Heidelberg > Frankfurt on flight day

When I have encountered a long line at Frankfurt, it's usually been the emmigration cue, for some reason. Check in and security is usually relatively quick.

I often do that when I stay with family. It's a one hour train ride away from the airport and with the train arriving right inside the airport it works out just fine, the procedures are speedy.

The only exception: if the flight is on a SUNDAY morning, the train schedule does not give me a departure early enough to make it. It happened once to me and I now make sure that I don't get Sunday departure dates.

You are lucky that Heidelberg has very frequent connections to Frankfurt Airport on all days of the week. So you should be ok.

Great,

Thanks for the replies. It's a regular weekday flight, so it sounds like it will work out. I'm excited I get to spend another day in Heidelberg.

• Matt

Just be sure to have a plan "B" in case anything untoward happens to the trains. Unlikely, but possible.

You wouldn't want to shell out for a new flight if anything happened.

You sound relatively casual about it. If I did that, I'd probably be on the first train, just in case.

What airline are you flying? Hopefully it's Lufthansa (or a Star Alliance partner). Some American flag carriers us Terminal 2, which is a little more difficult and time consuming getting to. Ten years ago I came to FRA from Karlsruhe on a direct ICE connection. I got to the Fernbahnhof about 2-2½ hours before flight time and made it. I had only a carryon and checked in at the Lufthansa counter just outside the station, went straight to the concourse security, and had enough time for lunch inside security.

Re: Lee - Flying Aer Lingus, hence the stopover in Ireland. I will make sure to check terminal information beforehand so I have a plan upon arriving at the airport.

Re: Nigel - I am willing to accept the remote possibility that I may have to shell out for another last-minute flight to Ireland if I miss my booked departure. And yes, hah, I am extremely casual traveler, a trait that sometimes drives my travel companions crazy. But as someone who's done a fair bit of international travel, my view has always been that as long as I make it back in one piece, all's well that ends well.

Note, if you take the last possible S-Bahn from Heidelberg to Mannheim, as shown on the Bahn schedule, you have a relatively quick (5 min) change of trains with a one platform change. But the S-Bahn runs every 10 or so minutes. You can take an earlier S-Bahn and assure yourself more time for the change, in case you walk too slow or the S-Bahn is a few minutes late.

Aer Lingus does indeed use T2, so you'll need a little more time. If you come in from the Fernbahnhof, you'll probably come into T1 across the pedestrian bridge over the access road. You enter T1 on the mezzanine level. I'm not sure if you can stay on that level around to the Skyline (people mover to T2) or if you have to go down to the main level, then back up. The Skyline goes from a top floor in the left back of Terminal 1 the a top level of Terminal 2. I did it in 2000; there must have been signs.

Thanks Lee,

Very useful information, I will keep it in mind.

• Matt

What I would do is stay in Mannheim as ICEs from there take 30 minutes into the airport's long distance train station. The Ramada and the InterCity Hotel are walking distance to Mannheim Hbf.

Please keep in mind: To get from FRA airport's long distance train station to terminal 2 where Aer Lingus depart from you need to schedule 30 minutes. Then between arrival at T2 and departure of your flight you might want to reserve another 90 minutes. T2 security to Ireland is pretty good as immediately after check-in you only go through passport control. Then only just before entering the plane you've got security. There are about 3-4 security gates per 5 departure gates.

I take Aer Lingus from FRA to DUB a lot and actually 70 minutes between arrival in T2 and departure of the flight are fine. But I also know my way around in the building.

Thanks,

Very helpful information. Bearing it in mind, I think I will still stay in Heidelberg but will aim to catch an earlier train, perhaps around 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. if one is available.

• Matt