Do we really need to arrive at CDG 3 hours early?

[Anonymous]

I mean, I'll do it but...

[Anonymous]

I've only transferred there. That said, the most I ever arrive early is two hours.

[Anonymous]

In 2019 we arrived 2 hours early (this was summer so busy) and had no issues. Flying economy so no special access. With bag drop being faster nowadays with kiosks, etc, I think 3 hours is exaggerated.

[Anonymous]

It’s so hit or miss but do it in case you’re one of the badly timed flights. The last time I flew out of there, we got there 2.5 hours early bc business and united global services. I was w/ 3 of my kids. Well we would have actually missed the flight had they not let us go through a family line for people w/ young kids. This was a few months after we had breezed through everything and ended up at the gate almost 2 hours early. It’s really unpredictable so get there 3 hours early

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s so hit or miss but do it in case you’re one of the badly timed flights. The last time I flew out of there, we got there 2.5 hours early bc business and united global services. I was w/ 3 of my kids. Well we would have actually missed the flight had they not let us go through a family line for people w/ young kids. This was a few months after we had breezed through everything and ended up at the gate almost 2 hours early. It’s really unpredictable so get there 3 hours early

When was this? Asking because CDG recently completed a huge expansion of the T1 departures gate areas where United leaves from. I flew out of there a few times around 2015-2019, and it was crazy crowded because the security was at the tiny gate areas, and United had 3 full 777s departing from neighboring gates within 45 minutes of each other. But with the expansion it's likely much better.

https://moodiedavittreport.com/modernised-paris-charles-de-gaulle-airport-terminal-1-reopens-featuring-extime-brand/

Air France has a much bigger terminal at T2 so it runs relatively smoothly, although if your flight is leaving out of the M gates you need an extra few minutes to get to the train out to those gates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s so hit or miss but do it in case you’re one of the badly timed flights. The last time I flew out of there, we got there 2.5 hours early bc business and united global services. I was w/ 3 of my kids. Well we would have actually missed the flight had they not let us go through a family line for people w/ young kids. This was a few months after we had breezed through everything and ended up at the gate almost 2 hours early. It’s really unpredictable so get there 3 hours early

We had the same situation 2 summers ago. Only reason we made the flight was because of the family line.

We also flew last summer and had to get out of our uber and walk to the terminal from the highway entrance because it was so backed up. Probably saved us an hour. Once we were in the terminal it was fine (and it was a new area from the previous summer).

[Anonymous]

I'm French, and always arrive at least 2.5hrs if not 3hrs, early to CDG. It allows us to get a little snack before the flight, and relax. One time we left just when non-US citizens were allowed to travel to the EU after the Covid lockdown, and CDG was pure hell: we nearly missed our flight. But usually, 2.5 hrs is enough time, and 3hrs is nice and relaxed.

[Anonymous]

I’ve flown out of CDG each of the past 3 years. With priority access (biz class United), I would get there at least 2 hours in advance. If you’re in the regular passport line, I would seriously consider 3 hours just in case. I would not cut it any closer than 2.5. You may get lucky, but it can be a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

I always think 3 hrs is usually overkill in most places, but we had massive security lines at cdg in April 2024 and would’ve missed our flight if we hadn’t had 3 hrs.

[Anonymous]

3 hours minimum.

The longest lines I've stood in at any airport in the world have been at CDG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 hours minimum.

The longest lines I've stood in at any airport in the world have been at CDG.

+1. Honestly, I'd probably arrive closer to 4 hours. The number of times I've almost missed a flight here having arrived 3 hours early is insane. And I usually cut flights very very close. Never at CDG.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Ugh ok. No special status or access. Flying Air France on a Wednesday in late June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 hours minimum.

The longest lines I've stood in at any airport in the world have been at CDG.

We departed the day before a strike in 2023. 3 hours was barely enough.

Air France (Delta codeshare) flew our luggage with us to Canada but screwed up and it was never unloaded at our connection city. It went back to France (learned this from an Airtag). We got it a week later, delivered to our home.

So...basically...FAFO.

Also I came late to LAX once during long security waits and although it was at least a hour until departure the airline wouldn't give me a boarding pass. They made a note in my file and told me to fly standby after getting through security. I only got on the next plane because the standbys ahead of me were a couple and there was only one seat.

It's expensive to make mistakes in this area.

[Anonymous]

CDG can be highly variable, but its worst case is more than 3 hours. If all the lines are quick and you have to wait inside the terminal, just be thankful you did not miss a flight.

[Anonymous]

We left from CDG on Air France last month, spring break time, with no status. We had to wait to check-in and check our bags, then wait longer to go through customs (and we were in the family line...regular line was longer). Then waited another 15-20 minutes to clear security after taking a shuttle. Overall that took over an hour. But we didn't want to mess around, and it was nice to relax at the gate for a bit before boarding. If you take the RER there is walking as you go from where the train drops you off to where all of the check-ins are. It wasn't too bad for us considering how crowded it was; but I could see things getting bad very quickly. Allow yourself extra time.