Do I need to get out of International Zone at Charles de Gaulle airport when changing terminals from 1 to 2e?
Do I need to get out of International Zone at Charles de Gaulle airport when changing terminals from 1 to 2e?
I'm flying ULN-Beijing-Paris-Manchester. ULN-Paris is Air China then Paris-MCR is Flybe. I have 3.40 hours between the connecting flight at Charles De Gaulle airport. my problem is that Air China won't check my baggage to my final destination. I have to pick it up then re-check again. If I don't have to leave the international zone of the airport, then I won't need a transit visa. Do I have to leave the international zone and go through passport control to collect my bag and re-check it in again to board Flybe to Manchester? Also is 3:40 hours enough to do all of this when solo traveling with a 3-year-old child? If I decide to travel baggage free and with carry-on only, I don't need to leave transit zone to change terminals?
Than you very much for any advice!
Best Answer
To pick up luggage, you always have to clear immigration, so you will need a visa.
Even if you only have hand luggage, with separate tickets check-in staff will usually treat Paris as the final destination and deny you boarding without a visa.
So what you need is a short-stay (type C) Schengen visa from the French embassy. If the application form asks for the purpose of the trip, select "transit"
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Do I have to go through customs for a connecting flight at CDG?
You won't have to go through customs or immigrations (assuming you're ticketed through) and you'll be passed through as a transit passenger.Do you have to go through customs on a connecting flight in France?
You must pass through Security control (No passport control nor visa required). Please note ! If you need to leave the transit area to pick up baggage and check-in, you must clear immigration, please ensure that you comply with entry & visa requirements.Can you walk between terminals at Charles de Gaulle?
CDG estimates you can walk from Terminal 2D to Terminal 2E in under 15 minutes. If you are arriving from outside the Schengen Treaty area, you will have to go through Immigration (Passport Control) and this can easily take an hour.How do you get between terminals at Charles de Gaulle airport?
The green shuttleShuttle available in the international zone (for a connection). The green shuttle provides a link between terminal 2E gate M and terminals 2F and 2E gate L. From 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: every 4 minutes. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.: every 11 minutes.TRANSFER AT CHARLES DE GAULLE Airport Terminal 2E - How to do a Connection Flight at Paris Airport
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Answer 2
Beijing and Manchester are both international destinations (i.e. outside the Schengen area). CDG has international airside transfers between all terminals. If you have no carry-on, then from terminal 2E, walk or take a shuttle to terminal 2C, then take a shuttle to terminal 1. You won't need to clear immigration in Paris.
If you have luggage that isn't checked through, then as far as I know you'll need to pick it up at the same place as everyone else, and that's after immigration. So in that case you will need to spend more time in a queue, and you will need a transit visa if your citizenship and visa status requires it.
If everything goes well, 3:40 hours is enough. Say 1 hour to clear immigration, ½ hour to reach the other terminal, you have 2 hours to check in for the next flight. With a small child, it may be a bit tight as it doesn't allow much slack for accidents or for resting. The problem is if your incoming flight is late. I strongly recommend to either get the Paris–Manchester flight on the same ticket or to allow a lot more time in Paris.
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