So... I'm flying EWR-FRA-CDG connecting to AirMadrid to MAD. Two completely different tickets. Questions:

1.) Does LH interline bags with AirMadrid, so I could check my bag all the way to EWR->MAD? If not, how do I collect in CDG?

2.) Anyone know what the respective locations of LH and AirMadrid are in CDG, and how difficult the connection is?

3.) I will be in F over the water and C to CDG. I assume that I can still NOT use the SEN lounge upon arrival in Paris? I have a three hour wait, and AirMadrid has no lounge.

4.) If the answer to #3 is NO, does anyone know if, during this connection, there is any way I could make it to the UA Red Carpet Club? I'm a member.

Thanks!
-BJ

BJ, I don't imagine you'll be able to use any other lounges than the RCC at CDG... Last time I flew LH into CDG, it arrived at the same terminal as UA (CDG1). If you stay airside (as though you were a transfer pax), you should be able to make it to the RCC... the only trick was, when I was there, they required onboard BPs to stay airside. Wish I could tell you exactly where to go, but my head spins when I think of the Borgesian laberynth that is CDG1

Good luck ^

^ to your post.
to possible no lounge access.

Benjamin,

I think there is a more positive news for you.

As you were flyig F accross the pond (I assume LH) you are allowed to use the FCT in FRA (or any F lounge) and the SEN lounge in CDG. It is in one of hte satelites (BTW the 1K will do as well). The question is if it is worth it consideringthe distances.

I am not sure how the Air Madrid / LH location /transfer is in CDG.

On the interline it is a clear yes.

My experience is that they do it. Especially if oyu ask nicely.

I once had it that they somehow couldn't do it in the system, so they wrote the tag mannually and then put the tag numers for the LH flights into the system.

Thanks! ^

I'm on LH over the water, yes. I didn't know that the SEN lounges qualified as arrival lounges. If I can get to the RCC, that's nicer than the CDG SEN, so I would prefer that.

BenjaminNYC,

I'm not as optimistic as the previous posters. Here's my take on your questions:

1) I very strongly doubt that Air Madrid, a LCC, interlines luggage with any other airline. You will need to collect your bags on arrival, just as you would if you were staying in Paris, then head to check in for your Air Madrid flight as if your trip were originating at CDG.

2) Air Madrid flies from terminal 3 at CDG (the "LCC warehouse"). Reaching it from terminal 1 where you will arrive on LH entails taking shuttle bus line 1 from exit 22 to the RER train station and then walking 300 meters to terminal 3.

3) You will not be able to use the LH lounge on arrival as it is airside and you will need to leave the airside area to go through immigration and claim your luggage (don't know about RCC location but assume it's similar).

Hope this helps and that you have left at least 3 hours between flights.

Andre

Oh my, how did you end up buying a ticket on Air Madrid? Are you aware that the Spanish authorities have initiated proceedings against that airline and may withdraw their air operating certificate in the coming days for serious violations of safety and other norms? The most recent newspaper article from the Spanish press can be found here.

Air Madrid has had severe operational problems in the last few months, with flights frequently being delayed for multiple days (!), aircraft being grounded by the authorities, etc.

I do not believe that Lufthansa would interline bags to Air Madrid, but have no first-hand experience of that.

I confirm this. Regarding 2), this will change in 2007 as the shuttle bus should be replaced by the VAL.

WOW!

I had heard that Air Madrid was delay-prone, but they seem to be having major maintenance/safety issues as well.

I would definitely book an alternative carrier. Vueling, an LCC with a much better track record (www.vueling.com) than Air Madrid, also flies CDG-MAD. Of course, AF and IB fly the route as well. EasyJet flies from ORY to MAD - a long bus ride between airports, but still better than Air Madrid IMO.

Hope this helps,
Andre

mmm ... Vueling seems to have only one daily flight at 21:40. If you were taking the 13:15 Air Madrid flight on a weekday, your best option would be AF (12:40, 14:20, 15:35, 16:35 or 17:35) as the next IB flight is scheduled at 18:40.

The EasyJet flight from ORY leaves at 14:10. May be too short.

Oh man, I'm :done:

I'm gonna kill my TA.

Air Madrid is having inimaginable trouble for the last year.
Delayed flights for over 20-40 hours, incredible complaints, people raving into the runway because they did not get a reply at the airport, pickets, routes that are direct from Argentina/Chile/Ecuador to Spain, stopping in Fortaleza and Canary Islands.... it�s on the papers every single day.

Not that Aerol�neas Argentinas is any better...but just be warned that you may face a bad situation.

Today, in the largest newspaper in Argentina a piece of news informed that they are under investigation in Spain for these issues and could have their license suspended.

Maybe you try to get a direct flight out of FRA into MAD... That might be the easiest way...

Why do you want to go into CDG?

DONE!

I was going to CDG b/c my I'm using the return portion of a CDG-EWR ticket. See other thread for what I've done.

The final days of Air Madrid seem to be here: see this thread.