We will be flying Air France to West Africa via CDG in January. Our outbound layover is 10.5 hours, arr.@ 6:15 and dep @ 16:40! Return layover is better - 7 hours. Any suggestions for spending the time, especially outbound? Is there a decent restaurant accessible from the departure lounge?
How much of a hassle would it be to leave the airport and return? We will be dressed for tropical weather, so walking around Paris is probably not an option. Is there anything to do near the airport? A good restaurant for lunch? A reasonable hotel for a dayroom?
TIA for any info.
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If your bags are checked through on the outbound, you could go into Paris by RER from the station in the airport (you should allow about an hour for travel each way) and walk around, making sure to be back at CDG about two hours before your scheduled departure (as you presumably already would have your boarding passes). But as you say, you would need to bring winter coats, etc., on the plane with you because it will be cold when you get to Paris. Unfortunately, there really isn%26#39;t much of anything near the airport (and in any case, anything involving poking your noses outside will run into the same winter weather issues).
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Most hotels at de Gaulle do not offer dayrooms. Your best bet might to look into any special rates at the Sheraton hotel, which can be reached without going outside the airport. (Still, I suspect you will need at least a thick sweater.) The de Gaulle airport is just not the best for someone in your situation...only liited restaurants and other facilities useful for long layovers.
Do you belong to the Air France club? That might help; if you don%26#39;t, it could be worth it to join. At least you could have somewhat comfortable seating, which is lacking in the terminals even when one can find a place to sit.
Since you%26#39;re flying from Massachusetts, won%26#39;t you at least have a warm coat in January?
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Thanks for your responses.
We have used the AF club in the past, but don%26#39;t belong. It isn%26#39;t a very good one... crowded, limited service, etc... but it is certainly an option. Not enough miles to upgrade this time!
Re Massachusetts weather, we are only 12 miles from the airport and our transportation to the airport is heated, so we can save a lot of luggage volume by leaving winter clothes at home. And we will already have two rather heavy carry-ons apiece... photo gear plus a hedge against the possibility of lost checked bags.
I%26#39;ll look into the Sheraton.
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I do not think it is a good idea to travel during winter months without some warm clothes. You never know what can happen to your flight.
You may be stuck in some country for a few hours or more. A sweater - that you may need in Africa anyway - and turtleneck, warm socks, can at least bring you to the Louvre in a taxi. 10 hours is a long time to wait in an airport esp. after an intercontinental flight.
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About the sweater, socks, etc. -- don%26#39;t forget that it%26#39;s pretty common that planes are very cold, and a skimpy airline blanket doesn%26#39;t always do the trick, so you may be happy you had such items even if you never go outside!
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Sorry, I overstated the tropical clothing. I agree, planes get cold. We have logged many miles and hours on long flights and dress appropriately for the cool atmosphere. But the plane%26#39;s temperature and the cool nights in Africa pale in comparison to icy, windy winter conditions both here and there. Unfortunately, the older one gets the the more the cold affects one... and I am well up that curve!
I looked at the AF web site re club membership. Unlike some US carriers, it appears AF club memberships can%26#39;t be purchased.
It%26#39;s been many years since we last visited the Louvre. It would be an interesting diversion. At what time does traffic ease driving into Paris? How long does it take by taxi?
Thanks.
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If the Louvre interests you, it might be possible to do most if not all of the trip without going outdoors (can%26#39;t recall whethere there is an RER station in Terminal 1 where AF lands, but I think so - if not, you would have to go to the station in Terminal 2).
You could take the RER B into Paris, change to Metro Line 1 (not sure which station, Chatelet Les Halles looks most likely although others may be possible), and get off at the Palais Royal Musee du Louvre stop. This would be less expense and bother than a taxi, and should take you right where you want to be.
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If not the Air France club, what about joining the Admirals Club (American Airlines)? Their lounge at de Gaulle is very comfortable, with free beverages and snacks. Upstairs, in the area near the escalator, is a small café if you want something more.
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Before joining the Admiral%26#39;s Club, make sure they have a facility in Terminal 1 (if that%26#39;s where you leave from), because the one in Terminal 2 is inside the secure area (so you can%26#39;t just go there and hang out, without going through security - and to do that, you will need a boarding pass, etc.). For that matter, even in Terminal 1 it might be an issue because when you land you are going to be shunted through passport control and out of the secure area - but if T1 is like T2, that means you maybe won%26#39;t be able to get to any of the airline clubs until you check in for your next flight.
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If you are in possession of your boarding passes for your next flight, an explanation of club membership should allow you to use the AF transfer system so that you won%26#39;t have to go through security to get to whichever club location.
In the past, those days oh so long ago, when I still subjected myself to the torture that is CDG, one needed to show a boarding pass for an ongoing flight and an airline club membership card to take advantage of the Transfer Desk. I see no reason that there should have been any change in that practice, even with the heightened security systems, although perhaps they will want now also to see passports.
Bon voyage.
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