I arrive in CDG with a connecting flight to Spain on same airline but different airplane.
I can’t recall, laugh. Do I go first to passport control, then claim my bag for customs, then recheck my bag for Spain? Or will my bag go onto Spain and I do immigration and customs at the end of my travel in Spain?
On this trip I have to check my bag through vs carryon due to my shoulder injury not strong enough yet for overhead bin. Oh well.
You'll go through passport control at the first entry point into Schengen/EU, which is Paris. In Spain you won't do anything except claim your bag and exit the airport.
I don't recall the baggage situation at CDG, because it's been a while since I checked a bag, but I don't think you claim and recheck in Paris. My recollection could be wrong, though.
In Europe it is normal that your bagage is checked through all the way to your final airport (assuming this is on one booking, and you are not self connecting).
So the procedure is always the same: You go through immigration at your point of entry, but coming from the US do not need to go through security agian, nor do you need to claim and recheck your luggage. After you have gotten your entry stamp you just go to the gate of your next flight.
At your final destination you pick up your luggage and go through customs. If you have nothing to declare just pick the green channel. You will notice that luggage tags on bags that have originated in the EU have green edges, that is how customs knows which is arriving from outside the EU, and which isn't...
Thank you for the clarification.
So the procedure is always the same: You go through immigration at your point of entry, but coming from the US do not need to go through security again [emphasis mine], nor do you need to claim and recheck your luggage.
The procedure is not in fact always the same, and at least two airports that I am personally familiar with -- one of which is in this case CDG -- there is a required security rescreening for US arrivals.
At CDG -- as you are transferring on the same airline in CDG, I'm guessing that you are almost certainly on the Delta / Air France family, which means that you will arrive at 2E (where long-haul, non-Schengen flights arrive) and depart from 2F (Schengen departures only)
From 2E to 2F there will be a security check -- here is a step-by-step guide indicating the re-screening. Here is an Air France guide, which also indicates a security rescreening, if you prefer a more official website.
At MAD -- long-haul non-Schengen flights (at least for Iberia) arrive into Terminal 4S. Making any onward connection -- including to a flight that departs from the same terminal 4S -- requires going through a re-screening. Here is a video from Iberia indicating this.
I agree with Andrew. Not just US travelers but everyone goes thru security when changing from 2E (where many planes from the US land) to 2F where many intra-Europe flights leave from.
I'll add that Security at CDG has always been very strict about the 3-1-1 bags and will insist any liquids you have in your personal item be in a liter (or quart for us) ziplock bag. If you have one of the heavier clear plastic pouches sold in the US that say "TSA approved" they will make you move them to a ziplock.
What airline are you flying? How much time do you have for the transit?
Delta/AF purchase from DL for both flights. I have 4 hours.
Thank you for the sites.
Oh great...yes, with 4 hours you will be fine. With a Delta/Air France transit you will go from 2E to 2F. Your bag will be checked thru to Spain from your home airport. I usually look when they are tagging my bag to make sure it's the correct airport code.
You'll go thru Security once you get to the 2F terminal after a walk from 2E, then thru Passport Control to enter the Schengen area. I was directed to the e-gates when I went thru last October. There was a staff member there who as I approached the gate said, let me put your passport in, it's kind of touchy. So that worked great!
Since you are planning to check your bag, do give a thought to what you've got in your personal item that is a "liquid" including any left over water from your flight. I put everything including chapstick and hand gel in the 3-1-1 just to make sure I can get thru as quickly as possible. There is a Relay shop at 2F where you can buy water if you need a bottle.
