News: CDG rated world's most hated airport in international survey

By Dali Wiederhoft

BonjourParis France News

Paris, November 21—Paris-Charles de Gaulle (Roissy-CDG) airport was recently rated the world’s most hated airport by CNNGo.com, a CNN international website.

The travel and lifestyle website surveyed reports posted at travel websites, blogs and message boards to create a list of 10 of the world’s most hated airports.

CDG: rude staff, unsanitary restrooms, bad restaurants

The CNNGo.com article noted many problems at CDG, such as: rude or indifferent airport staff, unsanitary public restrooms, long waits at security checkpoints, a lack of directional and flight information signs, and a shortage of what they called “Paris-worthy” bars and cafés.

French newspaper Le Figaro published more criticisms found at French travel websites and in other media reports.

CDG management defends staff, notes improvements

Long lines of passengers at CDG. Photo: Luisavilla

Le Figaro reported that the unnamed manager of the airport (employed by airport authority, Aéroports de Paris or ADP) denounced the survey and defended its 90,000 employees, saying delays and other noted problems are actually caused by airline employees.

The CDG manager was quoted as saying that ADP has invested three billion euros on airport improvements that include passenger entertainment areas with PlayStation games, massage stands and cooking classes at the airport.

He acknowledged that CDG restaurants fall short, a problem he expects will be resolved when Starbucks, Illy Coffee and a total of 50 new food and beverage outlets open over the next two years.

Le Figaro also reported that ADP plans to invest €750 million on improving service quality.

We'll be watching.

Photo credit: Airport crowd photo by Luisavilla

Dali Wiederhoft is the executive editor of BonjourParis. Please click on her name to read her bio and more of her stories published in BonjourParis.

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COMMENTS

  • Bob A

    Parisian Lover
    contented_traveler CDG is fine ! I go there about 6 times a year, and have never had a problem, even during AirFrance flt attendant strikes, the "snowstorm" last Dec in Paris etc. Compare to US airports, CDG responds much better under pressure than EWR, LGA, PHL, ATL, ORD. My bag did spend a week there during a 1 day strike...but...AF provided funding for clothes and my bag arrived home safely 12 days later, untouched. When you consider the size of CDG, it is remarkably efficient compared to JFK or PHL. I cant ever remember being in a "ground hold" at CDG. EUROCONTROL ATC seems to do a much better job than FAA, especially during bad weather ! And...mass transit to CDG is better, it has high speed rail service and ....the taxi drivers are more polite, cabs are clean. Need I say more ?

  • judy marrone

    Parisian Lover
    ms OK, the CDG is not perfect, but bringing in an American chain like Starbucks isn't the answer! Let's not Americanise France!

  • Dali Wiederhoft

    Parisian Lover 24 Comments
    CDG: better & better I use the international terminal at CDG and can't complain any major hassles at CDG. Once I had a med emergency & saw the inside of their underground ER: no complaints. My mate uses a wheelchair when traveling internationally (he has health issues that make it difficult to tolerate the 24 hours it takes us to get to CDG from our house to CDG) & we have always encountered helpful airport employees. We were stranded at CDG when flights were cancelled for the May 2010 "ash cloud," but we expected no favors for such a situation & received none. When I fly solo, no gripes, but I will appreciate the Starbucks when it arrives. I'm a relaxed and prepared traveler who rolls w/ the snags that come with travel, which surely helps.

  • Suzanne

    Parisian Lover
    I have to agree about Newark being far worse than any other huge metro airport; endless waits, rude and abusive staff from one end to the other- there is nothing to recommend that place. I'd have to put Toronto up on that list too, just for sheer disorganization in terminal design, those same endless waits and staff at the checkpoints who must have eaten raw meat for breakfast (those in Barcelona feast on the same!). No problems at CDG and some of the nicest airline employees anywhere work at Air France (no problems in the screening lines either!); maybe it's just easier flying through CDH at night?

  • J

    Parisian Lover
    Paris Traveler I travel to and from Paris about once a year and have found no problems if Paris is the terminus of the trip. I did have a horrible experience when trying to transfer from a flight from Cannes to one to LA. The one line was long to get to transfer to the next terminal, there was only one agent at the end, and no one seemed to care, until we had to push past everyone else so we would not miss out flight out.

  • Carol

    Parisian Lover
    Better Every Year My husband and I fly through CDG once a year and typically have found the experience traumatic. But the year before last year, flying out at the tail end of the volcanic ash crisis, the airport was amazingly organized and efficient, with excellent customer service. This year we found the airport as well run and efficient as any we have ever encountered, at least in the context of our direct Paris to Boston MA flight.

  • Cindy

    Parisian Lover
    Have you been to Newark? If you think CDG is bad, you'd better avoid Newark like the plague. I've had constant problems getting in and out of there. Now I refuse to be booked through Newark. I'll go through any other airport in the eastern half of the US or Canada to avoid Newark when I'm going to France. It makes CDG look like heaven.

  • Sam Taub

    Parisian Lover
    I do a lot of traveling (flying as well as by other means of transport). I never understand this criticism of CDG. I never have any problems. Of course I don't have to ask many questions as I've been living in France for 42 years, but when I do, I always get quick and efficient answers. Of course I speak perfect French now. But when the other person hears my slight anglo saxon accent, they often reply in English. I find the bathrooms clean, and never have the slightest problem. Don't understand the complaints. In fact I never have a problem in any of the around ten airports that I frequent in a variety of countries in a variety of continents. I guess I suffer from the syndrome of a knowledgable traveler! LOL

  • Cara

    Parisian Lover
    the RER B to Roissy CDG Great article Dali! From a practical standpoint - and having just taken the RER B to CDG from Gare du Nord a few days - the logistics need to work better. Emerging from RER there's no signage to where the terminal is - several of us wandered around with heavy luggage to only find the Terminal 2 C area is totally down the other side with no airline signs. I suggest CDG has a sign of which airline is in which terminal...don't you agree? xo Cara

  • Guro

    Parisian Lover
    I agree CDG is the worst. The greatest experience so far was when the gate security staff tried to tell me that they had new regulations and I would have to send my dog through the x-ray machine.

  • Rette

    Parisian Lover
    Have seen the good and the bad at CDG. Their most amazing service is the ability to handle a medical emergency. I was traveling with a friend who had a heart attack. In less than 5 minutes, EMTs arrived, followed shortly by a physician. Their own ER, and ambulance service within the buildings, are top rate. She survived to do battle there again.

  • Petite Paris

    Parisian Lover
    Petite Paris Yes we have had many customers/guests return from their Paris holidays to say its hard to get off to a good start in Paris with such terrible cleanliness, organisation and service at the airport. I look forward to seeing the changes being implemented too!

  • Costas Cavdas

    Parisian Lover
    Executive Officer Yes I fully agree on the article....let's hope AP will do some positive steps for improvements.

  • Juanita

    Parisian Lover
    CDG isn't so bad I don't travel to CDG all that often (once or twice a year at best), but I haven't noticed most of the things people have complained about, except perhaps for the mediocre restaurants (and the thought that a Starbucks will improve things amuses and dismays me). On the plus side, I think it's wonderful that there's a fast rail link to/from CDG to Paris. I can't count the number of airports that have either forced me to take infrequent and slow bus service or a very expensive taxi ride to get to the main city. CDG's rail service is fast, frequent, and modestly priced. Bravo!

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