Connecting flights
 

I am holding Frequent Flier tickets for a trip to Florence,Italy for my husband and myself. We have only one hour to change planes in Frankfurt. Is this enough time???? There is a later flight, with a 31/2 hour delay.
Thanks

Is your connection to Florence on the same airline?

One hour...a bit tight. If your in-coming plane is even 20 min. late, that could be a problem. I'd be more worried about my luggage making the transfer.

Might be less stress to take the later flight. Gives you some time to go to the bathroom, stretch your legs, get something to eat, shop, etc.

I would not be comfortable with that tight a connection, especially after an overseas flight.

By coincidence I made two connections in Frankfurt this week.

I would say an hour may be cutting it close. It's a long walk between some of the Lufthansa gates.

Ed

Frankfurt and Munich airports have been working to reduce "minimum connection times" for international > international connections to 30 min., so it's a "legal" connection at FRA.

Assuming the FF tickets are from United or Lufthansa, they will put you on the next flight if you miss the one that's booked.

Most international flights are usually either on time or very late.

That is cutting it close, but I would hate to go witht he 3.5 hour layover.

You can see what your options are here:
http://www.star-alliance.com/star_al...e/main_10.html
assuming you are using a Star Alliance award. Looks like all of your options for getting to Florence will involve a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt or Munich.

Get the later flight

Frankfurt airport is very efficient. Munich does the same thing with short connect times.
If you have one ticket with your onward boarding passes and luggage checked straight thru, you should have no problems. I have had less than hour connections without problems. The only time it gets hectic is if the first leg is late and you have 30 min or less to get to the next gate.
The immigration process moves very rapidly. Security is thorough but efficient.
In the event you miss the flight, your airline should put you on the next flight out.

I expect that procedures vary among airlines, but my impression (and I hope I never validate this) is that a flyer who has paid with miles is a second-class person when it comes to getting placed on the next flight out. I think a cash paying flyer will, generally, be accomodated, even if it means the airline has to buy a seat on one of its competitors, but the mileage paying flyer will probably just be put on a list for the next available seat on the originating airline, which could be days away.

I would be inclined to book the later flight, and take the time to recuperate from your first flight.