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Passport control/customs for multi city trip and seat reservations?

Posted by (Long Beach, USA) on

Hi,

You'd think I would have this down after so many trips. But not sure how it'll work for Switzerland.
Can someone advice where the passport control will be? A bit tigher layover on the way to Europe and more time on the way back is what I am looking at now.

Flying from LAX to Zurich and then continuing to Malta. (with Swiss)
I was able to choose my seats.

Flying back from Sofia to Frankfort and then back to LAX. (with Lufthansa)
The map is grayed out for seat reservations...I am guessing because I did not book directly with Lufthansa.
Can I book them in advance by contacting them?

Thanks!

Posted by
9109 posts

On your flight back to LAX which airline did you book with?

Pull up the reservation on their website and there might be an option that will display the booking codes for "other airlines". If so head over to Lufthansa's site and plug that code and you should be able to select seats for the transatlantic leg. You can't select seats in advance for European flights. This is the way it works for Untied code-share flights.

Posted by
2841 posts

Lufthansa charges for seats until online check-in, then you may choose any available seat in your class. Check-in nominally starts 23 hours ahead of the flight, but I have been able to check in as much as 30 hours prior.

Posted by
252 posts

Thank you gentlemen!

I'll set an alarm 23 hours before and 30 hours or so before on my phone! I think this had happened to me before (being able to do it early). Thanks for the reminder.

I booked through a third party website. I may just give Lufthansa a call and see. I don't mind my seat for short flights... But I am not doing 12 hours in a middle seat if I can avoid it! :)

Thanks! Danke!

Oh, any thoughts as of where the passport control will be on the way there? Layover is a bit tight...but wouldn't mind being stuck in Zurich. (should not say that!)

Posted by
7895 posts

It is typical that for domestic flights on partner airlines, you may not be able to choose a seat until check-in. This has happened to me a number of times.

As for immigration, if the typical rules play out, then you should do immigration in Zurich on the way over (both Switzerland and Malta are Schengen countries) but changes in security measures as a result of both refugee and terrorism issues may add some checks.

Coming back, again it may be muddy as to what you encounter. Bulgaria is non-Schengen, you probably will have some type of exit check. You should be "in-transit" in Frankfurt, so no checks, but boarding a US bound flight, you probably will have another check and security, maybe at the gate, maybe between terminals if that applies.

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