Hi Travelers
We are traveling (non stop) from the US to Paris arriving at 8:00 AM (Delta Terminal 2E). Our first destination will be Nice so I'm considering a flight from CDG to Nice since we are at the airport already.
I'm assuming we will need to do go through customs prior to a Nice flight -- is that right? if you have done a trip like this --how much time did you allow?
Thanks
Terri
Terri, ignore customs (check on goods), it is a non-event. It is a random stop only, 95%+ are not stopped, you just walk through and it takes zero time.
What takes time is immigration (aka passport control). This is the check on people, whether you are allowed into the country and for how long. This could take 30 to 90 minutes, with occasional horror stories of it taking longer.
Immigration will take place when you land at Charles de Gaulle. It makes no difference what your onward travel method is (fly, train or other).
Plus, a transatlantic flight could be 1 hour late if the wind is in the wrong direction. The normal wisdom is to allow 3 hours minimum, plus and check-in time if you are flying. Therefore earliest flight out would be 12:00.
If you do this as a separate booking, you are taking the risk. If or any reason you miss the onward flight, you have no come-back or refund.
You could also take the train. That would involve first a train into Paris, then the métro and a train to Nice from Gare de Lyon. Total 7 hours minimum, so the earliest you would be in Nice is 19:00.
Why don't you add the flight to Nice onto your Delta ticket. It's all code share flights.
I think the addition of the CDG to Nice (Cote d Azur) flight makes the most sense. once you book just call Delta to connect the two confirmation codes. IF that's not an option I'd plan at least 2 hours if not 3 to make it through passport control. I've made it in under 2 hours and almost missed a flight when I had three hours - I always go longer at CDG to make sure and not have to freak out as time ticks by.
If it is still possible -- if you haven't actually bought your ticket -- Delta and partner Air France will take you to Nice, then fly you home from Paris (assuming you intend to work your way back there) for about the same price as a simple round trip. Booked on a multi-destination search function, which Delta offers, it will send your luggage onwards to Nice. You go through immigration security in Paris. But you do have to book it as an itinerary rather than a collection of single tickets.
