Overnight Layover at Frankfurt Airport

I don't know this for sure, but it's my understanding that US citizens are exempt from having to get a German transit visa, as long as you stay in the International Transit Area, which is Terminal 1, specifically in the A/Z and B/C concourses, and Terminal 2, in the D/E concourses. This would apply to you since you are going from a Schengen to a non-Schengen country.

But I'll admit I'm not clear why United is telling you that you wouldn't be allowed to leave that area to go to a hotel. It would seem to me that you should be able to do that with the understanding that you would have to go through customs and security leaving and coming back.

Edit: That said, I did just find this from this website's FAQ: https://www.germany-visa.org/airport-transit-visa/#what-if-i-need-to-transit-through-multiple-schengen-countries-including-germany

What if I have an overnight layover? Can I stay in a hotel? You cannot leave the airport to stay in a hotel even if you have an overnight layover. You must stay in the airport transit area until your connecting flight. If the connecting flight is more than 24 hours away, you should get a tourist visa beforehand.

Yes, that's the same site I got the info that I posted originally! Then, why are so many people telling me I can leave the airport? Some mentioned that since my first flight was from Poland (even though I'm a US citizen) I can leave Germany because it's like a domestic flight in the US. However, even if that is true, it's the checking back into the airport for the last leg that is going through to the US that worries us. I think that's where we would encounter a problem.

You will end up spending at least a few hours of your time going back and forth to the offsite hotel. That shortens the layover. You will need to renter the airport and security, again further shortening the time.
It will cost you more, but if you are that certain that a room is needed, have you considered stating at one of the airport hotels? The convenience of staying at the airport cannot be overstated.
You will obviously introduce some additional complication by leaving the airport secured area, but with 12 hours, you should be able to deal with that. One of my peeves about FRA has always been what to do on a long layover. The way it is set up, it can really challenge you to find a good place to spend the time. My go to has been the Star Alliance lounges..........they feed you, ply you with drinks and offer a modestly comfortable place to sit and of course there is always entertainment in the lounges.

If you have a US passport, you can leave the airport, go to your hotel, whatever. The flight from Poland to Germany is within Schengen. However, Germany has set up immigration checks at its border. That doesn't mean you can't leave the airport. They're just going to check your passport to make sure you are legit and not trying to sneak into Germany.

I don't understand why this is so confusing. Germany-visa.org is a private company selling visa services. Most people who consult that web site need a visa. You don't.

Americans don't need a transit visa. Americans don't need any type of visa. The United agent doesn't know what she is talking about.

Let me just say that there are four hotels attached to the airport and it will save you time traveling back and forth.

Why is leaving the airport for an overnight layover any different from leaving the airport during a long daytime layover? I've never done that at FRA, but I've done it at AMS. You leave the airport, like you would if FRA were your final destination, go enjoy the city (or sleep in a hotel) and then you return in the morning and go back through security. You'll have a boarding pass for a departing flight; no one will check to see when or how you arrived in Frankfurt.

US citizens don't (yet) need a Schengen visa. Why is FRA or Germany any different? I've never heard of a "German Transit Visa." I am genuinely curious. If this is some rule I've totally missed over my years of traveling to Germany, someone please fill me in.

Thank you, Frank II. Why did the hotel rep (Zleep Hotel in Kelsterbach) also tell me I couldn't leave the airport? I let them know I'm a US citizen and what our layover situation is - starting in Europe but ending in US the next day. That's why she advised getting a transit or tourist visa.

I guess if it doesn't work out and we can't leave the airport, we're only out the hotel fee. However, if we can leave and stay at the hotel but can't get back into the airport without a visa to get home, that is a huge problem.

I think the hotel rep doesn't know what she's talking about. US citizens do not yet need a visa in the Schengen Zone.

From the Department of State's website, the page about Germany:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Germany.html

"TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

Not required for stays under 90 days."

Again, if I've missed a rule about a transit visa in Germany, I'd like to know, Especially since I am flying to Berlin via Frankfurt later today.

I think the hotel rep was concerned about getting back into the airport after staying overnight. If we entered the airport the next morning with a ticket from FRA to ORD (Chicago), would they even know the details of how we got there in the first place (it was a layover, not a direct flight)? Or, when trying to exit the airport to catch a shuttle are there any checkpoints that would prevent us from doing so? We don't anticipate any checked baggage - we only have carry ons but the leg from KRK to FRA is on Lufthansa so I don't know if our bags will be allowed on the plane as with United that starts our trip.

You'll have a boarding pass for your flight the next morning. Like I said above, no one will know, or ask, when you arrived in Frankfurt. You'll re-enter the airport and go through security with your passport and boarding pass just like you would if you'd spent your vacation in Frankfurt.

However, for twelve hours, I would consider one of the places you mentioned in the airport. For the amount of time it will take schlepping to a hotel and then back again the next morning less than twelve hours later, I would consider it money well spent.

Edited to add re baggage; whether you can carry on to your Krakow to Frankfurt flight will depend on where you are in the boarding queue. They may request/make you gate check your bags in Krakow if it's a full flight and you're in a later boarding group. If they do, they may offer to check it to your final destination. I'll defer to others as to whether you can request to claim it in Frankfurt.

Thanks - maybe that's another thing to consider: will we have actual boarding passes from FRA to ORD when we initially start the journey home in KRK (Poland)? If so, that would make things seem simpler. The hotel shuttle should only take 10 minutes each way (once we catch it) so I don't think that bothers us so much - my younger daughter would feel much safer in that situation and it would be so much cheaper (even compared to a NapCab). All we want to do is shower and sleep for even 4 hours. We plan on getting to the airport about 2 hours before flight to US unless it's advised as 3 hours.

Thank you for constantly replying!

When I checked in for my Lufthansa flight yesterday for ATL-FRA and FRA-BER, I got boarding passes for both flights in the Lufthansa app.

So sorry you are having such a challenge, stressful!
I flew (solo) back to the US through Frankfurt a few months ago with the same long overnight layover situation on Lufthansa. While expensive, I stayed at one of the two (can't remember? Hilton?) options INside the airport.
It was expensive, almost $200 US, but eliminated all the uncertainty you're describing, including time for shuttles and security for the flight to the US.
I never check a suitcase, but this time checked it through to my home airport figuring it would arrive eventually (gasp! It was waiting for me!). I kept a change of clothes and etc in my backpack and that was also really convenient to be unencumbered.
I believe I had to reprint my boarding pass but it wasn't a problem.
I was able to sleep about 4 hours and shower and it was wonderful before the 10+ hour flight ahead.

When you check in at KRK, you should be given both boarding passes. If for some reason they dont, do not lose sleep over it. It may be because the flght is the following day they can't do it.

The next day, you will go to your flight as you would anywhere. With no checked luggage, and boarding passes in hand, you go straight to security.(If you don't have your boarding passes, all you will have to do is stop at check in and get your passes. I believe you can even do this at a self service machine.) As long as your boarding passes show a flight for that day, you can go through security. Once past security, you will head to your gate. Enroute to your gate, you will go through exit immigration from Schengen and have your passports stamped. And before you ask, they don't care where you spent the previous night.