Changing planes in Europe

A lot depends on what airlines you are flying on. If both flights are on the same airline you may not have to change terminals and you baggage will be checked through to your final destination. Even if you are changing airlines you will probably be able to check your luggage through. You should be able to find out from your airlines what arrival and departure terminals you will be using at CDG and once you know that you can get the information on how to make the change.

Gail,

Why not call your Airline Customer Assistance number and perhaps they can help you. That way you can be prepared with accurate information.

Have a safe and pleasant flight!

I have never changed planes at CDG so I don't know if you have to go trough immigration or not; it varies by airport. Checked baggage will automatically be sent to your connecting flight even if it is on a different airline. When you check-in for your first flight in the US make sure to inform the agent what your connecting flight is so they can tag it properly. The only exception would be if your connecting flight is a discount airline. They usually don't handle baggage transfers. In this case you would have to exit the terminal then head to thay airlines' check-in desk.

hate to say this, but the worst European travel story of my 8 trips to Europe involved changing planes at Charles de Gaulle. If you speak French, it wouldn't be so bad. I had a connection to make and several planes landed with people that had to go through passports/customs and they had two officials for hundreds of people. Many of us missed our connections, I did. Then I couldn't figure out what gate to go to make my connections. Ask the flight crew before you get there or better yet as someone else here suggests; find out from the airlines what gate you will be going to and hopefully the airline is giving you two hours or more to make your connection. Good luck!

If your flights are on the same airline or on codeshare partner airlines, your bags will be checked through. If not, you'll have to collect and re-check them. If your flight to Bologna is on a discount airline, you'll definitely have to handle your bags yourself. For lots of helpful information on CDG, including connections, go here: www.easycdg.com.

I am traveling to Germany with a stop at CDG as well. I called my airlines, which happens to be Delta, and asked them if my checked luggage would automatically be sent through. They told me it would. They also told me I would only have to go through customs upon landing. I have a huge layover, which I have been trying to figure out what to do with there, but they said I would only go through security once more when boarding the new flight which is with Air France. I would suggest calling your airlines as well. I have been told you need 2-3 hours at CDG just for the security portion. Hope this helps. Have a good trip!

Thanks for all the info. It looks like I won't have to deal w/bags, but will have to go through Immigration/customs/ security, whatever. The easycdg website is fabulous,I recommend it to anyone that has to fly to CDG. It also looks like I will only have to be in Terminal 2, and I am pretty familiar with it. I will check gates closer to my trip time. Hopefully I won't get the bus around the tarmac tour and will have time for a cafe and croissant between planes. Thanks again for all the answers.