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Flight out of CDG terminal 1 on Sunday early morning, is it busy time?

We have a flight out of CDG to the USA from Terminal 1 on a Sunday morning (9:15am flight).
I have read and heard about how long it can take to get through passport/security/luggage check and about people almost missing or actually missing their flight even when arriving 3+ hours ahead. We are flying coach.
We have a car picking us up at 5:15am to head to CDG from the 7th arrondissement so should get there three hours before (I assume traffic isn't awful that early on a Sunday).
But we need to check luggage and I heard the airlines usually open about 2.5 hours before flights when it is that early in the morning (not three hours as advised so no point in arriving earlier). Has anyone had experience with an early morning flight and was the airline desk open three hours before? If they indeed don't open until 6:45, will we have time to get through passport and security to catch our flight?
Has anyone experienced getting through Terminal 1 security and passport control early Sunday morning recently? Is that a popular time?

Thanks!

Posted by
320 posts

We flew out on a Saturday at 11;00 am from CDG from T1. We had checked baggage. The counter didn't open until 2 hours before. But it was SAS which doesn't have a big presence in Paris. We did fine as I recall. I was nervous because there was maintenance on the RER train on that day. the whole line was down. It all worked out fine. We had an hour to sit & wait for the counter to open

Posted by
10200 posts

9 for a flight is not that early at CDG. It's busy every day. Your timing sounds right, 3 hours. And again you are correct, traffic will be light. A 5:30 pick up would be good.

Posted by
6 posts

Mark, was your SAS flight an international one? That is worrisome if the airlines only open 2 hrs ahead to check luggage for an international flight. And were you flying coach? We are and don't have the express lanes for luggage check-in that business /first class get.

I'll get there three hours ahead but someone had recommended an airport concierge service to expedite passport and security controls. I am wondering if we should get one of those to ensure we make our flight on time.

If anyone has used that, let me know. Thanks.