of those is actually a separate terminal building, and some are connected, but some are decently far from each other (not that far, but a bit of a pain to get to the right one if you get dropped off at the wrong one!).

Be sure to check with your airline to know which Terminal 2 you need to be at.

March ‘22, we flew Delta One (business) from Seattle to CDG and had Sky Priority expedited lines for everything - check in and bag drop, security, boarding and passport control at CDG. Not all US airports are the same so check Delta and your home airport to see what Sky Priority benefits might be available there. At CDG, just follow the Sky Priority signs. That said, I would still arrive 3 hours early (or however early Delta suggests) as I‘ve had many hairy situations at CDG that only time could solve.

I just went through this 2 days ago. Air France business class from Paris CDG to Los Angeles. Customs is done at your entry to the USA. LAX is a hot mess with so much construction going on right now but customs was the same it was 9 yrs ago- it took us about 15-20 minutes to work through the line. No special preference for business class. We overheard some being asked purpose of their travel and what they had brought back. One man said he had a couple bottles wine and couple jars mustard. My sister and I told customs officer we were sisters returning from vacation. He did not ask any questions and waved us through.

Customs is prior to retrieving your luggage.

I swear it was a five mile walk from customs to baggage claim and ground transportation at LAX. We were commenting on how chaotic it would seem if English was not your first language. At least they have some time to get their act together before the Olympics.

Forgot to mention as others have- get to the airport 3 hours prior, the lines are unpredictable. We arrived at LAX 3 1/2 hours prior to take off and only had 45 min wait at our gate.

At CDG- we also arrived 3 1/2 hours prior and also only had a 45 min wait at the gate.

Tip- unload all those euros, coins included by paying cash at the airport for “stuff” to take home. The cashier at the counter did not mind counting out all our coins. We had about $13 worth.

Customs is prior to retrieving your luggage.

Just to clarify- Customs(goods) and Passport Control or Immigration (people) are 2 different things.

Passport control occurs after you get off the plane BEFORE you get your luggage.
Customs is after Passport Control and AFTER you have your luggage.

"Yes and no, Christine, at least on Air France, KLM, Delta there is a business class side entrance for passport. You jump the whole line. I don't know how it works with other airlines, though. The line where everyone waits equally is security as you are entering the airside departure terminal."

No, you don't "jump the line" You are put in another line... and my last session in that line for Business and First Class immigration with Sky Team (DL, AF, etc) leaving CDG took an hour!

Now I’m worried after reading all this great information. We will be flying AF business class marseille to Cdg with two hours at cdg before flight to lax. Hoping that this is enough time?