Has anyone changed planes at CDG, Paris or Barajas, Madrid?
Has anyone changed planes at CDG, Paris or Barajas, Madrid?
This might seem like a bit of a silly thing to ask but I sometimes travel to Colombia and I HATE changing planes! The times I have gone before I have changed planes in Newark and it has caused me so much stress that it has put me off ever going via the States again. The queues at immigration, having to collect my luggage (why?!), worrying that I'm going to miss my transfer, and worst of all is being made to feel like a criminal by the immigration officers who interrogate me like I'm some sort of drug-traffiker just because I'm travelling alone Colombia. The last journey I made I was so stressed that I burst into tears in the deaprture lounge (how embarrassing!)
Anyway, I have discovered that I can fly to Bogotá from CDG, Paris or Madrid and I wondered what it was like to make a transfer in either of those places? I have been told some bad things about CDG (like the people not being very helpful or friendly, especially towards Brits, and no one speaking English) and I thought I might ask here if anyone had changed planes there before and how easy it was? Do you have to collect your luggage and re-check it there like you do in America? When I went via Newark at least everyone spoke English but I'm a bit concerned about going via Paris or Madrid as I don't speak French at all and my Spanish is pretty dire! Also, do you have to go through any immigration-style checks like in America?
I know that worrying about changing planes probably sounds really silly to everyone who has done a lot of travelling before but I'm dreadful at doing things on my own and it causes me so many sleepless nights you wouldn't believe! If I could find a nice easy way to get to Colombia then I would be able to go mush sooner and actually enjoy my trip :lol:
Thanks for any help :)
Answers:
I know how you feel about sleepless nights from seemingly 'easy' things, I am exactly the same! Not sure if it is any help, but I will share my experience of changing flights at Charles de Gaulle.
Two years ago I flew from Lisbon to CDG to Washington DC, and back again. Outward bound there was no problem, I didn't find the CDG customs people any worse or better than anywhere else TBH - actually more friendly than immigration in Washington where I got shouted at for standing in the wrong place :(. I can't remember there being any particular language barrier either, but maybe I was just lucky? I do remember having to change terminals which involved getting on a bus. My main worry was having to deal with luggage on the changeover, but as it happened I didn't need to bother with it again until we arrived in Washington, as it was checked in all the way through.
The return journey was a different matter though. Our flight from DC was delayed, which resulted in us missing our flight from CDG to Lisbon. The queues at passport conrol in CDG were insane too - I say queue, but really it was more of a rugby scrum! Thank goodness we had booked the trip as an entire journey with one carrier, rather than as separate tickets with different companies, as that meant our carrier put us on the next available flight to Lisbon. Although the wait for the next flight was a pain, I hate to imagine what would have happened if we had to sort it all ourselves - and possibly pay again!
My advice would be to make sure that whatever ticket you buy, the whole journey is with the same carrier. Even if it costs you a little extra, the peace of mind you get knowing that if your first flight is delayed, it is your carriers responsibilty to arrange you another flight, is reassuring. As far as I know this eliminates the need to recheck your luggage too!
Good luck!
ETA: My luggage was also lost on the return journey probably because of the change of flight, but it was delivered to my door three days later, so I couldn't complain too much. It had been opened and checked though THREE times by US security. I have no idea why!
Answers:
Hi
We travelled from with Air France from Edinburgh to Los Angeles, via CDG a couple of years ago. Our flight left Edinburgh late and we touched down in France with about 20 mins to spare. However by the time we disembarked etc they had closed the gate on our LAX flight.
We went to the Air France desk and they were very helpful, they spoke perfect English (thankfully, as we can't speak French!!). They arranged seats on the next available flight, which unfortunately meant a 6 hour delay! However they did give us meal vouchers. I was concerned about our luggage though - however as it was the one carrier for the whole journey, we didnt have to reclaim/recheck it in, it went straight on to LAX and was waiting for us when we arrived.
From what I remember, announcements were in various languages and signs must have been in English too, as I said we don't speak/read French but we managed to find our way around etc.
As the previous poster said, better to book all the way with one carrier if you can. Hope this helps, enjoy your trip.
Answers:
Of the two, Madrid hands down
It is a v good (new!) airport
The US is more or less alone in the having to collect bags and recheck them, and also having to go through immigration to connect there. It is barking mad and a huge pain in the ass.
The two you mention are both in the EU so none of the above hassles. Fairly simple
This might seem like a bit of a silly thing to ask but I sometimes travel to Colombia and I HATE changing planes! The times I have gone before I have changed planes in Newark and it has caused me so much stress that it has put me off ever going via the States again. The queues at immigration, having to collect my luggage (why?!), worrying that I'm going to miss my transfer, and worst of all is being made to feel like a criminal by the immigration officers who interrogate me like I'm some sort of drug-traffiker just because I'm travelling alone Colombia. The last journey I made I was so stressed that I burst into tears in the deaprture lounge (how embarrassing!)
Anyway, I have discovered that I can fly to Bogotá from CDG, Paris or Madrid and I wondered what it was like to make a transfer in either of those places? I have been told some bad things about CDG (like the people not being very helpful or friendly, especially towards Brits, and no one speaking English) and I thought I might ask here if anyone had changed planes there before and how easy it was? Do you have to collect your luggage and re-check it there like you do in America? When I went via Newark at least everyone spoke English but I'm a bit concerned about going via Paris or Madrid as I don't speak French at all and my Spanish is pretty dire! Also, do you have to go through any immigration-style checks like in America?
I know that worrying about changing planes probably sounds really silly to everyone who has done a lot of travelling before but I'm dreadful at doing things on my own and it causes me so many sleepless nights you wouldn't believe! If I could find a nice easy way to get to Colombia then I would be able to go mush sooner and actually enjoy my trip :lol:
Thanks for any help :)
Answers:
I know how you feel about sleepless nights from seemingly 'easy' things, I am exactly the same! Not sure if it is any help, but I will share my experience of changing flights at Charles de Gaulle.
Two years ago I flew from Lisbon to CDG to Washington DC, and back again. Outward bound there was no problem, I didn't find the CDG customs people any worse or better than anywhere else TBH - actually more friendly than immigration in Washington where I got shouted at for standing in the wrong place :(. I can't remember there being any particular language barrier either, but maybe I was just lucky? I do remember having to change terminals which involved getting on a bus. My main worry was having to deal with luggage on the changeover, but as it happened I didn't need to bother with it again until we arrived in Washington, as it was checked in all the way through.
The return journey was a different matter though. Our flight from DC was delayed, which resulted in us missing our flight from CDG to Lisbon. The queues at passport conrol in CDG were insane too - I say queue, but really it was more of a rugby scrum! Thank goodness we had booked the trip as an entire journey with one carrier, rather than as separate tickets with different companies, as that meant our carrier put us on the next available flight to Lisbon. Although the wait for the next flight was a pain, I hate to imagine what would have happened if we had to sort it all ourselves - and possibly pay again!
My advice would be to make sure that whatever ticket you buy, the whole journey is with the same carrier. Even if it costs you a little extra, the peace of mind you get knowing that if your first flight is delayed, it is your carriers responsibilty to arrange you another flight, is reassuring. As far as I know this eliminates the need to recheck your luggage too!
Good luck!
ETA: My luggage was also lost on the return journey probably because of the change of flight, but it was delivered to my door three days later, so I couldn't complain too much. It had been opened and checked though THREE times by US security. I have no idea why!
Answers:
Hi
We travelled from with Air France from Edinburgh to Los Angeles, via CDG a couple of years ago. Our flight left Edinburgh late and we touched down in France with about 20 mins to spare. However by the time we disembarked etc they had closed the gate on our LAX flight.
We went to the Air France desk and they were very helpful, they spoke perfect English (thankfully, as we can't speak French!!). They arranged seats on the next available flight, which unfortunately meant a 6 hour delay! However they did give us meal vouchers. I was concerned about our luggage though - however as it was the one carrier for the whole journey, we didnt have to reclaim/recheck it in, it went straight on to LAX and was waiting for us when we arrived.
From what I remember, announcements were in various languages and signs must have been in English too, as I said we don't speak/read French but we managed to find our way around etc.
As the previous poster said, better to book all the way with one carrier if you can. Hope this helps, enjoy your trip.
Answers:
Of the two, Madrid hands down
It is a v good (new!) airport
The US is more or less alone in the having to collect bags and recheck them, and also having to go through immigration to connect there. It is barking mad and a huge pain in the ass.
The two you mention are both in the EU so none of the above hassles. Fairly simple