A little background first before I ask my questions...We will have a 7 hour layover in Paris on our way to Italy and are planning on utilizing Air France%26#39;s shuttle bus to get us to the Arc de Triomphe, where we plan to then get out, see the Arc de Triompe, then walk down Champs Elysees and then continue to walk over to the Eiffel Tower and finally walk (or take a taxi depending on the time) back to the Arc de Triomphe to catch the shuttle bus back to CDG. If all goes as plans (plane lands on time, transportation into/out of Paris isnt more than 45 minutes each way, etc...) we figure we have 2 - 2 1/2 hours in Paris to do this walking tour. We know we will not have time to go all the way to the top of the Eiffel, so we%26#39;ll just walk to the 2nd level. Also, we are flying first class so when we arrive back to CDG we can access the first class security lines. Alrighty...so my questions: After we get off the plane in Paris do we need to go through some type of passport check area? If so how long does that usually take? Do they have a line for first class? Never flown first class before, so I have no idea how that all works. Next, when doing our walking tour of Paris: first, are we crazy to think we can do that in 2 - 2 1/2 hours and if not, is there a route that you could recommend that might also take us by other %26quot;sights%26quot; enroute to our main sights but still fit into our limited time. Thanks so much!
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Once your flight lands, it could take you up to an hour to get to the curb.
Will your bags be checked through? Will you already have a boarding pass for your ongoing flight?
Air France coaches depart CDG every 20-30 minutes. Stops are made at various terminals to drop off/pick up passengers before actually heading to Paris. The ride is estimated at 45-60 minutes, depending on traffic. Hoping to get to/from Paris 45 minutes each way is not realistic.
Are you sure you are ticketed first class from CDG to Italy?
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We definitely are booked First Class all the way through and yes, our checked luggage will be transferred to our connecting flight so we wont have to deal with that. I realize there is a lot of room for problems to occur so we are trying to have the attitude that we might need to modify on the fly or maybe even choose to not do it depending on what time we truely land and get through the passport check. Is there a seperate line for first class at the passport check? Even if we only end up with 1 hour in Paris, that is better than sitting at the airport for 7...
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Hi,
You can try the Air France bus or try and catch the RER train. It will be much quicker and no traffic jams.
You%26#39;ll have to clear immigration and Customs to exit the airport.
I never flew first class so I do not know if there is a dedicated line for immigration and on the other side for security. I very much doubt it though.
Here is a map with a few tips on Paris underground and trains.
bonjourlafrance.net/france-trains/paris-metr…
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I don%26#39;t have any specific help but you should be sure to ask the airline staff for any help they can give you. Being in first class they should be happy to asist you in any way they can.
Oh - Arc de Triompe and Eiffel Tower are about 1.5 miles apart.
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I have flown first class into Paris, and there is no line advantage at security for first class passengers,, only at ticketed check in etc. At security the only pass line was for the disabled,, usually in wheelchairs accompanied by staff. So, figure on being back at airport at least 1.5 hrs before flight leaves. This assumes luggage is checked through and you will have boarding pass for Italy.
When you arrive will determine how fast you get out of airport,, passport control may be flooded with serveral planes arriving at once,, and you will have a wait,, usually not too bad,, but still the lines can be very long. As first class you are not entitled to skip through that,or by pass others there either,, but, your luggage( should Paris have been your final destination) would be unloaded first,, ( or in theory is supposed to be, lOL ) so it can be a quick out.
I would not count on having time to go up ET at all( lines can easily be 1 to 2 hours) , but just being there under it is fun, the view up it is great. I would try and go up the Arc De Triomphe though,, there has never been a significant line there when I have gone, and the views from the top are great.
The metro is a fast way to get to places,, but, I would probaly take a taxi ( to get from ET to Arc or vice versus) as it is your first time and you just want to make it easy.But, depending on time of day I would take the RER( suburban train ) to get back to CDG,, if its rush hour a shuttle or taxi can get clogged in traffic and RER is only 35 minutes.. What time of day are you travelling?
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My 1 (one) experience with passport control deplaning in Paris was very, very quick. Not like it was in UK.
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Joan1
We arrive in Paris at 8:35am and our plane is scheduled to leave for Italy at 3:25pm, so we are thinking that if we are on the bus/taxi/whatever we take, back to the airport by 12:30pm that would hopefully give us enough time for a little play room for traffic, etc... Thanks for the info for First Class...we%26#39;ve never flown that before, so just wasnt sure about that. Honestly, I just dont know what to do. I cannot imagine being in Paris and just sitting at the airport for 7 hours, but I certainly do not want to risk missing our flight. Thats why we are trying to have the attitude that we may only have 1 hour in Paris and that would be better than sitting at the airport?? Maybe that is foolish?
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In and out of CDG there are dedicated biz/1st line. Look for Access 1 signs and the ground staff will let you through. On the way out, unless several planes are arriving at the same time, it doesn%26#39;t really make a huge difference, as flying 1st you will be first out!. Be sure to look for Access 1 when getting back for your flight to Italy of course.
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Its not foolish - things are likely to work out fine and if for any reason things are taking too long you can cut your losses at several points in the outing and return.
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if you are back at the airport by 12:30 you should be fine
one thing might be to be sure of your outbound gate -- I don%26#39;t know what hell CDG has cooked up recently since we have stopped flying out of it (we now go out of Schiphol on trips) but one of our last trips out of CDG, it took 1.5 hours from the time we arrived at the %26#39;gate%26#39; until the bus that left that gate arrived at the satelite gate area from which our plane left -- and security took an hour before that
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