Using lift tickets for Eiffel Tower

All the lift tickets sell out and so at any time slot there will be lots of people there with lift ticket reservations; it is quite possible they will make you wait for your slot though at 15 minutes it will depend on the precision of the particular ticket taker. Just don't be late.

I arrived about 15 minutes early back in October and walk up to the entrance for those with tickets. They told me to return closer to my 17:15 time slot. When a line started to form I got into to it, there was about 25 of us with 17:15 tickets. Know this, if your ticket is to the top, 3rd floor, you will get out on the second floor and stand in line with everyone else who has tickets to the top. The elevators do not do a straight shot to the top, you change elevators on the second level. It took me just over an hour from when I got through the first check point to the 3rd floor. The line for the elevator from 2nd floor to the top wrapped around the entire outer edge of the Tower, then goes into a switchback line just prior to the elevator.
Enjoy your trip.

Wow, an hour? When you already had timed tickets? Now you're making me nervous. I bought tickets for the 2130 time slot in late June, assuming we'd be on top in time for sunset at 2158. I'm not sure how else to have done it, though, since the next earlier time slot that they sell is at 2000, way too early.

I'll try getting there at 2115 and see if they'll let us in. Thanks for the heads-up.

I went to the top with my daughter in the reservation line. They didn't let us go up early even though we showed up one hour before our reservation. Just like the other post I started to line up once a crowd gathering a little before our reservation time. You will go through security but then you join the regular line to reach the top. I didn't realize that and luckily we queued up right away. It took us awhile to reach the top and even more time to come down. Don't forget to allow time to line up for the elevator to return down. Maybe they will let you go up early but for us they didn't.

Thanks so much! I had hoped just like Bob, to make it to the top for Sunset. I just got them today (I set my alarm for 02:20 to be ready to buy the 20:00 time slot - I though the trip up may take some time) and it was sold out in seconds I swear. I guess if we're lucky we'll catch dusk on the second level, before heading up to the very top. Bummer.

We arrived early and were also told to come back closer to our reserved time. If memory serves me it was about five minutes prior.

As for lining up to get to the top? I'm guessing we really lucked out as we stepped off one elevator and walked right onto the next one and were at the top within 10 minutes of our initial entry. No doubt it being the last week in November helped.

Thanks for the information. So, I know that when you have tickets to the top, you're supposed to go to the 2nd floor and immediately get in line for the elevator to the top. But do you think I'd get in trouble if we dawdled on the 2nd floor, waiting to take sunset pictures from there, before going up to the 3rd? I imagine that sunset pictures from there would be just as good as from the 3rd, and I'd hate to miss my opportunity to get sunset pictures from la Tour Eiffel.

I am hoping for the same thing , bob. Hoping to just kinda idle until sunset. Fingers crossed. Happy travels!!

Sounds like a good plan. It's usually more windy on the top anyways.
Enjoy