Having checked-in we asked about the lounge and were told the Lounge Invitation was with our boarding passes, but when I looked that was only for Colombo. Never mind, thanks to our BA Silver status we have a choice of lounges at CDG T1 and so we decided to head for the Qatar Lounge which strangely was before security and then maybe visit one of the other ones if we have time after. We checked we were eligible (better to ask nicely rather than strut in and find you've read the criteria wrong) and asked the hostess how long we needed to allow for getting through security and reaching our gate. She suggested we left around 40 mins before the flight was due to depart.
The lounge was superb, quite easily one of the best we've ever been in and bizarrely we were the only guests in there!
The pink champagne was delicious and very free flowing.
There was a wide A La Carte menu to choose from but knowing we'd be fed twice on the plane we decided just to eat a small amount from the buffet.
We moved from the dining area so the very kind but over attentive waiter could relax and sat in one of the many sofa areas for a while. There was still about 1/2 hour to go before our recommended time to leave but we decided we really didn't fancy any more to drink - unusual, I know - and so we headed off to clear security.
Instead of escalators there are quite steep travelators in quite a few places.
And special assistance staff get to ride on the back of the wheelchairs instead of pushing them.
I've never been to an airport quite like CDG T1 before; there seemed to be different security areas depending on where you were flying to and so we had to walk round and round until we found the correct one and then we were channelled into a roped off area with no option to turn back if you were in the wrong place. The queue was absolutely massive and seemed to be barely moving - good job we'd given ourselves an extra half hour. 30 mins passed and we'd barely shuffled forward and I began to get a little nervous so I asked a couple of guys nearby if they were on our flight (something about their appearance made me think, correctly, that they were) and shortly after that they decided to start moving forward past people and so we followed them. When we arrived at the actual scanning machines the reason for the long delay and massive queue became apparent; there was only one scanner in use (out of probably 6) and just one guy dealing with checking any bag that got pulled out, of which there were many, including all containers of baby milk etc which then had to be tested.
By the time we got our bags onto the conveyor I was getting really twitchy. Ian went ahead to sort out his pacemaker and I waited till the bags went through - b*gger, both got pulled aside. It was now only about 20 mins to take off time so I suggested to Ian he went to the gate and explained the position and that I'd be there asap. About 5 mins later I looked over and saw a chap standing with a sign saying final call for our flight so I dashed over and announced myself, told him where Ian was and our seat numbers and hoped they might wait for us - no chance! The security guy was so slow and just wandered around seemingly oblivious to the need to move quickly. I was practically begging on my knees for him to deal with my bags and when he finally did he just said they hadn't scanned, inferring that they were too close together in the tray, yet he put them exactly the same way in another tray and slowly wheeled them back on a trolley to be rescanned. On reflection I actually think he was enjoying watching everyone's panic and misery and he was on some massive power trip.
So back they came out of the scanner and got to that point on the conveyor where they stop and if there is something to query they shift over behind the screen. My heart was in my mouth - were they going to be held back again? No, they started moving down the belt towards me and as soon as I could I just grabbed them (probably knocking several people over in the process) and literally ran up the escalator. Luckily the gate was close by and Ian saw me as soon as I got to the top and called out that it was OK, they were waiting. Of course my legs immediately turned to jelly and at that point I really thought I'd either faint or be sick. We tried to board the plane at the front door but were told it was now closed and to go through the right door which we did and quickly found our seats - not difficult as they were the only empty ones! I was desperate for a glass of water and so went to the galley and asked, only to be told off for not going in through the business class entrance as they'd been waiting for Mrs Crook!