Luggage transfer between airlines question

Yes, you will, unless there is an interline agreement between AA and Air France to transfer bags. Doubt it. They are part of different alliances. Had you flown Delta instead of AA to Paris, then maybe; Delta and Air France are both part of the Skyteam alliance.

Andrew is correct. AA does not "interline" bags with Air France (they used to, actually, but have stopped a few years ago).

You'll need to claim and then re-check them. You're going to have to check in for the second flight anyway.

I sure hope you have lots of time. You’ll need to clear immigration, claim your bags, go through customs (usually just a walk through) get to the right terminal, check in, go through security. If your original flight is on time 3-4 hours should do it. If it’s late all bets are off.

Both flights are in terminal 2, if that helps

Might help a little (though terminal 2 at CDG is huge) - but you still need to go through immigration to enter the EU, collect your bags, then go back in again, wait in the passport control line to exit the EU, etc. If you didn't have bags checked, you might be able to stay airside and skip immigration entirely, but I'm not sure how that works at CDG.

Since France and Austria are both Schengen countries, Paris to Austria (where?) should be an intra-Schengen flight - no emigration (outgoing passport check) in Paris or immigration (incoming passport check) in Austria. However, after you recover your bags, you will still have to check in (and check them) at the Austrian air counter, then go through security. It would be worth asking at check in for AA if you can check the bags through to Austria. They'll probably say no, but it can't hurt to try - or pack light and just use carryon bags.

Terminal 2 at CDG is basically made up of several different terminals (separate buildings, although they are connected) — terminals 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F (2B has been closed for several years for construction, and 2E has three separate huge halls, K, L, and M).

So you will need to make sure you know which specific part of terminal 2 you're arriving into and departing from.

(And yes, as others have said, you'll need to fully “arrive” into Paris on your first flight and then check into your second flight as if you were just newly arriving at the airport. )

P.s. American Airlines flights arrive into Terminal 2A, and Air France flights usually from 2E or 2F, but check your specific flight info to be sure.

I’m arriving at 2A and leaving for Vienna from 2F

This is doable if you have at least 3 hrs between landing and next flight and if you go carry-on only. Terminal 2 is huge and walking from 2A to 2F gates will be fine unless one of your party has difficulty walking and carrying their bags. If you arrive late then all bets are off! Hope this works out well for you and you have a great trip!

I have a problem. Only 2:15 between flights.

I recently posed a similar question on the travel forum. We have tickets obtained with miles for Boston to Paris (round trip). The next leg of the trip involves buying separate tickets for travel from Paris to Italy.

The consensus of responses was to allow four hours between flights.

It is time to pack light and carry on. Limit yourselves to a 21 inch rollaboard plus a daypack each and do not check any bags. That is the only way to ensure you will make your connection.

We then take a flight bought from Austrian Air, flown by Air France.

Are you sure about that. Austrian Air is a Star Alliance member, AirFrance is not. That could change the whole scenario.

Are you sure about that. Austrian Air is a Star Alliance member, AirFrance is not.

Two separate tickets, purchased separately, as stated up top. AA is not Star Alliance, and they do not interline bags with Air France (or other non-partners). Two separate tickets - that's the crux of the problem. The fact that it's CDG, a big airport than can often take more time to get through than one might expect, makes the problem significant.

Given all the facts as stated above, the only good solution does seem to be carry-ons.

With only 2 hours and 15 minutes between these two flights if your first flight arrives on time (and less than that if it's late), I think the chances of your making the second flight are pretty slim. You will end up probably having to buy a new ticket to make it onward.

But again as someone mentioned before — and this is less important but still curious — I don't understand how your second flight can be an Austrian Air flight operated by Air France. They are not members of the same alliance, so I don't know why Air France would be operating an Austrian Air flight. It doesn't make sense.

(Austrian Air is a Star Alliance member, to set the record straight on that front. American Airlines is not, nor is Air France.)

If this were all on one ticket, an airline might consider 2 hours a “legal” connection. But, then they need to get you to your final destination. You don’t have that option. IF your initial fight is on time and you don’t have to wait for luggage and you can hustle you may make it. Or consider paying a change fee and getting a later flight.

Airlines don't have to be part of the same alliance to codeshare.

As an example, Aer Lingus and British Airways codeshare some flights but belong to different alliances.

I got the flight to Paris using miles on AA. I want to go to Vienna. I searched for tickets and found that Austrian Air worked (Or so I thought), so I purchased round trip tickets from CDG to VIE through Austrian Air. It turns out the outbound section uses an Austrian Air number, but is in fact operated by Air France. The return flight to Paris is operated by Austrian Air. I was allowed to choose a seat on the return flight but not the outbound segment.

Yesterday I called Air France to get a seat assignment. They have no record of my purchase. I gave them the ticket number and still no joy. I then called Austrian Air and they verified that I have purchased round trip tickets, but can't assign seats on another airline, "Call Air France". I called Air France back and they said that they have nothing. I re-called Austrian and they said sometimes the tickets don't show until 48 hours before flight time. I purchased the tickets a week ago. Now I am waiting for tomorrow morning to call to see where the tickets are??? I bought three tickets as I am traveling with my daughter and ten year old grandson.

This is a total and complete MESS!!!

I agree with the others that this is going to be tight. To improve your chances, do carry-on luggage only. When you get to passport control, go to the First Class line and show them your boarding pass for the flight to Vienna. I've done this in the past at CDG with tight connections, and they usually let me into the fast lane. Finally, carefully chart your path from Terminal 2A to Terminal 2E or 2F using the Easy CDG website. It's a confusing airport, so the more you know before you land, the better.

You left just 2 1/4 hours at CDG to make your flight on Air France (Austrian Air codeshare) to VIE. I suspect you won't do this again! :-)

If you all miss that flight, your return flight on Austrian Air to CDG will be cancelled automatically. You''l then have to buy new roundtrip tickets on the spot between CDG and VIE for you, your daughter & grandson.

Moreover, keep in mind, you alll don't have 2 1/4 hours between flights at CDG as the flight to VIE could close 30 minutes before departure.

Thanks for the clarification Frank II. I had no idea!!

Sorry you're faced with this tight connection -- if it were me, I would try to pay the change fee and get a later CDG-VIE flight rather than worrying the whole way about "will we make it on time?" At least it looks like there are flights every 2 hours. Plenty of places to get coffee and croissants at CDG while you wait.
P.S. For a 2-hour flight, I wouldn't stress about seat.assignments as long as they are INSIDE the plane -- even for the 10-year-old.

Everything worked!!! We are in our room in Vienna. All carry on and we made it through CDG with time to spare. All is well!

Christmas came early, it seems.

Great news that everything worked!

Joseph that is great news. Somehow I had missed that this trip was imminent.

Enjoy Vienna and wherever else you're headed.