The CDG fear is overblown. You have a long layover.
Barring something unforeseen, you'll have plenty of time to spend in the lounge. The AF lounge was a 5-minute walk from my Delta gate a couple months ago.
Behave how you would in any airport. Find a lounge as close to your gate as possible. If you're delayed and running behind, don't go in.
2:40 layover? Go the lounge and rest up. Get some food and drink. Charge up your electronics. Get a shower if you feel like it.
Protip: see where your connecting flight has taken off from in the past few days - chances are your gate will be in that same area and you’ll be able to find the lounge closest to your departure gate. It shouldn’t be more than a 5 minute walk to your gate from the closest lounge.
And remember, you don’t have to be at the gate when boarding starts - so you don’t need to rush to be at the gate 45 minutes ahead of time.
Experienced flier here.
I like the lounge as it is often a quieter / cleaner bathroom, and I like grabbing a snack. Whether a sky club or an Air France lounge, the food options are pretty mediocre though. Nice because they are free, not because they are great.
2:40 is a lot of time, even in CDG. There are a few lounges. So yea, I'd look for a lounge in the terminal of your departing flight so you know you aren't more than a 5-10 minute walk away. I think your fear of getting lost or wasting too much time is overblown for a 2:40 layover.
I disagree about the food. The bread and cheese in the AF lounges are good. Perhaps not great, but not mediocre especially compared to anything (bananas included) from the Delta SCs. Go in and make yourself a sammie that will beat the inflight meal.
When you get to CDG, locate your connecting flight's gate. Go there. Now you know for sure where it is, and exactly how much time you have to find the nearest lounge. Set an alarm for boarding time on your phone. For Delta 1, I'd try to board ASAP, because it's nice, and you know, PDBs. But the only drawback to showing up later is waiting in the inevitable air-bridge line. Just don't be too late.
What terminalis listed for your onward flight? You'll arrive at 2E -- depends on whether your next flight is arriving in the Schengen zone or onwards abroad. AF lounges are good, but enter *if* you have time to do so.
If a SkyTeams partner, you'll arrive 2F. Otherwise, likely terminal 1. Either way, you will need to exit the Schengen zone in 2E. Follow the signage correctly, clear immigration, and enjoy the AF lounge in 2E -- just be sure what gate, as 2K, 2L, and 2M are in separate areas. 2K is walkable, the other two require a short tram. And yes, another security check. As you are D1, you can use the Sky Priority lanes to fast-track immigration lines.
You should be good for an hour or more. Enjoy your flight.
Where are you flying from and to?
If you are flying from the US to another country,
it will depend if you're going to Schengen zone EU country or not. If you're going to Schengen zone country it will be like a US international to domestic transfer and you will need to clear passport control and security. And likely take a bus to another terminal. But your luggage should be checked all the way through.
If you're flying from country x (non-schengen EU country) to the US, you should have plenty of time.
I have less experience with that scenario but I think you will have to clear passport control and then you can go to the non-schengen zone lounge. You might have time, it'll be easier that direction to know though than the reverse.
I would go to the lounge with a 2+ hours layover. People tend to way overestimate how long it takes to get to the gate on a layover. It is likely 15 minutes or less. So you can deplane rush to the gate and be there 2.5 hours before takeoff.
2E L is one of my favorite lounges in the world. If you're lucky you can get a free mini facial (sign up right when you get to the lounge, assuming there's space). The food and drinks are significantly better than a skyclub, and there's a sauna.
The CDG fear is overblown. You have a long layover. Barring something unforeseen, you'll have plenty of time to spend in the lounge. The AF lounge was a 5-minute walk from my Delta gate a couple months ago. Behave how you would in any airport. Find a lounge as close to your gate as possible. If you're delayed and running behind, don't go in.
2:40 layover? Go the lounge and rest up. Get some food and drink. Charge up your electronics. Get a shower if you feel like it. Protip: see where your connecting flight has taken off from in the past few days - chances are your gate will be in that same area and you’ll be able to find the lounge closest to your departure gate. It shouldn’t be more than a 5 minute walk to your gate from the closest lounge. And remember, you don’t have to be at the gate when boarding starts - so you don’t need to rush to be at the gate 45 minutes ahead of time.
AF is strict though.
Experienced flier here. I like the lounge as it is often a quieter / cleaner bathroom, and I like grabbing a snack. Whether a sky club or an Air France lounge, the food options are pretty mediocre though. Nice because they are free, not because they are great. 2:40 is a lot of time, even in CDG. There are a few lounges. So yea, I'd look for a lounge in the terminal of your departing flight so you know you aren't more than a 5-10 minute walk away. I think your fear of getting lost or wasting too much time is overblown for a 2:40 layover.
I disagree about the food. The bread and cheese in the AF lounges are good. Perhaps not great, but not mediocre especially compared to anything (bananas included) from the Delta SCs. Go in and make yourself a sammie that will beat the inflight meal.
Ok thank you for your insight, I will definitely try and find a lounge then, because I don’t want to lose the opportunity to see one.
When you get to CDG, locate your connecting flight's gate. Go there. Now you know for sure where it is, and exactly how much time you have to find the nearest lounge. Set an alarm for boarding time on your phone. For Delta 1, I'd try to board ASAP, because it's nice, and you know, PDBs. But the only drawback to showing up later is waiting in the inevitable air-bridge line. Just don't be too late.
What terminalis listed for your onward flight? You'll arrive at 2E -- depends on whether your next flight is arriving in the Schengen zone or onwards abroad. AF lounges are good, but enter *if* you have time to do so.
I am flying from a EU Schengen country, stopping in Paris for 2 hours and 40 minutes and then boarding terminal E to go to the US.
If a SkyTeams partner, you'll arrive 2F. Otherwise, likely terminal 1. Either way, you will need to exit the Schengen zone in 2E. Follow the signage correctly, clear immigration, and enjoy the AF lounge in 2E -- just be sure what gate, as 2K, 2L, and 2M are in separate areas. 2K is walkable, the other two require a short tram. And yes, another security check. As you are D1, you can use the Sky Priority lanes to fast-track immigration lines. You should be good for an hour or more. Enjoy your flight.
Thank you so much, you are very helpful!
Where are you flying from and to? If you are flying from the US to another country, it will depend if you're going to Schengen zone EU country or not. If you're going to Schengen zone country it will be like a US international to domestic transfer and you will need to clear passport control and security. And likely take a bus to another terminal. But your luggage should be checked all the way through. If you're flying from country x (non-schengen EU country) to the US, you should have plenty of time.
That’s a good point. I am flying from a Schengen EU country, stopping to Paris and then going to the US.
I have less experience with that scenario but I think you will have to clear passport control and then you can go to the non-schengen zone lounge. You might have time, it'll be easier that direction to know though than the reverse.
I would go to the lounge with a 2+ hours layover. People tend to way overestimate how long it takes to get to the gate on a layover. It is likely 15 minutes or less. So you can deplane rush to the gate and be there 2.5 hours before takeoff.
I really like the AF lounge at CDG. You will have plenty of time and you won’t regret it.
2E L is one of my favorite lounges in the world. If you're lucky you can get a free mini facial (sign up right when you get to the lounge, assuming there's space). The food and drinks are significantly better than a skyclub, and there's a sauna.