Airport question: IAD Dulles to CDG Paris

[HowGrumpy]

We're going to DLP in a few months. I found a good fare that connects from IAD/Dulles to CDG/Paris. There's only 1 hour between flights, would I have enough time to get off the plane at Dulles and go to the gate to board flight to Paris? I want to know before I book. Wouldn't want to cut too close and miss the flight to Paris. If 1 hour between flights is not enough, how much time should I allow? Thanks.

 

[Bexx]

Welcome to the DLP board HowGrumpy

I'm afraid I can't help you with this question at all, but I'm bumping it up for you in the hope that somebody else might.

 

[bigAWL]

I'm from the DC area, so I never connect through Dulles (it's always my destination or departure airport), but I'm thinking one hour may not be enough time. If you have info on which terminals you will arrive at and depart from, it might help. If you don't change terminals, maybe no problem. But I think some transfers require a shuttle hop from terminal to terminal and sometimes the wait is 15 minutes if you just missed the last one, or can't get crammed on a full one. You might ask your airline(s) for clarification.

 

[HowGrumpy]

Thanks. We are flying United using the same terminal for arrival and departure through Dulles. So you think an hour might work? Anyone else with a take on this out there?

 

[MsFreud]

An hour might work... if you are not travelling with little ones who have short legs and don't have to run between gates... It will be cutting close. If anything is running late getting into Dulles, you could hit snags. Very often International gates are in a different place than domestic gates. I would call United, or get a map of the terminal- find out how many gates you will have to hop.

I do know that a few times flights to Frankfurt out of the states have been a few minutes delayed in leaving while waiting for passengers to transfer flights- and I almost always use United/Lufthansa.

Good luck!

 

[eebadeeba]

On United. We had over 2 hours scheduled and the flight ended up being 40 minutes late due to traffic at Dulles. The gates were close enough. It could be cutting it close if your first flight is late. There might not be time to grab a bite to eat. Good luck.

 

[wnissen]

There's no reason that connection would be any harder to make than a domestic one, but I'd say that's cutting it awfully fine. Dulles is a huge airport and it takes a while to get between terminals. That hour layover could easily be eaten up by a short delay and terminal change. Flights are fuller than ever now, and if you miss that connection, it might be two days for another flight, and if it's weather-related the airline won't even give you a room.

If the price difference is significant, you might consider checking on the arrival stats of your incoming flight. You can find those on Travelocity; some flights are on time only 60% of the time.

Also, I would only consider that flight if both segments are on the same airline (best) or a code share. Otherwise your continuing airline might cancel your ticket if you don't show up.

Have fun in Paris!

Walt