Air France - Edinburgh to New York JFK via Paris

[gbc123]

Hi,

I am travelling in September to New York JFK from Paris (arrive 9:20am from EDI and depart 10:30am from CDG - both Terminal 2E) and have a couple of questions.

Given the short layover time and the fact that the flights arrive/depart from the same terminal, does anyone think this will be a problem? I assume the baggage will be transferred between aircraft in time (I hope!)

The flight out is on an A340-300 in Y class. Any views on the product/service appreciated (seat comfort/in flight service).

The flight back leaves JFK 2330 on a 77W in Y class. Again, any views on the product/service appreciated (seat comfort/in flight service).

3 hour wait for the EDI transfer on the way back. Any suggestions what there is to do in Terminal 2E appreciated! lol :ugh:

Any input appreciated. First time using Air France. Direct from Glasgow was over £250 more expensive.

Gary. :D

[dwlpl]

Given that the airline gives the timings itself (as opposed to you doing it) then all is OK.

You can get 'layover' times as low as 50 minutes sometimes so 70 minutes should be fine.

[nivsy]

Another nail in the head for Glasgow then.....unreasonable prices for direct flight with CO- pax routing via the mainland of Europe just to quite possibly retrace their "vapour trails" to go across the pond....

Been a while since last at CDG - Can't say that I thought much of iteven though the smell of citanes are long gone..but at least the roof seems to stay intact these days!


Nivsy

[CabinCrewe]

Whats it got to do with GLA ?

[TSR2]

My daughter flew Air France to Dubai via Paris, and back to Manchester direct with Emirates both in Y class. The aircraft from Paris to Dubai was a B777 as was the Emirates flight back to Manchester. In her opinion the Air France flight was far more comfortable and the food and service much better than Emirates.

However, the Air France B777 she travelled on was the version with 3-3-3 seating configuration and 18" seat width. Other Air France 777's have 3-4-3 configuration in Y class with only 17" seat width.

The Air France A340-300 fleet have 18" seat width in Y class in a 2-4-2 configuration.

[nivsy]

CC - the original poster stated that despite checking GLA fares one was cheaper to go via Europe with the chosen carrier of AF than travelling direct from a more local airport hence GLA losing pax (again).

Nivsy

[Jamie2k9]

Aer Lingus fly from Edinburgh to Boston, Chicago O'Hare, New York JFK & Orlando all via DUBLIN

The same routes are offered from Glasgow. The journey time would of being shorter than going via Paris CDG.

[cesare.caldi]

AirFrance operate also A380 on CDG-JFK on one daily flight so if you like to try this plane choose this flight, maybe a good reason to try AirFrance

[c2lass]

We flew ABZ-CDG-DXB earlier this year with Air France and I was really quite excited about going to CDG as I had never been to this airport. We had 3 or so hours wait there and have to say I was really disappointed.

Cannot remember which terminal we were in but we were hungry and wanted some hot food. There were only a couple of snack type places and one of the places had things like quiches that they would heat for you. I must say the quiches looked lovely but my, what a price. I think we paid 35 euros for 2 small pieces of quich, some bread and two little bottles of red wine. :sad:.

Coming back was as bad, nothing to do no shops etc. Have to say I was really disappointed in CDG.

[77]

Personally, even if the airline schedule allows, I would always go for 2hours transit at a major airport.
Departures won't wait for a few late pax. Maybe for a large group travelling together.
Your 70mins can soon reduce with a slightly later slot ex EDI and a hold on arrival into CDG.
I'm sure now that I have said this that all will be well, but I prefer the more leisurely transit and a better chance of my bag making it as well.

[robtheblade]

I have used CDG twice as a hub airport, both times with very short layover. Each time a minibus was waiting for me at the aircraft and took me round to the departue aircraft. No hassle, off one plane, into departure lounge and onto connecting flight. Bags made it too. Very professional.

On the way home, 3hr wait. 3hrs in CDG is enough for any man to have to endure. Terrible place.

[radeng]

Admittedly a few years back, but I found a reasonable steak place at CDG. Can't remember if it was between 2B and 2D or 2D and 2F.

If the transfer is AF to AF, you have a good chance. AF to BA cannot be guaranteed, even in 4 hours.....

[SeenItAll]

My experience in transferring to USA-bound flights at CDG is that this is a very short connection. If your inbound plane arrives on time and you run, you will likely make it -- but it will take at least 45 minutes of huffing and puffing. If any little hiccup occurs (e.g., long lines at security, 15 minute delay in arrival, slow bus from stand, etc.) there is a good chance that you won't make it.

Note that even though you are arriving and departing from 2E, this does not mean that you can walk between gates. 2E has satellites that are only reachable via bus or tram. Furthermore, USA-bound flights are generally served at a satellite separate from all others to allow them to do secondary security screening.

Good luck.

[lucavigg]

Be very careful with connections at CDG. Depending on the terminal, they can take a while.

We were travelling Air France to JFK from London via CDG. The connection time was 55 minutes. We were met at the plane by a scissor lift bus which took us to the terminal. It lifted us down from the plane, then lifted us up very slowly to the terminal building. All very stylish and French, but not very practical.

By the time we changed terminals and got to the gate, the scissor lift bus taking passengers out to the plane had already left and the gate was closed. Becuase they were using these busses to take passenger out to the plane, the gate was closed that much earlier.

We had to wait four and a half hours for the next plane. When we got on the plane, the final slap in the face was to be told that we would be delayed 45 minutes departing as we had to wait for connecting passengers.

Apart from all that I found the AF cabin crew to be amongst, not only the rudest and most obnoxious crew I have ever met, but also the rudest and most obnoxious people I have ever met, and I've met some conservative MP's in my time! They seemed resentful at every single request by a passenger.

Sorry AF. Never again.

[Capetonian]

CDG was a leading airport when it was completed about 40 years ago. Since then it has been far surpassed by hundreds of others round the world and is possibly the worst of all the major hubs in Europe. It's badly designed, disjointed, impractical, ugly, and staffed by some of the rudest airline staff on earth. It also has the worst and most expensive eating facilities of any major airport and the surliest immigration staff. Despite the fact that AF-AF connections are usually maintained, it's the Achilles Heel of AF and the reason I avoid flying on AF.

AF itself, in the air, is not a bad airline. CC are variable but generally efficient and accommodating, if a little lacking in warmth, and the food is better than a lot of other longhaul carriers.

[dufc]

I've used Air France-CDG frequently over the past few years - with round trips ABZ-GIG twice in the past two months.

Originating in ABZ the AF Regional aircraft parks at a remote station and we are bussed to the terminal.

Dependant on where you are going a terminal change is then usually required e.g. 2E to 2F. The connecting bus *always* heads the long way round the circuit! :-)

All of this takes time and any delay in getting to CDG from ABZ can put the connection in jeopardy.

The outbound flight from CDG may also be from a remote parking station so my advice is to allow a *minimum* of 1.5 hours between flights. More is really better....less? - better get that sprint training underway! :-)

I agree that the restaurants are a little limited in 2E/F but the AF Lounge is not too bad and also offers showers which are a great way to freshen up between flights.

Happy landings

Jim

[robtheblade]

"Apart from all that I found the AF cabin crew to be amongst, not only the rudest and most obnoxious crew I have ever met, but also the rudest and most obnoxious people I have ever met, and I've met some conservative MP's in my time! They seemed resentful at every single request by a passenger."

AF cc may seem a little standoffish, rude and obnoxious at times, but what the heck, they are sexiest by far. Even the not very pretty ones do it for me. O'la la, those tight trousers, (worn by the females of course).AF, Airbourne Fantasy...

[cavortingcheetah]

Perhaps the 06.05 KL 1276 to AMS arr 08.35.
Then the 10.25 Delta KL 9081 ?
Schiphol is a doddle.
Bags need 50 minutes.
That ticket this morning for a random September day in economy class is cheaper than via Paris?
On the way back you have a few options but in any event, Schiphol is an easy place to kill a few hours.
Same airline, same miles on your card?
I rather think CDG bids fair for the worst airport in Europe.

[dufc]

To me also Schiphol wins hands down. Connections are so much easier.

This nonsense at CDG with bussing to and from aircraft is a pain and has contributed to me missing a number of flight connections.

This is supposed to be a leading airport of Europe but they don't have enough gates for aircraft using the place?

Regards

Jim

[Skipness One Echo]

Schiphol was designed to be a single Terminal connecting hub and works really well.
LHR has come back to life with massive investment and has a good experience through T5 if you choose BA and one less Terminal to get lost in at the mo.

CDG has Terminal 1, 3, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F an 2G. CDG is operated by the French. Hmmm

[L'aviateur]

I agree on Schiphol. I'm not the greatest fan of the KLM biz class seating, but still choose KLM over other airlines for the convenience factor. From the UK to International is the smoothest way to go, and I've made 20 min connections comfortably with all baggage. The other system I like there is that if you're inbound flight is delayed, you just rock upto the transfer machines in the lounge and print out a boarding pass for the next flight, everything sorted.
The other nice thing, when travelling hand baggage only on the cityhopper flights from the UK is the ability to drop your bag at the bottom of the steps and collect it on arrival. More airlines should offer this.

CDG is a nightmare....

HKG and SIN are very good.

[robtheblade]

I have taken over 20 LH flights with AF, mostly to China and found them to be more than satisfactory. Maybe your standards are much higher than mine, or you've never been to Sheffield:)

[Capetonian]

You can fly 'AF' without going via PAR if you travel on a codeshare.

We booked an elderly relative from the UK to CPT, on KLM flights via AMS. It happened to be cheaper by about £100 to book the flights on the AF website, so they were KL flights but with AF flight numbers.

On the way home in the car, one of his comments was : "I hadn't realised what a nice airport they had in Paris now....". He hadn't even realised he'd transited Schiphol!

[Betty girl]

It really depends which terminal you go through at CDG. The terminal that Air France use is the best one, so hopefully you will be ok. If you arrive and depart from the same terminal it should be easy for you.

[Shack37]

AF use Terminal 2E, 2F and 2G that I know of and possibly others. Although both are Terminal 2, halls E and F run into each other but cover a very large area. Terminal 2G is a bus ride as it's t'other side of the airfield.

Arriving and departing from 2E sounds fine but from UK you have to clear passport control and pass security. There is a fast lane for short connections but EDI, ABZ arrive at remote stands and transport is not always immediately available on arrival. It's a lottery, you may make it with time to spare and wonder what all the fuss was about or.......................:ooh:

[Capetonian]

The terminal that Air France use is the best one,

I would describe it as the least bad. As it's AF's main hub one would hope that they would be given the least bad facility at the airport, but it's still a disorganised, ugly, badly thought-out mess.

[Shack37]

CdG for a first time user is I agree a nightmare but having used it several times in recent years for both SH and LH flights I find it very easy to navigate.
As an example, going from Bilbao to Aberdeen via CdG:
Arrive 2G, board shuttle bus for 2E, no waiting as bus always there or arrives within one minute. Maximum 10 minutes to 2E where each gate or group of gates has it's own security.
2G catering with only one bar is limited to sandwiches and crisps etc. 2E being bigger has more choice and with a reasonable connection you can eat there before changing terminals.

[Capetonian]

CdG for a first time user is I agree a nightmare but having used it several times in recent years for both SH and LH flights I find it very easy to navigate

No, it's just more of a nightmare if you're a novice user, because you have to cope with the lousy signage and trying to get help from the rude staff. At one time I used it 15-20 times a year (company policy) and found it a nightmare every time.

[Shack37]

No, it's just more of a nightmare if you're a novice user, because you have to cope with the lousy signage and trying to get help from the rude staff.

Have you used CdG recently?

Hand on heart I can say I haven't had rude staff problems. Security is a doddle compared to LHR, but then where isn't? The AF inflight magazine has maps of various airports including CdG which reduces the signage problem.
One thing that would help is the UK joining Schengen. I once did Bio to Abz via CdG/AMS because the direct Paris/Aberdeen connection was too short. Arriving Cdg I found the AMS flight departed from the adjoining pier of the same terminal which was a 10 minute walk from arrival gate to departure gate with neither passport control or security to go through.

It doesn't get much better than that.

[Momo]

I have done the F to E transfer for a US flight twice last year and it took 45 minutes to get from plane to gate, including a bus transfer one of the two times, and all the security checks. However, I was in business which let me use a fast lane for passport and security. French queueing discipline being what it is, you can jump if in a rush and not too many people will mind.

However, I actually missed my flights both times. (GVA-GDG-Houston) and they moved me to a later flight, frustrating since the plane was still at the gate the second time, but they would not let me on as they had assumed that I would not make the transfer. My inbound delays were due to strikes, an Air France strike the first time and an air traffic controller strike the second time. Strikes are the main reason to avoid flights with transfers in France. You just never know whether you will be affected as there are so many moving parts, all with aggressive unions.

[Capetonian]

Starting Blocks

I note that you're only a novice here with the grand sum of 2 posts. Maybe you'll grow up one day. Have you ever actually transited a major international hub or is your experience limited to Southampton or somewhere like that?

Before you dish out rudeness and sarcasm, you might like to consider the many variables, which however often one transits a hub, can cause confusion. 'Getting used to it' would be possible if always transiting between the same inbound and outbound flights, and if those flights always arrived at and departed from the same gates.

Things change as parts of the airport fall on peoples' heads, are rebuilt, and so on.

I wouldn't expect you to have much grasp of that though, so maybe you should just go back to your MS Flight Simulator and play nicely.

[TightSlot]

Starting Blocks has left the building

[grimmrad]

Thanks to the Moderator btw...

I travelled through CDG only once, the new terminal (forgot the number, 2F maybe?) from PSA via CDG to JFK. The architecture was interesting but I completely agree with the prior posts regarding the foot. I though this was Paris, one of the cities for foodies - but... Worse than any US terminal. No selection. One deserted cantine-like place with old food and one cafe which was terribly over prized. But tens of duty-free shops which had better food to offer than any of the places in the terminal (the 2 that is...). Wouldn't go through CDG again per choice, only if no other way possible (like going to Paris). AF didn't stand out particularly as either bad or good. I remember I sat at the exit row and the seats seem smaller than Lufthansa's, first thought its one of the seats for the CC...

[FRying]

Totally agree with the general trend :

- AF are good, ranging from "fair" to "extremely good", depending on the people, the day, and on how staffed they are (I found them very understaffed in certain circumstances that would have deserved some big guys and solid ground personnel assistance). Good airline.

- CDG is an absolute shame for this country. How come the heads of this airport have not been fired and sued for incompetence remains a major question mark. Very few shopping facilities, rude personnel, stinking spots, very complicated. It seems like everything was thought in way that would make passenger travel a painful experience. This airport is just ridiculous. Sad thing AF have to deal with such a poor "provider". LH would not cope.:}

[jack_essex]

I have just flown LHR - CDG - LHR on the Air France A380. This was only to fly the A380 (sad I know), but will more than likely be the only time I will fly to CDG. Terminal 2E is one of the most expensive departure halls I have ever been to. Most restaurants were charging around 8-9 euros for a small piece of cake. The restaurant upstairs, around 10 euros for a piece of pizza/lasagne etc. We spent 15 euros for a couple of chocolate bars and packet of crisps (healthy option).

The positives though, Heathrow couldn't have been easier, staff very polite, no queues at check in, or security, and plenty of places to eat/drink at reasonable prices. Air France itself were great, we may have been lucky as the A380 was more of a promotion flight for Air France though.

[rouelan]

do agree that cdg is not the most convenient place to connect. However, things tend to improve for AF-AF connections with AF gradually grouping operations around 2E / 2F. 2G (regional flights) is "in the pampa". IMHO the rudest people around the place are the "PAF" (police). Do not ever even think of complaining, you could easily get into trouble !