Airline guide
Air France: fare families and connecting via Paris
Air France is a connection airline for most US and UK travellers: you are usually flying through Paris rather than to it. Charles de Gaulle is large and multi-terminal, and how much time you leave there is the decision that matters most.
On this page
Connecting through Charles de Gaulle
CDG is a set of separate terminals linked by a shuttle train. A connection can involve changing terminal, passing security again, and in some cases a border control. The published minimum connection time assumes everything runs well.
- Allow more than the minimum, especially if you arrive in the busy morning bank from the US.
- Check whether both flights use the same terminal. If not, add time for the shuttle.
- An onward flight within the Schengen area passes a border control; one outside it may not.
If a sub-90-minute connection is the only thing making an itinerary work, it is worth pricing a later onward flight before committing.
Fare families and the checked bag
Air France sells economy in tiers. The entry Light fare typically excludes a checked bag entirely; higher tiers add baggage, seat selection and change flexibility, before Premium Economy, Business and La Premiere.
Light is the one to watch on a transatlantic booking. A long-haul trip with no checked bag is a real constraint, and adding one afterwards usually costs more than the fare difference would have.
Baggage on a through itinerary
On a single ticket your bag is normally checked through to your final destination. On separate tickets it is not, and you collect and re-check in Paris. On a long travel day that is a meaningful difference, and it is the main argument for putting the whole journey on one ticket.
When it is worth calling us instead of booking online
For a simple Air France booking — one traveller, fixed dates, no complications — book it directly at www.airfrance.com and save yourself a service fee. We are useful when the booking is not simple:
- Ten or more passengers, where the airline moves you to a group desk. See group flight booking.
- A child travelling alone, which most carriers will not let you complete online. See unaccompanied minors.
- A wheelchair, mobility aid, service animal or medical oxygen, which needs a service request filed against the reservation. See special assistance.
- A name that does not match the travel document on an issued ticket. See name corrections.
- Multi-city or open-jaw routing that a booking engine prices badly or refuses.
- Rebooking after a cancellation, at the hour it happens. See last minute flights.
Quick reference
| Main hub | Paris Charles de Gaulle, with Orly on some routes |
|---|---|
| Cabins | Economy tiers, Premium Economy, Business, La Premiere |
| Entry fare | Light fares typically exclude a checked bag |
| Alliance | SkyTeam |
Common questions about Air France
How much connection time do I need at Charles de Gaulle?
More than the published minimum where you can. Terminal changes involve a shuttle and a second security check, and the morning arrival bank from the US is the busiest period.
Does the Air France Light fare include a checked bag?
Typically not. On a transatlantic trip that is a real constraint, and adding a bag later usually costs more than the higher fare would have.
Will my bag be checked through to my final destination?
On a single ticket, normally yes. On separate tickets you collect and re-check it in Paris.
Booking Air France and it is not straightforward?
Group travel, a child flying alone, an assistance request or a name that needs correcting. Those are the calls worth making.