This June, I have a flight on EVA Air from Taiwan to Munich arriving 7:30 AM, and a separately purchased flight on airBaltic from Munich to Vilnius departing 9:40 AM. I realize now that this was a bit risky time-wise. Would not having a check-in bag (i.e.: only carry-on) notably decrease the risk of me missing my flight? My passport is visa-free for Schengen Area, if that helps.
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden 🇸🇪
1808 posts
Would not having a check-in bag (i.e.: only carry-on) notably decrease
the risk of me missing my flight? My passport is visa-free for
Schengen Area, if that helps.
Yes, it will help a lot to not have a checked bag. Otherwise you have to wait for your bag, pick it up and go through security again. Many nationalities don't need a visa coming into Schengen, HOWEVER many people are reporting long Q's getting through new EES system - (Electronic Entry & Exit System, requiring registering at a machine with photo taking and fingerprinting, if you're lucky and the machines are working.) Here's a recent thread about EES in MUC on May 19th. BTW, if your EVA Air flight is delayed, Air Baltic has NO obligation to book you onto a later flight. Good luck!
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/germany/ees-at-munich-airport
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
3255 posts
Honestly carry on only is your ONLY hope and even then... it's risky.
I am not 100% sure what the AirBaltic check in cutoff is but generally speaking luggage needs to be checked 30 to 45 minutes before the flight. That means you would have to your luggage checked in (not be in line to check) probably no later than 9 giving you only 90 minutes to get off the EVA flight, clear immigration, pick up luggage and recheck.
I do non-protected connections like this a lot and always allow 4 hours.