Recommended Layover Time

I tried to sway the Delta agent I spoke with away from a set of flights that included 1:50 minutes in CDG, but she couldn't be persuaded because the flights were "bundled" or something like that. It was within their idea of what is do-able but I'm not as speedy as I used to be, especially rolling a suitcase. So she helpfully told me about a potential set of flights to take that would get me to my destination should I miss that connection. I can't tell you how it worked out because a month later one of the flights was changed, so my new package went through AMS instead.

It’s not customs that is the issue,, but immigration/passport control. You will be entering the Schengen zone from a non-Schengen country. How fast you get through depends on how many other planes just landed. CDG is a very busy airport. If your flight is just a little delayed, you might not make it. The good news is that if the airline sells you the ticket, they have to get you to your destination. I would guess there are many flights from CDG to Lyon.

Note that as long as everything is on one ticket and you are on a European
carrier, even from the US->Europe, EC261 applies.

I think on average, 2 hrs should be sufficient, but that does not account for
unexpected queues, etc. If you can use E-gates for immigration, then it
should be a breeze. Luggage doesn't matter since you wouldn't claim it until
Lyon anyways.

Also things like seating more to the front of the plane so you disembark faster,
etc.

I wouldn’t risk it. I would advise a longer layover, hands DOWN.

I have spent too much time freaking out and white knuckling it while getting off the plane as sllllooooow folks in front of me dithered and struggled with their carryon luggage in the overhead bins, and failed to move swiftly down the aisles.

I have asked cabin crew about the gate to make my connection only to be ignored, rebuffed, or told they cannot provide that information “at the moment, ma’am!” with a snarky, saucy moue as they said “ma’am.”

I have been waylaid by moving walkways that were out of service, so I had to RUN (in my flailing, waddling way) to a connecting gate that was as far from my arrival gate as it could possibly be. I mean that quite literally. Think “arrive gate A1, connect to next flight at gate S43.”

I have been caught behind huge, unwieldy crowds who could not be processed quickly, while several passport agents calmly surveyed the heaving masses awaiting service and went on break, en masse, leaving one agent to deal with 3 or 4 planes’-worth of passengers. It was SLOW. And no one - repeat NO ONE - at the airport gave a flying toss if anyone made their connection.

The only airport where ground staff has ever seemed to care or want to help or intervene has been Schiphol. And it took awhile for them to mobilise and grab people with short connections out of the endless, snaking line so we could make our onward flights.

So - yeah. I advise looking for a longer, more doable and relaxing connection. :-)

Good luck!

Air France may be limited in the flights and layover times they can offer by the current ban on short domestic flights ( such as Paris to Lyon).

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65687665.amp

These short flights are only allowed if they are “connecting” flights. Maybe that is what the agent in a prior post meant by “bundled”. So maybe they cannot pick a flight with a longer layover time. But it can’t hurt to call and ask.

Thank you all for your feedback! I really appreciate the insights!

I've changed planes coming from the States in less time than this several times. I usually had 90 minutes. Destinations were Nice or Montpellier. But, being forward in the plane and having an electronic passport helps. I'd do it.

If your transatlantic flight is late and you miss the connection, AF will put you on a flight or in a train to get to Lyon.

Thank you, Bets! That's what I was hoping. We have seats near the front due to being in the "right place, right time" when AF had a sale, so I feel good about our odds! I will look into the electronic passport option as well.

I don’t see much downside if you go with the 1:55 layover. In the worst case, you miss the connection and have to wait in the line with Air France to get rescheduled. Air France is responsible for getting you to Lyon either on a later flight or the TGV. They also have to compensate you under EU261 if you are significantly delayed.

I would be fine with a short layover. Look at it this way: You do in deed have a probability that you will have a longer trip. If you however plan with a longer layover you turn that possibility in a certainty...

It is very common for European carriers to over short layovers. The majors are in fierce competition with each other. They also try very hard to make these short connections work, as misconnected passengers cost them quite a bit of money...

I'll just add this. Not only will you go thru Entry passport control but you will go thru security. Last time I changed from 2E (arrival from Seattle on Delta) to 2F (departure to MIlan on Air France) you hit security as you entered 2F, then did passport control. Both were very quick on the day I transited but I think I was lucky. It took 1h5m for me to get from stepping off the plane to my gate and that included the Delta flight going to a tarmac parking stand and taking a bus to the arrival area of the terminal. That was after it took about 15 minutes for them to push stairs up to the airplane and unlock the door.

Be sure you are ready for security. Take off belts, empty your pockets of chapstick and tissues, lol, have your toiletries in a ziplock bag and ready to remove if necessary. The French security folks want them in a ziplock not one of the plastic zipper containers sold in the US as TSA approved. You will probably have time in line to get yourself organized, but just be ready for it in your head.

Regarding electronic passports which are passports with an embedded electronic chip. I believe the US has been issuing them for close to 20 years now, so it’s quite likely that you have one. I am assuming that you have a US passport. In any case go to this link and see if your passport has the correct symbol on it.

https://www.dhs.gov/e-passports

Two hours is enough on most cases, assuming no delays. I’ve had shorter layovers at CDG, and I fly through it often.

Carry on rather than checking in will actually slow you down. Your checked luggage will go through all the way to the final destination. There is no customs to go through so you don’t need to retrieve your luggage in Paris.

The lighter you are (I.e. without carry on to carry with you) the faster you can run and the faster you can get through security..

I agree with Roberto on the aspect of making your way through an airport
in a hurry with roller bags as opposed to just a backpack, etc., but it's
probably not the deciding factor.

The question about e-passports is most likely not whether you have one,
but whether the airport you have to clear immigration in has e-gates or not,
and whether US passports are accepted. Sometimes the e-gates are not
open (or out of service) even if they would take US passports, so there is
no real way to know for sure until you get there.

I would research options for forward travel in the event you get delayed, and
make sure you know your rights as a passenger in the EU.

This is enough time if the plane is on time and you are on one ticket. You don't collect luggage and you transfer airside so you go through immigration only with others who are transferring. Two hours is plenty of time for this. You go on line and look at the exact details of the transfer when you know your terminals so you hit the ground running and know what you are doing. And you follow the yellow correspondence signs; you must not exit with other passengers into the regular immigration/baggage claim area. I have made a similar transfer with 90 minutes and it was fine.

Trans atlantic flights are usually a bit early but not always. Our flight last fall was two hours late, but if you are on one ticket, then that gets dealt with.

If you have separate tickets than it is not enough time.