bpt7594

Good morning/evening.
I'm a student from Vietnam about to go to France (Ho Chi Minh City _ Paris - nice) to study for the next 3 years. I have flown before but I haven't been abroad yet so this is fairly frightening to me.
I'll arrive at CDG at 0630 am and my flight from Paris to nice will take off at 0955 am so I hope it's not too tight. I have read on how to go from terminal 2E to 2F from the three halls as well. My issue is mainly with the tickets/ boarding pass, and to be honest I cannot tell these 2 things apart.
I have one single ticket issued to me by Vietnam Airlines. I'll check in, have that ticket cut in half and board the plane to CDG. When I arrive, can I use that same ticket as boarding pass to pass security checkpoints etc or will I have to find an AF counter and have them print out another ticket for me to board the flight from Paris to Nice as that flight is operated by air France.
Thank you very much for your help and really sorry if this is rudimentary stuff but I truly don't know where else to ask.

Southam

These days, many tickets are electronic and you have likely received a complete itinerary, perhaps printing it out yourself. It includes a ticket number and bar code which will be checked at the first airport. You can check in on-line 24 hours before departure, which speeds up proceedings at the airport. It's not clear from the Vietnam Air website whether you can choose your seats in advance. Your boarding passes are separate, one for each flight, and can be printed out at the airport, including your seat assignment for the first flight. Vietnam Air and Air France are partners so you may get the second boarding pass at the same time. If not, you can get the second at Charles de Gaulle. Your luggage should also be checked through to Nice. You may have to retrieve your bags in Paris Charles de Gaulle for customs, which should be simple without a bag inspection, and then immediately give the bags back to Air France. Three hours should be a comfortable amount of time to make the transfer. If there is a major delay, do not hesitate to approach Air France personnel for help. It runs frequent flights to Nice so if the airline can't make the connection it will put you on the next flight.
Also: Relax. You have done well so far. CdG is intimidating but there are lots of signs pointing the way and you can print out maps from airport website or maybe download onto a smart device. Good luck with your studies.

janisj

>>My issue is mainly with the tickets/ boarding pass, and to be honest I cannot tell these 2 things apart. <<

They are two different things. You show your ticket and passport/visa at Ho Chi Minh City and the desk agent will give you boarding passes for both of your flights. These are separate pieces of paper. One for the flight to CDG, and the other one for the flight from CDG to Nice. They show your seat number, boarding group if any, and other info for the airline.

Then when you are at CDG you will go through Immigration and then go to your departure gate. You use the 2nd boarding pass to get on the flight to Nice.

>>I'll check in, have that ticket cut in half and board the plane to CDG. <<

The ticket is not used to board the plane -- your boarding pass is for that.

janisj

we were posting at the same time - since your booking is all on one ticket, it is almost certain you will receive both boarding passes when you check in at Ho Chi Minh City

J62

I'm afraid we are confusing you.

There is no such thing as "you show your ticket ...... and the desk agent will give you boarding pass"

All tickets are electronic - there is no paper ticket to give anybody. The agent may ask for your 6 digit (letter or numbers) reservation number (record locator number). You can memorize the number, write it on a piece of paper, or print it out from your email, or have it visible on your phone. All work ok.

But I agree with janis. Since Vietnam air & AF are partners you will get boarding passes for both flights when you check-in at Ho Chi Minh City.