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Real-time update EES at Frankfurt Wed 2 Sept CEST

Posted by (San Franciso Bay Area, USA) on

After a delayed flight from SFO to Frankfurt, we arrived to passport control. We were required to scan our passport, have our photos taken and fingerprints, then headed to the line to see a border control agent along with hundreds of others. I timed the entire process which took 1 hour and 40 minutes prior to going through security again to get to our next gate. Security took 10 minutes. When we got to the border control agent, we had to repeat the entire process over again even though we were “pre-cleared.

The only saving grace for people with short connections is that they had a separate line for people with flights 45 minutes or less. Because these people had priority, only 2 border control agents were allocated to our line that had more time between flights.

Posted by
2190 posts

Thanks for the update, it actually sounds as if EES process is getting worse, not better.

Posted by
1134 posts

Frankfurt is the airport I’ve been worrying about. We fly through it from Berlin on our way to DFW next month. I was recently able to change our flights out of Berlin so we have 3 hours instead of 2. Fingers crossed it will be enough. Thanks for the update.

Posted by
15 posts

I am curious at to which terminal you flew into/out of? I wonder if it is terminal specific. i flew in late July and went through the new terminal 3 and breezed right through.

I wonder is terminal 1 (which i think is primary Lufthansa) is much worse becuase they likely would have so many more foreign flights.

Posted by
10 posts

We also just recently flew in and out of terminal one and had a similar experience. We were able to get in and out on time without issue, but it included a lot of people herding and multiple rounds of passport checks. Allow extra time and expect some nonsensical processing.

Posted by
111 posts

What time did your plane land? Were you bussed to the terminal? I appreciate your update. Heading that way next Tuesday.

Posted by
23 posts

Hi All, Thank you for sharing your updates. We are heading to Hamburg in two weeks, (unfortunately) with a connection via Frankfurt. Two questions;
-We already have our EES. Does that help expedite the process in any way?
-We have a 2 1/2 hour layover. Any idea if that is currently sufficient? We fly into and out of Terminal 1.
-If we miss our flight due to long, slow lines, does Lufthansa put us on a subsequent flight (there are quite a few) without charging us for the subsequent flight?
Thank you for any information you can share.

Posted by
1237 posts

I don’t know if it makes a difference on whether you have EES other than you don’t have to register. Everyone stood in the same line for border control.

If your time is short, they have a 45 minute or less line. At the time we were they, they were only letting people in if they had 45 minutes or less. However, if you got into the standard line and you were up against the 45 minute time limit, just ask to cut the line and get into the 45 minute line. Tons of people were doing that.

Posted by
3171 posts

I took about 1 hour. I saw nothing that separated those who had already done the EES process. Very confusing. The kiosk did not complete my registration and I had to give fingerprints with the officer in the booth

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