Paris Orly Airport Arrivals

When your flight arrives at Orly Airport you could be at either the south or west terminal depending on which airline you are flying with and it should be stated on your boarding pass.

The south terminal has fifteen airbridges and there are twenty-three at the west terminal. If your plane connects to one of these you can leave by the front door and walk straight into the terminal. Where the aircraft is directed to park away from the terminal building, you can leave by front or rear doors and there will be a short walk or shuttle bus transfer to the terminal.

People with special needs or reduced mobility can request airport assistance through the airline or travel agent at the time of booking. For details, click here.

Passport Control

If you are arriving on a domestic flight you can go directly to baggage reclaim and customs. Passengers on international flights must go through passport control where citizens of Schengen area countries have to show a national ID card, and all others need a valid passport. Travellers from certain countries might need a visa to enter France. Check the visa requirements.

Baggage Reclaim Hall

Passengers with only hand baggage can proceed to customs. Those who have luggage checked into the hold you will have to wait for it here. On entry to baggage reclaim a display screen will show which carousel has been assigned to your flight. Each carousel has a separate screen which shows your flight details and who the baggage handling agent is.

Baggage does sometimes go astray or get damaged. If your baggage is damaged or doesn't arrive at all, you will need to report it to the handling agent whose offices are either in the baggage reclaim hall or the arrivals hall. You will be given a form in which to provide your details and how to contact you. Lost luggage usually turns up in a few hours. If you need to make a claim for damaged bags, take photos for evidence. Report the matter to your airline as soon as possible as, in the end, it is their responsibility.

Customs

At customs there are three channels; blue for EU passengers, green for other passengers with nothing to declare and red for those who have goods to declare.

The duty-free allowance varies according to which countries you are travelling between and if they are inside or outside the EU. Some items are restricted when being taken to France. These could be certain foods and plants, large amounts of cash or high-value electronics. The European Commission website has the details. If you are not sure, ask one of the customs officers.

Arrivals Hall

After customs to will enter the arrivals hall and you can't return "airside" at this point. If you are being met by friends or a transfer driver, they should be waiting here. There are meeting points and information desks.

The arrivals halls in both terminals have cash machines, baggage services, a few shops and food and drink outlets. Unlimited free Wi-Fi is available in all areas of the airport.

In the west terminal, the car hire offices can be found in the arrivals hall. There is also a post office. More shops and services can be found in the upper-level check-in area.

The car rental desks in the south terminal are on the lower level accessible by escalators and lifts. A wider choice of facilities in the departures hall at the other end of the concourse.

For onward travel, both terminals have excellent signs for trains, buses, taxis, tram and car parks.