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One hour in CDG!

Months ago we booked a flight to Ireland, which Included a one-hour layover in CDG. I had no idea this was a woefully inadequate timeframe, as we've never flown through there, and were not knowledgeable about the Schengen issue, and the size of CDG. (Yes, I should have researched it first). However, I have to ask why would the airline--Delta-- (booked through Orbitz), allow this booking as an option? Anyway, I know that we will miss our flight to Dublin. Will our checked luggage go through to Dublin, or do we have to collect it in Paris before going through immigration? Any advice?

Posted by
5687 posts

Are you sure this is a legal Delta connection? Or was this just Orbitz booking two separate flights? (This is why I always book through the airline websites directly, if possible.) If you check Delta's website today for the same day, same flights, do they have an option to buy a ticket now with that same connection?

It's not guaranteed that you will miss your connection. Immigration can be a long wait in Paris, but not always. The last time I arrived at CDG, I was one of the first off the plane, and apparently there were no other planes arriving when ours did; there was literally no one waiting at the immigration entry. So I was first through. (Someone had to be, right?) It took me about seven minutes to get from off the plane through immigration and past baggage claim. I was stunned.

In any event - no need to worry about it now. Delta will put you on the next flight if you miss your connecting flight, assuming this is all on one ticket. Your bags should get checked through to Dublin.

Posted by
5 posts

From CDG to DUB, our flight is on Air France, which is an alliance partner of Delta. We've never had any problem booking internationally through Orbitz before, but in the future will book directly with the airline. Upon checking on Delta's site, they said the flights on those dates weren't available. (We start from a very small airport). Andrew, thanks for your reply, though. It gives me hope that somehow it will go better than I'm anticipating it will.

Posted by
5687 posts

I'd check on Delta's site which flights leave CDG for Dublin after the one you are scheduled on - I assume there are several direct flights during the day (Delta or Air France I'd guess). Just be ready - e.g. if your flight departs CDG at 10am, when are the next flights on to Dublin? I like to know this info ahead of time - be prepared. Maybe the next one is only two hours later.

If the Air France flight offers free WiFI for accessing the Air France website (assuming you don't pay for WiFi), see if you can check the departure time of your connecting flight while you are still on the way to Paris. Maybe it will be delayed anyway so you might be able to breathe easier.

Posted by
7731 posts

Delta and Air France are partners. Skyteam
When you checkin your bag tag and the claim check will have the final destination DUB on it. The agent at the checkin for the first flight will clarify that.
I would not worry a flight with a longer layover was probably more expensive and you may end up on that one.

Posted by
5 posts

Andrew, thanks for the good advice. There are two more flights on AirFrance to Dublin later that day if we miss our scheduled one. (Our previous leg will have been on Delta from Salt Lake to Paris. Ten hours). The ironic thing is that I chose this route trying to avoid JFK, where we always seem to be experience glitches. (Case in point was the travel fiasco that happened there recently). Will probably also call Delta before we leave to see if this was a legit thing that Orbitz did with the booking. Lesson learned: book direct.

Posted by
5687 posts

I think you are much better off going through CDG than through JFK, personally. If you go through CDG, there are lots (just checked) of flights on to Dubin, even if not all Air France. The chances are very high you would get to Dublin the same day, if you have a delay. If you go through JFK? You'd probably have to take a redeye from there. I'm sure that there are a couple of flights to Dublin from JFK, but what if you have trouble even getting to JFK? Get to CDG in the morning and you have all day to get to Dublin.

FYI, if you get to SLC and see a big delay on your flight to CDG, don't be afraid to speak up there and ask for an alternate flight to Dublin from there (e.g. let's say your flight out of SLC is leaving two hours late, pretty much guaranteeing you'll miss your scheduled connection at CDG). Perhaps some days, going through JFK would work better if there are delays on the CDG route. Or at least they can make sure you got booked on the next flight out of CDG to Dublin. Doesn't hurt to ask what your options are!

Posted by
315 posts

SLC-CDG does generally arrive slightly early in the spring and fall due to wind direction. Delta booking site has/will offer flights with short lay-overs, slightly less cost. I just pass those short waits over on arrival day. Maybe pick them up on return. At CDG the immigration screen is about the same as it is at most busy airports. JFK is really slow. To go on to Ireland you will need to get yourself to another terminal and go through security. The security line process is slow due to volume and lack of luggage screening machines. You may be taking a later flight.

CDG website on day of travel will be posting estimates of time waits.

Posted by
13808 posts

I'll agree with sl.wolf regarding early arrival times on those terrific Delta flights to Europe from SLC, so keep your fingers crossed. Last year even after having a 45 minute ground stop in SLC due to a thunderstorm I still arrived early to London. Have also arrived early on flights from SLC to Paris and Amsterdam.

I'd also add to Andrew's thought that there is a non-stop flight to London Heathrow leaving from SLC at 6:10 (Paris flight goes out at 5:04) if something goes awry with the Paris flight. The other easy-ish airport to transit thru from SLC to Europe is Minneapolis. It's big so lots of walking but otherwise easier than New York.

In general I try to get the non-stop flights out of SLC and back to SLC. It's a very easy airport to manage. I do book directly on the Delta site and will pay more for a flight schedule that doesn't give what I feel is enough layover time. There is often a flight schedule giving me a 28 minute connection time in SLC either outbound or inbound from my small local airport. I have done it, have always made it but it is just too stressful so I go for a longer time. Next time you'll know.

Be sure to go in to Delta.com and check your flight schedule. I do it weekly when I am down to a month before travel as there can be schedule changes. I don't depend on getting emails on changes so I do it myself. IF there is a substantial time change you can change your flight. I'm not sure how that works with Orbitz, I suspect you'd have to go thru them to change it but it should be free if there is a time change.

Posted by
3809 posts

I've made a 45-minute Delta-Air France connection at CDG. The connection time was changed after the ticket was purchased; the Delta phone agent (who probably just wanted to get me off the phone with minimal effort) said, "Yeah, you'll make it." So, I tried... and it worked... but just barely.

Posted by
8889 posts

If this is a proper connecting flight (and the other posters seem to think it is), then:
A) You bags will be checked through to Dublin, you will not need to collect them in Paris.

AND B) Where are you flying from (last change of planes before Paris)?
If this is outside the Schengen Area, you will not go through immigration (passport control) in Paris. Ireland is not in the Schengen Area. You will stay "airside", never technically entering the Schengen Area, which will save time.

"checked luggage . . . do we have to collect it in Paris before going through immigration?" - you never, at any European airport, collect your bags before immigration. Immigration is the check on people, customs is the check on goods (Contents of bags). The sequence on landing is always: Disembark - Immigration - Collect bags - customs.

Posted by
13808 posts

Chris, the OP gave the answer to your Question B a few replies up from your post when she wrote "(Our previous leg will have been on Delta from Salt Lake to Paris. Ten hours)"