CDG vs JFK — Paris or New York?

Verdict

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) scores higher overall at 7.4/10 versus New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 7.2/10. New York John F. Kennedy International Airport leads on lounges at 8.4/10.

Score comparison

Metric	Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport	New York John F. Kennedy International Airport
FlightLogic Score	7.4	7.2
On-Time Performance	7.2	6.8
Passenger Experience	7.3	7.0
Facilities & Comfort	7.8	7.8
Lounge Score	8.2	8.4
City	Paris	New York
Country	France	United States
Terminals	3 terminals (T1, T2A–2G, T3)	6 active terminals (T1, T4, T5, T7, T8 + T6 opening)
Annual passengers	67M+	62M+

Operational comparison

Transport links, lounge access, connection times, and UK261 eligibility — verify locally before travel.

Policy	CDG — Paris	JFK — New
Rail / public transport	—	—
To city centre	—	—
Lounge day pass	—	—
Min. connection time	—	—
Primary hub carriers	—	—

Detailed profiles

Paris, France · CDG · #1 in this comparison

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

3 terminals (T1, T2A–2G, T3) · 67M+ passengers/year

7.4 / 10

How good is Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport?

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) scores 7.4/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.2), passenger experience (7.3), and facilities (7.8). Lounge quality rates 8.2/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Paris CDG is rated 7.4/10 on FlightLogic with lounge score 8.2/10. Air France dominates Terminal 2 with extensive Business and La Première lounges. Schengen and non-Schengen transfers may require immigration — allow 90+ minutes for connections. UK261 does not apply; EU261 may apply on EU departures.

FlightLogic Score 7.4 Very Good

On-time 7.2 Departure reliability

Experience 7.3 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 7.8 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 8.2 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

7.2

Passenger Experience

7.3

Facilities & Comfort

7.8

Lounge score 8.2/10

Highlights

Terminal 2 is the main hub — sub-terminals 2E/2F for long-haul, 2G for Schengen regional
Air France La Première and Business lounges among Europe's largest airline clubs
CDGVAL automated train links T1, T2, and T3 landside — not all T2 sub-terminals connect airside
Common UK connection point for Africa, Indian Ocean, and French overseas territories

Overview

Air France and SkyTeam mega-hub — sprawling terminal 2 complex with strong premium lounges but connection walks can be long.

Terminal 2 and Air France lounges

Air France operates multiple lounges across Terminal 2E and 2F — the Business lounge near Hall L in 2E is the main long-haul hub. La Première has a private salon for first class passengers.

SkyTeam elite and business class passengers access AF lounges on qualifying itineraries. Priority Pass options exist but are limited compared to airline clubs.

New York, United States · JFK · #2 in this comparison

New York John F. Kennedy International Airport

6 active terminals (T1, T4, T5, T7, T8 + T6 opening) · 62M+ passengers/year

7.2 / 10

How good is New York John F. Kennedy International Airport?

New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) scores 7.2/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (6.8), passenger experience (7.0), and facilities (7.8). Lounge quality rates 8.4/10. See full airport guide →

In short

JFK (JFK) is New York's primary international airport, rated 7.2/10 on FlightLogic with lounge score 8.4/10. Terminal 4 has the deepest lounge mix (Delta, Virgin, Centurion, Priority Pass). Terminal 8 is American's flagship hub. Allow extra time — security and terminal transfers are slower than European hubs. See /guides/jfk-airport-lounge-guide-2026 for terminal-by-terminal access.

FlightLogic Score 7.2 Very Good

On-time 6.8 Departure reliability

Experience 7.0 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 7.8 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 8.4 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

6.8

Passenger Experience

7.0

Facilities & Comfort

7.8

Lounge score 8.4/10

Highlights

Terminal 4 is the international hub — Delta Sky Club, Virgin Clubhouse, Amex Centurion, and Plaza Premium
Terminal 8 hosts American Flagship Lounge and Admirals Club for AA long-haul departures
No unified post-security connector — lounge access is terminal-specific; misconnects often require re-security
FlightLogic lounge score 8.4/10 — among the strongest US airport lounge ecosystems when you depart from the right terminal

Overview

Primary US gateway for transatlantic traffic — terminal-specific lounges, fragmented airside connections, and strong premium options in T4 and T8.

Terminal layout and lounge access

JFK is split across six terminals with no single airside link between all of them. Your lounge options depend entirely on which terminal your flight departs from — Amex Centurion in Terminal 4 is useless if you depart from Terminal 8 without a long landside transfer.

Terminal 4 serves Delta, Virgin Atlantic, and many SkyTeam and international carriers. Terminal 8 is American Airlines' home. JetBlue Mint Lounge in Terminal 5 is among the best domestic US airline lounges. British Airways still uses Terminal 7 on select departures.

UK traveller notes

Most UK–JFK routes arrive into T4 (Virgin, Delta, BA on some flights) or T8 (BA, AA). For connections onward within the US, verify whether your itinerary stays airside or requires baggage reclaim and re-check — many JFK connections are not protected through a single terminal.

Global Entry and Mobile Passport can shorten immigration; TSA PreCheck helps on domestic connections. Pair with /guides/jfk-airport-lounge-guide-2026 and Heathrow guides for round-trip transatlantic planning.

FAQ

Which is better, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or New York John F. Kennedy International Airport?

Which has better lounges, CDG or JFK?

New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) scores higher for lounges at 8.4/10, versus Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 8.2/10.

Which airport is more on-time, CDG or JFK?

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) has stronger on-time performance at 7.2/10 versus New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 6.8/10.