Changing planes in Frankfurt
Aug 12th, 2011, 05:03 PM
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Changing planes in Frankfurt
My daughter will be flying from the US to Madrid via Frankfurt. She is meeting two cousins on the flight from Frankfurt to Madrid. My sister-in-law booked flights with only a 90-minute layover in Frankfurt and now I am reading that changing planes there is difficult for international passengers. Is there anything she should know and is this even feasible (though it's too late to change now)?
Fortunately the weather here is predicted to be good, so I hope there will be no weather delays. She is flying in on a Lufthansa flight operated by United, and flying to Madrid on Lufthansa also. Currently, the arrival and departure in Frankfurt are both in terminal 1.
Fortunately the weather here is predicted to be good, so I hope there will be no weather delays. She is flying in on a Lufthansa flight operated by United, and flying to Madrid on Lufthansa also. Currently, the arrival and departure in Frankfurt are both in terminal 1.
Aug 12th, 2011, 05:12 PM
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She needs to be sure that her luggage is checked all the way through to Madrid. After she deplanes she will need to go through immigration - so she should try to be seated near the front of the plane (can save at least 15 minutes on a jumbo) and move quickly once she gets off to avoid lines at immigration.
If there are no delays on her incoming flight and she moves briskly she should be OK.
If there are no delays on her incoming flight and she moves briskly she should be OK.
Aug 12th, 2011, 05:34 PM
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Thank you for the quick replies. She is not checking any bags. She will have a backpack and one small carry-on (not a rollerboard). Her assigned seat is about halfway back in the plane and there are no available seats any further forward to switch her to. Is it pretty easy to find immigration once you get off a plane in terminal 1 in Frankfurt?
Aug 12th, 2011, 07:35 PM
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Your daughter will have to go through immigration and a security checkpoint. 90 minutes is perfectly fine.
Most important: Double-check gate number on boarding pass for flight to Madrid against displays in Frankfurt. Gate changes are not uncommon.
In Frankfurt, gate numbers have a letter plus a number.
The letter designates the different piers/concourses, e.g. A42.
At first, signs will just give the letter, e.g. Gates A,B,C this way; gates D,E that way.
Gate numbers are unique, i.e. there is no A42 in T1 and T2, so you can't get into the wrong terminal by mistake.
Once in pier A, the signs will be more "precise", saying A1-11 this way, A12-A53 that way, for example.
Connecting passengers by-pass baggage claim. So at one point between immigration and security, the signs to baggage claim and connecting gates will point in different directions.
Taking the wrong way to baggage claim and exit Frankfurt is the only mistake she can make. But even then, it's not an issue. You'd just exit to arrivals hall, and follow signs for departures and clear security that way.
Just to benchmark the connecting time:
Most people flying from Frankfurt to Madrid will not arrive at the airport landside earlier than 60 minutes prior to departure, even with luggage to check.
Most important: Double-check gate number on boarding pass for flight to Madrid against displays in Frankfurt. Gate changes are not uncommon.
In Frankfurt, gate numbers have a letter plus a number.
The letter designates the different piers/concourses, e.g. A42.
At first, signs will just give the letter, e.g. Gates A,B,C this way; gates D,E that way.
Gate numbers are unique, i.e. there is no A42 in T1 and T2, so you can't get into the wrong terminal by mistake.
Once in pier A, the signs will be more "precise", saying A1-11 this way, A12-A53 that way, for example.
Connecting passengers by-pass baggage claim. So at one point between immigration and security, the signs to baggage claim and connecting gates will point in different directions.
Taking the wrong way to baggage claim and exit Frankfurt is the only mistake she can make. But even then, it's not an issue. You'd just exit to arrivals hall, and follow signs for departures and clear security that way.
Just to benchmark the connecting time:
Most people flying from Frankfurt to Madrid will not arrive at the airport landside earlier than 60 minutes prior to departure, even with luggage to check.
Aug 12th, 2011, 09:19 PM
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You can find out the actual flight time of last several days at:
flightaware.com
At the bottom of the page is a list of actual departure and arrival times.
Here is the airport map: http://www.frankfurt-airport.com/con...minal_1_2.html
I go through FRA often. If you look at map, being in Terminal 1 does not necessarily simplify the matter. On many layovers, I had to move from gate B or A or vice versa. They are quite far apart and connection is by Tram or by underground passage depending on what part of the gate A/B one is located.
All US arrivals need to go thru the passport control followed by carry-on luggage check.
I do not trust the departure gate number at FRA printed on my boarding pass. Trust what the digital display says at FRA, but that does not happen until about one hour before departure.
flightaware.com
At the bottom of the page is a list of actual departure and arrival times.
Here is the airport map: http://www.frankfurt-airport.com/con...minal_1_2.html
I go through FRA often. If you look at map, being in Terminal 1 does not necessarily simplify the matter. On many layovers, I had to move from gate B or A or vice versa. They are quite far apart and connection is by Tram or by underground passage depending on what part of the gate A/B one is located.
All US arrivals need to go thru the passport control followed by carry-on luggage check.
I do not trust the departure gate number at FRA printed on my boarding pass. Trust what the digital display says at FRA, but that does not happen until about one hour before departure.
Aug 12th, 2011, 11:55 PM
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Greg has a point about checking out the arrival/departures in advance. I have done this the week before my actual flight to see if there is a pattern of how late or how on time a particular flight is and if it generally comes in at the same general gate area. Of course there are no absolutes, but it might help to not be so worried and to plan a route.
Biggest thing to impress on the travelers is that most if not all of the people at the counters speak some (and generally excellent) English. If really in a jam, rather than wasting time guessing and heading in the wrong direction, address the issue with someone right away.
Lastly, don't stress about taking off from your point of origin late...the flights in this direction are "with" the jet stream and they tend to make up the lost time and arrive mostly on time or even early.
Biggest thing to impress on the travelers is that most if not all of the people at the counters speak some (and generally excellent) English. If really in a jam, rather than wasting time guessing and heading in the wrong direction, address the issue with someone right away.
Lastly, don't stress about taking off from your point of origin late...the flights in this direction are "with" the jet stream and they tend to make up the lost time and arrive mostly on time or even early.
Aug 13th, 2011, 12:08 AM
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I just noticed you mentioned the cousins are "meeting up" for the Madrid flight. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have an alternate plan of action in case one of the parties doesn't make the flight i.e. definitely go on and wait for me at the Madrid airport or definitely go on and we'll wait for each other at the hotel or...so there's not that added stress at the last minute of "She's not here and it's final boarding; what do we do? What do we do?!"
It also couldn't hurt for whoever is waiting at the gate in Frankfurt to keep track of the monitors and make the airlines aware the missing person's flight has landed at (fill in the blank) time and that they are on their way. No guarantee, but we have arrived at gates where they were holding the plane for us because they were aware we were minutes away. No guarantees...but no harm; no foul right?
It also couldn't hurt for whoever is waiting at the gate in Frankfurt to keep track of the monitors and make the airlines aware the missing person's flight has landed at (fill in the blank) time and that they are on their way. No guarantee, but we have arrived at gates where they were holding the plane for us because they were aware we were minutes away. No guarantees...but no harm; no foul right?
Aug 13th, 2011, 02:37 AM
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I assume that the three young people travelling will have mobile phones that work in Europe to be able to communicate with each other if something goes wrong.
Having a back-up plan or worst case scenario sure helps to take the stress out of less than perfect situations.
FRA-MAD is just a short 2hr hop, with a dozen flights per day.
If a flight does not arrive on time, three things can happen:
a) nothing (which is quite the norm). The morning rush hour is when most flights from overseas (the Americas) land. It's also the busiest time for domestic and intra-European flights. As a result, not one plane is delayed but all/most.
All departure slots have to be reassigned, and that connecting flight is not "waiting", but wont be able to depart on time anyway.
b) If your flight arrives really late or due to reasons only affecting that flight, you will get informed during approach how flights connections will get handled, either
-- you will be asked to follow someone for a speedy route thru immigration/security, or
-- that you already got booked on a later flight.
-- nothing, but you are expected to make your way on your own without idling around. If you run into queues at security, check for a "Fast Lane" for business/first passengers, or walk to the head of the queue.
No departing flight will get hold any minute longer than what can be done without jeopardizing the departure slot. Especially not on a route with flights every 1.5-2hrs.
And even though FRA's airport does not imply it, it's Europe's biggest hub for connecting people from one flight to another.
Having a back-up plan or worst case scenario sure helps to take the stress out of less than perfect situations.
FRA-MAD is just a short 2hr hop, with a dozen flights per day.
If a flight does not arrive on time, three things can happen:
a) nothing (which is quite the norm). The morning rush hour is when most flights from overseas (the Americas) land. It's also the busiest time for domestic and intra-European flights. As a result, not one plane is delayed but all/most.
All departure slots have to be reassigned, and that connecting flight is not "waiting", but wont be able to depart on time anyway.
b) If your flight arrives really late or due to reasons only affecting that flight, you will get informed during approach how flights connections will get handled, either
-- you will be asked to follow someone for a speedy route thru immigration/security, or
-- that you already got booked on a later flight.
-- nothing, but you are expected to make your way on your own without idling around. If you run into queues at security, check for a "Fast Lane" for business/first passengers, or walk to the head of the queue.
No departing flight will get hold any minute longer than what can be done without jeopardizing the departure slot. Especially not on a route with flights every 1.5-2hrs.
And even though FRA's airport does not imply it, it's Europe's biggest hub for connecting people from one flight to another.
Aug 13th, 2011, 12:00 PM
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Thank you all SO much for the info. I have looked at the history of the flight, and it seems to arrive most always on time or early. the weather at ORD is predicted to be good on Monday, so fingers are crossed. The cousins are teens, ages 15 and 16, so going on to Madrid without my daughter is probably not an option. Their German grandmother will be bringing them to the airport, but I don't think she will be permitted to go with them past security. Not sure what arrangements have been made at that end except that I was told that the girls will meet my daughter at her arrival gate and go with her to the departure gate for Madrid. I am hoping this goes as planned, and yes, they do have cell phones.
Again, thank you so much for the info. I have always been impressed with the helpfulness of the Fodors crowd.
Again, thank you so much for the info. I have always been impressed with the helpfulness of the Fodors crowd.
Aug 13th, 2011, 12:21 PM
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I do not wish to intervene with any arrangements you/ cousins/ grandmother have made, BUT:
The girls will not be able to meet your daughter at her arrivals gate. Technically it will not be possible that they get there - it will just cause a big mix-up if they try.
I would strongly suggest that all three meet at the departure gate for Madrid.
The girls will not be able to meet your daughter at her arrivals gate. Technically it will not be possible that they get there - it will just cause a big mix-up if they try.
I would strongly suggest that all three meet at the departure gate for Madrid.
Aug 13th, 2011, 05:52 PM
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The situation is that the cousins are in the Schengen side of the security zone while you daughter is arriving in the non-Schengen side of the security zone. Additionally, the arrival gate assignment is very fluid at FRA. I had my arrival gates change like a slot machine. A big mix-up is written all over it.
The departure gate indicated on the digital departure info display is about the only thing you can nail at FRA.
The departure gate indicated on the digital departure info display is about the only thing you can nail at FRA.
Aug 14th, 2011, 10:51 AM
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You say she is carrying both a backpack and a carry-on. have a look at the luggage restrictions for the ongoing flights. Many european flights have are much stricter in terms of what you can carry on - and fliyng out of Zurich I have seen many Americans have to gate check their carry-on - which was OK for US flights but too big for 19" allowed on inter-european flights. (The 19" is for your large carry-on, not your personal item - which needs to be the size of a purse or a briefcase.)
The airline may be more or less strict about this - but with many flights going out full or almost - they are tending to be strict as to size of things you bring on board.
And local passengers won;t be allowed near an arrival gate for an international flight - since that will be on the other side of Immigration. The only place the young women can realistically meet is the gate of their ongoing flight to Madrid. And the grandmother won;t be allowed anywhere past security.
The airline may be more or less strict about this - but with many flights going out full or almost - they are tending to be strict as to size of things you bring on board.
And local passengers won;t be allowed near an arrival gate for an international flight - since that will be on the other side of Immigration. The only place the young women can realistically meet is the gate of their ongoing flight to Madrid. And the grandmother won;t be allowed anywhere past security.
Aug 15th, 2011, 10:38 PM
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Oh, well that's a totally different thing to have a local national (granmother)at the airport, even if she isn't allowed all the way to the gate. It's always nice to know there's back-up available.
Very excited for the young people. Glad the trip has started well!
Very excited for the young people. Glad the trip has started well!
