We will be returning from Paris from CDG in mid June and have heard that you may now need to arrive at least 4 hours prior to your flight time. We usually travel with carry on luggage only ( Rick's tip) but were wondering if it might be wise to check baggage this time in order to speed up our security check?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
What slows down your security check is the number of lines open, number of people in line, and how well they're prepared for the procedures there. Your one carry-on bag and taking out liquids, etc., isn't going to be the main factor
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
Also, will you stop in a U.S. airport after CDG but before your final destination? Baggage is NOT automatically checked through -- you need to physically pick it up and put it on the conveyor belt for the connecting flight. (Took us 2 hours at Dulles.) Carry on is simpler and faster if you're not flying non-stop.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
You may be unpleasantly surprised at how long the lines are to check a bag.
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
You don't need 4 hours. On the other hand, I can't imagine how checking baggage could make a difference, except maybe negatively.
Posted by
Truro, NS, Canada
3941 posts
We haven't flown out of CDG but flew into CDG last year. We were thru passport in less than 5 min (hooray). When we came out to the main area to go to the Metro, it was absolute chaos. There was some renos going on, and lines were insane for the airlines. People with luggage carts full of suitcases blocking the way, barely any room to get around, lines that looked like they snaked back upon themselves 5 times over...and this was mid-morning late Sept. I feel the renos may have had a hand as it seemed like a lot of room was blocked for getting thru the corridors, causing a human/luggage traffic jam. thankfully, we were travelling light and didn't have to fight our way thru with a ton of luggage.
Maybe it was an anomaly (but not from what I've heard). I don't think I'd want to wait in those lines to check a bag if I could just take carry on, just check in and print the boarding pass at the check-in computers at the airport like I do at home and just head right for security.
We deliberately planned our trip so we wouldn't have to fly out of CDG. Thank God. I would have been a bundle of nerves. Personally, I'd rather be safe than sorry...
Posted by
Los Angeles
4853 posts
Laura makes a good point, we flew from CDG to O'Hare on our way home (not by choice), we have Global Entry so had no problem with immigration but did have to wait for bags and then re-check them for the rest of the trip outside the baggage claim area. At least we didn't have to schlep them onto the airport train to our gate! And we didn't have that much time to spare for our connection, no one (including me) factored in the baggage bit.
FWIW, our flight out of CDG was uneventful. We easily checked our bags and processed my wife's many VAT refunds. Yes at the end of the tunnel there was a moderate mob scene at security, but you just take a breath and work your way through and ... you're at your gate.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
Given a choice I would prefer flying into CDG from SFO, than vice versa. I've done both a number of times since I don't necessarily fly open jaw. Just pay attention to the signs. Arriving 3.5 to 4 hrs prior to departure isn't a bad idea at CDG, I've done it even though the night before I stay at the airport.