Time needed Munich airport

I've usually allowed 2½ hours at MUC, but I usually have extra time at the gate before boarding.

A lot depends on when you flight is leaving and what trains you are taking. The regional, Meridian, trains will have you at the airport at 15 mintues after; an EC at 35 after. It looks like the RailJet gets you there at about 25 after, but you might have to leave earlier (they take longer because they don't stop a Munich East (Ostbahnhof).

it would help if you knew which check-in area you need, they are somewhat spread out. Start on the basis of 2 hours and check the train schedules at bahn.de using the "arrive by" button in the selection. Then work backwards, too close to 2 hours would be tempting fate, I'd look for something closer to 2½ hours if you don't know the airport. You can never arrive at MUC too early because there's always https://www.munich-airport.de/en/micro/airbraeu/index.jsp to kill the time! (Directly over the front of the train when it arrives)

The Meridian regional trains leave Salzburg at 15 mins past each hour. The Eurocity trains leave at the even hour. Both require a change of train at Munich Ostbahnhof (pretty easy, line S8 from Track 5 - line S1 goes via longer route). If you use Meridian buy a flat rate BayernTicket from the DB or Meridian Ticket machines at Salzburg, it's all you need (write your name in the empty box on it). For EC it's worth booking a Sparpreis ticket off the bahn.de website (comes as PDF) as soon as you know which train you need. Otherwise buy it at the DB ticket desk but allow time because they can get busy.

The fastest moving trains are the Railjets which leave at the odd hour. But they don't stop at Ostbahnhof so give the slowest overall journey. OK only by 6 minutes, but the bad thing is you have to change at the Hauptbahnhof which is huge, and you have find your way to the tunnel platforms below the main station. So basically forget the Railjets unless you like a challenge!

You didn't say to where you are flying when you leave Munich or on what airline. That could matter. I think we are all assuming you will be flying directly to the US. I think all flights to the US leave from the "out-of-Schengen" level of Terminal 2. You'll have to go through Schengen passport check as well as security to get to this floor, then an additional US TSA security at the gate. Lufthansa gates are near the middle of the terminal (where you come in), but the United gates are at the far right end.

Generally, if you have a Lufthansa (or maybe Star Alliance) flight to another Schengen country, you'll leave from the domestic flight level of T2; no outgoing immigration check required. If you are taking a non-Lufthansa (non-Star Alliance?) flight to another Schengen country, you'll use Terminal 1. There are a few exceptions: non-Star Alliance airlines using T2 or an occasional non-Schengen flight from T1.

We are flying BA to London, then back to US the next morning. Our flight is the last British Air for the day.

Thanks for all the helpful details.

If you are talking about the 20:15 BA departure to Heathrow, take the 15:15 Meridian train to Munich Ost and switch to the S-8 there. Looks like a cross platform connection that will get you to Munich airport by 17:35, giving you over 2 1/2 hours. You have back up as the next S-8 is 20 minutes later, still giving you over 2 1/4 hours.

Terminal 1, where you fly out of, is not as efficient as Terminal 2 but 2.5hr will suffice. One more option to think about is to take a morning train to Munich Ost and stop for lunch and a stroll around Haidhausen before heading to the airport. I'd recommend Augustiner Haidhauser or Cafe Voila.

DJ