40 Minutes between connecting flights to Rome!
 

Oh, oh, airlines are changing some of our flights! As of now, we have 40 minutes after landing in Munich till our flight for Rome leaves! Is this going to be possible? We are carrying on our luggage, but I am a little worried! Thanks for your help!

Is this is a "legal" connection, meaning one ticket/one airline? I just can't believe it. What if your plane is even 10 minutes late leaving, or just 15 minutes late arriving? There is no way, and I don't think it matters if the two gates are right next to each other! (FWIW, we had a 70-min. connection in Frankfurt last month, which we missed because our originating flight was delayed one hour leaving Portland)

Luckily, you are dealing with Munich which is an excellent airport. Yes, if you are delayed there could be issues but if this is your only option, have info with you on the next flight out and grab your bag and go.

You say "airlines" - plural. Are these tickets separate? If they are - and you miss the connection - quite probable - you will be considered a no show and have to buy a new ticket.

If it's all one airline, then you're protected - but will probably still not make it.

Can't you have the airline put you on an earlier flight into Munich - or a later flight on to Rome?

This just happened on my daughter's return trip from Spain. The airline made the change to the schedule which gave her less than an hour to switch planes. I called the airline because I knew the odds were that she couldn't make her flight. They told me that you had to allow a minimum of 1.5 hours to be able to make your connection. Then WHY did YOUR airline change the flight to a connection they know she couldn't make--they told me that they knew this but they had to put her on something. Unbelievable.

Munich is definitely an excellent airport. It's also a HUGE airport. I had a connecting flight to Rome there a couple of years ago, and I swear I WALKED for 40 minutes! If I hadn't had an hour and a half to make the flight I don't think I'd have made it.

If I recall correctly, I had to go through security again in Munich, too - does anyone know if that's correct?

At any rate, I can't imagine you'll make it with that short a time.

Airlines establish their own "legal" connections, unfortunately. My friend just got a flight change notice from Air France that allows them a 25 minute connecting at CDG, IMO the worst airport in Europe. They would be lucky to make a connection at CDG in 4 times that amount of time.

He called and Air France told him it is a legal connection and he should not have a problem and they will just put him on the next flight if he misses it but would not put him on the next connection without incurring some hefty change fees. It is worth a try but I would not expect from the airlines these days unless you are one of their most frequent flyers.

Thanks for the replies. This is one ticket using United miles. I think I will go to their site and see what the flights look like for that day. Doesn't sound like we will make it even with carry ons and running shoes!

I believe 40 minutes is considered a "legal" connection at Munich (for Lufthansa/United flights)--or at least it was a few years ago. I've made connections there in that amount of time, but I probably wouldn't choose to do so.

If you're coming from the US, you will have to go through immigration and security.

Does Lufthansa have other flights to Rome after yours? If so, they'll try to accommodate you on one of those if you miss the connection.

United just did this to me too for a trip connecting in Frankfurt. Although the new 50-minute connection was "legal," I knew we wouldn't make it. It took me three or four calls to United's FF desk to get someone who spoke English as a first language (and therefore I could understand her) and who was willing to take some time to explore all possible options. I ended up having to accept a second layover for piece of mind.

The "legal" connection in Munich is 35 minutes unless you have to change terminals, and then the legal connection is 45 minutes. I would definitely see what options you have. Don't wait, because I think these schedule changes are affecting loads of travelers.

I forgot to mention that my change was the result of a cancelled United flight and not a schedule adjustment. Re-routing priority goes to the paying customer, and the FF settles for the crumbs.

It was United that did that to my daughter as well.

Mine was United, too, but they were very accommodating actually. Once they knew our flight from Portland would be late arriving to Frankfurt, they immediately rebooked us on a later flight from Frankfurt to Cairo. Now the transfer desk in Frankfurt, that's another story....we stood in line for one solid hour to get our new boarding passes.

You will probably be arriving in Munich in the morning hours. There are seven flights to Rome from Munich, so worst case will be that you get on the next one.
I would only be wondering if all that luggage that you plan to carry on as hand luggage will also fit on your connecting flight. UA seems to have more generous limits for hand luggage than LH.

I don't consider 40 minutes enough time to make a connection in any airport anywhere. It only takes your incoming flight being a few minutes late, plus time to deplane, etc. and your little window of time is even less. I would be more than "a little worried" myself.