CDG airport with a short layover

We did this last fall, coming in on Delta and flying out on Air France. We also had 1 hour 10 minutes and it took us less than 30 minutes to get to the next gate (I think ours were 2E and 2D too), but our flight arrived around 7 am, so the airport will likely be busier mid-day. This website will help you find your path from 2E to 2D:
http://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/guidevoyageur/aeroport/correspondance_cdg.htm There's one place at CDG when you're going through lines (passport control?), where they have a special line to the side for people with short connections. An airport employee is standing there and will check your boarding pass and let you through if needed. I also heard that if you have a short connection and your plane is delayed at all, that Air France people will meet you when you get off the plane and escort you to the next gate. You should definitely get both of your boarding passes at LAX. So be prepared to move quickly once you've landed, but don't panic. If you are travelling with only carry-on luggage, all the better ... you won't have to worry about your luggage not making the connection either.

It all depends on the number of flights arriving at the same time and the attitude of the passport inspectors and security personnel you encounter that day. We missed a connecting flight from CDG to Luxembourg last year for one or both of these reasons even though we had more than two hours between flights. But, if you do miss the connecting flight, go immediately to the AF office at CDG. They put us on the next flight out, so all was not lost.

Thank You so much for the information. That indeed makes us feel a lot more secure. We had just been hearing horror stories. I appreciate the help.

A 1:10 layover is not much of a layover between an inbound international flight and a connecting flight. If CDG is your entry port into the treaty countries you will need to go through passport control. If you are lucky, your 10:30 arrival will not coincide with multiple arrivals all trying to get through passport control before being allowed onward to your connecting flight. We came close to missing our return flight to the States connecting through CDG. Our flight from Oslo OSL via a Air France Regional flight required being bused from the aircraft to a remote passport control station, then being bused to Terminal 2 for our Delta flight to the States. We had to wait multiple minutes for a bus, then the 17 minute bus tour of the airport to get to our departure terminal. Our 85 minute layover had us at our department gate minutes before boarding closed. I do not know if CDG will require you to re-screen after going through passport control. AMS required re-screening after passport control. We landed in the morning about the same time as 4 or 5 other international flights. The backup occurred at AMS' re-screening point. I practically had to unpack my Rick Steves carry-on at AMS because the security people were concerned about all the wires from my computer and charging equipment combined with extra batteries. This required multiple passes through the X-ray then practically unpacking. If you are lucky (or unlucky) the French will not be as dilligent as the Dutch. Good luck.

This will be cold comfort, but if you do miss your connection Air France should put you on the next flight three hours later. At Charles de Gaulle, they have plenty of practice juggling connections because of tight transfers and a complex airport. And they are also experts at playing catch-up on luggage left behind. They must give out a lot of those emergency overnight kits (miniature toiletries, extra-large T-shirt, two condoms.....)

Kristy When are you flying? I am flying in May with the same connection times but not the same flights.......so it sounds like the airport will be busy at that time. I would love to hear how it went for you Thanks Heidi

both my mother and brother had short connections and CDG. while they reported that the airport was confusing and involved a lot of walking, they both made it with plenty of time, and my mother has mobility issues that make her walk very slowly. just my ancedata.

Your question was how to do it. The answer is you walk - - it will take ten minutes. Optionally, you could take the shuttle - - which will take longer since it goes around a a skinny oval and you'd get off just opposite from where you got on. The ride might take fifteen minute. If you just miss one, you have to wait ten minutes for the next one. You also have to go ouside to catch it and back inside when you get off. Turn left and follow the signs after you come out of the arrivals hall.

Thanks for all the comments on this. I called Air France yesterday and they stated that flying in from the US (landing in T 2E 11:30), and continuing on to Stuttgart (out of T 2D 12:40) via CDG, I do not have to collect my luggage and go back thru security......that I just have to go thru immigration and then walk to the new gate........ Was I given correct information? Glad to hear the walk is only 10 minutes....... Heidi

I did this last year when flying from Venice back to the US with a stopover in Paris. The flight from Venice was on Air France and my flight to the US was on Delta. I had a two hour layover and used over 1 1/2 hours just getting to the new gate. The problem was not immigration (that took about 15 minutes) but when the Air France jet landed (it was a small aircraft) you had to load onto a bus which took you to the terminal. Sounds easy but it took over 20 minutes to get off the plane, board the bus and finally get to the terminal to begin the walk to the next gate. Your plane should be a big one so you should miss this inconvience. Be prepared for a little confusion as to where to go and how to get to your next gate.

Hi Heidi, We fly on May 23rd, arrive May 24th. How about you?
I have also called Air France and they assured me it is enough time. I have pulled the airport map and found out that it is a very short walk from 2D to 2E, but where the time gets eaten up is in Passport Control. Sometimes that line can be very long. I really don't want to miss the flight and catch the next one.

Kristy I leave on may 10th, arrive on the 11th. I will make myself a note to post on this board from Germany to let you know how it went at CDG. I will for sure let the flight crew and the agent on the ground know about the tight connection....hopefully they can direct me on the fastest way to maneuver the airport and immigration. Heidi

"I will for sure let the flight crew and the agent on the ground know about the tight connection....hopefully they can direct me on the fastest way to maneuver the airport and immigration." I tried that, and all I got was, "Don't worry about it. You have plenty of time." Lot of good that did. Once you leave the plane, you are on your own. Sometimes things go swimmingly, other times you face Passport Control agents and security crews from Hell. Just like every other airport, but probably more so at CDG. Fortunately, as I said earlier, there are real professionals in the Air France offices who can help set things right.

As noted before, we had the same problem as Sherri, the Air France buses or lack of buses. And as Roy notes, Air France staff does not get very excited about YOUR connection problems. Now that said, it does not get you to your gate any faster yelling at the staff person at the bus gate. You will be in much better shape to sprint for your gate if you breath deeply and think positive thoughts while waiting for the Air France bus and while taking the Air France bus tour of the CDG terminals.

Yikes to the above 2 posts.............Hopefully I can avoid the buses all together and just run! Will find out in 30 days..........

I'm with you Heidi. I printed out a map of the terminal for our arrival and departure and it is an easy run. No buses needed. It is just getting through that darn passport control quickly. Good Luck and have fun...

Thanks Kristy I will let you know how it goes so you can be prepared......I have that same map in my folder... :-)

Kristy...we did that same flight on May 6 and I hate to burst your bubble but it wasn't enough time. By the time we got off the plane, were bussed to the terminal, went thru passport control (they don't care how much time you have...SLOW) and literally ran thru the airport to the next terminal (you have to go thru security again too) we had 5 minutes left and they closed the plane door!! Told us we had to get the next flight (which wasn't for 3 hours!). Eventually we made it to Vienna at 6:30pm, BUT our luggage didn't until 10:30 pm the next night!!! I hope you have better luck :-)

Hi Patti, I'm so sorry. That sounds horrible. Why did you have to take a bus since 2E and 2D are in the same terminal?
Or are you saying that your plane didn't come all the way to the gate and they had to bus you to your arriving terminal? Thank you so much for sharing, it just gets us more prepared. How did you end up getting your luggage? We are catching a train in Vienna to Wolfgang. It should prove to be very interesting and stressful....

We had a similar 2E to 2D connection earlier this month at CDG. Here's a tip that worked for me. When you get to passport control, go to the staff person at the business class priority line and tell him/her you have a tight connection. Chances are he/she will let you in the fast track lane, even if you are flying coach. This will shave off 10-15 minutes of waiting if the passport control line is long. Don't be shy about trying this--it really worked for me.

Kristy, You are correct...the plane didn't come all the way into the terminal so they bussed us. Also, we tried the "tight connection" comment at passport control, unfortunately unsuccessfully. Anyway, it didn't hinder a fabulous vacation. We filed a claim with Air France at the Vienna airport terminal and then our hotel periodically checked on it for us. There's also a website to track the status of your bags. Best of luck to you and happy travels!!

Thank you all for all of your advice and help. I'm sure it will all work out. I'll post after we get home and let you know how it went.
Kristy