Connection in Frankfurt
 

I am looking at flights from SFO to Florence with a connection through Frankfurt. The flight that would work best for has a 1 hour layover in Frankfurt. Is that enough time? I am thinking not. Need expert advice.

2 hours would be lots better - yes it can be done but you will be running all the way. Frnkfurt is large and you go to the other end to do the passport control, security etc then back to your gate.

I agree, that's tight. If you arrive at a busy time of day...lines are longer.

Thanks all. This is for my daughter, who is taking a class for the summer semester. She has not traveled much by herself and I don't want her stranded. I am trying to use air miles and the choices are 1 hour, 1 1/2 hours then 6 hours. 6 it may have to be!

I dont't think 1 hour is nearly enough time in Frankfurt. You have passport control and then security. Frankfurt is a very busy airport with a high likelihood that there will be passengers from other flights waiting to go through passport control and security. Plus if the plane is delayed even a little bit you've missed any chance to make the connection. I doubt I would even try the 1.5 hours. Six hours isn't fun hanging around an airport especially after a trans-Atlantic flight but it's the safer option.

1.5 hours should be enough. In the past I've had to go through security when transferring in Frankfurt until this last trip. There was no security at all, making the transfer in Frankfurt very easy. On the outbound flight the incoming and outgoing gates were about 1 minute apart.

I'm sure this depends on the airline. I traveled Lufthansa on both legs and perhaps that's why I did not have to go through security in Frankfurt.

Even when I did go through security in Frankfurt, 1.5 hours was plenty of time. If the plane is delayed your daughter should speak with airport personnel who have always been helpful to me. There is often a security area that is not apparent where the lines are shorter.

I seriously doubt that one hour is sufficient. We had a Nice-Frankfurt-Calgary 45 minute connection on a through-ticket, i.e. no passport control or potential customs check upon arrival, and we had to literally race across the airport to get to our connection with 5 minutes to spare. We did it only because the attendant pushing my wife's wheelchair commandeered the elevators and got us through a security check ahead of everyone else. She congratulated me on being fit enough to keep up with her.

MichelleY, any chance she could connect at Munich? We're near LAX and have gone through both Frankfurt and Munich on several trips. Munich is a breeze compared to Frankfurt.

I like Munich better also, but this is all that shows using air miles. Humm, will have to work on this more.

I'd call the airline and talk to a human. Even if there is a fee.

Ended up taking the 6 hour layover. Better safe than sorry.