Most efficient way to go from Paris CDG to Paris Orly

Four hours between landing at CDG and leaving Orly at 12:10--there's a tiny chance you can do it, but you probably won't make it. I could list all the variables, but there are too many. Just believe me that you need more time, even if you take the RER between the two. The Air France bus is out of the question; the last time we took it, it took 2 hours due to traffic. We didn't have a connection, but only a car to pick up as we were heading south and we knew that getting from the northern outskirts to the southern outskirts is jammed, jammed, jammed.

linda,

I'd suggest using the RER "B" from CDG to ORY as it will be the quickest method and not affected by morning traffic. The two airports are at opposite ends of that RER line. As you noted, you'll disembark at Antony station and use the automated OrlyVal train to the airport.

That will provide you with a bit of a "time cushion" in case your flight from the U.S. is late there's a huge queue at Passport control, or whatever. If you have extra time, stop for breakfast and some coffee at ORY.

One other point to consider is that unless you have true Chip & PIN credit cards (or Euro coins), you won't be able to buy RER tickets using the automated Kiosks. That means you'll have to join the queue at the ticket office, which will take some time. You may find it helpful to have a look at the excellent Paris By Train website.

As you're travelling with carry-on luggage only, be sure to note the easyJet size regulations. If you bought the least expensive tickets, they only allow ONE carry-on item per passenger. That doesn't mean "one plus a personal item", means ONE ONLY of the approved size (weight is not a concern).

It appears we will take the RER B from CDG to Orly. Must we purchase our train tickets from the vending machine labeled Billets Ile-de-France at 10 Euros each, or are there also ticket seller booths? After we disembark at Antony station we continue on to the automated OrlyVal train to Orly airport. Do we need to buy another ticket for the OrlyVal train, or does the ticket to Antony include the OrlyVal trip? Finally, must we wait until arriving in CDG to purchase the train tickets from CDG to Orly?
Thank you to everyone for your help.

Your biggest challenge will probably be getting through passport control. It can be excruciating slow. The vending machines have an English language option. Unless it's Sunday morning, you will find lines for everything. The lines at the machines move along fairly quickly. I have had the machine reject my chip credit card and accept my debit card, reject my debit card and accept my chip credit card. ( Be sure your bank/credit card company knows you are going to be in France.) They also take coins, but not bills. Probably not a good option unless you are carrying a bag full of euros. Once you get your RER B tickets, you are good to go. You'll make it.

Thank you, everyone, for your helpful comments. I can't find out how one obtains the additional ticket at Antony called OrlyVal, which takes you to Orly (I go to Terminal 2).

Have you tried the OrlyVal website,https://www.orlyval.com/en. It shows the ticket booth at Antony under "Tickets and Rates" - "Sales Outlets".

This advice comes too late for you, but both Easy Jet and Air France fly from CDG to Nice, which would have been an easier connection. In addition, some trans-Atlantic airlines are partners with Air France and could have booked you all the way to Nice on one ticket, possibly for no extra money.

Mid-day flights from CDG on Air France currently cost $80 per person (if May 18 is your flight date), if you decide to ditch your Easy Jet tickets. The last time I looked into exchanging an Easy Jet booking, the "exchange fee" was the same as buying a new ticket (about $55 at that time) and their flight from CDG is later.

The RER B ticket is not valid on the Orlyval so you will need to get a ticket for that -- they are something like 7 or 8 Euro I believe.

One problem is that Easyjet check in closes at least 40 minutes before the flight -- so you have to get there and get into the check in line and to the desk well before the flight.

I would not do this without another hour. Hope your flight is on time (ours have averaged half an hour to an hour late and one was 5 hours late) and everything goes smoothly. If you have to buy the RER ticket from the clerk, you probably won't make it -- that line was an hour long last time we needed to do that. You might luck out there but maybe not. It would be a good idea to have 10 Euro each in coins on arrival for that ticket (I have heard that there are now machines there that take bills but this was not the case last time we tried it a few years ago and the machines would also not take our cards.)

I don't know how you buy the Orlyval tickets just that the RER ticket will not be valid for that leg.

I'd get a later flight. If that isn't possible hope you make it. If everything goes very smoothly you might.

Again, many thanks to everyone. I have found a statement in a paragraph about the RER B on this website http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/paris-orly-airport-train.htm that says, "Your combined ticket ticket will be valid on the Orlyval train, the RER, and the Métro." If I can buy a "combined ticket ticket" at CDG for both the RER B and the Orlyval train, then after getting off at Antony, I could go directly to the Orlyval train without having to stop and buy another ticket just for the Orlyval train. This would save time. Anyone with information on this?

Frankly, I'd look into having the leg to Nice added onto my overseas ticket and throw away the Easy Jet ticket. That way the airline is responsible for getting you to Nice and be sure to fly out of CDG.

If not, you can get a RER ticket at the Tourist Info counter and avoid the line. Next, you should watch for an express train (called a direct in French) not one that stops at each station (called an omnibus) between CDG and Paris.
Next, you need to be sure you get on the right branch of the RER: it breaks into two lines south of Paris. You can get off at any station inside Paris (between Gare du Nord and Cite Universitaire) to get on the right train, an express preferably. You are going on the branch St.Remy, not Robinson. The line splits at Bourg-la-Reine.

I still think it's crazy with only four hours but--Bonne chance.

Here's what seat guru says about Easy jet check in; I doubt they are making it easier given the present security situation.

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/EasyJet_Airlines/checkin.php

Beating a dead horse here and it's tiresome. One person is talking about check in which is done either on line or in the terminal, while the other is looking at a boarding pass which one recieves AFTER checking in. Geez.

RER-B ticket (CDG to Paris) purchased this morning from ticket machine at CDG using a Chase VISA Explorer Card (chip-and-signature) with no problem.