Honors for CDG and Recognition

All I can say is that makes me laugh !

I think those people were well paid to give glowing reviews!
I don’t believe a word of it.

I’ve been through CDG many times.
Have seen people faint dead away in the huge lineups waiting for hours.
Arriving from Zurich last September, my luggage when it finally came was soaking wet.
The bathrooms were beyond filthy with wet floors from you-know-what.
And the smell….

Last month when leaving, the moving slanted-uphill sidewalks were not working.
I climbed 72 steps uphill with my cane and a limp and my carryon bag.
No staff person knew where the lift was to get up otherwise.
Then at security I was literally manhandled quite roughly by a large female officer while frisking me.
The only place to get food and coffee at 10:00 …..no coffee!…..near my gate , after security….was not open.

Bostonphil: I hope you have better experiences!
One tip: use the bathroom before you line up for security and/or luggage arrival.

All I can say is that makes me laugh !

You and me both, Kim! That is a big joke!

About the "the Strange World of Skytrax":

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2018/02/16/inside-strange-world-skytrax-aviation-rating-organization-probably-shouldnt-trust/

My first thought was all the other Europe airports must have taken a giant dive for this miracle to occur. Then like SJ assumed someone was generously compensated for their glowing reviews.

bostonphil7 this ranking doesn't reflect my experience with CDG last year, which notably was during the survey time period. Take your patience and give yourself ample time. Depending on where your flight departs it can take up to an hour to get to your gate from the check in counter. I will say the only "good" signage was that listing the travel times to terminals and they were pretty accurate. Definitely use the loo before heading to security.

I thought it was funny, too. I'm eager for my next trip to France which includes avoiding this airport entirely.

HAHAHAHA!!!! They didn’t ask ME to take a survey!

All I can say is that I am cheerfully paying hundreds more for an upcoming trip to avoid CDG. Never again.

oh my.

I hope that I will be able to get to CDG for the first time this May and form my own opinions.

Skytrax was given the Hobson's Choice of voting for it, or traveling through it -- and they chose correctly.

-- Mlke Beebe

I hope that I will be able to get to CDG for the first time this May and form my own opinions.

Is Paris your final destination? It's definitely easier than transferring, which can be the most difficult. Someone on Reddit once referred to it as "passing through the Gates of Hell." I think that's an apt description.

I flew in and out of CDG for the first time in October, and after having to stand in line for an hour and a half on arrival just to get a stamp in my passport, I can honestly say that I was completely unimpressed. Compared to the new, very large, airport in Istanbul where it only took about 20 minutes to exit I would say CDG has some work to do. It is well signed, and definitely easier to navigate than Heathrow, but I don’t recall being overly impressed by the food and shopping. I do recall finding it hard to find a way to refill my water bottle after going through security coming home, and ended up buying an expensive bottle of water. One wonders who they asked tome to this conclusion.

Thanks for posting.

My favourite return airport, ie back to SFO is London Heathrow. Hard to say what is the favourite for arrival, going through the red tape and baggage claim and then taking public transport to the city and hotel. Based on observations, experiences from the last 3 trips since 2023, I would say the new CDG.

Before CDG went through its remodeling and refurbishing process, I was quite used to the old CDG, had no problems with it upon landing from SFO be it on Air France or United overnight flight. Seeing the new CDG for the first time in 2023, I had to get used to the new surroundings since the arrival from SFO was in Terminal 3 instead of Terminal 2. Now I fly only into CDG with its new organisation, structure, atmosphere, lay-out , etc

Admittedly, you do have to be exceedingly alert and attentive as to where you are going. I make sure my eyes are focused on the signs, anyway no problems navigating CDG getting myself to where I want to go. Absolutely , no problems with the staff service and language skills (theirs and mine), ie these "trouble-shooters" ...always helpful , pleasant, approachable, friendly, .

Between the two I much prefer the new CDG over the old one applying the criteria above., arrival and departure, just a lot nicer, and pleasing all over. Bottom line: I have no problems at all with CDG.

Hi Mardee

Yes, I am going to spend a full week in Paris, no cruise. I will be arriving and leaving CDG.

But I am thinking of postponing my trip because of the TSA situation. My trip is not until early May but if this situation continues, I do not know what I will be doing.

Glad you have found your hotels for your Xmas Market trip. I know that we sill get great TRs.

Anita and Fred

Hoping that I get to experience CDG early May.. If the problem with TSA continues, I might have to postpone my trip until fall.

If and when I go, I will be reviewing as a first time traveler to CDG

I've never had any problems at CDG and I know it so well now.

@ bostonphil7....I leave the same month as you, arriving most gladly at CDG after that 11 hour Basic Economy , non-stop haul from SFO on the morning of May 27.

You're a first time visitor to CDG, As such, hopefully, CDG meets with your approval coming away with a satisfactory experience Be advised that the place is big, may seem daunting, overwhelming and all that but look at it this way ...so what?

Keep your eyes focused on the signs and their directions, be it the location of the WC, baggage claim, exit, the RER B (Terminal 2) station to Gare du Nord, etc. In contrast to 2024, CDG in 2025 seemed to me much more organised and complete, eg, empty spaces I saw in 2024 were in 2025 occupied by ticket machines with their helpers/trouble-shooters , all English speaking, obviously . standing by to render assistance. Lots of people depend on them to have their questions answered. You'll see that too, bewildered and clueless or their phones don't work or credit cards when payning.

Be prepared too that not only is CDG big , spacious, and may be daunting to you since it is your introduction to this airport, the place is crowded, tons of people all over, inundated with people coming at you every which way...but , so what? I go in the summer, ie the end May, and being swamped is to be expected. Be prepared mentally to tackle these swarms of people, so to speak, as you enter the airport after Immigration.

At Immigration: Have I run into a scanner there not working, yes, twice...just get the attention of a "helper." and say , "marche pas" . You'll be directed to go another scanner, if that one doesn't work either, very bad luck, you have a problem.

None of these little things faze me, at least not in CDG. Be focused, be glad you're there, period, pay attention, above all, don't allow yourself to get distracted.

The new CDG is more spacious, so it seems. Lots of young "helpers" around in their red smocks moving around, not only in ticket machine areas, to help. Take a rest , once or twice, after passport check and baggage claim, soak up the vibes in CDG, unless you're really pressed for time to get out of CDG. Arriving shortly before noon , I'm in no rush to get out of CDG.

Last summer I made a definite effort to explore the airport as if it were a tourist sight , checking it out, noting this and that, noting certain landmarks, ie certain businesses location, timing on foot getting from A to B, all with luggage in tow, (you'll need this info on the return, ) and the next arrival !

@ bostonphil7.....I don't use this option, never have upon arrival . You may, however, want to consider and opt for it.

Look for the taxi sign in Terminal 2, I think. Given your mobility issues or moving at a slower pace (that applies to me too at times) , I would suggest the set price taxi into Paris, if you're jetlagged, tired, overwhelmed, etc, etc, I 've seen the taxi stand but can't direct you there.

I take the RER B to Gare du Nord, but never sit even if a seat is available, I stand all the way from CDG to Nord.

Hi Fred

Because I have to connect, my trip is going to take 15 hours or more. i can not recall. it might even be 19 hours. Fortunately i can sleep on the plane. Sometimes I really conk out.

I plan to take.a taxi to the hotel for convenience but also because of my mobility issues, I have been advised that i probably should not take any trains because of the stairs and stairs.

Because I am old and have a cane, usually there are many helpers around. I first realized how old I was when I got on my local bus and everyone in the front stood up.

I do not need a cane all the time. I walk around my apartment and building without a cane. I go to the greenbelt without a cane. I use a cane when I am unfamiliar with the terain and sometime in very large buildings unfamiliar to me.

I am arriving at CDG supposedly early, if the plane is on time. I think I am supposed to arrive about 7:30 am

Coming home, I am spending the night at an Ibis right in the airport before flying home.

Thank you Alexander

It is easier when one is familiar with an airport.

@ bostonphil7....We are in the same age bracket plus or minus a couple of years. I would heartily suggest taking a taxi from CVDG as well. For me I stick to the RER to Nord with luggage in tow.

I sleep on the plane too but have noticed that the trips since 2023 my time spent sleeping over the course of the 11 hour flight is less than in the past. Still, that period of sleep undoubtedly helps, I have no jet lag upon landing , am alert and fit to go.

Fred

Only 11 hours between San Francisco and Paris. Is that right? And San Francisco also has no TSA problem because SFO uses private contractors, not the government.

I am jealous.

I do not suffer from severe jet lag when I arrive. Maybe that is because I sleep, sometimes heavily, on the plane.

I have to ask the cabin crew to wake me up when they serve food so that I will not miss eating.

@ bostonphil7....That 11 hour duration is pretty much accurate., non-stop, straight-through to Paris, ( I always take this long haul, don't like breaking up the flight), depending how you count the minutes, literally.

From the moment I enter the plane literally to be greeted by the crew member heading to rear, hopefully, , ie rows beyond 46 to the moment I literally step outside of the plane walking into the CDG airport, ie after the landing, (maybe ca. 20-30 min ahead of the scheduled arrival from SFO) ,taxiing, waiting in my seat some more, (until one is permitted unbuckle and get up), standing and more waiting until someone hogging the over head bin , finally getting carry-ons out, some of which the individual can't even do alone due to size or weight, with these nuisances delaying your own exit off the plane (yes, I can wait since I'm in no hurry because I don't lay-overs in CDG , CDG is always my terminus) , I will have spent 11 hours exactly or plus/minus a few of minutes . My carry-on is easily obtained from the bin, since it does not exceed 14 pounds. My rule is that 13-14 pounds is the absolute limit flying over.

Watch, now the taxi line outside will be the real test of patience. Some things never change.