Looking for reviews and recommendations for using La Concierge at arrival and also departure at CDG. Looking to save time and have a little convenience. We will be arriving from the US, on Polaris. I don’t think we can access any kind of expedited line upon arrival. We do have the biometric chip in our US passport. Does that mean that we can use the PARAFE line(s) for passport control? Then, we will need to collect our bags. For departure, I think we get an expedited line for bag drop and security, so not sure if using La Concierge at departure is of any benefit. Maybe to use the lounge while we wait? Looking forward to your thoughts/experiences.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
4008 posts
A few years a go, I traveled with someone who used the Concierge service at CDG. We did not leave Paris together so I can't say if it was worth it on departure but given that Business Class has a separate check in area, I'm not sure how much the service will offer for departure unless they have priority passport control and security lines. The arrival service was interesting and quite nice -- met at door to the airport and escorted to a priority passport control line. In about 5 minutes from exiting the airplane, we were through passport control and the person waited for and collected our luggage and took it and us to the waiting car. If I recall correctly, we went washed our faces, brushed our teeth, etc. while he waited for the luggage. My travel companion told me that he spent 130€ for the meet and greet at the door and the escort to the priority immigration desk and the luggage pick up and walk to the driver who was waiting outside of customs with his name on card. The driver cost 195€ to our location on the Right Bank. I would probably do the meet and greet again just for the speed through passport control but the driver was IMO too much money. By the way, when I was in Paris in September, there was expedited drop off for luggage for business class travelers but no such thing for passport control or security and security was an absolute mess.
I have never used it but I have been told that US citizens who are over 18 people and who have a biometric passport can use the PARAFE system.
Posted by
Panguitch, Utah
2718 posts
I have arrived CDG on Polaris and been given access to special, expedited passport control, but it was not recently. You might clarify with United.
Aéroports de Paris (ADP) has a number of improved arrival services for those willing to pay for them. I assume they work well, but I have not yet tried them.
PARAFE may be used by those meeting the following criteria:
Those at least 12 years old
Holders of Biometric passports, those having the word passport underlined on the cover.
Citizens/residents of the EU.
I can find no reference that citizens of the US, or anyone else from outside the EU, are included in this program.
Perhaps you are thinking of the ETIAS program, which will require special registration (7€) of all foreigners wanting to enter the EU.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10675 posts
I can only report about my early May check-in flying business class without La Concierge service, so you can make a comparison. It took two hours to go through business class check-in, business class passport control with an EU biometric passport, and security. On previous flights to the US flying in business class with the same priority, it took one hour.
If I were flying this summer, even in business class, when crowds are larger than in May, I'd use this service. If you do, please report back.