Travel through Frankfurt airport

I think, if I understand correctly, you were in Frankfurt to go to Dallas. That means leaving Schengen and, yes, there will be a passport check. If you were transfering from a flight from Zurich to a flight to Hungary, there would be no check (unless the only available gates were behind the passport control and I guess that could happen)

I do Frankfurt a lot and it hasnt been that bad, but its a new world so I believe you.

We flew from Zurich this morning and transferred to international flight. Now waiting to see if there will be seats on another flight.

Tough time to be flying. Good luck.

Between the terminals it is much easier to take the Skyline (operates today) and use the security checks there. And even in your described case by using the bus for terminal transfer the passengers do not have to take "a couple of hours between flights".

Have a good journey.

We always plan on a 2-3 hours for layovers. It allows some time if a flight departs late, you need to circle before landing, or can’t pull right up to a gate. Frankfurt wasn’t as hectic when we passed through last month, but it isn’t my favorite airport.

Anyone who:

• is a US citizen
• travels/connects through Germany sometimes
• has a long layover or an origination in Frankfurt or Munich
• flies United/Lufthansa a lot (since FRA and MUC are hubs)

should consider registering for the EasyPass program:

EasyPass

It takes a few minutes (check the website for the location of the police office in
the airport, probably outside the secure area) and once you're registered, you
can use the E-gates in German airports at origination, connection, and arrival.

Has saved my derriere a few times.

Also, I don't know if LH will allow this to be a EC261 situation, but might be worth
pursuing.

When ETIAS comes into being, wonder if things will get better.

Could you explain why you had to change terminals and/or needed a bus transfer? Because Swiss and Lufthansa both use Terminal 1 A. If this had changed, for example, due to construction work, you certainly have a claim for compensation. Or was your flight from Frankfurt with AA (Terminal 2)? Then LH is not responsible for the transfer time. Hope you can get seats on the 17:10 flight via ERW.

I agree. Give yourself time in Frankfurt. We were there in November (not a peak travel time) coming from Florence on our way to Chicago. We flew Lufthansa and its partners all the way. We had two hours in Frankfurt. We spent them them going from terminal to terminal, a security and passport check, and long walks to our gate. We made our flight because we can still walk fast and run when necessary. Sometimes we had to debate the meaning of some of the signs. Friends of ours on the way to New York found themselves in the same rush that day and almost missed their plane. We had no margin for error.

You took the bus between Terminals 2 & 1? I would have thought the Sky Line would have been faster.

I agree that FRA is not the most pleasant airport through which to transit. It is huge and terribly crowded . However, it is unbelievably efficient. We once had a connection there from Zagreb back to SFO.. A delay in departure from Zagreb cut our time to 45 minutes. We literally ran through the terminal to get to our gate, forced through an enormous duty-free area. Boarding was already underway. I’m sure we were quite a sight. In our 70’s, schlepping carry-ons. Not only did we make it, but so did our checked bags. Nonetheless, if possible, I try to avoid FRA.

You have to take a bus to the terminal then go through security regardless of destination.

Do planes park out on the tarmac and bus passengers to the terminal building ( vs. walking off the plane through the tube directly into the terminal building)?

Perhaps this is the 'bus' OP is referencing?

At FRA it is indeed common for planes to land on a remote stand. In that case you are bussed to the terminal.

I think the issue is that you were traveling on the first weekend of July. That is the start of the summer holidays. I usually avoid those days.

Frankfurt is an easily navigable airport. I used it last summer. With a connection of 55 minutes I would pursued airport information ahead of time for layout and options. The connection is certainly doable however a longer layover may have worked out better.

School holidays in Hessen are later in July, and then the airport will be packed. The states in Germany have staggered summer vacations, they are not all at the same time. Hessen begins 24 July.

https://www.holidays-info.com/germany/school-holidays/

I try and avoid Frankfurt. If I have to connect there ,previous experiences inform me that I need at least 3 hours to feel comfortable. I have done 2 hours but with exiting flights on the tarmac to board the shuttle to the terminal, then immigration long lines , then running to the gate only to be shuttled again in a packed bus to the plane,I barely made it. United from San Francisco,Lufthansa to Rome. Similar experience connecting to Valencia Spain another time.

If I can, I opt for United's other hub in Munich. Much easier.(From SFO, United usually has the best schedule and price.)

I encourage everyone to transit at Zurich, rather than FRA, in ALL seasons. FRA is a poorly run hub.

Additional info to link from Ms. Jo: The most populated German state NRW (located next to Hessen with nearly triple number of people) has summer vacation since June 22. Therefore German airports in west part of Germany run already in stress mode.

I have traveled for year through Frankfurt, most recently in May this year. I left only 1 hour 20 minutes for transfer and with my flight delayed an hour from Rome, had to run to catch my flight. The passport control line was well staffed and we breezed through.

I am flying again in October, but allowing 2.5 hours. With the air delays, just know I need to put in more time.

Several years ago I was pulled out of line for a security check after landing at FRA from JNB and before connecting back to the US. Both flights were on Lufthansa - and fortunately we had plenty of time between flights. The lesson learned is always plan enough time between international connections regardless of the airport or airline.

I had to transit through Frankfurt airport on Monday, July 3 (ATH-FRA-EWR-CLE) and hope to NEVER see that airport again. Had a two-hour layover and spent all that time in lines. Trying to get to connecting gate and couldn’t even get off the elevator because the line was backed up. A gentleman (in airport uniform) came and directed us to another checkpoint but the line there turned out to be even longer. Too late to go back. There was a sign for Lufthansa First/Business, which we were flying that day, with no one in it but the woman would not let us through because our boarding pass said United even though the ticket was bought by our cruise company through Lufthansa. So what is a code share then? Very frustrating as it was our first time at FRA. Finally got through all the lines, put on a bus to the tarmac and had to wait on the bus for half an hour because the cleaning people needed to get something. After all that rushing. We left an hour and twenty minutes late meaning we had to rush to make our connection at EWR. Just made it and when I asked for a glass of water, after all that running at EWR, was told the refreshment cart had not arrived and they were going to take off without it. No water. I was flying first/business class that day and did not feel like a first class traveller at all. I’m 62, life is too short now, I would rather not travel than transit through that airport again.

We are on a RS tour next year starting in Salzburg and I'm having a tough time finding a flight the does not connect through Frankfort coming from the US. Fortunately I do see a couple that have 3 hour layovers. I was unaware of the challenges at FRA until reading this post so I appreciate everyone's comments. Haven't bought yet. Still looking.

For Salzburg I would just fly to Munich and take the train.

Had a 2-hour-ish layover in Frankfurt from Denver to Venice in May. I was a little surprised at the line to check passports as it was very winding and a little difficult at first to figure out where to stand. But we figured it no problem. What really got me about our connection to Venice is we waited at the gate...went through the boarding process....went through the door and I expected we were boarding the plane right there. Ha! I know I was sleepy from the overnight flight. Instead we boarded a bus that drove us to legit the farthest runway possible at that airport. We would at times stop at intersections and wait for planes to cross. I remember looking at the planes driving by and thinking, well that's different. That's my story, hope you liked it!

We connected through Frankfurt recently, and our airline was incapable of promptly getting the airplane loaded. The lines to get on a Boeing 767 were long, and we were an hour late departing. We were not impressed with the airport either.

When we arrived in Dulles late, we missed our connecting flight home. All the 70 passenger jets flying to our home city the next two days were 100% full. We had to fly to Atlanta, rent a car and drive 200 miles home. Flight insurance that paid for the rental car--thankfully.

Future flights will be on Delta because they fly full size jets into our city--and will more likely have empty seats on most flights. To be told there is no room on future flights when it's the airline's fault for the late flight is disheartening.

There was a sign for Lufthansa First/Business, which we were flying that day, with no one in it but the woman would not let us through because our boarding pass said United even though the ticket was bought by our cruise company through Lufthansa. So what is a code share then?

I fly through FRA multiple times a year on a UA ticket and have never been turned away from Lufthansa's Business Class lounge. It's not just 'code share', it's Star Alliance, just as in the US someone flying Lufthansa Business Class can use the UA lounge. The woman at the door was simply wrong, or very irritable. And I assume OP didn't mean 'security lines', they meant immigration lines? Interesting point about Munich, good reminder in this stressful year of travel, thanks.

Swiss and Lufthansa both use Terminal 1 A

I don't know about Swiss, but Lufthansa uses 1A and 1B for in-Schengen flights and 1Z and 1B (transit zone) for out-of-Schengen flights (like to and from Dallas).

Ours was Zurich to Frankfurt with final destination being Dallas

So the OP's flights could easily have involved a change in concourses or certainly a change of zones/levels in a single building. At best they would have had to walk down some hallways and through emigration in B or go through emigration and change levels in the A/Z building.