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Timing at CDG

Arriving at CDG from Chicago on 10/25 scheduled time 8:45 am. We purchased tickets to go from CDG to Strasbourg with a scheduled departure time of 11:23 am (TGV). I am debating if we should just take carry on luggage (not preferable) to shorten time from getting off the plane to getting on the train. We are seated in row 10 of economy plus (Air France) so we should be some of the first people to disembark. For those of you who have the experience at CDG what is your advice?
We have been at CDG but never had to "make a train ". I realize I should have scheduled a later train departure but too late now. Thank you in advance for your opinions.

Posted by
2413 posts

The problem is that there are 2 unknowns. Planes are sometimes delayed, and immigration is really dependant on how many planes land just before your plane. I'd be nervous.

Posted by
9684 posts

I think too - if everything is normal and your flight arrives on time, you should be able to make the train. I wouldn't think that waiting for luggage would add too much time, as generally it takes a little while to get through immigration anyway, so that is eating away at the bag delivery time. With nearly three hours you should be fine, all other things being equal.

Posted by
336 posts

We too are on the 11:23 to Strasbourg, but in December. Our ETA is 8:10, so I certainly hope that is plenty of time for you and me!!! This past June, we had about a 3 hour window before our train to Lyon, and I think we had 2 hours to kill in the train waiting area. We flew through immigration/customs.... Hopefully good luck will continue.

Posted by
2554 posts

I agree that luggage is rarely a delaying factor, and that the two critical unknowns are your actual arrival time and the backup at passport control. 2+38 would normally allow you the time you need, but you have no guarantee. I might have a backup plan in mind, just in case.

Posted by
10236 posts

I've made it to the train station in under 1.5 hours with checked luggage arriving on AF.

About nervousness. I hope you don't worry about possibilities. Worse case scenario is you have to buy a walk up ticket. Nobody likes wasting money, but you're on vacation and things happen. Just have a plan B, sit back and see how things unfold. You both have a very large possibility that your plans will be fine.