How much time is needed to change from an international flight from US to a flight in EU in Zurich? What about changing in MUC from a US flight. UA is offering flights with less than an hour to change planes in both cities and that doesn't seem like enough time. Thanks

Where is your final destination?

Venice

If United will ticket it, it's enough time.

Minimum connection times at MUC are as short as 30 min. Not sure about ZRH, but I don't think Switzerland has fully implemented Schengen visa screening, so you'd probably just transit (security check but no passport control) at ZRH.

MUC is very new and very, very efficient. I wouldn't worry.

Unless there is weather, but there is nothing you can do about that anyway. Just don's schedule anything critical your first day at your destination in either direction.

Agree, you should be fine in MUC. We've changed in less than an hour and had no problems - MUC is well organized. BTW - never had a problem with bags making it either.

There's a similar thread on the Europe forum about 35min layover in MUC on the way to VCE. That is too tight in my experience.

fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=35068656

J62-thanks for the link to the similar thread. I added on my question about Munich connection time. Reading that thread the experiences in Munich are not as positive as the ones here. Thanks all for sharing your thoughts.

What about Zurich? Anyone have experience with that airport? The connnection thru Zurich is only 50 minutes.

I originated in MUC this summer to LHR, so my only experience there is to be taken with a grain of salt. My first question would be whether the two flights are truly both on UA or codeshare on one leg? Do they arrive/depart the same terminal? There are two and it does take some time to walk between the two. If same terminal, the airport seemed relatively small and manageable.

I was disappointed in the airport staff. Several were quite uniformed about cancellations, procedures, etc. While waiting in a line I chatted with several people who use the airport more regularly than I and they all said that lines and questions/frustrations with ground staff is common. If I understand correctly, these are airport personnel, not specific airline employees.

I have only arrived in Zurich, so I am even less help there.

Thanks-- It's a UA flight to MUC and then codeshare with Luthansa flying from Munich to Venice. As best I can figure out they are in the same terminal, but on different floors.

There is a later Luthansa flight to VCE so it may be worth it to book the earlier one and hopefully make the connection in 75 minutes.

Munich--both UA and LH use the same terminal. 1hr should be ok including the security check.

Zurich--Gardyloo is correct, you won't go through passport control. You'll go through security checkpoint for connecting passengers. Then depending on the gates, you may have to take a short shuttle train within the terminal. I've made it in 30min or less on several occasions.

Bottom line, you should be ok if both flights are on the same ticket.

W9-thanks for the information!