Help an Inexperienced International Flyer
 

Hi Fodorites,

Infrequent flyer here -- want to make sure I'm understanding travel protocol (ie. immigration/passport check and customs). Details are: flying Lufthansa (ALL on one ticket) - Newark, NJ to Frankfurt, (4 hour layover) Frankfurt to Florence. As both countries are Schengen -- will immigration and customs take place in Frankfurt as the first point of entry? Upon arrival in Florence will we need to go through additional security, customs or immigration? Pretty sure we are NOT CHECKING LUGGAGE -- but if we did decide to check luggage would that have any bearing? Thanks so much!

unless there is something odd about Florence I don't know:
1) yes to immigration, no to customs.
2) no to immigration, yes to customs

I don't understand your luggage question, I always check luggage going to Europe and the airline transfers it, I don't do anything with it during the connection, if both are Shengen and it's the same airline. So it's no different than if I hadn't checked luggage. Either way, you are just transiting in FRA.

When was the last time you went through "additional security" when ARRIVING at an airport? What does that even mean, security checks to leave the airport?

You really don't need to worry about this stuff, anyway, whatever happens will happen, there is nothing you can do about it. You will find out, and they will tell you and you'll follow people/signs.

None of your questions are silly. There sometimes IS additional security when transferring -- not because you are arriving but because you are boarding another plane and have to go outside security. But not in this case.

Carry-on only or checking bags won't make a difference at Frankfurt in this case because checked luggage will be tagged through and you wouldn't see them until Florence. I always travel carry on only and the difference is you won't have to wait for your bags at Florence.

Immigration/Passport control will be done at Frankfurt and Customs at Florence -- but Unless you have something to declare (which you probably won't) Customs is merely walking through the 'Nothing to declare' door. Almost always a non-event.

Just pointing out Florence is a small airport that often has weather issues. You might end up at Pisa.

Thanks everyone! I have a much better understanding now of how this works. I'm a bit of a worrier -- like to know what to expect in advance as I find traveling a bit stressful. Yes, janisj I wasn't sure about boarding another plane in Frankfurt and possibly ending up outside of security. Glad to hear that this isn't an issue in Frankfurt. Nick, thanks for the heads up on weather issues, hopefully I will luck out.

You can look up maps for the airports you are using in advance, or if the airline has an inflight magazine often they are in the back of that. You might feel more reassured knowing the layout of things ahead of time.

In some airports your cabin carry-ons may go through security screening for the second flight even though you transfer in a secure zone. But barring the unpredictable you should have lots of time. As soon as you are off the first plane, check the information screens for your next gate since there can be last-minute changes.

Thanks, Suze!

Thank you so much, Southam.