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

[Anonymous]

Cdg is one of the few airports I do 3h. When it’s crazy it’s cra-zy. Don’t risk it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 go early and hang out on the lounge. Good shopping too

CDG is a huge and always a mess.

[Anonymous]

there is also great shopping at CDG so leave yourself time for that. longchamp has great prices.

[Anonymous]

I read the nightmare stories about CDG and booked a VIP service that let us bypass the regular lines. It was so easy that I wondered if it was worth the $$ - but I guess I was paying for insurance and I got it. We had an 8am flight and if we'd missed it, the next one was 3pm. A driver picked up the four of us in a van at our hotel and delivered us to CDG and handed us off to the airport security guy.

https://paris-graff.com/paris-airports-meet-greet/

[Anonymous]

Agree with all of this. Additionally, the airport is HUGE. If you're in terminal 2E, for example, you might have to walk a zillion miles after security. Or, that new terminal they just renovated... it looks compact. It is not.

I really hate this airport and would prefer not to spend one minute more there than possible but... you do need those 3 hours.

[Anonymous]

Air France is great there. We did not wait much and boarded very early but it was a long trek to physically get through the airport to the gate.