I posted this under "Middle East" forum but then thought the real Frankfurt experts might be here.
We will be returning to the U.S. from Israel connecting to a 2:20 pm American Airlines flight from Frankfurt. I checked and El Al flight from TLV to FRA arrives at 1:00 pm. Are we crazy to plan a 1 hour 20 minute connection? According to the FRA airport website the two airlines use the same Terminal 1C. The only alternative is to pay twice as much for the ticket to go earlier in the morning ($1500 compared to $700 each) or go the night before.
Are there any special security or immigration clearance necessary at Frankfurt if we are simply in transit passengers to the U.S. from Israel?
We will have only carry on luggage.
Flight Connection Time and Procedures at Frankfurt
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I don't really remember too much about the Frankfurt airport except that getting any kind of useful information from the information desk was like pulling teeth. We went to various information desk people, all the same. I don't remember it taking too long - especially with only carry on luggage, although 1 hour 20 mins for any connection would make me nervous. The fact that everything would be in one terminal definitely helps. Good Luck - hopefully someone can be of more help!
Not a Frankfurt expert, but I go through FRA few times per year (3 times last month), for same terminal 1C, no security check or immigration; but if you have to obatin boarding pass from AA connection counter, sometimes the lineup could be long. If you fly with the same airline for both legs, 1 hour 20 minutes shall be all right; ohterwise it could be a bit risky.
If later flight cost too much, perhaps you could stay in Frankfurt or Mainz overnight, it is quite easy to have a hotel room for less than $100.
If the Tel Aviv flight is on time, you will be OK. But that is an "if". We were quite a bit late leaving Tel Aviv whene we were there s a few years ago.
Otherwise, as suggested, spend the night near the Frankfurt airport - - whether in Mainz, Wiesbaden, etc. is your choice. If I overnight in Ffm., I usually stay at the Breitenbacher Avance Airport Hotel, right across from the airport. It is a good hotel,part of a well-known German chain, though not inexpensive; however it is less expensive than the Sheraton right within the airport complex . The Steigenberger has frequent free shuttle busses to all airport terminals (a nice convenience on the day of your daparture) so that after your arrival in Ffm., you can take the shuttle back to the airport and then take the S-Bahn into the city for a bit of sightseeing, and perhaps an evening in one of the apple wine bistros in Frankfurt Sachsenhausen (subway stop Schweizer Platz). Otherwise, the hotel has also a very nice restaurant, Untere Schweinstiege, attached to it. It used to be a hunting chalet.
You don't mention when you will be going. I trust it is not during the World Cup, when Frankfurt is one of the game sites.
If my experience is of any use to you, I think you'll be OK. I traveled from Rome through Frankfurt to SFO last spring with a 1.5 hour connection. I was planning to shop a little as I went through the airport to take my husband some German goodies. According to the terminal map in the back of the Lufthansa magazine on my Rome-Frankfurt flight, I didn't have to change terminals, but I found the transit long and a bit confusing. I did make the connection but didn't have time to shop.