Comments on: Why Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport sucks

By: IanG

IanG — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:22:22 +0000

The security personnel were on strike when I was there in December. People in these huge long lines were pushing and shoving, and screaming at the poor management people trying to do security – what a mess. On the return leg, in Terminal E, I discovered that the bathrooms were down two flights of stairs from the gates – very nice when you have bags. On top of that, there were only 4 full toilets in the Mens room, and all occupied, with a line of people waiting.

Coupled with this, Air France cancelled my outbound night-time flight to CDG and put me on an afternoon flight – without notifying me, so that I had a 13 hour layover in CDG. At least they put me in the AF Lounge for the day, but my overall experience of AF and CDG guarantees I will never fly that way again.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:35:31 +0000

I don’t see anyone jumping to CDG’s defense in this stream… no surprise. What a mess that place is. What is it about airport designs? Extra smart people are called into come up with ‘signature’ buildings and cleaver solutions… it’s all bunkum, because like a water pile, an airport layout need to be linear (curved is fine) and it will only handle volume if the pipe is wide enough. Oh yea, you also get greater flow by increasing pressure – just like a pipe – but don’t go there! We are not water molecules…. France is amazing but first impressions at CDG makes for lifetime of prejudice.

By: John

John — Mon, 02 May 2011 21:34:28 +0000

CDG sucks big time.
The signs to various places are badly placed, wrong or non existent.
I was to take the “Black Bus” to a lay over hotel but had a real hassle to find to the bus since there was no signs were to go.
Had to ask at least 10 airport workers who all told a different way to get to the bus.
Finally i found it but there wasnt any signs that a “black bus” would even stop there, no time schema, nothing…
I stepped in 5 different busses and showed my lay over ticket but didnt get more specific answers than DOH ??
They speak really bad english or not at all and havent heard of the words service minded.
The Security Control is total bullshit, my ticket was correct but 2 times i had to run back to check in to ask why i was denied in security control.
And the most anoying thing is that u cant go back the way u came to the Sec Con, no u have to take some stairs down and go thru a mace of lines where the arriving persons go and then up to check-in…Who the fuck has time with that ??
Its a fuckin shithole to airport with 99% risk to miss your plane, get bad service and loose your temper totally..
Air France sucks too, had to sit 4 hours in a plane whilst some idiot tried to fix the air con..
Did get some water in a cup, but no bottles or any food at all and what a freakin hassle it was when they tried to help us the desk to find a lay over hotel or an other flight..
Well i know at least 250 persons that HATE CDG and AF and wont ever use non of them…

By: Kenji

Kenji — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 07:15:37 +0000

I lived in Paris for 3 years, and had the opportunity to use the CDG airport to fly back to my country. I must say that I really dislike using the airport – misleading signs, faulty conveyor belt for luggages, no shops (especially given such a huge airport), and even with taxis so hard to find due to their weird signboards! Using their filthy RER B to travel to city centre is a nightmare. One feels as if one is travelling through some third world country rather than a first world developed country that France always advertises itself.

I even had a French colleague who told me once that she likes CDG airport and thinks it’s probably the best in the world. And that’s coming from someone who has only travelled to CDG airport to pick up someone, and has never left her country before in her whole life. I really think that a good number of these Frenchies need to really step out of their well to see the real world out there.

By: /Hiatus « Misadventures of a Modern Mommy

/Hiatus « Misadventures of a Modern Mommy — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:08:41 +0000

[...] Charles de Gaulle is the most garbage airport in the entire goddamn galaxy [...]

By: rachel auernig

rachel auernig — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:57:19 +0000

thanks for the response. Hopefully my flight will be on time as it is a nonstop from Salt Lake City.

By: Jeremy Olexa

Jeremy Olexa — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:47:22 +0000

You should have enough time. Beware if your flight gets delayed. Helps if you know French But, as you can see, I am not alone in this opinion of CDG.

By: rachel auernig

rachel auernig — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:44:21 +0000

I am flying into CDG from the US in July 2010 and need to catch a connecting train (TGV) to Hendaye, France. I have 2hrs 20 mins to between the flight and the train. Do you think that is enough time…I do not want to miss the train as it is the only one that day. Any advise would be most appreciated!

By: leito

leito — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:12:45 +0000

Wow, I’m glad I read this article because I was just planning to travel to Paris by plane and via CDG but now I will think about it a second time. It might be a good idea not to do so…

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:26:20 +0000

I’g glad to see I am not alone when it comes to CDG. Worst airport I have ever been in. The bus transfers are ridiculous, the “double” security checks even more so. AVOID CDG for connections at all costs!!