CDG - any better way?

I%26#39;ve had such bad luck at CDG--especially flying out, back to the U.S. Of the times I%26#39;ve been to Paris I%26#39;ve flown either Continental, Air France or American. The %26#39;organization%26#39; of the process for getting checked in and through security was probably the best at Continental, but still took almost three hours. I realize traveling on weekdays and at less popular times helps, but should one try to book a ticket to Orly instead? Or does anyone suggest a particular airline that seems better organized...? (Have almost missed my flight on several occasions even though I always arrive at the airport far in advance).

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I think it may be the fact of going to the USA that is the %26quot;problem%26quot; with the security checks. I have used CDG many times on different companies, and it has never been a problem, even for destinations outside Europe. So i guess it depends on the airline policy about security, better safe than sorry, so i don%26#39;t think it would make a difference from Orly, except that the airport there is much smaller that CDG. I guess any airline going to the USA will be especially careful since 11/9.

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Hello,

If you arrive from the US, you can%26#39;t arrive to Orly airport...Orly is mainly for France, Europe and North Africa.

I%26#39;ve flown many time to CDG from the US and I still arrive at the airport 1 hour and half before departure without any problem.

BYe

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Mars92, I think maybe it%26#39;s when flying from Paris to the United States that it%26#39;s trickier. Thanks for info on Orly.

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I fly alot... often out of CDG and I have often had problems with Air France. Once on the plane it is usually a nicer flight than with US airlines, but the staff at the AF counter have made me miss a flight once and nearly twice, despite arriving well in advance of departure.

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;If you arrive from the US, you can%26#39;t arrive to Orly airport...Orly is mainly for France, Europe and North Africa.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

There%26#39;s your problem in a nutshell. Most trans-Atlantic flights into Paris arrive at CDG. In order to arrive at ORLY, you would need to make at least one connection somewhere else in Europe. This could trurn what is ordinarily a long 6 hour flight from the US east coast into an 8-12 hour international odessey. The potential up-side of this is that because connecting routes are usually less desireable, you may be able to find lower airfares by shopping around. But the notion that any airlines or airports are %26#39;..organized..%26#39; is largely illusory.

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We gone to Paris twice in the past six months on Delta and Air France. Haven%26#39;t had a problem either time. In fact, getting out of CDG was easier than leaving our very small airport in South Bend, IN. CDG didn%26#39;t take anywhere near three hours and security was a breeze. By the way, we had one very early morning flight and the other was around 3pm.

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If you are running late, which is often common with me, the check in people or staff at the security lines will often ask which flight you are on and cut you through the security line at CDG to the front of the queue.

The other trick is to display your frequent flyer card or frequent flyer baggage tag if you have one with the airline. You can sometime get hands-on guidance through the potential mobs in line because of this.

Another tip: Check online to see if the flights are running ontime, (Occasionally, you can call and get through) sometimes this helps avoid needless waiting at the airport.

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Hi, I just returned from Paris May 19. CGD was A breeze.