My son's flights leaving Munich were canceled by Air France, and we're trying to figure out a replacement. Air France has limited options going from Munich back to either Birmingham or Atlanta, and the only one that would really work with schedules on both sides of the trip only offers a 1 hour layover in Paris. I've never cut it that close before but I'm afraid that it really is the only option that works. Has anyone successfully managed a 1-hour layover at CDG? Do you have to go back through security once you land in CDG?
Posted by
Woodbridge, CA, USA
46 posts
My experience at CDG is that one hour isn't enough. I've been through CDG flying to SFO with a 2 hour layover, and that was the closest that I've ever been to missing a flight. At the time of that particular flight a few years before COVID, we had to go through security twice. A bus had to take us from one part of the airport to another and even though we had been through security before boarding the bus, we were required to line up and go through security again. My husband and I refuse to fly home from CDG any longer. Flying into CDG is fine, but not flying out. Good luck.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11179 posts
Rather than risk getting stranded at CDG, I would choose to deal with an inconvenience at the 'home' end of the journey.
I have never been through CDG, but everything I have ever heard/read is that a successful 1 hr transfer has the same likelihood as buying a winning multi-million dollar lotto ticket. It happens, but not with certainty and predictability.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10190 posts
Nope, for most people. He has both passport control and security, a full on security with all electronics out, jackets off...no pre-check of any sort.
But if he misses the connection, AF will reroute him on an AF or Delta flight but it could be a big hassle.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11179 posts
Minimum connecting time recommended by EASY CDG
Only apply if travelling on a single ticket and any baggage checked through to your final destination.
1 hour for connections within the same terminal.
1 hour 30 minutes for connections that require travel between terminals.
From this website-- https://easycdg.com/passenger-information/transit-connecting-flight-connections-paris-cdg-airport/
Posted by
4518 posts
Since the flight was canceled ask for something via Amsterdam, SkyTeam partners Delta and KLM should have many options to Atlanta that way. Be sure to check Delta options from CDG also, they may have a later flight or something to Birmingham via JFK, Detroit, or Minneapolis. Air France canceled so push for something better. Note that the last half of December there are 5 nonstops/week MUC/ATL on Delta.
Posted by
Portland, OR
1091 posts
We went from Italy to the US via CDG last month. Surprisingly we did not have to go back out through security. We only went through passport control. We had 1 hour and 40 minutes between flights and we were literally running to our gate. CDG is always so chaotic, I would never only plan an hour through there. Given that Europeans can now travel to the US I would assume it’s that much more chaotic.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10190 posts
That's very unusual April. I've connected many times these past few years, both coming and going, and have always had a security screening before entering the new concourse. Wow. You were so lucky!
I'm always on Sky Team, AF and Delta flights in the far-off tram-accessed concourses. That might be why. Where were you? What airline?
Posted by
7667 posts
I would never book flights with less than two hours to change in CDG. When I go online to book flights, it ticks me off when I get these great price options with something like 45 minutes to change flights in JFK or an hour and ten minutes in Amsterdam or CDG. Not sure why those options are even offered?