Do NOT Do This in Airport Security
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- Опубликовано: 14 май 2024
- 3 Little-Known Tips for Airport Security in Europe to AVOID these Airport Security Line Mistakes. Paris CDG Airport was the worst!
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Way too many travelers still make these airport security checkpoint mistakes, but mastering the airport security check in Europe is possible! I recently went through airport security screening in Europe and reveal 3 little-known tips that helped me get through the TSA line quickly, including one tip that saved me from missing my flight out of CDG Paris Airport.
Learn the order to place your belongings in the screening bins and why it matters, and why you should always carry your passport through the body scanner. Also, find out why it's crucial to go through security as soon as possible after checking your luggage and getting a boarding pass. A major mistake travelers make is waiting too long to go through the security checkpoint.
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00:00 Tips for airport security
00:19 TSA bin mistake
00:40 Damaged & stolen items
01:18 When to put things in bin
01:33 This sets off the alarm (delays!)
01:46 DO NOT put this in tsa bin
02:24 I almost missed the flight!
02:37 Waiting too long to go through security checkpoint
03:00 Warning for PARIS AIRPORT
03:17 Watch for SSSS on boarding pass
03:35 What to do if you see SSSS
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Welcome to Portable Professional, your go-to resource for stress-free travel.
Megan here, Hello! I’ve taken well over 300 flights and countless trips in the last decade. I have learned how to have seamless travel experiences without unnecessary stress and anxiety. I’m here to help you also feel confident about your travels while making the most of every trip.
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Paris airport, the worst I’ve ever flown through. It is helpful that the airport personal all wear little blue uniforms so you know who to go to to ask for help. But be advised, if you open your mouth spewing English words, they will immediately ignore you, turning around and engage with anyone else who they think is not American. I learned this the hard way and almost missed my flight because of it. Best to start out with a friendly “Pardon Mademoiselle” as Frenchy as you can say it, to get their attention. I don’t speak French at all. That is the only phrase I remember from 7th grade French class. Thankfully, that phrase saved me from missing my return flight home! Literally! I was the last one on the plane and they closed the doors behind me. NEVER fly through the Paris airport with less than 4 hours between flights.
Portable Professional: out of your 100's of trips, how many times have you tried to carry your passport with you? Maybe it's is just Europe but I can't imagine that flying in the States. My passport is my identification so I will do my best to test it out wherever I go.
Hey, not to mention, the first time I was there the idiot did not let me in without a PRINTED electronic ticket. I opened my laptop and shown, no he needs paper. Jerks.
Stop with the stupid commercials!!!! Do you SERIOUSLY think that ANYONE would buy this just because of your stupid ad?!?!?
Your video is a bit nonsense, sorry. If you know the rules on most airports, specially in Europe (which are generic), you face absolutely no problems:
1) there are cameras everywhere so if someone steals you, they are caught.
2) you can put every other items first (belt, liquids, jacket, handbag) and the electronics at last. In Europe most if not all airports have trays to put things on. So your electronics are put by YOU but the laptop has to go on a separate one (the scanner has to be able to scan perfectly). If you do this, NO ONE will put a finger on your stuff.
On most airports I flew in Europe (Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, England, Belgium, Netherlands, etc) the works ALWAYS say the laptop has to go in a different one and how you should put your things on the trays. And they never touched my things, except from other people who mixed everything nevertheless and they took their laptop and put on a different tray. That was it. Theft? Never heard of it.
Confusion? Yes. People that are a little bit “slow of mind” (or don’t understand English or the native language) that despite the workers say how it’s done, they do otherwise. That slows things a bit down.
Even my children do the right way after seeing one time…
I have traveled a fair bit, and I have found that I would FAR rather be through Security (and even customs in some cases) and bored on the secure side, than to be rushed and uncertain if I will have enough time while stuck in the line to go through security. Time is NOT your friend in an airport.
Totally agree👍👍
“Paris Airport”
It’s better to be 2 hours early than 2 minutes late.
I love being in the secure side of an airport with nothing to do. It's my happy place. It's a good place for people watching.
Thanks for sharing
If only my husband thought the same way as you and I
Not really related to CDG but my husband and I narrowly avoided missing our connecting flight LHR to AMS due to not allowing enough connection time. We had arrived at LHR on the red eye with 2 hours to make our connection to AMS. We never would have made it if not for an airport employee scanning the very, very long security line looking for wayward jet-lagged passengers. She took one look at our boarding passes and said "you will never make it" and she pulled us out of line and took us straight to the front. To this day I have NO idea where she came from but I will remember her always lol.
That was very prudent of that employee, doing something out of her routine to prevent both financial and time losses. Now looked up the LHR, it must be Heathrow. So pleasing to see the English doing the right thing at the right time.
Paris Airport. 1992❤
I had a shoet connection, British Air gave me a neon card that let me go to the front at Heathrow.😊
A nice employee did this at Schipol Armsterdam. We were in line at customs and she was looking out for people who has the sooner connecting flight and let them through first. It was really nice of her helping those passengers not miss their flight.
Why did you have to go through security again for a connecting flight? We never have.
I had one security agent tell me to hold onto my passport when going through the scanner so I did do that. Then on my next trip another one told me to put it in the bin, and acted like to do otherwise was just blasphemy! I wish they were consistent!
Totally agree, Rick, consistency would be lovely!
They never are. When leaving Atlanta a few weeks ago, the TSA agent hollered at me for removing my liquids' bag to place separately in the bin. "I didn't tell you to remove your liquids' bag, did I?!" Gees, you're dammed if you do, and dammed if you don't.
@@heleneg525 Yelling at the passengers seems to happen a lot at large American airports.
@@robertparsons313 Robert, and I even wonder how effective the screening is when the TSA agents bend the rules. Hmmm.
exactly! I've had the same experience with taking out large electronics...some agents yell at you to take them out, some yell at you to leave them in...and all of them say it like you should already know.
This video is a must-watch for anyone who's ever struggled with getting through airport security quickly and efficiently. Super useful tips and tricks for mastering the airport security check in Europe. These little-known hacks that could save you time and hassle at the airport! Great video, Megan!
The video is a little bit nonsense:
1) EACH airport has different rules as it depends on the scanners they use!
2) MOST airports in Europe demand that you take ALL electronic devices from the bag and take off the belt/jacket
3) most European airports do NOT demand that you take your shoes off
4) ALL demand that you take fluids from the bag and max 100 mL per bottle.
Basic rules and if you take off / out previously before you get to the scanner, then you speed up everything. I basically leave everything in an accessible spot.
These videos are nothing but just telling the obvious…
PaIris Airport - I avoid Charles de Gaulle Airport whenever possible. And you're right, always go through Security without delay, and I usually go all the way to my gate, so I know exactly where it is. Nothing like the surprise of finding out at the last minute that you have to catch a train or bus to get to your gate!
Great tips as always. Yes, Paris Airport takes forever, although I’ve only missed two connections ever and they were both going through Heathrow. Love the “keeping your passport with you “ tip.
As concise and well-thought out. Thank you, Megan!
Megan, your videos are always a 👍. They are precious gems for the traveler. Full of rich information.
Paris Airport is horrible! I was there 20 years ago and nearly missed my connection flight from Germany to US. It is amazing to hear that the situation has not changed since. BTW: I've never used that airport again since and always use other routes...
I travel with backpack, and at security I take out laptop and put inside everything else: passport+boarding, belt, phone, watch, coins, valet, keys, gum packs, and any other garbage in my pocket which will trigger alarm - all deep-deep inside my backpack, basically inside laptop pocket, and zip it all. All stays in one bag, not in dozen different trays. In 99% of cases security see objects inside without any problem, I just need to collect my PC in one hand, backpack in another and walk 5-6 meters away from crowd at security to start dressing back up in reverse order. If they ask me to open backpack, I do it having all items in my control.
Good videos, well done!
Going out of Canada…. Nail file was fine, but coming home from Mexico, the same nail file was taken away.
Get an Everki backpack. They have a laptop pocket section that unzips and opens completely flat, so the dummies can scan it without you having to take it out.
My family traveled through CDG a few years back. We were actually held up by our carry on bags (plus one other issue at the end of this post). After going through security, we were told to step aside, two TSA agents asked to weigh our carry on luggage. They claimed that our bags were over the weight limit (by a little over 1 lb each). We'd never encountered anything like that with dozens of other flights. We were then asked a bunch of questions about our nation's president...once they understood that our thoughts were the same as theirs, our luggage problems magically went away. Then our problem was with LAX. Since my wife and I married and she took my last name, for every international flight back to LA, she has been pulled aside for a secondary check before our departure, at the boarding gate as we're boarding, and when we arrive at LAX. We even have TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. We read that her "new name" might be the same as someone on a global watchlist and that she should look into a getting a redress number.
Thanks, Megan. Again, great tips.
I have not been through CDG for many years but will be travelling to Paris on May 8th so your tips are very timely. Thank you and cheers from Toronto
Yes, did Paris last August. Once we landed, it seemed to take forever to get to the gate. I have had shorter bus trips.
Love your videos. Great suggestions.
Great tips as usual !
That tip about putting your valuable stuff last is actually a very good one! I have flown with my laptop, which has my entire career on it, a million times but this tip has never occurred to me. So thanks.
Very handy tips, I have often seen ppl at the airport doing such mistakes, they panic go through the scanner and in the process even forget few of their belongings
Ugh. I avoid CDG and Air France whenever possible. It IS a nightmare! I had a pair of children’s scissors in my carry on, and the agent actually measured them to see if they were acceptable. She was terribly disappointed that they were tiny, blunt blades.
This is too funny, thank you for sharing!!
Sounds like someone was upset that she couldn’t flex her muscles and couldn’t go on a power trip
@@paulready8897 France does not play buddy. France was the number 1 victim of terrorism last decade.
I've been twice through CDG - and *both* times my family and I managed to find ourselves in what looked like deserted service corridors... and both times JUST made our flights. Never again.
On the other hand, TSA has taken away a nail clipper.... Yeah. Total idiocy.
@@oinoinschmilblick No it’s not. Paris had to deal with crazy terrorist attacks.
You should be happy.
10 years ago and might have not been alive anymore. Be glad security is doing it’s work.
Excellent tips
This is very good advice. The trouble is that the rules keep changing and various security agents interpret them differently which makes it difficult. Another tip is if you are running late when you enter the security line tell the nearest security person immediately. You my get lucky and get put into the fast line. On a recent trip from Spain to Canada I had to transfer in Amsterdam. My flight from Barcelona was delayed almost an hour and I only had only 30 minutes between flights. Even though you've already been on a flight they make you go through security again which is a real pain. By the time I entered the security line I only had 15 minutes left and I knew I would miss the flight. I showed my boarding pass to the nearest security person and said "my flight is boarding now", the agent was nice enough to escort me to the front of the line and I made it just in time.
This is important advice! Letting staff know how tight our connections were really paid off at DEN. Not only did they speed up the screening, they arranged for a golf cart ride through some "no passengers allowed" shortcut corridors that got us through this enormous airport just barely on time!
But not all security are nice! Some will even tell you all are the same, n it';s not his or her problem
As always great advice. Just returned from a few days in Las Vegas . Had one experience .Went through a security line ( not in LV ) that had a new scanner. Was surprised that I did not have to remove my I pad from the bag that I was caring as this new scanner was slower but passengers had to remove fewer items thus speeding up the line.
Thanks for the good tips!
You are so welcome, Dave! Happy Travels!
Thanks for all your vids, they are really helpful. I have a trip coming up and I haven't flown in years so good to get caught up on all the rules and tips.
Glad to help! Have a super trip!
I've been through both CDG and Orly many times. I can totally relate to needing extra time for security. Always leave more time than you think you will need!
Great tips!
Requirements for airport security vary by country. Stay with your items until they are in the machine. If you use a tray or bin, be sure to properly stack it when finished.
Exactly. Also they are not "dropped on a random table", like this lady said. The entire process is pretty well organized. That's not a Jason Bourne movie, it's a minimum to zero chance for your belongings to be stolen by other passengers right in front of the X-ray machine, on a police controlled pedestrian path. I don't know about the US, but in Europe you have an eye on your stuffs almost all the time.
Great advice!
im quite late! but i want to say ive been enjoying ur vids and im soon traveling so you r really helping me :)
Never too late, it's great to have you on the channel! Safe Travels!
I've been through CDG at least 8 times and it still has the most unfriendly Airport staff I have experienced.
Thank you, Megan, for good tips and examples.
You're so welcome!
Thank you for these tips. My first time at CDG this month. So glad I’m now aware of possible delays. I’ll try holding my passport but never been able to do this before. Hope the titanium plate in my wrist doesn’t set off alarms. Cheers from 🇦🇺
It probably will - I'd be sure to mention that as you place your items in the bins. Mom had "hip" and the bells always went off like a cracker😄 Wishing you good speed at *PARIS AIRPORT* ~ been through there several times with *zero* pleasure
BRING a doctors note on official letterhead of the doctor's clinic, that you have plate in your wrist. This helps security not scream "terrorist' and treat you like one. Not 100%, but it does help! I knew someone who had so much metal in her, she was practically a robotic woman. The doctors note helped her many times, but one times in the USA, she was extremely harassed and the idiot refused to believe the doctors note, thinking no one could have that much metal in them. She was 4'10", and considered a dwarf.
@@tpkyterooluebeck9224 I've been travelling for over 30 years with a hip replacement (about 5 pounds of stainless steel) and recently have had 3 plates added to the same leg due to an accident. I doubt that a doctor's note would help as those can be faked too easily. I am always honest with the staff and point out that I have these items implanted and they call for a 'pat down' or send me through the full body scanner. Never more than a few extra minutes delay. I take the same attitude with customs: "Be Aware and Declare! "
@@thepenelopejonesno, also walk slowly through the metal detectors since they measure magnetic flux,
Yes, Paris Airport connections are perilous! Bon voyage!
I always do that thank you 🙏 Credit goes for you for this awesome tip! 😎⭐️👏
Thanks Megan, I'll be sure to keep my laptop, passport, and wallet closest to me when i go through the scanner.
I went through CDG last October, and I have not had the problems many others have experienced. My nightmare airport has always been Heathrow. No matter how much we were screened at the original airport, we always have to go through security AGAIN at Heathrow. It's really quite stressful when you have short connections.
That happened to us in October 2022 at Heathrow. We were All carryon and our suitcases included portable batteries. Security removed them and didn’t tall us. Cost us $50 to replace them. Plus, they emptied our clear liquid carrying cases to screen them. They then dumped everything back in a bin and shoved it at us. Just horrible how passengers are treated.
Heathrow seems to have more sensitive scanners. Had to take my birkenstocks off last time through.
Just the opposite for me.
Holding your passport while going through security is risky. At some point, you may, unconsciously, lay your passport somewhere to grab your carry-on items with both hands. A little distraction is all it takes to completely overlook the fact that one's passport is no longer in one's possession.
Put it in your pocket to free your hands.
@@salguodrolyat2594 You are not allowed to walk through the metal detector with your passport in your pocket. But security MAY allow you to pass through the metal detector while holding your passport in one hand. As one's attention is to prevent another passenger from stealing your hand carried bags after going through x-ray, one can easily forget to put one's handheld passport in one's pocket.
If you are lucky, you will hear the airport announcement, "Will the passenger who left his passport at security please return to retrieve it?" Every time I fly, it seems I hear an announcement that someone left something important like that!
@@scvcebcSo they DON’T KNOW WHO THE PASSENGER WAS?!?!?!? They should announce “Mr. Harry Dick, please return to security to collect your passport “!!!
I arrived from Milan late due to fog and was greeted by AF staff and quickly delivered to the 747 waiting for me going to LA.
I got stern looks and just wondered why they didn't put me on the next flight. So it was a very brief experience at CDG. This was 1997.
Great tips - thanks!
There's a trip I do often and always go through security as early as possible then I have time for lunch on the other side before my no-meal-service flight. If there is a delay through security then I still have time for a sandwich.
I was at Frankfurt once and went through security early and then went to find a quiet corner for a phone call. Unfortunately, while looking for that quiet corner I had wandered back land-side and had to go through security a second time!
Ooops! That’s no fun! Glad you liked the video!
I planned a whole trip to the Philippines with just hand luggage via Paris airport but Air France made me put my carry on in the hold. This meant that even though my next gate was just a few yards away at CDG I had to go through security and customs, collect my luggage and come back in. Which seeing as I only had a short connection involved a lot of running and sweating as the process was pretty slow.
Oh I once brought my filled up water bottle and I got the choice to drink it or to go back to the need of the line and throw it away! Have a wonderful day Megan :)
I'm always chugging water in the security line! Thanks for sharing, Zoe, and happy travels!
I wonder why you don't have 1M subscribers, but i hope you will reach that one day. Anyways, it was as usual very informative video and i would like to request you kindly make video on important tips if we have interconnecting flight. I hope it make sense. And yeah, major missing was olie here 😂
I always drop my passport in the bin but your tip is just amazing.
Glad you think so, Pierre!
Very good advice and ideas
Glad you liked them!
I'm glad to have found this video, because I have a Rome trip coming up and I'll be returning via Paris. There'll be a 4 and 1/2 hour layover, but it sounds like I'd best just go straight to my connecting flight when I arrive. Also glad to know in advance about that SSSS security. Thanks much!
Paris Airport - this is so true. Getting around in there was confusing and took longer than expected to fly even though we were flying in the afternoon on a weekday.
And it was JAMMED PACKED!!!! They used tiny terminals that were designed for HALF THE CAPACITY of today!!!
Paris Airport! Went through there last June, it was truly the busiest craziest airport experience I have ever had. My bin was pulled for an extra search because of all the cameras and electronics I had in my backpack, I had to unpack and repack everything. The scariest moment was when I went through screening and my bin with the backpack was nowhere to be seen! They finally waved me over and after unpacking everything they waved me on only to have to sit on a bench with people all around to get dressed and packed up and organized again.
The key is to have a hand-bag or man-bag and put all your small items such as keys, coins, phone, wallet, watch, etc into this bag BEFORE you get to the scanner while waiting in the Q. Saves time and anxiety, at both ends of the scanner. This seems so obvious to me, but I see so many people not doing this and delaying the whole process, adding stress, etc. Unless you’re a totally newbie, you KNOW you have to screen your stuff.
And wear slip on shoes… And take off your belt… Assume the worst in advance.
Thank you...I hope tons of people read this. If people would prepare and follow your example, we would all be better off.
Done that, do that. Thanks just the same, mate.
exactly everything she said in the video was so normal to me. I can't believe non newbies dont know about this.
I was so shocked to hear people actually go to security without a bag or a small suitcase for hand luggage and placing their laptops and other valuables in the bins....
This is what do. I’m confused as to why this is not smart common knowledge? Now I’m stressing because I’m going through CDG soon and wonder if I have to take my phone and tablet out of my bag?
@@QueenFan-cj4jh No you leave it in your bag and put the bag on the tray
Paris CDG airport: always a ghastly experience.
Good tips.
Yes been thru CDG many times, and English info is at a bear minimum, so I always plan my route and check which terminal I’m arriving and departing from, my favourite comment I received is when I asked an Air Canada info desk person if they spoke English, their answer, “only when I have too”
Great passport tip very helpful 😊… Paris Airport
Paris Airport - I love the city, but not the airport. Flying into CDG is random at best. Good tip on carrying your passport in hand going through the scanner. Most of the time, I am so concerned about leaving it somewhere that I never put it away. As for security screening, I learned quickly to send my carry on through first. If bins or trays are bounced off of it , it can handle it without damage. Keep the great tips coming, Megan!
Thanks for sharing, Lee Ann. Always great to have you on the channel. Happy travels!
Thank you! Always put my passport in the bin, but not any more!
Good stuff!
My pleasure. Thanks for the visit.
As an autistic the CGD Paris Airport a meltdown trigger for me. The long crowded line, the jostling of some Europeans not understanding personal space. The rudeness of their staff, who are obviously bored repeating the same thing over and over again. I have vowed never to fly in or out of that airport again at the time. I was in tears before I got through. Now I fly with Disability Services, I have not tried the experience in Paris yet, hopefully it is a better experience the next time.
I’m melted down in CDG last Year when I missed my flight. I have to go again to the airport but I will never fly out again, The rudeness the chaos and the miles to get to your gate makes this the worst experience I’ve had in 55 years of traveling
I am sorry you missed your flight out of there. I hope next time it is better. Though, I doubt it.
Even "neuro-typical" people can have a melt down going through some airports, the bureaucracy can try the patience of a saint!
You are not an autistic.
Last year I used this airport I was asked several times if I carried any money. Eventually I had to give the security office my bag to search it. Was frustrated.
I always considered it common sense to go through security ASAP
Oh no, I did miss my flight in DFW recently because I was dawdling in the lounge. Luckily I was able to rebook.
Good advices. 👍
Have been to CDG in 1998.
Paris Airport, I agree CDG departures are time consuming. We departed from CGD back in Sept 2019 during the "normal" travel era and even then it was by far the longest departure experience. I lost count of the number of lines for passport control checks as well as security. We had no connections and were just departing. Great suggestion re electronic order of inspection and passport security.
This year we are again leaving Europe from CDG again so as always will leave lots of time for the "process". And we are carry on only. Keep those great tips coming!
Whoa, Dave, sorry to hear it was a pain for you too. Hopefully this next trip goes a little smoother! Enjoy the trip and great to have you here as always!
@@PortableProfessional Well, what can you do. The lines are what they are however I am glad to not have to transfer flights through CDG and just depart. The price to pay for a great vacation😉
@Dave Saunders stop taking things personally and do what you have to do
@@kimberly11091 If I took things personally I would avoid CDG. Que sera sera
Wait until you fly through Dubai.
I have always held my passport when going through security. Best advise!
Woot woot, nice!
Paris airport CDG is always so chaotic and time consuming. The last time I flew out of there I stayed at the hotel attached to the airport and thankful I did l. Aside from the usual delays getting through their security, paris is notorious for strikes that could affect your transportation getting to the airport.
I always set off the alarm because of my titanium knee, so it doesn't matter what order I put my things in the bin. I do try to keep a weather eye on the bins while getting searched though.
I was just asked to put my passport in the bin at DFW airport last week. Good advice to put valuables in the last bins.
Just went through CDG on Friday, as we were literally running to our connecting flight as first flight was 3 hours delayed. One of my bins got selected for second screening because in hind sight we had two jackets and a blanket in it. I think if they had been separated out this wouldn’t have happened. PARIS IS VERY PICKY about their security process. This held me up an extra 10-15 mins at the time our flight was scheduled to board. No matter how I tried to ask for help expediting me through this process the workers were emotion-less and disregarded my request. I sent my husband on ahead to the gate whilst I waited. Fortunately our second flight was delayed 30 minutes and we made our flight and our checked bags made the flight. I have previous experience with CDG where they lost my suitcase both direction on same trip. My advice is route through a different airport! I’m actually going to change my flight home as my connection time is 1 1/2 hours and I now know I have to take a bus connector and a train connector and get through security. I have other options. We survived but we learned from our experience.
I hate CDG. After I had to transfer there about 10 years ago, I found it an airport that is designed for the architect and not the traveller. There is little signage, and walking transfers between terminals cannot be made conveniently over land but underground with access by only 1 small, slow elevator at each side. No ramp or staircase. And the personnel were very reluctant to help. I’d hate to see it now after the pandemic.
Since then, I avoid CDG like another plague. Give me Frankfurt or Schipol any day.
Thank you so much for this info. Will be arriving at CDG in 2 days then leaving 20 May. Will leave heaps of time just in case. Cheers from 🇦🇺
I despise cdg!!!😮 I recently had a scheduled connection ghere for a flight to Rennes, after I printed my boarding pass and bag tag at the air France kiosk, I was told I was in the wrong terminal and that there is more than 1 terminal serving air France. They then told me i'd need to go across the street, go up, ect.. By that time bag drop time was about to be finished, so I gave up, took an Uber to the train station and took the train to Rennes. With all that BS, I changed my return flight to connection through Lyon, one of the most seemless airports !
@@lizzyfolks9116 Schiphol? That's also a nightmare. Last September ('22) I arrived four hours in advance and I just barely made my flight. I haven't been through CDG in more than 10 years, but Schiphol has a serious staff shortage since COVID. When you arrive there in the busy periods there's very long lines. On the arriving side it took 90 minutes to get our luggage when we came back. One of the reasons I don't go there by train anymore, as it's too uncertain when you will get out and either you miss your train or you are waiting a long time for the one you booked.
@@koenven7012, I haven’t been there for 8 years, so I based my comment on that. I wonder how bad Frankfurt is as that was a zoo 10 years ago.
Having missed a flight, and then a connection at CDG , and having to find a place to sleep overnight, I now avoid CDG at all costs. I found the signage scarce, and the staff unhelpful.
My sister and I changed planes at CDG in Feb/March of this year from Calif. to Sofia, Bulgaria and it was a nightmare both times. Both times we had to take a shuttle from the terminal we flew into to the terminal we flew out of and it took an hour to find the shuttle and then a long ride to the next terminal. One time the shuttle drove a ways and then sat for 10 minutes. We went through security multiple times each time and showed our passports multiple times and walked for thousands of steps trying to find our gate with little help. We were already tired from traveling and then having to walk so much was exhausting. We had two hours coming back from Sofia in CDG and we didn't have time to eat and barely went to the bathroom; the whole two hours was taken up with finding the shuttle to the other terminal, going through security and immigration and walking, walking, walking. If CDG is your destination, it's probably not a big problem, it's changing planes there that is the hassle. I hope I don't have to do that again.
HORRIFIC AIRPORT!!!! Avoid at any cost!
Paris Airport- only issue I’ve had there was when COVID restrictions were just being lifted. I usually fly out of there as my French buddy lives in Tours so I try to see him when I’m over there.
CDG was an absolute nightmare in April. I arrived almost three hours ahead of my flight and I was the last person to get on the plane...the security lines were beyond belief - and I was flying Business Class. I'd avoid this airport like the plague
And yet the airlines let us book with an hour or less connection time! Happy travels, Joel!
@@PortableProfessional Many thanks for this very useful video.
Paris airport! I was in Paris last summer. CDG was chaos! Give yourself lots of time!!! I’m going back tomorrow. Praying that it’ll be better this time!!
I have never been in an airport that is so chaotic. They are also very rude.
Great tips. My brother got stuck in the TSA line going thru Rome for 5 hours and missed his flight home. Luckily, a supervisor lady from Lufthansa sympathized with him and honored his AA ticket, and put him on their plane back to DFW.
We were returning from Cairo, Egypt with a short layover in Rome…. 3 days after Pope John Paul II died! 😮 Talk about a busy airport! I have traveled a lot & that was the worst I have ever seen. (Of course people were flying in from all over for his funeral)
TSA is in the US.
I can assure you there is no TSA in Rome. Italy is an independent country and does not have foreign agents working at their airports,
I have been through the Paris airport, and they made me put my passport in the bin. I always walk through with my ID and boarding pass. They wouldn't let me and my boarding passes were lost. Fortunately, I had a backup on my phone because I needed it to buy duty free items. I immediately asked the security people for them, but they were never found.
Paris Airport - My wife our 16 month old and I arrive in Paris from the US, and then departed back to the US a few weeks later. Both the trip to and from Paris Airport was not as bad as I would expect, It was quite crowded and people did not leave much room for personal space ( just a France thing maybe), but the air port seemed to run smooth and fast given the traveler load. As I do fly in and out of Boston airport a lot I guess anything seems better compared to that.
I've been through the Paris airport numerous times. I have been asked to put my passport in the bin rather than carrying it, but I don't think I've ever tried to hold it in my hand while going through Paris. Your last tip is critical. Get to your gate and get settled first, then you can see how much time you have to do other things. Your tip about SSSS is interesting. Once, we were traveling as a family, and my oldest son (18) had to do extra screening with someone from the US embassy. Once they realized he was traveling with a family, it was fine. We were never sure why that was, but suspected his age and the fact that we were traveling from a certain place.
I had a similar experience with SSSS, but we were an older couple and the one without the extra screening requirement was in a wheel chair at the time. We refused to be separated, so they got a supervisor to allow us to skip the extra screening. In our case, the area they wanted us to go to was not wheelchair accessible. Their policy was to waive the screening requirement for those in a wheelchair. However, the SSSS was on the boarding pass for the one who was NOT using the wheelchair, something they did not seem to have a policy for, so the security agents at the scene did not have authority to waive the requirement. We politely but firmly said we could not be separated, so they got permission to allow us both to skip it.
I was just through Heathrow the other day, and I was definitely asked to place my passport in the bin
I flew out of Memphis recently. At the beginning of the security conveyor I was told “you can leave the laptop in your bag”, which I did. Of course, the bag was diverted for a hand search. However, as it happened the bag in front of mine for the hand search was found to contain a clip of ammunition 😲 and that seemed to occupy the TSA agents’ attention, so in the end I wasn’t delayed. But I was definitely wrongly advised at the beginning of the conveyor, by an agent.
Paris CDG Airport can be a challenging experience. During my recent travel from Singapore to CDG and then to Amsterdam, I encountered difficulties. We landed at Terminal 2E, but our next flight was departing from Terminal 2F. I had seen a video before my trip that mentioned a transit time of around 30 minutes (just for WALKING!) at CDG, depending on the gate or terminal you're departing from. I initially thought it was a joke, as it seemed excessive for a simple transit. However, my experience turned out to be a nightmare.
To get to Terminal 2F, we had to navigate through a complex maze of turns, stairs, and elevators. It was quite confusing and time-consuming. This layout made it particularly challenging for us, as we were traveling with our mother who had difficulty walking. She had to exert extra effort due to the passenger-unfriendly design of the airport terminal.
Overall, the transit experience at Paris CDG Airport proved to be extremely inconvenient and difficult, especially when moving between Terminals 2E and 2F.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Andy. Definitely not a user friendly airport!
I always carry my passport, but on recent return trip through Korea, I was instructed to put passport in bin - fortunately, it wasn't crowded so I didn't have much concern for not keeping it. Took me all of 5 minutes to go through transfer security, whereas on my initial trip, it took 1 hour to go through the same security.
I always put my phone in my backpack, not in bin. Last year, size of power block was a concern, so I now put them in checked bag or on top of carryon for easy access.
Paris Airport. I must’ve had the SSSS stamped on mine, but didn’t know about it until I watched this, thank you! They practically pulled apart even items in my cosmetic pouch. It also turned out that I was on the “drill” flight, which I only found out after I had landed in Boston. It was a long time ago, the years of heightened security, following 9/11.
Even checkd bags are opened on a random basis. Bur they leave a note on your bag telling you it was opened up and searched.
@@blessingjohnchelliah4317 Yes, I've got those love notes a couple of times too on my trips to the US. All my items are intact though, but a few people say they have items missing from their luggage at times.
Great tips! I was always confused whether to hold onto my boarding pass and passport. Whenever I asked, they told me to put them in the bin (so I put them in my personal item). Maybe just carrying my passport would be okay, but not my boarding pass?... I go through the metal detector, so I wonder if that's different than the body scanner. 🌺Heidi
Thanks for sharing your experience! I personally walk through the scanner with my boarding pass tucked into my passport, both in hand!
i have tsa precheck, i recently flew out of JFK a few months ago. the security guard watching the metal detector gave me a very hard time about my passport/boarding pass in my hand as i walk thru the metal detector . i did not set up the metal detector off. the guard told me that i had to back the bin area and put my passport in a bin and then walk back thru the detector again.
Also curious are you residing in Malta now? I visited there as a child. Do tell us more about your decision and how you went about that process. Love your tips!
I have tried to keep my passport like you said and I have been told many many many times to keep it in the bin.
Paris Airport , Orly and CDG
Good morning , world traveler myself.
I totally didn’t know that you can carry the passport in your hand when you go trough the scanner.
Will try that next time .
Thank you.
Paris Airport…… great suggestions.
I despise cdg!!!😮 I recently had a scheduled connection ghere for a flight to Rennes, after I printed my boarding pass and bag tag at the air France kiosk, I was told I was in the wrong terminal and that there is more than 1 terminal serving air France. They then told me i'd need to go across the street, go up, ect.. By that time bag drop time was about to be finished, so I gave up, took an Uber to the train station and took the train to Rennes. With all that BS, I changed my return flight to connection through Lyon, one of the most seemless airports !
Paris Airport--was just wretched, 3 buses and 2.5 miles walking took a full 3 plus hours, will absolutely avoid in future, though I love AF, sorry to miss that great airline.
hello :) i did not know i could hold my passport in my hand.. thanks!!! :D
How was you holiday in Malta? I live there! :)
Paris airport was a nightmare for us as well 8 years ago. The terminal was chaotic and a large portion was evacuated due to some emergency and it went downhill from there.
Yikes, sorry to hear that!!!
Thank you Megan. Any tips for E-Sim use for travelling with family in the Caribbean. Verizon charges $10/person/day !!
Several years ago I was flying home from a business trip in Washington DC. Going through TSA security, I had 3 bins. One for the laptop, another for 3-1-1 liquids and shoes, and another for my jacket. I also put my laptop bag and my rollaboard bag on the belt. After passing through the scanner, there were a lot of distractions as travelers collected their items. A TSA worker who was stacking empty bins apparently didn't notice my slim gray laptop sitting in the gray bin as he stacked other bins on top. Subsequently I collected all the items that I could see and moved on without my laptop. Long story short, I retrieved my laptop from lost and found within the first 24 hours (critical). Any longer, and those items are taken to a warehouse and prepped for sale.
OMG!! SSSS i wish I knew about this. Because we had 3 security checks in Cairo. First one was so unexpected.
That is a lot of security! Hopefully your next flight will be smoother!
Hope you have a good day, I have a question. Can I pass the scanner with my credit cards? Or I have to put my wallet in the bins?
We travelled through CDG, and yes there was a lot of construction and delays (due to Covid requirements). However I found the efficiency, cleanliness, and positive attitudes of airport staff, in every way superior to Toronto International and Montreal International Airports.
I go through CDG airport about once a year, my first experience with flying alone was at CDG, I didn’t start with the easiest ! But I never had any problems, flying out is more stressful with all the lines, multiple check up, TSA etc… but flying in is almost a pleasure, very easy with the train station right underneath (I travel by train from Paris). My next trip from CDG is next September, but I will be well prepared, I almost find Chicago airport more stressful with the custom lines taking for ever.
Try going from term 2e to 2f at CDG. If you know how to get there it might be 35-45 minutes. If not, nobody can tell you. You can't walk there or take the shuttle because the shuttle doesn't stop there but brings you out past airport security. You have to first go to passport control if you can find it. Then get on the correct bus. I think. We made it 5 minutes before the door closed.
Paris CDG is as well as Amsterdam are airports with a big misconception for transfer passengers. Both of them separate Schengen Area with non-Schengen Area. As a result, all transit passengers that leave or enter schengen have to go through a passport control. Sometimes there are queues for the passport control. And next to the passport control there is a compulsory security screening with another queue.
Despite that, Air France and KLM make tickets with 1 hour layovers and they close boarding 30min before flight schedule. Even an average double-queuing takes 20 min alone. So in the very best case you are left with 10 minutes leaving the plane changing terminal and finding the boarding gate. In average case 0 minutes is left. Its a shame.
PARIS AIRPORT ... oh the tales that could be told. Nice place, difficult airport!
I am bringing a collapsible electric kettle in my carry-on. Should I take it out and put it in the bin? Vancouver Canada to Las Vegas flight
Paris airport 2 weeks ago. Thanks for your advice.
I always give myself as much extra time as a I can at the airport, both at departure and for connections. I always try to have connections at large airports with good amenities inside the secure area and make sure I have at least a 2 hour layover. Not only does this help ensure both I and my luggage make my connections, but it also gives me a break from the cramped plane seats where I can walk around, get a decent meal, etc. Yes, it does make my trip longer, but it also makes it far less stressful and physically uncomfortable. I have been through CDG (Paris Airport) many times, and I’ve never had significant issues there. But I’ve had several stressful experiences at many major airports like this. It seems to be more about the day than the place, as there are very few where I consistently experience the same or similar issues, although there are a couple of exceptions.