I'm using frequent flyer miles for my trip this summer and am not finding flights available out of CDG. There's a nonstop Brussels to Chicago flight which leaves at 11:00 am. The Eurostar site has two trains from Paris to Brussels: one arrives in Brussels at 7:47 am and the other at 8:45 am. I found several train departures from the Midi train station to the airport. How long will it take to transfer from the Eurostar to the airport train shuttle? Is this the best way to get to the airport? Do I allow the standard two hours at the Brussels airport to get through security etc? Would the later Eurostar give me enough time to get my flight or would you take the earlier Eurostar? I have heard security is very slow at this airport. Thank you.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Grier,
On Saturdays the first Thalys train from Paris to Brussels departs at 06:25. You could be at the airport at 08:29 (not 09:29). However, the bigger question is, "Should you attempt this?" If the train is delayed for some reason, you'll be in trouble. I'd still recommend you spend the night in either Brussels or Brugge.
Posted by
winston salem, nc, usa
1078 posts
Agree with Steve on the details, however, a critical consideration is what day you are traveling? Many EU airports are swamped Fridays with holiday travelers going South. I can't remember, however, I think they have a FF lane through security at Brussels you can use.
Posted by
OP
Lake Oswego, Oregon
1315 posts
It's a Sunday.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
First of all, even though you found those trains on the Eurostar site, they are Thalys trains, not Eurostar trains.
Second, on Sundays the first Thalys train doesn't leave Paris until 08:01 and you wouldn't get to the airport until 09:56. On Sundays the earliest you could arrive at the airport would be 09:29 (still much too late) and that would require taking the RER B to CDG, a TGV from there to Brussels, and a regional train from there to the airport.
To see this for yourself, go to www.bahn.de and click on the drop-down flag menu for English. After you get summary timetables for Paris-Bruxelles airport, click on the arrow to the left of each departure time to see the connecting points.
You will need to spend a night in Brussels if you wish to take the 11:00 a.m. flight. Or you could spend your last night in Brugge and get from there to the airport in plenty of time. There are two trains/hour to Brussels starting at 04:59. Total travel time to the airport with a connection in Brussels would be around 90 minutes. Again, see for yourself by checking the timetables on the DB site.
Posted by
OP
Lake Oswego, Oregon
1315 posts
Sorry, I'm losing it. I'm leaving on a Saturday. Tim, thanks for the detailed info. I checked the bahn site and the earliest I could arrive would be 9:29. No good. Thanks again.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Trains depart from the three Brussels train stations towards the airport every 30 minutes or so. Depending on which station you leave from, the ride lasts about 10-20 minutes.