We got a heck of a deal from US to Paris in late August on British Airways round trip for $500. Our arrival destination was originally Rome, returning home from Paris. The open jaw fare doing that was $1499.-not on sale. Obviously we booked the Paris RT fare for the $500. We still need to get to Rome the day we arrive. We considered staying in Paris our first night then heading to Rome the next day but we figured it would be a hassle to do CDG turnaround so quickly. We will be in Paris the last 5 nights of our trip. So basically we arrive in London, connect to Paris and arrive at CDG around 10:50 am. Since we are going to buy a separate ticket to Rome from Paris, how long should we allow for customs/immigration before hopping on a plane to Rome? There is a 1:20 pm flight on Alitalia or 2:10 pm or 3:05 on Air France. Would the 1:20 flight give us enough time to go through customs and security? Not sure how CDG is set up and if we would have to change terminals since we arrive on British Air.
Posted by
Chicago
8556 posts
This is high risk -- your plane could be late (most of our last 10 flights have been, one by 5 hours) and you have the added risk of delays in London as well i.e. two chances for things to go sideways. I would not book less than 4 hours between unconnected flights. Immigration usually takes about an hour BUT there have been reports of it taking over 2 hours lately and then you have to check in and go through security. Budget airlines like Easyjet close their check in about 40 minutes before the flight.
With 4 hours you might miss your flight, but you have a good chance of making it; you might also have an hour or two to spare -- but I'd rather be sitting at the airport drinking coffee than buying another ticket. You need to check which terminals each flight works from as that adds some time. Things would have to go unusually amazingly perfectly for you to make the 1:20.
Posted by
Chicago
8166 posts
Go with buying the 3:05 only if it is inexpensive
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11881 posts
I would not look at anything earlier than the 305.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3990 posts
I would look at nothing before 3:05 and I would have only carry-on luggage, depending on the length of time for your connection in Heathrow. If your connection is less than 2 hours at Heathrow, you will probably make the connecting flight but there is a good chance the luggage will not and BA will only get it to Paris for you. Forget about the 1:20 flight. Your odds of making it are very slim, especially if you have checked luggage assuming it makes the connection. I'd spend the night in Paris and fly out of Orly the next day but I really do not like agita/worry about making connections when traveling.
Posted by
Paris
2466 posts
Here it is - all you need to know:
http://easycdg.com
You don't go through Customs but you do go through Security.
Not enough time to get to the 1:20 flight.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11881 posts
we will spend our first weekend in Paris and last four nights of the trip in Paris
Plans changed? Looks like you have made them more complicated if you intend to travel directly on to Rome
Posted by
Queens, NYC
571 posts
You don't go through Customs but you do go through Security.
A traveler coming off a flight from London in Paris and going onward to a flight in Rome on one ticket will not clear customs in Paris (they will go through customs in Rome), but will absolutely have to clear passport control in Paris, which is by far the more time-consuming part of the two, especially for those who do not hold European passports. The traveler is entering the Schengen Area in Paris and thus by definition must clear immigration.
In addition, if the OP is bringing checked bags, which is likely since they are coming from North America, those bags will not be checked through to Rome because the OP is traveling on two separate tickets. In this case the OP will have to clear passport control and customs in Paris and then re-check in the bags for the flight to Rome.
Posted by
Chicago
8556 posts
they will clear immigration and customs in Paris because they do not have a connecting flight. They have a separate flight.
Posted by
OP
Gulf Coast, usa
1191 posts
Correct - we do not have a connecting flight. And we only have carry on luggage. So either we book the 3:05 or later and hope for the best, or stay for the night. We fly in to CDG but Orly is a much more pleasant idea to fly out of. And yes - plans were changed.