Paris Travel Forum

I arrive at CDG on Air France From Boston at 11:50AM on July 2. I want to meet a friend coming in at 14:00 on SAS from Helsinki. Whaere is a good place to meet?? Thanks

Unless you both are carrying cellphones, meeting another arriving passenger at the airport can be a very tenuous proposition. There are really too many things that can cause the best of plans go wrong.

I recommend you meet at the hotel after a prearrange wait time elapses. Consult the following map of CDG for a suitable meeting location:

http://www.easycdg.com

Or........

the obvious place to meet is at Arrivals, so you can be at the barrier when your friend gets there.

Find out which terminal if you don't already know, and just wait there with a big grin (along with all the other people with bug grins and/or bits of card with names on). Arrange it so if he/she can't see you straightaway he/she doesn't move from the spot; you do the looking.....eventually you'll see a poor lone soul looking around desperately!

Seriously, it's what I'd do! :-)

At smaller airports, I usually meet people at baggage claim. In larger airports, it can be really confusing. I once missed meeting up with my brother (before cell phone days) at the Rome airport, because when I came out of Immigration/Customs, he was waiting at a second exit for international flyers. We never found each other, although I proceeded alone to the hotel. I think it might be safer to meet at the SAS check-in counter in Departures.

The Galaxy Bar at the Sheraton which abutts Terminal 2.

My sister flew in after I did and all I had to do was go to her airline counter and tell them to page her upon the arrival of her airplane and tell here where I was standing at.

My sister existed the plane. she was paged and at the desk they told her exactly where I was at which was at the currency station right outside arrivals!!!

She got a kick out of hearing her name called when she landed in Paris.

From looking at easycdg.com it looks as though Air France will arrive at Terminal 2 and SAS will arrive at Terminal 1. One of you may have to travel to the other Terminal to meet up, I think there is a shuttle. Check out the Forums on the Rick Steves site, www.ricksteves.com, I've seen tons of CDG info on there.

Welcome to VT, Nancy.

You'll find there's 'tons of info' on VT too, about both CDG and most other places, and exceptionally helpful posters (locals and travellers) from all over the world.

Hope you enjoy exploring he site.

I took Roadquill's advice on a recent trip and worked out MARVELOUSLY. (Another option in the Sheraton is Les Saisons Restaurant which serves breakfast and lunch.) There's no telling how early your friend's flight will arrive - or worse - how late. So why not ease your way to the bar or the cafe and wait in a relaxed atmosphere.

Though a lot of people like to travel into the city together, another great option is to meet at the hotel. You can check in and relax after that haul from Boston. If you decide to wander around Paris, you can always leave a note for your friend at the front desk -- or in the room.