Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2E

I can only answer your first question. My husband and I had layovers at CDG in 2018 and then again this past September. Each time, we had a layover of slightly less than two hours and nearly missed our connecting flights because of long lines at passport control and long waits for shuttle busses between terminals. If you have a six hour layover and both the incoming and outgoing flights go through Terminal 2E, you should be fine.

To your questions:

(1) Paris CDG is a notoriously slow airport to get through, but 6 hours is more than enough, assuming of course your first flight arrives on time.

(2) Paris Aéroports has a (not very user-friendly IMO) map of 2E -- see if you can make sense of it and maybe figure if there is an ATM!

(3) Please note you will only have access to the 2E hall that your flight departs from. (This is because there is individualized security for halls K, L and M and the security shouldn't let you through if you don't have a boarding pass that departs from that hall). This is also confirmed on the Air France lounges website:

All guests are welcome, pending availability, and must also be traveling on either an Air France, KLM or SkyTeam flight departing from the same hall. [my emphasis]

I know there are ATMs, I just can't remember where the one I used was (I flew AF from JFK last year). But there was a bank of ATMs on the way to baggage claim so you should be fine. At 1:04 into this YT video, there are ATMs on your left as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr9PhRpG-TY

Thank you, Diane and Andrew, for your responses! Andrew, I appreciate your comment about my being restricted to one hall because of security checkpoints. As my flight date approaches, I will ask Air France if they know which hall(s) apply to my arriving and departing flights. If they are different halls, I guess that means I will need to add time to pass through security.

Priority Pass also has a lounge at CDG Terminal 2E. We have PP but have not used it yet. I think they're having a sale on membership. This link says that it has showers. https://www.prioritypass.com/en/lounges/france/paris-cdg/cdg8-yotelair-paris-charles-de-gaulle.

Thank you for the information about ATMs, skunklet1771.

Thanks, Lindy. I do not have a Priority Pass membership but might look into it.

To be on the safe side, why don’t you purchase Euros from your local branch bank before departing for CDG? The exchange rate is very good right now. Even if your bank charges a fee to purchase (usually a percentage), isn’t that worth your peace of mind. BTW having a bank of ATM on the way to baggage claim does nothing for you because you are flying into and out of Terminal 2E.
Bonne journee

Merci, Sandra! Yes, purchasing euros in advance from my bank is a good idea.

"My guest house in Luxor only accepts payment in Euros, so I need to withdraw cash before my second flight." Whenever I have had to pay in foreign currency for a hotel or flat rental, I have been advised by the landlord to go to a cash machine near the lodging before checking in so that I am not carrying around a large sum of cash, if that will be the case for you. Can you ask the guest house if there is somewhere nearby to withdraw the Euros? Even as I write this, I realize that you might not have that opportunity in Egypt. I would hope you would be offered a more cost-effective and safer choice.

Since you have a long layover, you might want to consider hanging out in the airport lounge. I had a 7 hour layover at CDG in late April (at Terminal E) and was able to buy a day pass to the Air France lounge in Terminal E. It is very new (2 floors and huge) and was well worth the €50-60 cost - I was able to eat (and eat very well), drink, nap, take a shower and just relax. I think I bought it on the AF app - they offered it to me since I had a layover there, and I just paid on the app.

FWIW, it took me about 1 1/2 hours to get through passport control and security. Make sure you have your 3-1-1 toiletries in a zip lock bag. I had mine in a clear pouch but was made to transfer them to an actual ziplock bag.

u have a long layover. relax!

yes- use the lounge. freshen up. Have a a good salad lunch.

Re ATM - get cash before leaving the US. Simple

Yes, Lindy, it would have been ideal to wait until arriving in Luxor to obtain cash, but the Luxor ATMs dispense Egyptian pounds only, and I am unsure where to find a currency exchange there. Sandra's suggestion to purchase Euros through my U.S. bank is sounding like the right strategy, especially as the U.S. dollar and the Euro have parity (almost) right now. I will practice your advice at my next stop in Aswan, where my tour operator has requested cash payment in Egyptian pounds.

Thanks, Steve. Mardee, thank you for your advice and experience--that is exactly what I want to do! I appreciate your note about the timing of security and passport control.

I was just in the lounge for a departure out of 2E in the K area. It’s the smallest Air France lounge I’ve encountered at CDG. I can confirm there are showers - I didn’t count how many though. The lounge we use on arrival at CDG when we’re transferring to a flight to somewhere else in Europe - this is in 2F - has tons of showers, lots of food options, huge seating areas and even a place to get a massage. So the 2E K lounge is fine but extremely limited.

Oh no, I got confused - so sorry! Valerie is correct - I was talking about the lounge at 2F not 2E. Arrghh....need to think before typing... :)

https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/charles-de-gaulle-airport/terminal-2e
info about 2E from Paris airports

For those who have exchanged currencies at their own bank, would you address how easy/difficult that is? I had attempted to do so at mine (Wells Fargo) but was told they didn't have foreign currency and that I would have to go through a complicated endeavor that I just gave up on.

Thank you for the additional information, Valerie!

Lindy, I purchased Euros through my bank, Bank of America, in B.C. (before coronavirus). It was easy to place the order online and pick up the currency from my local B of A branch--I think it took about a week? It was mostly large denomination bills; I would have been happier with some smaller bills. I see that B of A still offers the service, but I am unsure how much more difficult it will be since the widespread labor shortages since 2020.

also.. u can get cash at ur local AAA office. but costs 5% trxn fee. so as rick steves says.. use ATM’s where possible

Thanks for the AAA tip, Steve. I did not know about it.

to clarify - by cash I meant foreign currency in cash!