AMS -> FRA -> LAX (55 minutes enough?) - Lufthansa
 

Hello,

I don't do a lot of international travel and I'm having trouble interpreting if the Schengen will apply in a way that will help me.

I am flying home to Los Angeles International (LAX) from Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) on Lufthansa.

However, I'll be coming from Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport (AMS) that morning with a mere 55 minutes before my international flight is schedule to depart.

These flights were arranged by our American Express business travel office/officer. What has me worried (perhaps for no good reason other than inexperience) is that 55 minutes isn't enough time.

I am not clear, but assuming that for this to work:

1. my luggage will be checked through (no need to pick it up and drop it off again)
2. that <55 minutes is enough time for that to happen
3. that no significant passport control/lines are involved (or no passport at all since I land in Terminal 1 and depart from Terminal 1)


Flight: Lufthansa #1003
Departure Location: Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Departure Time: Sunday, August 09 at 08:00 AM CEST

Arrival Location: Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
Arrival Time: Sunday, August 09 at 09:10 AM CEST
Arrival Terminal: Terminal 1

Flight: Lufthansa #456
Departure Location: Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
Departure Time: Sunday, August 09 at 10:05 AM CEST
Departure Terminal: Terminal 1

55 minutes does not seem like enough time to connect for an International flight and makes an assumption that I depart AMS on-time and arrive on-time.

-V

It appears to me that your travel officer is not entirely familiar with FRA. Connections that require a full kilometer of walking are common. And, even though you are traveling on one ticket and are checked in for your connecting flight, the gate is likely to close some time before departure, cutting your travel time down even more.

I think this is just too close a connection and staying with it is buying into a very high level of anxiety. Because you would have to check in very early at AMS, consider traveling to FRA and spending the night there instead of in Amsterdam. (I don't know anything about the airport hotels, but I think there is a Hilton inside the terminals.)

I think you have a good chance of making the connection. The AMS-FRA flight is on-time 95% of the time.

You will have one passport check for exiting the Schengen area, but in my experience that line always moves very quickly at FRA. And while some walks at FRA can be long, none will take more than 15-20 mins -- and most will be shorter. The only potential flies in the ointment are if the flight from AMS id delayed, or if it arrives at a remote stand and you need to be bussed to the terminal.

You have a couple of options. If you keep your current itinerary and you miss the FRA-LAX 10:05 flight, there's another Lufthansa flight at 2:05pm. Alternatively, you could ask your travel agent to re-route the return flight from Amsterdam through Munich (all on Lufthansa). That flight leaves AMS at 8:50am and gives you a much more comfortable 1h45min connection in MUC (which is also a much more compact airport than is FRA).

V,

Don's suggestion is a very good one. Munich is, IMHO, a far more comfortable place for a change of planes.It is more compact, immaculate, and has an exceptional range of services.

FYI, I don't think I have ever arrived in FRA and not need to be bussed. My flights are always on United or Lufthansa.

Just wanted to thank you all for your replies.

-V

Two other points although I haven't been through FRA to connect to a USA flight in several years. First and foremost, the ticket is booked on LH so apparently it is considered a legal connection. FRA because of some of the paranoia that now exists on flights to the USA at the behest of the USA government, in the past, had designated the furthest gates for departures to the USA which includes another security check before you are allowed to that portion of the terminal which might include a check of your carry on luggage. I don't know if this silliness is still in effect but it's another factor in making the connection. But thee is really nothing to worry about. If you miss the connection, it becomes LH's responsibility to get you on the next flight to LAX. So go with it and don't worry.