We are flying from JFK to Venice (via Frankfurt) in October. We are flying on Lufthansa, and connecting to another Lufthansa flight.
I have a question about adequate connection times there. I have flown to & from Frankfurt before, but never had a connection through there.
On the way TO Venice, our connection time is 2 hours. On the way BACK to the US, our connection time is 1-hr, 45 min. Will that be long enough? Since we are only connecting in FRA, will we still have to go thru the Customs/Immigration? Will our luggage be taken directly to our connecting flight?
Thanks in advance for your help!!
Posts: 57 | Location: NC | Registered: 19 September 2006
As I recall, luggage will go through but EU entrance and exit formalities will be in FRA. You should have enough times both ways, but don't dawdle on the return as screening for US-bound flights is very thorough and in a remote (at least it seemed miles away to me) wing of the airport from where the intra-EU flight landed.
Posts: 186 | Location: Washington DC | Registered: 11 January 2006
Thank you for your help! I usually allow for a longer layover, and feel a little anxious on anything under 2 hours minimum. I am assuming from your answers, my Customs will be in Frankfurt, not in Venice. I assume I will be in Terminal 1 for arriving from the US and departing to Venice. From what I remember, Terminal 1 is BIG!!!! Do they have those electric carts like they do in the US, or wheelchair assistance?
Posts: 57 | Location: NC | Registered: 19 September 2006
yes of course, your luggage will go thru Venice and thats where customs will be done. As you are coming over from Frankfurt maybe not even that as is all EU.
yes the formalities i meant the paperwork stuff like passport/security checks.
OK, I got it now! Thanks! I was hoping in Frankfurt, that we could go directly to our connecting gate, since we are not actually leaving the airport. I did not know we had to go thru Immigration/Passport control there, since I was not staying in Germany.
Posts: 57 | Location: NC | Registered: 19 September 2006
Passport control is done at your first airport in the Schengen zone (essentially EU, not Switz and UK) regardless of your destination within any of the 15 member nations that have eliminated border controls among themselves.
Posts: 186 | Location: Washington DC | Registered: 11 January 2006
Originally posted by Catnip: Interesting! Now on my return trip from Venice to the US, will I have to go thru it again in Frankfurt?
Yes, and it will be more painful than your arrival.
On your return, you'd have to pick up your luggage and bring them to the special scanning station for the US departure. After which, you will go through two security gates. You'll be fine with 1 hour 45 minutes connection time, but do hurry up.
On my trips back to the U.S. through Frankfurt, most recently in May, I've never had to pick up my checked luggage for scanning. I've gone through an extra security line with my carry-on, but the checked luggage has gone straight through. Is it different depending upon the original departure point?
Posts: 691 | Location: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 28 June 2006
Originally posted by Diana Strinati Baur: Your luggage will be checked in through to the states on the return trip. You will not have to pick it up in Frankfurt and re check it.
WHEW! That's a relief! I am already getting anxious because on the return trip from Venice to the USA, I have less than a 2-hr connection in Frankfurt.
Posts: 57 | Location: NC | Registered: 19 September 2006
If your plane reaches Frankfurt close to the scheduled time and you don't dawdle on the way to your departure gate you should be fine. I have done this a bunch of times and learned not to allow myself to get sidetracked by anything. Sometimes you breeze through in minutes but sometimes the lines for American security in Frankfurt can be very long (never as bad as CDG, 'though)
Posts: 461 | Location: Philadelphia, PA | Registered: 11 November 2003
Originally posted by gedlin: If your plane reaches Frankfurt close to the scheduled time and you don't dawdle on the way to your departure gate you should be fine.
Believe me, I won't dawdle! I'll go to the bathroom on the plane before landing, so I'll be ready to go! Thanks!
Posts: 57 | Location: NC | Registered: 19 September 2006
You will be fine, catnip There are long security lines for Americans, but remember, you are checked in, and chances are that if things are taking too long in the security lines, other people on the same flight will be having the same problem...they won't take off with blocks of people missing from the flight. So don't stress.
Topic Closed
There are long security lines for Americans, but remember, you are checked in, and chances are that if things are taking too long in the security lines, other people on the same flight will be having the same problem...they won't take off with blocks of people missing from the flight. So don't stress.
