Flying Lufthansa
Mar 15th, 2004, 03:29 PM
#21
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Wow, thanks so much for all your replys.
We didn't think the replys would have necessarily swayed us one way or another, but it's always interesting to hear people's views on certain airlines. Just wanted to hear your opinions. We've traveled quite extensively, but have never flown Lufthansa.
We're actually using our ff miles to fly 'economy' class. Don't know if we'd want to fork over the extra miles for and upgrade.
Interesting that many of you mention Frankfurt airport not being very convenient. We only have about a 1hr connection - hopefully that'll be enough!
Thanks again for all your help, we appreciate it!!
We didn't think the replys would have necessarily swayed us one way or another, but it's always interesting to hear people's views on certain airlines. Just wanted to hear your opinions. We've traveled quite extensively, but have never flown Lufthansa.
We're actually using our ff miles to fly 'economy' class. Don't know if we'd want to fork over the extra miles for and upgrade.
Interesting that many of you mention Frankfurt airport not being very convenient. We only have about a 1hr connection - hopefully that'll be enough!
Thanks again for all your help, we appreciate it!!
Mar 15th, 2004, 04:22 PM
#22
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gottheitch, if you have only 1 hour for your connection, I would bring a change of underclothes and some toiletries in your carry on. We went to Munich thru Frankfurt. Got to Munich about 10:00am, and our luggage reached us at our hotel at midnight. 
Mar 16th, 2004, 03:58 AM
#24
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We will be flying on Lufthansa for the first time in May. We've going "cattle class" but really don't care.
We got THREE RT tickets from Charlotte to Barcelona via Munich for $907 ! so as long as they get us there we're happy.
It's good to hear the good comments regarding Munich airport as we'll have a quick overnight in Munich on our way back and it sounds like a great airport to travel through.
Thanks for the input.
We got THREE RT tickets from Charlotte to Barcelona via Munich for $907 ! so as long as they get us there we're happy.
It's good to hear the good comments regarding Munich airport as we'll have a quick overnight in Munich on our way back and it sounds like a great airport to travel through.
Thanks for the input.
Mar 16th, 2004, 04:09 AM
#25
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Oy, this is not good. I'm flying Lufthansa tomorrow, connecting in Frankfurt with all of 50 minutes to catch our flight to Prague. I was told by their customer service that this was a legal connection, but they do have other flights that day just in case. Does anybody know of an internet cafe in the Frankfurt airport?? If we miss it, I'll have to contact the shuttle servie somehow!! Thanks so much!
Mar 16th, 2004, 04:51 AM
#26
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AHaugeto,
You may very well catch your flight, but your luggage may not. If they have other flights that day, your luggage may come on one of those flight if it doesn't make your connection. I would plan accordingly.
Coming from the States, you will have to hurry, because you have to go thru immigration, then back thru security again to get to the gate for your connecting flight. I would go to the Frankfurt airport web site to get an indication of how the terminals are layed out. There is a tunnel connecting two terminals, and it's down 2-3 flights of stairs, and back up 2-3 flights of stairs. There's an elevator, but it's slow and crowded. Good luck, and wear comfortable shoes.
You may very well catch your flight, but your luggage may not. If they have other flights that day, your luggage may come on one of those flight if it doesn't make your connection. I would plan accordingly.
Coming from the States, you will have to hurry, because you have to go thru immigration, then back thru security again to get to the gate for your connecting flight. I would go to the Frankfurt airport web site to get an indication of how the terminals are layed out. There is a tunnel connecting two terminals, and it's down 2-3 flights of stairs, and back up 2-3 flights of stairs. There's an elevator, but it's slow and crowded. Good luck, and wear comfortable shoes.
Mar 16th, 2004, 04:59 AM
#27
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Just talket to LH according this issue (it makes me sick)...
Lady operator said that 1 hour is enough time to reconnect and there are people to ask and if this was a problem it would be perfected long time ago and what is hard for one person is not hard at all for another. So I felt like dufus ! and said Thanks.
She also said there aren't FR airport floor plan available and if it was - it wouldn't help because we didn't know where you going to connect untill the very morning you arrive. Strangely enought I know that I am at T1 to T4 !!!
Just thought of it ...
Are they nuts ?
Lady operator said that 1 hour is enough time to reconnect and there are people to ask and if this was a problem it would be perfected long time ago and what is hard for one person is not hard at all for another. So I felt like dufus ! and said Thanks.
She also said there aren't FR airport floor plan available and if it was - it wouldn't help because we didn't know where you going to connect untill the very morning you arrive. Strangely enought I know that I am at T1 to T4 !!!
Just thought of it ...
Are they nuts ?
Mar 16th, 2004, 05:02 AM
#28
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Budman- Many thanks for this- I just printed out their maps, and they show the transit tunnels, though it's a bit jumbled. They're both Lufthansa flights, but inter- vs. intra-continental, so do you know if they come in/out of the same terminal? I will call them tomorrow (I don't trust gate info that's projected > 10 hours in advance!), but I wanted to mull this over tonight. Thanks again!
Mar 16th, 2004, 05:03 AM
#29
As your flight approaches FRA, they should advise what gate you will be arriving at and the gate where your PRG flight will be. The airline magazine that is in the seatback pocket has a map of the airport that you should use.
As you get off the plane, there will be helpers to direct you. Also, near your arrival gate and near passport control you should easily find the service center where they would get set up with a later flight. The helper at the gate and at the service center almost certainly will speak English. There are LH flights from FRA to PRG at 8:25, 8:55, 12:15, 17:00, and 19:10, so you will get there that day.
They do have telephones at FRA, if not an internet cafe.
As you get off the plane, there will be helpers to direct you. Also, near your arrival gate and near passport control you should easily find the service center where they would get set up with a later flight. The helper at the gate and at the service center almost certainly will speak English. There are LH flights from FRA to PRG at 8:25, 8:55, 12:15, 17:00, and 19:10, so you will get there that day.
They do have telephones at FRA, if not an internet cafe.
Mar 16th, 2004, 05:09 AM
#30
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We've always had to change terminals when we flew with them when connecting in Frankfurt on international flights coming/going. Maybe it was just our bad luck?
Don't lose any sleep, just be prepared, and have a nice vacation.
Don't lose any sleep, just be prepared, and have a nice vacation.
Mar 16th, 2004, 10:45 AM
#31
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We've flown on Lufthansa, and think it's a great airline. They are very efficient...depart on time and arrive on time. We were traveling in coach and it was no worse than other airlines. Flight attendents were great, good food as well, and as the other posts mention, lots of wine, etc.
No problems with the FRA airport either. Luggage handling has been great in our experience. The long walks are true...but surely you will be doing a lot of walking at your destination.
We are flying Lufthansa again in May. I think you'll enjoy your flight. Justine
No problems with the FRA airport either. Luggage handling has been great in our experience. The long walks are true...but surely you will be doing a lot of walking at your destination.
We are flying Lufthansa again in May. I think you'll enjoy your flight. Justine
Mar 16th, 2004, 03:39 PM
#32
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Don't panic about connections, you can't control it. If the flight arrives late ask the agent at the gate if they can call and let them know you are coming. One thing to remember is that you have to move fast to your next gate, don't stray. If the line is long at immigrations, you could always ask to skip to the front if you simply ask nicely.
Mar 16th, 2004, 05:40 PM
#33
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We're on Star Alliance and live in China, so we fly Lufthansa a couple times a year to Europe, and United once or twice a year to the US.
Personally, I like Lufthansa. I think the seats in economy are slightly larger or more comfortable, although I'm too lazy to look this up on SeatGuru to confirm it (and Asia-Europe planes might be different from US-Europe planes anyway). The lounges are nice, too - if you have FF status, you should be able to use the lounge if you have time.
I haven't had any negative experiences with Lufthansa, or with the Frankfurt airport, and we've been flying with them (and through Frankfurt) a couple of times a year for 5 years.
Good luck!
Personally, I like Lufthansa. I think the seats in economy are slightly larger or more comfortable, although I'm too lazy to look this up on SeatGuru to confirm it (and Asia-Europe planes might be different from US-Europe planes anyway). The lounges are nice, too - if you have FF status, you should be able to use the lounge if you have time.
I haven't had any negative experiences with Lufthansa, or with the Frankfurt airport, and we've been flying with them (and through Frankfurt) a couple of times a year for 5 years.
Good luck!
Mar 16th, 2004, 06:20 PM
#34
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It's interesting that several people have mentioned that when you arrive in Frankfurt airport from a foreign country as a 'connection' to another city, you have to go through immigration.
We're flying from New York through Frankfurt to Rome. Am I correct in saying that we will not have to go through immigration when we arrive in Frankfurt? Aren't we just 'transit' passengers that can go straight through to the connecting flight's gate?
Thanks
We're flying from New York through Frankfurt to Rome. Am I correct in saying that we will not have to go through immigration when we arrive in Frankfurt? Aren't we just 'transit' passengers that can go straight through to the connecting flight's gate?
Thanks
Mar 16th, 2004, 06:59 PM
#35
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Yes, you will have to go through immigration once you arrive in Frankfurt prior to connecting to your flight to Rome. You will also have to go back through security prior to boarding your connection to Rome. At least that was my experience having gone through Frankfurt 4 times. 
Mar 16th, 2004, 07:30 PM
#36
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For those who don't understand how the Schengen zone works in Europe (like how and why you go through immigration in FRA when you're travelling to Rome), check out this official site:
http://www.eurovisa.info/
http://www.eurovisa.info/
Mar 17th, 2004, 03:09 AM
#37
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Basically you go through immigrations at your port of entry so if you are flying through London, Paris, Frankfurt or another big city you clear immigrations before going to your connecting flight.
One note, when returning through Frankfurt or Munich allow plenty of time for immigraions because the lines get very long and you also have to go through a security check on flights to the USA. They are very thorough. If you set off the aralm be prepared to be "felt up"!
One note, when returning through Frankfurt or Munich allow plenty of time for immigraions because the lines get very long and you also have to go through a security check on flights to the USA. They are very thorough. If you set off the aralm be prepared to be "felt up"!
Mar 17th, 2004, 03:09 AM
#38
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Basically you go through immigrations at your port of entry so if you are flying through London, Paris, Frankfurt or another big city you clear immigrations before going to your connecting flight.
One note, when returning through Frankfurt or Munich allow plenty of time for immigraions because the lines get very long and you also have to go through a security check on flights to the USA. They are very thorough. If you set off the alarm be prepared to be "felt up"!
One note, when returning through Frankfurt or Munich allow plenty of time for immigraions because the lines get very long and you also have to go through a security check on flights to the USA. They are very thorough. If you set off the alarm be prepared to be "felt up"!
Mar 17th, 2004, 04:26 AM
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UK is not in the Schengen zone, so if you fly through same airport in LHR or LGW, you don't need to clear customs and immigration for transit to Europe, though many people find it faster to get into UK and walk between terminals in the "landside" on some occassions.
The Schengen zone covers 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. You do not go through immigration between any of these countries. Just like you don't go through immigration when you go from New York to California.
The Schengen zone covers 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. You do not go through immigration between any of these countries. Just like you don't go through immigration when you go from New York to California.
