How about this [CDG] connection?

[ctrunfree]

Hi people
We're looking at MAD 12.05pm-CDG 2.10pm on Air France AF1301, connecting same day with CDG 3.20pm to BKK on Air France AF166.
Is there any way of establishing:
(a) how often this connection is made or missed ( I can see it's not the same plane), and
(b) what would happen to us if the MAD flight was late and we missed the connection. (I guess Air France strikes are another consideration).
We are looking to travel on a Monday, and the next flight Air France CDG-BKK flight would be on the Wednesday. We would be flying BKK-MEL on the day after our arrival in Bangkok, so missing the connection would complicate that flight as well.
Any thoughts? Should we have a night in CDG and pick up the CDG-BKK flight the next day?

 

[Hvr]

Couple of questions to let people know the whole story.

Is it on one ticket? Or different tickets?

Do you travel HLO?

 

[ctrunfree]

It would be a single ticket, booked probably through Flight Centre. Unfortunately we will have checked luggage. I'm presuming if we do for the same day connection it would be checked through to BKK.

There is also an earlier flight out of MAD (MAD 10am, CDG 12.05pm) which would allow more time for the BKK connection, but it does add a couple of hours (presumably as Transit passengers) in what will already be a long day.

 

[ctrunfree]

I've heard someone suggest that I would need to go through immigration, but not collect luggage, as MAD-CDG is regarded as a 'domestic' flight. That would complicate things, given the schmozzle I've seen at CDG immigration over the past few months.

 

[Mattg]

The minimum connection time for this type of transit through CDG is 1 hour. I presume that if too many people were not making this type of connection, the MCT would be changed. So it should be OK and if you missed the flight you would be re-accomodated. Whether or not you'd make the BKK-MEL flight is another story.

Having said that if there's another MAD-CDG flight a couple of hours earlier, I would be taking that one for sure.

 

[mannej]

Would taking the earlier connection not save you the stress in the long run? Anything close to MCT is going to be strsssful without adding the joys of CDG into it.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

I agree, MCT is always stressful no matter which airport you are using, and I haven't heard that CDG has improved much since I was last there a few years ago.

Is the BKK-MEL flight another connection, or are you breaking the journey in BKK for a day?? Either way I'd be looking at the earlier MAD-CDG flight - minimises the risk of missing the BKK-MEL connection if it is a connection or spoiling your day/limiting your time in BKK if you're breaking the journey.

 

[ctrunfree]

As time isn't really an issue for us (we're jubilados, as the Spanish would say) I might even have another look at the Emirates option, or take another night in CDG with the Thai/Air France combo. Anyone got any suggestions for a good stopover hotel in Dubai?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi people
We're looking at MAD 12.05pm-CDG 2.10pm on Air France AF1301, connecting same day with CDG 3.20pm to BKK on Air France AF166.
Is there any way of establishing:
(a) how often this connection is made or missed ( I can see it's not the same plane), and
(b) what would happen to us if the MAD flight was late and we missed the connection. (I guess Air France strikes are another consideration).
We are looking to travel on a Monday, and the next flight Air France CDG-BKK flight would be on the Wednesday. We would be flying BKK-MEL on the day after our arrival in Bangkok, so missing the connection would complicate that flight as well.
Any thoughts? Should we have a night in CDG and pick up the CDG-BKK flight the next day?

Take the earlier flight from MAD. Having been through CDG recently it's not an airport you want to cut things fine.

you will be transferring from T2F to T2E, recommended time for this transfer is 20-25 minutes. Passport check is required. Boarding for your flight will be around 250pm, so you have about 20 minutes leeway. A 30 minute delay departing MAD and you'll be in the pickle.

 

[I love to travel]

CDG you often need to do immigration even on intra Europe flights because of the state of emergency

 

[ctrunfree]

Yep, that flight connection is a little too tight for comfort. Thanks everyone!