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Paris CDG Airport review by Simon Harrison
27 September 2007 Customer Rating : 
Arrived on in the morning from YUL at terminal 2E with onward connection to MAN from 2F International.
The transit procedure I underwent made LHR look like a walk in the park. Dark hallways with low
ceilings, at one point down a set of emergency stairs. Inadequate signage and insufficient numbers of
staff dotted around at random tables which you find if you're lucky. Eventually ended up in a funnel-
like backlog of passengers waiting at one small automatic door to catch airside transit bus. Buses
inadequate in number and full - attendant seemed to think it was funny that we all had to squash in.
But the worst was yet to come - the bus only travels in one direction! So although 2E and 2F are
adjacent to each other we had to go the long way round via terminals 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D. What a waste
of 20 minutes valuable transit time! Made connecting flight with just a few minutes to spare. Called
Air France Customer Relations yesterday to raise the issue with them. Very nice woman said that they
receive complaints regularly about this and that most of the situation is temporary due to ongoing
renovation work. However, the one-way bus service is a permanent fixture - she told me AF would very
much like to see the introduction of two-way services, as one can imagine. She asked me to put my
complaints into writing so they could be forwarded to the airport authority. I don't reckon it'll
change much but we shall see. In conclusion, sheer hell on earth.
Paris CDG Airport review by Ken Ross
20 September 2007 Customer Rating : 
I travel through CDG a lot (most weeks) and the thing that is most frustrating is its inconsistency.
Sometimes it takes 30 seconds to get through passport control, sometimes 30 minutes. Terminal 2F
(Shengen) is noisy due to the odd acoustic design, but is still better than many others. Terminal 2F
(non Shengen e.g. UK) is awful. Terminal 2E which appears to be in the middle of a rebuild is nothing
short of confusing as it seems to have 4 spearate parts connected by trams and bsuses. Terminal 2B has
the most unbelievable shortage of chairs (less than 20) and Terminal 1 is an architectural eyesore.
Terminal 3 is like a large garden shed. If you use CDG as a hub you really need to allow around 90
minutes to transfer as anything less is very stressful as soon as you come across the long queues.
Paris CDG Airport review by L Wiesenfeld
11 September 2007 Customer Rating : 
I always feared CDG for its difficult connections, lost luggage and dubious cleanliness. Had two very
pleasant experiences easy connection, smiling employees, easy immigration, a very significant overall
improvement. I will consider by now CDG as a viable alternative to AMS when travelling with skyteam
alliance.
Paris CDG Airport review by G Martin
6 September 2007 Customer Rating : 
We went through transit at CDG this weekend, arriving on a Delta flight, which took 15 minutes from
touchdown to arrival at the gate. We had one hour to get to 2D and board our connecting flight to
Italy. We spent most of that hour standing in a chaotic passport control line (unhelpful "helpers"
gave no indication of which line was which (i.e. EU/Non-EU passport holders). There was no "fast lane"
for passengers who had little time to get their connecting flight and so many of us missed our planes
(21 people missed our flight alone). Once we got to the passport control desk, the actual check took 2
seconds, so I really have no idea why we were in line for so long. Then, the signage to get us to 2D
was just terrible. We got totally lost and ended up in a sealed glass area, with no way out and had to
track back. Standing in the customer service line later, trying to find another plane to take us home,
we discovered many others (who had also missed their planes!) had the same experience. The woman at
Customer Service was friendly and helpful, the only positive note in this abysmal experience. If you
must travel through CDG, one hour for transit is NOT enough. I would estimate that two hours minimum
is required. Better signage, and more efficient passport control (more desks open and better organised
lines) would really help the situation too. I travel a lot, and have never missed a plane because of
inefficient transit - a sad first for CDG.
Paris CDG Airport review by F Ormiston
6 September 2007 Customer Rating : 
We had a 2 hour connection time in CDG, and had been through checked, so all we had to do was get
ourselves across terminals. We found our new terminal easily, following clearly marked signage.
However once in the terminal (2D), we were surprised at how little there was to do. There was a small
number of shops and only 2 cafes which were expensive and really not very appealing. There was little
seating, and we were lucky to get a seat at all. Once we were called to our gate area, boarding was
quick and well done. One return it was a similar situation, but with slightly more to do in 2F.
Staff were helpful and fast tracked us through security on the return when time was slightly more
tight.
Paris CDG Airport review by F Choong
6 September 2007 Customer Rating : 
I always make sure I have at least 2 hours connecting time before getting on the next plane. Below
this time, you run great risk of missing your flight or not having our luggage with you. The 45min
minimum connecting time is a miracle and I advise to spare more time for the following reasons: the
buses run clockwise from around CDG2 and could take a lot of time during peak time and also because of
renovation of the collapsed terminal 2E. Secondly, immigration could be very slow, so leave it plenty
of time. People who manage to get on the next flight during a 45 min connection are those of Air
France/KLM Elite PLus who get personal escort. If you are not part of it, or travelling on a different
airline, you can be 100% sure to be put on the next flight, which could be up to 24h if you miss a
long haul flight. As usual, make sure you have at least 2 hours and things will be fine.
Paris CDG Airport review by Norman Clark
2 September 2007 Customer Rating : 
Great airport, but the amenities and efficiencies in CDG are harder to find these days due to the
massive renovation and expansion of the airport. Try to avoid it for connections -- especially inter-
line connections -- of less than 2 hours. Even if you make it, your luggage might not. These days
going short distances can take amazingly long. Two points of good news about CDG: The airport staff
are great at helping passengers navigate the maze that the airport has become due to the construction;
and it's temporary and really is going to produce a much better airport.
Paris CDG Airport review by A Sevin
25 August 2007 Customer Rating : 
I just read latest comments from travellers using CDG. I agree that there are always significant
weaknesses but it is also fair to say that a lot of improvements have been initiated. Terminal 2E will
be fully re-open in 08 and it is important to highlight that a new satellite is very close to open.
Terminals and parkings are now linked by an automatic train every 8 min and free. This is since June
07. Agree that is difficult to find it, because lack of signs [I found one information doc,in French!]
Terminal 1 is better than before - was not difficult! Important to remind then that we pay for using
CDG - just check ticket price!
Paris CDG Airport review by R Mocha
29 July 2007 Customer Rating : 
Functionally, the worst airport I have ever seen. I had 50 minute for
transfer from terminal 2B to 2E. The transfer required taking a bus
from the plane to 2B, another bus from 2B to 2E, and a train to get to
the gates 90+. I was running whenever possible and it took 50 minutes.
The gate was closed when I arrived. 90 minutes is an absolute minimum,
assuming no major waiting lines. Attitude of most of the personnel
somewhat unpleasant. Long lines to service counter (25 minutes), fairly
incompetent (75 minutes to re-book). Could not call home: in the new
terminal 2E only 3 payphones, which do not accept any credit card and do
not allow to use the calling card I got from Air France. Internet
station takes euro coins and one cannot use any credit cards. This came
as not a very big surprise after everything all problems with Ai France
before the flight: incorrect answers when calling Air France call
center, electronic check-in malfunctioned (checked in one leg only),
multiple changes of seat assignment (3 out of 4 legs, one leg twice).
A lesson to myself: avoid Air France and avoid CDG.
Paris CDG Airport review by Simon Harrison
19 July 2007 Customer Rating : 
My first time departing CDG terminal 1 and I found it a hellish
experience. Aesthetically, not very pleasant on the eye and practically
a bit of a nightmare to negotiate. We eventually found our checkin desk
where the staff checked us in with, ahem, the typical French style of
service. Then tried to find the way to our departure gate which proved
difficult until we realized we were meant to take some kind of
escalator/travelator to get there - I have never witnessed such a
spectacle in another airport! Outgoing passport control was about the
only thing that went fast and smoothly, for after this we finally hit
upon the security check to get to our gate. Here the real fun really
started. We joined a queue of passengers waiting to be screened which
was almost at a standstill as only one checkpoint was open in spite of
the number of outgoing flights. Eventually, a member of ground staff
came round announcing that passengers for our flight to EMA could come
to the front of the line as time was beginning to press. However, other
passengers were not happy and kept pushing forward so we actually took
longer to get through than if we'd have waited where we were in the
first place. We just caught the flight in spite of this and one gate
change! At one point, food and drink for the coffee shop behind
security was given priority over us passengers. For France's principal
airport hub, the place is nothing short of a disgrace!
Paris CDG Airport review by Elzbieta Sklodowska
19 July 2007 Customer Rating : 
Our family of four travelled out of CDG, terminal 1, on July 16 2007.
Since check-in is done for ALL Star Alliance carriers at one counter,
the line was horrendous, and took about 1 hour and 20 minutes, with
numerous people being pulled out of the line ahead of us, since they
were about to miss their flights. Due to poor signage we ended up in
baggage pick up area instead of satellite 2 for check in, and had to
rely on the good will of an airport worker who led us through the maze
back to passport control. To our amazement, only two booths were open,
and the line to have your passport checked took at least 50 minutes,
amidst total chaos. After that, another line, this time through slowly
moving security, brought us to the gate, anxious and exhausted, 8
minutes before departure. Total time: 3 hours 22 minutes. Good luck!
Paris CDG Airport review by Paul Hanson
12 July 2007 Customer Rating : 
CDG 2F. Interesting design but that's all that I can be positive about.
Check in for Air France flights to UK is difficult to find due to UK
being in non schengen area. Security was painless and reasonably quick.
Once airside I was hoping for a reasonable selection of
shops/restaurants as. Very dissapointed. There is a downstairs shopping
centre where the shops seem designed only for Asian shoppers. Food is
extremely disappointing. I went to the sandwich shop. Shockingly a
simple ham/cheese sandwich costs 7euro. I know airports are expensive
but that is a blatant rip off by anybodys standards. After that my
flight was delayed by 2 hours with 3 different gate changes. The gates
are easy to find.
Paris CDG Airport review by J Kemp
11 July 2007 Customer Rating : 
Paris CDG - the ultimate travel nightmare. A simple check-in for a
flight from Paris to Istanbul turns into an absolute nightmare of
queuing up as if this were an amusement park - but just so not
amusing!!! Terminal 2B - this terminal was designed by travel sadists.
You must pass through passport control, with luggage, before checking in
for the flight - so, there are queues which snake around, comprised of
travellers and their luggage trolleys heaped on high, all trying to get
to one of the two passport inspectors. On Wednesday, 4th July, this
took 45 minutes. Then - queue up for check in/luggage drop-off.
Business class on AF - one agent for all flights. Another 20 minutes.
Forget about going to the lounge - which is pretty tatty anyway, as
after check-in, you have to queue up once again to go through security
clearance, which is specific to the departure gate. Again, a queue down
the middle of the terminal of extremely anxious passengers all fearful
of missing their flights -- of course, one security channel is open so
this ordeal takes another 30 minutes. Having arrived at 8:30 AM for a
10:05 departure, already with a boarding card in hand as I had checked-
in from home on-line, and travelling in business class, it took me one
hour and half from the moment I stepped out the taxi until I had cleared
security, to walk directly on to the plane. What a joke, and what a
disgrace. Terminal 2B was designed in the 1980's by planners and
architects who had no feel whatsoever for the evolution of air travel -
the entire concept driving Terminal 2 is obsolete. This along with the
unbelievably surly attitude of the ground staff, makes this airport one
of the absolute worst in the industry, to be avoided whenever possible.
Paris CDG Airport review by Hans-Willem van der Waal
11 July 2007 Customer Rating : 
I use to transit at CDG a couple of times per year, sometimes with my 9
month old daughter. Staff are much more helpful and accomodating if you
travel with baby. Otherwise a hopless transit airport. The best advice I
can give is never use the transit bus, neither on land nor on airside.
The crossover from 2A/2C to 2F is fast enough if you leave the airport,
ad cross at the TGV station. The ride on the bus is long, the driver
never tells you at which terminal you are, the queues for immigration
and security for transit passengers are often very long, and there is no
understanding for transit passengers almost to miss their plane. I find
it unbelievable that Air France still offers 50 mins transit time. Air
France often delay their outbound ICA flights, when too many passnegers
are still behind security.... Flights to Africa invariably leave from
the tarmac, long ride, you often have to wait for the bus etc. Staff
generally unfriendly, with some exceptions. Being demanding sometimes
helps, I feel I have the right, because in the ticket there is some
70-100 euro included for CDG airport tax.
Paris CDG Airport review by E Gleeson
6 July 2007 Customer Rating : 
Charles de Gaulle Airport is a nightmare if a traveler is connecting to
another flight. Due to all the problems we encountered trying to get
from one terminal to the other, we missed our flight to Marseille. Had
to wait in the terminal for six hours for next flight out. Our car
rental closed in Marseille because we were supposed to arrive early in
the day. One wonders if CDG airport officials realize the problems
travelers incur from trying to get through this airport? I am partially
handicapped, and found that having to deplane down steep steps and then
go back up these steps is very difficult. Passengers have to stand for
a long, difficult bus ride to the terminal. A sea of people descends
upon the passport control with only a few people manning the checkpoint
booths. If you have any questions on how to find your terminal, etc.
you will find little assistance. Suffice it to say I will never fly
into CDG again. My one piece of advice for anyone who does, and is
making a connecting flight, is to allow at least three hours between
connections. You may get lucky and not need that much time, but you
will not know that fact until you get there. Better yet, find another
airport!
Paris CDG Airport review by William Benson
3 July 2007 Customer Rating : 
Terminal 2B - British Airways. First time through CDG and I hope very
much that it will be the last. It is depressing, shabby, badly organised
and unfriendly. I couldn't wait to see the back of it. The only positive
thing I can say about it is that Heathrow is even worse, which I didn't
think was possible.
Paris CDG Airport review by Raoul Xemblinosky
3 July 2007 Customer Rating : 
Pleasantly surprised by CDG. Transferred from 2B to 2E midmorning,
nearly a three hour layover. I was prepared for the worst. Signage was
confusing but the maps helped me decide to skip the airside bus and walk
to 2E. No long lines at passport control at 2B or 2E, terminal crowded
but not unnavigable. 2E was big and confusing but staff was very helpful
even if I did get extra questioning three times when they found I was
traveling from Russia. Staff was also proactive in trying to help people
with short (1 hour or so) layovers. Airside beverages and food at 2E are
hideously expensive, but the bus ride from 2E to gate E86 wasn't too
bad. Just hilariously long... turns out gate E86 is in Luxembourg (just
kidding). Gate to gate, the transfer from 2B to 2E took almost two
hours; I could have made better time had I needed to. I wouldn't
willingly fly through CDG again - Dusseldorf is a better alternative -
but I won't freak out if I get do get routed through CDG. Neither should
you.
Paris CDG Airport review by Peter Gleeson
22 June 2007 Customer Rating : 
Used CDG terminal 2C, whilst small for the passenger loads everything
functions well, airline staff, customs and security are friendly.
However on the cheaper side of the airport (non Air France) at terminal
T1 I can only say I agree with most of the passenger comments. Old,
dingy , dirty and unfriendly "a disgrace to la Belle France"
Paris CDG Airport review by M Larsen
20 June 2007 Customer Rating : 
Having transferred once in CDG I must admit that I found it to be the
worst airport I have ever set foot in. Just getting from the plane from
the terminal took around 20 minutes as we needed to be bused as the
plane was parked far from terminal. Needless to say other planes were in
the same situation and we were actually in a traffic jam on the way to
the terminal. Entering the terminal I found it to be very very poorly
signed. The walk from one terminal to another was very long, but nothing
compared to the line for the security check. Getting through the
security check to around 50 minutes. Everything here is very
inefficient, staff unpolite. Allow at very least 90-120 minutes if you
need to transfer here. I will not recommend anyone to use this airport
unless there is no other option. Next time I will rather pay more for my
ticket than transferring here.
Paris CDG Airport review by K Veersamy
20 June 2007 Customer Rating : 
Pleasantly surprised by CDG T2F and 2C. Transit between flights went
smoothly, with some time to spare, and good range of shops and
restaurants. Had anticipated a bad time, as only 1 and half hour transit
time, but all went fine. Well signposted and ground staff helpful. Bus
transfer airside painless.
Paris CDG Airport review by D Hadfield
14 June 2007 Customer Rating : 
Dingy and uninspiring. Poor facilities. Inadequate seating for waiting
passengers. Staff rude and unhelpful. The worst airport it has been my
misfortune to travel through. Thank Heaven for Eurostar
Paris CDG Airport review by M Edwards
7 June 2007 Customer Rating : 
Perhaps the worst major international airport in the world. I agree
with many of the comments here about the lack of efficiency, the
difficulty associated with connections, and the dirty, cigarette-stench
that seems to ooze from the walls. One major problem is the dis-
connected design of the terminals, and the need, therefore, for
passengers with tight connections to go through security a second time.
Of course, the security lines are typically long and are manned by only
a few people. Air France is an excellent carrier with excellent service,
and they deserve a better hub airport than this one. The airline really
needs to focus with the French government on getting this airport into
the 21st century. It has a long way to go.
Paris CDG Airport review by Philippe Bopp
6 June 2007 Customer Rating : 
The worst major airport I know. The old part of terminal 2 (A-D) is a
disaster, there are not enough seats for waiting passengers at the
gates. Terminal 2F (2E collapsed due to poor design) is not much better.
Terminal 1 is below any description. By all means try to avoid!
Paris CDG Airport review by Mark Wadham
24 May 2007 Customer Rating : 
Terminal 3. One hour and sixteen minutes to check in and pass security.
The flight was subsequently delayed by 14 passengers blocked at
security. The check in clerk had obviously received inadequate training.
He frequently knew nothing and had to ask his colleague thus delaying 2
queues of checking-in passengers. He even had to ask if a passenger
travelling to Spain could do so on a UK passport!!! Two improvements at
T3 however - it no longer has a stench of smoke thanks to the new
smoking regulations in France, and the travel retail shop has changed
operators and is now much better stocked.
Paris CDG Airport review by Steve Craddock
22 May 2007 Customer Rating : 
Many travellers report connection difficulties at CDG. We regularly fly
from Australia to Nice to visit our daughter, who lives there, and so we
have put up with the Charles de Gaulle nightmare more than we care to.
The Air France internal connecting flight chosen by the software each
way is scheduled with an impossibly short time for the extended walk and
drive between the International and internal terminals. This has caused
us a pathetic and agonising 5 or 6 hour wait at Paris to get on a local
flight after the long trip from Australia. In our opinion, travellers
should check connection times very carefully. The booking agent will say
"that's the flight they recommend" but let me assure you, it takes 50 to
70 minutes at least to make the trek and get through security, and the
30 or so minutes they recommend is physically impossible. It seems to me
we imagine all international airports have a vaguely similar geography,
conceptually. We imagine they will have a generally open domestic area
and concourse, and a more cut-off international area. On stopovers we
understand that we will remain in the separated concourse of the
international area, at say, KL or Singapore or wherever. CDG is totally
different. When you leave the secure international area to get a
domestic flight, there is a concourse area you can walk around, but the
huge glass-roofed domestic departure and arrival hall itself is
separated from the domestic concourse by security. The French won't
queue, the staff are slack and bored, and so there is huge, angry ruck
at any time to get through the security checks into the hall. No-one
makes any attempt to group people by the departure time of their
flights, so every day, hundreds miss their connecting flights (and, as I
said, lose their luggage). In the other direction, if, like us, you are
flying into Paris Air France from, say, Nice, and flying back Air France
to Australia, you never enter the main international terminal of the
airport. You walk long corridors, wait in mysterious small secure
spaces, wait for a trip on a navette (bus), and walk again to the
departure lounge, all completely within the Air France section. This
obscure process takes at least 50 mins, and involves asking for
directions repeatedly. Trust me — any recommended internal Air France
flight connecting with Air France to Australia will arrive after
boarding for your next flight begins. You cannot make the lengthy walk
and drive before the flight leaves. How different our experience at
Singapore, where you can expect to be stopped by a pleasant staff member
with a clipboard as you walk off the flight, who asks about your next
flight, tells you the time till your flight, and gives the simple
directions to get you to the next departure lounge just along the
concourse. Coming back the last time, I changed my flight at Nice, and
needless to say the Nice Air France staff sneered at me. Nevertheless,
several others passengers had done the same, and they endured the 3 hour
wait with me. It's better than missing a flight home!
Paris CDG Airport review by I Mottram
1 April 2007 Customer Rating : 
SOU-CDG-SOU same day travel. Paris CDG terminal 2F is a travesty.
Architecturally interesting but a farce in all other respects. The
arrivals is fairly smooth unless you are arriving on a prop plane in
which case you will be bussed for 15 minutes to and from your plane
after spending 20 minutes taxiing around the airport. Exit the arrivals
area and the signage is so poor that it's hard to find the car rental
locations. It's on the concourse between terminals 2E and 2F fwiw.
However, arrivals is nothing compared to the abysmal experience that is
departures. Kiosk check in works fine, unless you're flying AF in which
case it won't accept any other FF card other than Flying Blue. Once
airside the shops are limited although I don't consider that to be a
problem. The biggest disappointment is the food available. Two
pathetic fast food restaurants in the lower ground area which offer
microwave meals and sandwiches which are of poor quality and grossly
overpriced. I will avoid this airport in the future at all costs.
Paris CDG Airport review by David Chown
20 March 2007 Customer Rating : 
Terminals 2A to 2D at Paris CDG all meet in the centre, there are
escalators and lifts as the passage is at basement level. Much quicker
to walk than take the bus unless you have mobility problems. Terminal 2F
is a good ten minutes walk though, past the rail station. 2A to 2D
have an acute shortage of seating areas, even in the departure lounges
it is a bit limited. The whole thing, less modern 2F, is dated, scruffy
and crowded. But compared with Terminal 1, it's paradise!
Paris CDG Airport review by Lois Holloway
20 March 2007 Customer Rating : 
If you have to transfer from terminal 2D to 2E, allow LOTS of extra time. It's under construction.
We missed a connecting flight a couple weeks ago. It's a long walk between the terminals, and they
have extra-early boarding because you're taken on a long bus ride to the ariplane.
Paris CDG Airport review by Bill Gustafson
20 March 2007 Customer Rating : 
My wife and I will be transfering at CDG in April, arriving at terminal
2E on AF from Lisbon and departing 2E on Delta, with about 1hr 20 min
connection time. I transferred at CDG a few years ago and almost missed
my connection; as I recall the airport was confusing and chaotic. I'm
trying to be prepared for the experience this time, and have read some
comments that upon arrival from Lisbon we should go through immigration
as though we were staying in France and then walk from 2d to 2e, as this
procedure avoids one security line, although I guess there is one
waiting at 2E. If anyone could tell me the fastest way (and procedure)
to get from 2D to 2E it would be greatly appreciated. I do remember from
my last experience that the buses should be avoided if possible.
Paris CDG Airport review by Mats Genberg
7 March 2007 Customer Rating : 
I have travelled through and to CDG a number of times during the last
years. And one thing that is obvious is that French officials only go to
places where they can fly AF or codeshare partners. If not - they would
have to use T1. It is a disgrace! T2 on the other hand is the reason
there is no national outcry over T1 - the french only ever see T2 and
think that things are OK. It is quite decent actually. Last time we flew
we (family of 4) came in late from CPH connecting to LAX via this
temporary Terminal they use for high-security countries (US, Israel and
Algeria) and the service was fantastic! Direct vans. Superb staff that
joked with my kids etc. I will still rate it as poor, since T1 is so bad.
Paris CDG Airport review by Paul Turner
28 February 2007 Customer Rating : n/a
From touching down from Birmingham to reaching the stand took 20
minutes. It required a further 15minutes to reach terminal 2f. Having
read about security queues for transit passengers I left the terminal
and walked to 2c. It took 10 minutes at a fast walk. Another 15 minutes
and I was through security. The only potential problem was that out of
three security desks, only one was open. On my return journey I decided
to try the infamous bus transit from 2c to2f for comparison. Maybe I was
just lucky but the bus took no more than 10 minutes and the security
check about 5 minutes. Perhaps CDG have got the message at last?? The
gate signage within 2f left me bemused. It took 15 minutes to find Gate
41. It is well hidden on the ground floor, not on the first floor as
initially indicated.
CDG Airport by Kuhan Kandiah
26 January 2007
I always thought of CDG as a unique airport but when I actually got
there, it was one of the most unfriendly and confusing airports I have
been to. The terminal, although just next to us and a stone's throw
away, took us an hour to get to. The ground crew at the terminal we
landed on were so unfriendly and refused to answer us in English on
where the UA counter was. They just spoke to us in sign language as if
we were illiterate. After reaching the UA terminal, we discovered that
some passengers on our MH flight were also taking UA to a different
destination. But they took just 10 minutes to get there and not the hour
we took like a merry go round stopping by to get directions from
unfriendly people at the airport. The UA transit counter staff were very
nice and friendly to us and thats about the only good thing I can say
about CDG. CDG will not even be on my last choice of transit airports in
the future.
Paris CDG Airport review by Bernard Condon
19 January 2007
CDG terminal one is a disgrace. Dark, dreary and in very poor repair.
The check in area is an impossible mess with queues snaking around
corners with bags and carts blocking every turn. Just inside the
security check the building has no proper facilities with very few shops
and cafes etc. Once one goes further into the satellites then the
opportunities decrease even further. No sparkling duty free shop or top
fashion outlets and this is Paris after all! One shudders to think of a
long delay in this desert. It provides the amenities one might expect in
a regional airport in China. The lounge areas are hidden deep in the
interior with no natural light and require long badly signposted
journeys to locate. This building was a bold statement decades ago but
it is now the architectural equivalent of the bouffant hairstyle - it
reminds of an era style forgot.
Paris CDG Airport review by Nick Biskinis
19 January 2007
How France, with a strong history of 'Les Grands Projets' and transport
infrastructure development managed to conceive such a dismal airport
devoid at every level of practicality is a mystery. The RER (suburban
metro) station for CDG Terminal 1 is situated far away from the actual
terminal necessitating a further bus journey, which is inconvenient for
passengers. The Terminal 2 complex (in every sense of the word) was part
of a grand design that went wrong. The Terminal is not one but a
clusters of mini-terminals (called Halls in France) called 2A, 2B etc.
Trouble is that with the exception of 2F they have limited gate capacity
so that not many planes can use each 'Hall. Furthermore this means some
of these Halls are situated far apart. The result is transferring within
these terminals either requires a farirly long walk (and you cannot use
the luggage trolleys beyond one of the mini-terminals) or else have to
wait for one of the inter-terminal buses. Yet often the road is
cluttered with traffic as cars/buses do not have enough space to park
next to the terminal for dropping off passengers. So the inter-terminal
buses themselves are often delayed. Paris CDG is trying to remedy this
with a new inter-terminal railway - Roissyval - but that keeps being
delayed (i notice that under the advert proclaiming an opening date of
'August 2006 someone wrote 'In God we trust'). Much of the Terminal 2
complex has dated badly and inside is cluttered. In some respects CDG
Terminal 2 looks like a grandiose version of Heathrow, but with all the
drawbacks of lack of space and concrete ambience. Terminal 2F is the
only part of the airport that is genuinely well-designed and pleasant to
use. Not surprising that Air France is trying to consolidate as many of
its flights there as possible. Paris CDG is a mess, and you have to
assume that the airport's growth is propelled by its one trump card
which is large runway capacity. But long-term the poor organisation and
lay-out of Paris CDG will harm Air France's obvious ambitions to be the
leading transfer airline. Paris CDG could have been a great airport had
it stuck to a more rational vision of unified Terminal buildings and
properly situated transport hubs for rail and bus. You get the
impression that somewhere along the way rationalism was jettisoned in
favour of an over-amibitious vision that got lost in the concrete
jungle. It is ironic that countries often have bad airports because they
are obsessed with presenting the right image. What this means is that
they forget the basics of an airport as mode of convenience and instead
go for architectural excess that proves impractical down the line with
compromises to fit the 'vision'. Instead airports should be kept as
rational as possible and as convenient in lay-out. When this is
established then you can embellish a terminal stylistically. Airports
like Amsterdam, Munich, Athens prove the point. As Paris CDG will no
doubt expand, you hope that when they build new terminals they learn
from their mistakes. Errors in planning cannot be rubbed out, other than
with a bulldozer.
Paris CDG Airport review by J Rundo
20 December 2006
Nobody has mentioned what I find to be the worst thing about CDG: the
poor lighting: I usually return home to Milan with a flight in the
evening and I find it so miserable in the semi-darkness of CDG - let
alone those "subterranean" cafés where everything is finished by 800pm.
Paris CDG Airport review by J Bertani
27 November 2006
Frequently transiting in CDG I agree it is not passenger friendly place.
Waiting in the landside can be very boring due to the non existence of
shops there. Terminal 2ABCD are just not up to date to accommodate so
many passengers and flights. As previously suggested, in order to avoid
massive lines at the transit security desks, go out through immigration
at the arrival and take a short walk to your terminal of departure. That
will make your life easier especially at peak hours.
Paris CDG Airport review by J Kemp
21 November 2006
Nothing is either easy or pleasant about CDG, regardless of the terminal
you happen to be using. I am a frequent traveller based in Paris and
have no choice but to use this facility, and I must say that amongst the
major airhubs in the world, CDG is by any measure the worst. I have
written my critique of this facility in these columns before, and 6
years on, if anything, things have gotten worse. Check-in, particularly
in 2A/B/C/D is beyond chaotic, particularly at peak travel times. There
is literally not enough room to queue, and getting through security on
time is a virtual nightmare. There are no priority channels, and in any
event there are too few channels, period. In the terminal itself,
again regardless which one of the 7 terminals you may be in, seating is
poor, toilets tend to be filthy and few in number, and restaurants and
coffee shops definitely lacking. Staff tend to be unhelpful and
unpleasant, and give the impression that they could not care less,
whether they are selling a € 100 bottle of perfume or a packet of
chewing gum. Obtaining information can be very challenging, and if you
don't speak French, either buy a dictionary or pray. If you are
connecting in CDG, forget the dictionary, just pray! If you can avoid
CDG altogether, you'll be a happier person for doing so.
Paris CDG Airport review by L Thiry
17 October 2006
I often travel between Detroit and Paris, and I always dread the time I
must spend at CDG. Horrible is too kind of a word to describe this
place. Way too busy, poorly organized, dirty are words that describe it
well. Bathrooms tend to be dirty, and I have even experienced trying to
wash my hands in a bathroom that had no functioning running water. Very
inaccessible for elderly, physically challenged, or people travelling
with small children. Deplaning is done with the antiquated staircase
that hooks up to the plane. This is followed my a long, crowded, bumpy
bus ride. The convenience of having the TGV station right inside the
airport is a plus, but it too poses problems for those with mobility
problems, or those simply burdened with luggage. There is limited
elevator access down to the station level (I think there are only 4
elevators--not adequate during busy travel periods.). Your other choice
is to take escalators. Not easy with several large bags. Last time I
flew out of CDG they incorrectly posted the gate number for Detroit,
then neglected to inform the passengers. We had to ask several people,
and I think they changed our gate about 5 times before getting it
correct. I don't know who designed this place, but they certainly
neglected the architectural rule of form following function. The most
unfunctional passenger unfriendly airport I've seen--unfortunately it's
the only international airport in France, and it will continue to be an
unpleasant part of my life.
Paris CDG Airport review by Jochen Iwan
15 October 2006
I'm frequently using CDG as transit airport with AF for flights from
Zurich to Asian destinations. I flew 5 times this year via CDG and 3
times my luggage went lost. Even I got the luggage back within 1-2 days
later I cannot understand how this can be and how AF can offer to the
customers flights with 1 hour transit time only, When you have to change
the terminals, 2 hours would be the minimum time which is required to
pass the overloaded security checks and to drive with the packed transit
buses to your transit terminal. May be a useful hint to save time on
transit at CDG: Instead of queuing at the sometimes impossible long
lines at the security checks in the transit ways you can pass the
immigration and after the arrival hall you go up to the departure hall
where the queues are normally in an acceptable length.
Paris CDG Airport review by Martin Thomsin
30 September 2006
The worst airport terminal (2B) I have ever visited. Signage is
apalling, especially upon arrival where you haven't a clue where to go
to find immigration. The RER is not sign-posted until you are
practically at it and once you are there you can't buy a ticket at the
machines with notes or non-French credit cards (you only find that out
after queuing for 15 minutes.) You then join the enormous queue for the
ticket-office. To check-in you have to pass through passport control
first which could confuse many and I was refused entry without a hard
copy of my e-ticket. Just what is the point of an e-ticket one wonders.
And once you check in there are approx 10 seats for the entire
travelling public, unless you go straight through to the departure
lounge where there are no services. Total and utter chaos.
Paris CDG Airport review by Jeremy Irwin-Singer
27 September 2006
We were unlucky enough to travel through this airport on our way to
Madagascar. The flight in was fine, but that was where it ended.
Designed in the '60s and '70s, it has these so called "Satellites" which
contain the gates. This means walking distances are huge, signage is
difficult to read, the building is damp and is littered with rubbish.
The central circle of Terminal 1 has no room for expansion, so terminals
2 and 3 are miles away, by bus, which is infrequent and badly signed. We
ended up going around our plane twice. We only found out after we came
back that Terminal 2A is Terminal 2 Satellite A. This information would
have been helpful, but was nowhere to be seen. On our way back, we
missed our connection, due to the stupid busses. Again we travelled
around our plane, and even saw it leave. There were no toilets anywhere;
one couple with their infant son were forced to let him pea in a flower
pot, because there were no toilets in the departure gates! Finding a
restaurant was another problem, the food tasted foul, and was located
miles away from where the departure gates were. Terminal 1 (I think)
where the baggage reclaim is has stupid people movers which interweave
each other to get around the central dome, with zero signposts, so we
could not collect our baggage easily. We were relieved when we got back
to Heathrow, as it was a thousand times better. Avoid at all costs.
Paris CDG Airport review by Peter O'Brien
6 September 2006
CDG is under extensive renovation. You should give yourself at least 2
hours for connections. On a recent flight from PHL to Rome on AF with a
connection in CDG we missed the connection. Problem is that we parked
on the apron and were bused over to a transfer terminal and then
reboarded another bus to our terminal. As you can imagine the unloading
of full transatlantic flight takes time and the buses wait until they
are filled to bursting point. Other than that the airport is clean and
airy and I found the shops and amenities adequate.
Paris CDG Airport review by Brian Murphy
26 August 2006
Recently flew a number of times during the month of August through
Roissy CDG Terminal 2F. Thankfully the airport authorities appear at
last to be addressing some of the shortcomings previously posted on this
site. I was delighted to see that since August 1, 2006, smoking is now
forbidden in the cafes downstairs in 2F airside. In addition, another
recent addition is the placing of palm trees at the baggage arrivals
area and just outside in the main arrivals area. This small touch has
certainly taken the cold sting away from an otherwise dated and somewhat
chilly terminal in atmosphere. Hopefully, the authorities will now
continue to upgrade facilities in Terminal 2F and replace the tatty and
old carpets and seat upholstery, which are a disgrace. One final
comment for travellers in transit - if you are passing through security
to gates F41-F46, from a connecting terminal prepare for a huge wait.
The notice says 10 minutes - I spent closer to 30 minutes there
yesterday, until such time as Air France took some initiative and called
any passengers taking the Seoul and Dubai flights which were near final
boarding and were able to fast-track them through a dedicated security
line. Clearly, the airport needs to look carefully at this area of
congestion.
Paris CDG Airport review by Paul Browne
21 June 2006
Recently flew BA in and out of CDG T2B and was somewhat apprehensive
given the comments made here and on other message boards. Nothing could
have been further from the truth! We were at Baggage Claim within 2 mins
of walking off the aircraft and 5 mins after that we were outside
getting into the Shuttle. Very helpful BA staff in the Baggage area
organised our transportation too. On our return, checked in very quickly
using the check-in machines but despite it being the busiest time of the
day there was only one security guard on duty with 4 other unmanned
desks. This slowed us down a bit but we had a couple of hours to kill,
unfortunately in a mediocre Business Class longe shared by BA and AF.
All in all, our 2 experiences did not mirror the bad press we had read.
Paris CDG Airport review by Ron Kuhlmann
10 June 2006
I had a poor opinion of CDG from last year and found that, if anything,
I had been too kind in calling it horrible. Luggage claim for AA is a
tiny area, virtually filled with carts and allowing almost no movement
to retrieve bags or to exit once the bags are in hand. The corridors are
cramped and ziggzagging along compares unfavorably to a cheap video
game. Security and immigration on departure are exercises in contortions
as no less than 5 empty wheelchairs squeezed through against traffic
after delivering passengers to the gate. I find it incredible that they
have no egress except to barge through against the lines. I love Paris
and France but will avoid any more flights into, out of or through CDG.
Paris CDG Airport review by Bob Adamczyk
3 June 2006
I fly CDG at least 4-5 times a year. CDG is one of the busiest airports
in the world. If you compare it to JFK or LAX (especially as a non-
native speaker of English,try and find someone at JFK who speaks French,
Croatian or Farsi ! ). You just have to approach the people with the
right attitude, attempt to speak their language first, and act as if
they might be able to help you, but don't make unreasonable requests or
demands ! Terminal 2C was pretty crowded to depart from at midday in
the past, but now that Terminal 2E has been reopened, some of the
crowding has been reduced. I recently flew out of 2E on AF in April.
The terminal was large, spacious and not overcrowded. Decent, fresh
food was available at the boulangerie (not plastic-wrapped, 3 days old
like in the US). The Air France lounge for AF and Skyteam Elite was
large, spacious and had a good assortment of drinks, wines and
sandwiches, all complimentary. Until the 2E departure gate area is
reconstructed, passengers will still have to depart out of a temporary
area via bus and be shuttled to their flight. If you are connecting,:
don't consider it with less than a 2 hr connection.
Paris CDG Airport review by D Blomgren
24 May 2006
CDG Terminal 2E. The experience was close to inhumane. Passengers flying
Delta from Paris were herded onto a bus like standing cattle. Then the
bus pulls away from the "salon" and sits - this time for 40 minutes with
the ventilation system turned off - while other buses are loaded. We had
several elderly people nearly faint and the crowd started begging for
air and to be set free. The driver is separated from the crowd by a
glass window and does his best to ignore the passengers. The Delta
flight crew did its best to calm the enraged crowd - they've grown
accustomed to furious passengers boarding after the mistreatment on the
ground at CDG. United uses Terminal 1. Others do as well. If you are
traveling with elderly people or others who cannot easily climb many
stairs or stand in a crowded bus for about an hour, or who simply prefer
to breathe, we would recommend using those airlines and to avoid Delta
and Air France for trips to Paris. At least until terminal 2E is fixed
(which could be a year or so).
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