French Airports — An Overview
France's main international gateway is Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), one of Europe's busiest airports and the hub for Air France. Paris Orly (ORY) serves many European and domestic routes. Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Marseille Provence, Nice Côte d'Azur, and Toulouse-Blagnac are the other major regional airports. All French airports use signage in both French and English, so you will not be completely lost — but knowing the French terms gives you a significant advantage, particularly when communicating with staff or understanding announcements.
French airport staff are professionals in a busy, high-pressure environment. They appreciate passengers who are prepared, organised, and polite. A bonjour at the start of any interaction, a clear and concise statement of your need, and a merci at the end will always produce better results than rushing in with demands. This is not unique to airports — it is simply how interactions work better in France.
At Check-In — À l'Enregistrement
| French | English |
|---|---|
| l'enregistrement (m) | check-in |
| le comptoir d'enregistrement | check-in desk |
| la carte d'embarquement | boarding pass |
| le passeport | passport |
| la pièce d'identité | identity document / ID |
| le billet (électronique) | (e-)ticket |
| la valise | suitcase |
| le bagage à main | hand luggage / carry-on |
| les bagages en soute | hold luggage / checked baggage |
| le siège côté hublot | window seat |
| le siège côté couloir | aisle seat |
| le siège côté allée centrale | middle seat |
| le surpoids de bagages | excess baggage |
| Votre billet, s'il vous plaît. | Your ticket, please. |
Agent : Bonjour Monsieur. Votre passeport et votre billet, s'il vous plaît.
Passager : Bonjour. Voilà.
Agent : Avez-vous des bagages à enregistrer ?
Passager : Oui, une valise. Et je voudrais un siège côté hublot si possible.
Agent : Je vais voir ce que je peux faire. Votre valise fait vingt-trois kilos — c'est bon.
Agent: Good morning Sir. Your passport and ticket, please.
Passenger: Good morning. Here you go.
Agent: Do you have any bags to check in?
Passenger: Yes, one suitcase. And I'd like a window seat if possible.
Agent: I'll see what I can do. Your suitcase weighs twenty-three kilos — that's fine.
Security — Le Contrôle de Sécurité
French airport security follows the same international protocols as airports worldwide. Knowing the vocabulary helps you understand instructions quickly and move through the process smoothly. Security staff at French airports typically announce instructions in French first, then English — knowing the French versions gives you an extra second of reaction time.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le contrôle de sécurité | security check / screening |
| le portique de sécurité | security gate / metal detector |
| le scanner | body scanner / X-ray machine |
| le bac | tray (for items at security) |
| Posez vos effets personnels dans le bac. | Place your personal items in the tray. |
| Retirez vos chaussures. | Remove your shoes. |
| Veuillez enlever votre ceinture. | Please remove your belt. |
| Sortez votre ordinateur du sac. | Take your laptop out of your bag. |
| Les liquides doivent être dans un sac transparent. | Liquids must be in a transparent bag. |
| Avancez, s'il vous plaît. | Move forward, please. |
| Écartez les bras. | Spread your arms. |
Departures — Les Départs
| French | English |
|---|---|
| les départs | departures |
| la salle d'embarquement | departure lounge |
| la porte d'embarquement | boarding gate |
| l'embarquement (m) | boarding |
| Dernier appel pour le vol… | Last call for flight… |
| Le vol est retardé. | The flight is delayed. |
| Le vol est annulé. | The flight is cancelled. |
| Veuillez vous rendre à la porte… | Please proceed to gate… |
| L'embarquement commence à… | Boarding begins at… |
| Bon vol ! | Have a good flight! |
Understanding Airport Announcements
French airport announcements follow a predictable format: flight number, destination, gate, and instruction. Listen for: Le vol AF [number] à destination de [city] est prêt à l'embarquement porte [gate] — "Flight AF [number] to [city] is ready for boarding at gate [number]."
Arrivals — Les Arrivées
| French | English |
|---|---|
| les arrivées | arrivals |
| le contrôle des passeports | passport control |
| la douane | customs |
| Rien à déclarer | Nothing to declare |
| Quelque chose à déclarer | Something to declare |
| le tapis roulant | baggage carousel / conveyor belt |
| la livraison des bagages | baggage reclaim |
| Mon bagage est perdu. | My luggage is lost. |
| Ma valise est endommagée. | My suitcase is damaged. |
| le bureau des objets trouvés | lost property office |
| Je n'ai pas reçu mon bagage. | I haven't received my luggage. |
— Bonjour, j'ai un problème. Ma valise n'est pas arrivée sur le tapis roulant.
— Votre numéro de vol, s'il vous plaît ?
— Vol AF 126 en provenance de Londres.
— Je vérifie. Avez-vous votre étiquette de bagages ?
— Oui, voilà.
— Votre valise est toujours à Londres. Elle arrivera sur le vol de demain matin. Pouvez-vous remplir ce formulaire ?
— Hello, I have a problem. My suitcase hasn't arrived on the baggage carousel.
— Your flight number, please?
— Flight AF 126 from London.
— I'll check. Do you have your baggage tag?
— Yes, here it is.
— Your suitcase is still in London. It will arrive on tomorrow morning's flight. Could you fill in this form?
Ground Transport from the Airport
Getting from the airport to your destination is where many travellers encounter their first extended French interaction. Whether you're taking the RER train into Paris, a shuttle bus to a city centre, or a taxi to your hotel, knowing the key vocabulary makes the process much smoother.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Comment aller en centre-ville ? | How do I get to the city centre? |
| Où est la station de RER ? | Where is the RER station? |
| Où est la navette pour l'hôtel ? | Where is the hotel shuttle? |
| Je voudrais un taxi pour… | I would like a taxi to… |
| C'est à combien de l'aéroport ? | How far is it from the airport? |
| Le bus part à quelle heure ? | What time does the bus leave? |
| Un aller simple pour Paris, s'il vous plaît. | A single to Paris, please. |
| Où puis-je louer une voiture ? | Where can I hire a car? |
| Y a-t-il un parking longue durée ? | Is there a long-stay car park? |
Paris CDG to Central Paris
The most economical way from CDG to central Paris is the RER B train — around 35 minutes to Gare du Nord or Châtelet–Les Halles. Buy your ticket at the RATP counter or machines in the arrival hall. Look for signs marked RER B — Paris. A taxi to central Paris costs around €55–€65 from CDG (fixed tariff since 2016 — insist on it if the driver tries to run the meter).
Problems at the Airport
Even well-prepared travellers occasionally face problems at airports — missed connections, cancelled flights, lost documents. These are the phrases that help you communicate a problem clearly and get assistance.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J'ai manqué ma correspondance. | I've missed my connection. |
| Mon vol est annulé. Que dois-je faire ? | My flight is cancelled. What should I do? |
| J'ai perdu mon passeport. | I've lost my passport. |
| On m'a volé mon sac. | My bag has been stolen. |
| Je voudrais parler à un responsable. | I would like to speak to a manager. |
| Où est le bureau de la compagnie aérienne ? | Where is the airline desk? |
| J'ai droit à un remboursement ? | Am I entitled to a refund? |
| Pouvez-vous me reloger pour cette nuit ? | Can you provide overnight accommodation? |
Know Your Rights
EU Regulation 261/2004 (which still applies to flights from EU airports post-Brexit) gives passengers significant rights in cases of cancellation or long delays — including meals, accommodation, and compensation. The key phrase is: Je souhaite exercer mes droits au titre du règlement européen 261/2004. ("I wish to exercise my rights under EU Regulation 261/2004.") Have it saved on your phone.