Hello,
I will be going to Romania next year (hopefully) and my connection is in Vienna. Forgive my ignorance but I’ve only flown into London on a non-stop so, I am not familiar with how security works for connection flights in another country. Will I be standing in a line with my passport for an hour before I’m allowed to go to my departure gate? Do I need to look changing my flight because a longer than 3hr layover will be necessary? Any guidance is appreciated.
Karen M
What is the origin for this trip?
A single air ticket? Checked baggage?
Depends on where you are coming from.
Where are you flying from? Is it a non-Schengen to non-Schengen transit?
I apologize, I should have said. I will be leaving from Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Chicago-Vienna-Romania, okay.
Is this a single itinerary, booked as one ticket, or separate booking for the second leg?
If you bought the flights separately, there is a chance that you will have to go through immigration into Austria and then check in to the second flight. The chance of sending your luggage straight through to the final stop is also lower. If a single itinerary, you may be able to simply claim your luggage at the destination.
You can see the advantage of booking a full itinerary rather than patching together several separate flight tickets. Often cheaper, too.
You might check with the originating airline. Also ask about a visa. While Americans do not need a visa to enter the Schengen zone, which includes Austria, Romania is not part of Schengen. Not yet, anyhow, but may apply sometime soon.
Schengen is also developing an electronic locator called ETIAS, not a visa but a trace function for visitors from outside Schengen. It may not be fully operational yet. Anyhow, something else you can ask the airline about.
Sorry it is not simple but that's now travel life -- adding in the Covid travel requirements too which can vary from place to place.
Thank you. The ticket is a round trip, Chicago to Bucharest with a connection in Vienna. I’m planning on taking a carry on only as it’s just a 2 week stay. The layover in Vienna is just under 3hrs.
