To save money, I purchased 2 airline tickets... one from the US to CDG/Paris on Lufthansa/United and the other to VIE/Vienna on Vueling. When I land at CDG do I go through customs and/or passport control there and then re-enter security to get to my Vueling connection to Vienna? I'm worried I won't make my connection in my 1hr 40min layover. I only have a carrry-on. Thanks for tips.
Posted by
Chicago
8035 posts
You have not left enough time for this transfer; you might make it if you are very lucky but I think Vueling actually closes check in 40 minutes before the flight (I know Easyjet does) and so that would give you one hour which is almost entirely unlikely unless your first flight were early. It averages for us about an hour in immigration which you go through on entry to Schengen in Paris. It can take 2 hours in immigration if you arrive after several other jumbo jets on a day when they are not well staffed. Luggage at CDG always takes a long time -- then you have to check in at Vueling and go through security.
If this was a connection you might make it but it would be tight -- your luggage would be interlined and you would do customs in Vienna -- but you don't have a connection and so you have to do everything separately. I would guess you are about to lose the cost of your ticket and have to buy a walk up to Vienna. Are the two flights even in the same terminal?
Posted by
Chicago
7807 posts
You know that if you miss the flight due to Lufthansa not arriving on time that they are not responsible. You will go through passport immigration and customs at CDG and then have to go through security. I have gambled similarly buying a separate ticket but give myself a minimum of 3 hours. Do what you think you should do to be among the first to get off the plane and know your options in case you miss the flight. Since you have a carryon checkin 24 hours in advance and print your boarding pass at home. That way you do not have to go to Vueling check in counter. That is what I do when I gamble like this.
Posted by
Paris
6875 posts
Lufthansa arrives in T1, Vueling départs from T3. So you have to clear passport control, take shuttle to T3 stop, walk a bit, go through security. With a non-EU passport there is hardly any chance you can make the connection - maybe 25%.
Vueling flights can be changed for a reasonable fee (45€ IIRC) + fare difference, I would look into a later flight. Or if you end up needing to cancel and book on another airline, be sure to claim back the airport taxes - it's a significant chunk of the ticket, and you get them back even for nonrefundable fares.
Allow at least three hours for that connection.
Posted by
Paris
9546 posts
It’s not a connection and there is no way you would make the Vueling flight. As mentioned above, you might as well get a refund for it now and buy a (significantly later) flight.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
And if you do this again, Lufthansa/United has a doable connection in Frankfurt for Vienna -- same terminal.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you all so much for the advice. I will change my ticket. So glad I asked here. I left that time because most of the Expedia flights had similar timings. Again, thank you. Does anyone know how to reach Vueling via a US phone number? Thanks!
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Vueling doesn't seem to have a US phone number. Here's their webpage about how to contact them: https://www.vueling.com/en/we-are-vueling/contact#
Posted by
Chicago
7807 posts
You can possibly yourself change the ticket online.
https://www.vueling.com/en/vueling-services/prepare-your-trip/flexibility-and-changes