How strict are airlines about luggage on intra-Europe flights?

Strict, espec if your airline is considered low cost airline.

How strict are they? Very. Prepare to check your luggage.

In Europe most carriers are strict on size and weight,you might get away with a little extra weight if you bags are within the correct sizes but why should you.stick to the rules and if over check your bag.

Plan on checking it. Or redistribute the weight between the carryon and your personal item. I take a carryon (about 16-18 pounds) and a daybag that holds my purse as well as other things (daybag comes in at 8-10 pounds).

Don't forget that the charges for checking a bag at the airport are substantially higher than paying for the bag in advance. And if they force you to check at the gate ... Might be a good time to shove heavy items in your coat pockets.
(We always check the roller bags so there's no airport drama.)

The problem is we have a connecting international flight that is on a separate ticket, so we can't check our bags through to the final destination and I don't want to have to leave the terminal in Paris to go to baggage claim, re-check the bag, then go back through security. I guess if it's close I'll be the wacko wearing several layers of clothing in August! :)

Also, be aware that planes on connecting flights within Europe may have much smaller overhead space than you may be used to. I always check a bag and my carry on is small but it still does not fit that great sometimes.

If you are forced to gate check, do you have enough time between flights to do all that is necessary? Sounds like you will have to change terminals and go through passport and security, too.

I think Air France adds 15 euro to add a checked bag up to about 50 lbs if you book ahead. I'm not sure what they'll charge if it's done at the gate. In my experience limits are strictly enforced but my first flight with Air France (Nice to Paris) will be in September.

In my case, I pack lighter. I keep honing it down to only the things I need and all lightwieght, low bulk items. My bag now is just a shoulder bag that fits the strictest of carry on limits.

If you're concerned about connections and need to keep your bags with you, pare down your packing list. You can do it.

The problem is we have a connecting international flight that is on a separate ticket, so we can't check our bags through to the final destination and I don't want to have to leave the terminal in Paris to go to baggage claim, re-check the bag, then go back through security. I guess if it's close I'll be the wacko wearing several layers of clothing in August!

I get the feeling you don't know what's involved. This is a little bigger than a carry bag's weight.
First, you will need to exit airside upon arrival from Munich. It won't be the same terminal as your international flight. Second, Munich to Paris is like DC to NY, an internal flight. You'll need to go through passport in Paris. Third, you will probably need to change terminals, as well. Terminal 2 has many large separate buildings and it takes time to go between them. Finally, unless you have money for a walk-up ticket if you miss the flight or one reason or another, you should be closer to your high-stakes international flight the night before. Planes are delayed and canceled. Even a strike could ground your Munich to Paris flight. You should re-book the Munich to Paris ticket for the day before and spend the night at CDG.

Wear pockets and shove stuff in them .

It appears you are going to have to get your baggage into conformance with the airline guidelines ( and do not expect any 'fudge factor' to be allowed) or find a different hotel at CDG. If I were in your situation that is what I would do.

Entry into the secured area where the Yotel is located closes at 11PM. Access from the airside is 24 hr. If you have to go retrieve bags, I would be surprised if you could make it back through security by 11PM. ( Even if your flight arrives on time.... 50 minutes to get from plane to bag claim, wait for bag to arrive and get back to security station, sounds scary short to me)

Yup, we're trying to do the Yotel and then we fly out the next morning, which is why we don't want to have to leave to get bags then come back through security. We'll be flying into Terminal 2F and flying out of 2E. Our understanding is that we will only have to go through passport control if we don't have checked bags, but this seems to also close at 11. It will be too close for comfort if we have to pick up checked bags, since our flight lands at 10:10 pm. Of course I suppose there's always the possibility of a flight delay, or the airline will force us to gate check our bags anyway, if there isn't enough overhead space...

I guess we'll either have to get a different hotel and deal with the Security hassle, or not make any reservations and play it by ear that night and hope somewhere still has availability. I've heard the horror stories about getting through the CDG airport, which is why the Yotel sounded so appealing!

Those are two different buildings. You have to come out from the airside no matter what. If you reserve at the Ibis in at T3 instead, you won't have a problem with a closing time.
When you change buildings, you'll need to go through both passport and security. Passport is before security.

You could take less clothes and plan on doing laundry or having the hotel send it out.

Hi everyone. We just got back from our trip and while I was able to get everything to fit into a small carry on bag anyway, I just thought I'd follow up and let you know that no one was even giving a second glance to the bags that were being brought on board. Maybe smaller airlines care, but Air France didn't at all.

What we have here is about 30,000 posts of "experience", looking like Chicken Little.

I love Air France. I've flown them 3 times, twice from the US to Europe and once from Venice to Paris. Always helpful & accommodating. Glad it worked out for you.

I love it when there is a follow up report to let us know how the story ended. Thank you!

Ah, that's the way it works -- you prepare for the worst, and it doesn't happen; but if you prepare for the best case scenario and you get an agent who wants to stick to the posted rules ... there's not much you can do.