Hi! My family is looking to travel from the US to Italy in December. We are looking at a flight on United (via Lufthansa) from the US --> Frankfurt --> Venice, but the layover is only an hour and 15 minutes. Is this enough time? Do we need to go through passport control when we land or can we go straight to our connecting flight? Thanks!
Posted by
5 posts
As Frankfurt will be your entry to the Schengen area you will go through border security/immigration in Germany then the flight to Venice is similar to a domestic flight here in the U.S. I typically give myself no less than two hours to transit as you don't know how long it will take you to get through border security and depending on if you arrive on time or behind.
Posted by
Seattle
294 posts
Welcome to the TF. Theoretically, per the airline's offering of this specific itinerary, it is possible. My preference for an international layover is minimum 2 to 2.5 hours. Less stress, more buffer time for that which can go wrong. Which in the world of travel, is plenty and legendary. Your choosing an international flight for first leg of your journey is also my preference. I like heading over on my first flight to the other continent, rather than just traversing my own. Weather in December at your home airport, layover airport and final destination airport will be a factor to consider. You go through passport control in Frankfurt, your first point of entry to the Schengen Area. Checked luggage on a single ticket will (hopefully, airlines do lose luggage) automatically transfer.
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden 🇸🇪
1988 posts
If it was another airport, maybe. But FRA is huge & arriving from the US you could well have a remote gate, immigration plus long walk time, I would try to have at least 2 hours. Good luck!