Adelaidean

Having ‘given’ my elderly mother a trip to Romania for her Christmas gift, I am now trying to work out logistics.
Forgive me if this is obvious, but could you look at the connection times here and tell me if they are too risky ...Australia to Singapore to Munich...arrive early morning, but then there are 2 flight options to Sibiu, one with a less than 3 hour layover (too risky?), the other leaving mid afternoon (8 hours between flights, maybe wander around Freising for a few hours)

Singapore Airlines codeshares with Lufthansa, so I wondered if we were to book both the Singapore to Munich and Munich to Sibiu legs with Lufthansa - does that secure us by ticketing this way, that is, should we miss the connection then would Lufthansa would put us on another flight?
Could luggage be booked right through to Sibiu?
Same deal on return, is this too close?

The long haul to Australia is a bit arduous, so keen on avoiding long waits in airports, but if those connections aren’t realistic, I’d reconsider, either later flights or overnight Munich perhaps.

sassy27

My experience with Munich has always been easy with connections. Security has been harder. I have had shorter than a 2 hr layover with no issues. If anything should go wrong, they will rebook you on the next flight but again, I've never needed to.

I did have a recent issue though going Pisa to Munich to home but I had a very long connection time. I swear the check in agent didn't understand the route I was taking as all under the same ticket. She just kept saying she couldn't check me in for my Munich to home flight as it was the next day. It was under the 24 hrs for check in. I got it worked out but it was stressful as I never tried a long connection before. When you check in ask about your luggage as my agent didn't understand my wanting the luggage to be checkin to my final destination. It was a partner airline to Lufthansa.

J62

I would have no concerns with those connection times. I've made numerous 1hr connections in Munich so 3hrs would be a luxury/long wait for me.


In my experience, if your connection is tight due to a late incoming flight the Lufthansa ground crew will also help you get your gate. They know back ways through the airport and can also escort you through any security or immigration checkpoints if needed, and can keep the departing gate aware of your pending arrival so they don't close the gate on you.

You could also request a golf cart transportation between gates for your elderly mother.

Melnq8

the other leaving mid afternoon (8 hours between flights, maybe wander around Freising for a few hours.

Having flown from Australia to Europe several times, I suspect she'll be too exhausted to wander around Freising for a few hours. A day room might be welcome though.

cdnyul

I have made the YUL-MUC-GDN connection with a 2hr 10 min layover twice this year, with time to spare.

Adelaidean

Thanks everyone. Munich was so efficient on my recent trip to Bavaria, I was impressed.
Having inched my way through Malpensa before though, with crowds getting feral, and clearly passengers missing flights, I thought I’d better check if it’s reasonable.

Cowboy1968

I would not worry about the connecting times.

Just keep in mind that you must not go through immigration but stay in the non-Schengen sections of the concourses.

Since Munich has opened the midfield terminal, connecting can take a bit more time than in earlier years.
The main terminal 2 and the satellite/midfield terminal 2 are not seperately designated. Gates G and H are in the old/main terminal 2, gates K and L are in the satellite. Just follow the signs. If you have to change terminals, you will be guided to an underground people mover.

Your flights to and from Sibiu will be handled by bus as the small Canadair Jet cannot use the jetways.
Regardless from which gate your flight to Sibiu will depart, you will have to climb down stairs (appr. 2 storeys) to get on the bus.
The small jet has limited capacity for cabin luggage.. be prepared that you may have to part with both or one piece of your cabin luggage.
If that should be necessary, it will be tagged and you place it on a baggage cart directly at the plane, on the tarmac, immediately before you board. And you will get it back in Sibiu the same way, i.e. NOT at the baggage carousel, but directly at the plane.

On your return flight to Munich from Sibiu, a bus will take you to the main terminal 2, but access will involve no stairs.

Adelaidean

Great information, Cowboy, thanks.
Slight change of plans, looks like travel insurance concerns means she prefers a destination with a reciprocal health agreement with Australia, so may visit Italy in September instead.
In any case, my planning not gone to waste, just now on the ‘do with my partner in 2020’ list. (We’ve got our June trip to Switzerland pretty much planned now).

So, thanks, keeping for future reference.

greytop13

DW and I flew SFO-MUC-MXP in September with a 1 hour layover in Munich. I was concerned but need not have been. We had to walk quite a ways across the terminals and still arrived at our gate in plenty of time. When you go through immigration stay away from the far right lane as that is where flight crews get checked and they cut in ahead of regular passengers. Our plane from Munich to Milan was a small one with little overhead storage so they just gate checked our bags and we picked them up as we exited the plane. We've been through Frankfurt several times. Munich seemed much easier and more efficient.

Adelaidean

Thanks greytop.
Never going through Milan again myself, now that was disorganised.