Question: We arrive on American Airlines, which I believe is Terminal 1 in Munich, @ 6:45 AM. Our flight on Easy Jet to Berlin leaves from Terminal 1 @ 8:40 AM. I know we'll have to go through customs in Munich. I'm concerned now that this won't be enough time to make our connection to Berlin? We have to check in our bags by 8:00 AM for the Easy Jet flight. We'll expect to only have carryons on the American Airlines flight.
Posted by
Green Bay
21194 posts
Good luck. It might happen, then again, it might not. You will make it to Berlin eventually if you have resolve, and money.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11894 posts
Reading your post does not give me a warm n fuzzy feeling about your chances for success
Posted by
Germany
268 posts
On separate tickets, this is not really a connection - i.e., it is not protected in case something goes wrong. Munich Airport is quite efficient, so you will most likely make it if your incoming flight is on time (especially as you do not have to wait for your luggage).
Customs should not be an issue; unless you are selected for an inspection, you just go through the green exit if you have nothing to declare. The passport/immigration check can take longer, but can be as quick as 10 minutes if it is not a busy day/time.
You should still check your alternatives, as you do not have much buffer for delays (Easyjet's policy in case you arrive late - is there a chance they will put you on the next flight? I do not think so, but it would not hurt to check that). Going by train would be a slower, but probably less expensive alternative compared to the walk-up price for a later flight.
(Edited to correct the overly optimistic statement on immigration time).
Posted by
Bavaria
2481 posts
Nobody can say that exactly. The minimum transfer time inside terminal 1 is 35 min, immigration about 15 minutes. So, if everything goes smoothly, you can do it. But if your flight is delayed or the lines are longer at immigration because many flights arrive at once, that can easily change. And the check-in at EasyJet can get time consuming, especially if they think that inconspicous small bag should not get into the cabin. They are great in inventing reasons for that.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Do your Easyjet check-in online and print out your boarding pass before you leave home, you can do this up to 30 days in advance. That means you can bypass both check-in and, since you only have hand luggage, by-pass baggage drop (Easyjet has a self-service baggage drop for people who have checked in online). Go straight to security.
With Easyjet you must be at the gate at least 30 minutes before departure, or you will be turned away.
"I know we'll have to go through customs in Munich" - as the others say, customs is not an issue, it is immigration you need to worry about. This could be 10 minutes or 30 minutes. Make sure you go in the "non-EU" queue (the slow queue!).
Plus whatever time it takes to disembark and walk to immigration.
Plus the risk your flight might land late.
As you can see this is getting very tight. If you miss the Easyjet 30 minute deadline, hard luck, no refunds.
Posted by
Green Bay
21194 posts
If what is on the internet is to believed, seems like you can change your booking for a 42 EUR fee plus the additional cost of the new flight above what you have already paid. Easyjet has flights at 10:40 am and about every 2 hours after that to Berlin. Buying a new ticket at walk-up rates will be at least 160 EUR, probably more. The Deutsche Bahn walk-up price is 154.50 EUR and is 5 1/2 hours when you include time to get to Munich Hbf on the S-Bahn and an ICE direct to Berlin.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7904 posts
It seems possible that you might also have to pass some security screening to get back into the departure area - with possible lines. Certainly, pay as much as possible for avoiding long lines at a bargain airlines' check-in kiosks or baggage deposit desks. One way they keep fares down is keeping staffing levels and desk rentals down.
Posted by
OP
Folsom, California, usa
39 posts
After reading all of your replies I am also left w/this conclusion as posted by Joe: "Reading your post does not give me a warm n fuzzy feeling about your chances for success"! It seems I wasn't thinking clearly when I booked the 8:40 flight! I can't find a phone # for Easy Jet to talk to a person to explore my options. Also, I need to know if Easy Jet considers my husband's C-Pap machine a "cabin bag" or does he get a free pass as on other airlines. Thank you all for your input!
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11894 posts
Hopefully this link will work to give you phone number info--- they have it buried so deep you need a coal miner's union card
Posted by
OP
Folsom, California, usa
39 posts
Thank you! Could only chat on line. Tried to call their # in the UK & was put on hold for so long I hung up! Finally got some pat answers. They said to "allow 2 hrs between flights" which we have, so I guess we'll take our chances. Planning this 3 wk independent trip to Germany has really been a challenge! So many details! Even trying to buy a Bahn discount card was futile!