Tips for Clearing Security in Munich Quickly

Munich is a dream airport to pass through. You only need to go through Passport Control, and you stay airside for your connecting flight - NO security. At least that's been my experience, the many times I have flown through MUC - with most trips being INBOUND Air Canada Connecting to Air Dolomiti AND the reverse on OUTBOUND flights.

https://www.munich-airport.com/connecting-flights-260553

Well, if your concern is time, in my opinion you are more likely to see a line at passport
control than security, if you are on Lufthansa or United, leaving from Terminal 2. There
are a lot of security stations at T2. I can't speak for T1.

If you have business class tickets, I believe there is a Fast Track line to the right of the
the T2 security area, but it does not change what you get screened for, just a probability of
a shorter line.

I think electronics will have to come out of the bag but cables are fine to not. No metal
on your person when going through the detector. I think shoes can stay on assuming no
metal in them.

This all applies to your return flight which as you describe it originates in Munich. I haven't
connected through Munich in a while so don't speak for what will happen on your origination
connection.

But nothing is guaranteed to stay the same with security procedures.

periscope's experience has been mine. No extra security when transferring at Munich airport, just passport control. Returning to the USA, you may be selected for additional screening at the gate area on a random basis.

I was shouted at in Munich because I hadn't put my lipstick in my liquids bag. (I neglected to do so because it's not a liquid, but whatever. I do so now.) My husband was wanded, even down the front of his pants, in full public view. Why? We don't know, but before his hair turned white, he was often subjected to extra scrutiny. He is part Cree (as am I, although I look more Caucasian) and when his hair was dark, was often mistaken for other ethnicities.

So, no, Munich airport is not a breeze for everyone.

In my experience, most airports don't require the removal of ipads, phones, or charging cables from bags, though.

I've got a coworker who made this same trip last year and I asked them today about it.

They said that upon arrival in MUC they went through passport control and then had to rescreen to get to the flight to Vienna. When they did, all charging cables had to come out along with all elecronics, including cameras, and they had to power up their laptop.

I'll prepare for that process. The charging cables surprises me somewhat; that's not a feature of even non-TSA Precheck here in the US. And powering up a laptop seems fairly 20 years ago as well.

They said they arrived in one terminal and had to transit to another for the connecting flight. Maybe there is no way to get from one to the other without leaving security so that is why they had to screen and unpack everything.

From the webpage linked above by another poster:

"In some cases you will need to pass through security control when changing flights. Please allow enough time for the security checks and observe the regulations for your hand luggage ."

First of all, there is a good chance you won’t go through security again on a transfer.

I did recently ( a few weeks ago) go through security at Munich. All electronics were expected to be removed from bags. Coats were to be taken off. Liquids out in their plastic bag. Shoes remained on.

Both my daughter in law and myself were selected “randomly” for extra screening. This involved a quick wanding, a swab taken for drug or explosive residue, and a more thorough look at our backpacks. It only added about 4 minutes to the screening process and we were done. I felt no embarrassment and simply thanked the workers for the good job they do. I find approaching security with a positive and cooperative attitude usually pays off in quicker processing times.

They said they arrived in one terminal and had to transit to another for the connecting flight. Maybe there is no way to get from one to the other without leaving security so that is why they had to screen and unpack everything.

That underground people mover between Terminal 2 and the satellite Terminal and is STILL airside and does not require security screening. You will go through Passport Control upon exiting the people mover.

I will say that sometimes people don't pay attention when they are exiting Passport Control. The immediate escalators down, to the left or right, are to continue to your next flight - IF you walk straight onward you will exit the secure zone. It is well marked and shouldn't be a problem.

Periscope, I think they were referring to transferring from T1 to T2 (or V-V) not between T2 and its satellite.

According to the airport's website, there are shuttle buses between the terminals. Someone said that you don't have to go through security at the next terminal if you are arriving on a shuttle bus, but I could not confirm that. The buses go on the tarmac between the plane sides of the terminals, not across the plaza between terminals. I think there are even separate buses for in- and out-of-Schengen.

I flew out of MUC last Thursday (12 Oct), going back to the USA. So I can't speak for a transfer, but I can share what we went through, at Terminal 1:

1. screening (check your passport and ask questions) at the entry to line for airline check in for bag drop. Then they check ID again as you're checking the bag at the counter, obviously.

2. Security screening to enter gate area ( TSA style screening): which the slightly terse Security screener wanted:

Yes they want your liquids in a bag and taken out in the tray.
Big garbage bin piled with bottles with water I observe, right next to the screening start. Somebody came to collect it for the bottle deposits.
And all your electronics (phone, laptop, tablet).
Jacket off. Cardigan (Strickjacket) off.
Anything (no paper, no metal, no candy) in pockets out.
Masks (if you're masking) off.
For my dad, they wanted his belt off (arrgh).
Shoes can leave on. The beleaguered dad with the infant in front of me, could carry the baby through.
They might wand you, do a pat down. Otherwise it was just the metal detector or body scanner options.

1. About a few feet later, it was passport control (bigger line because everyone going in unless you have EU passport).

2. Now in gate area (maybe walk a long way to your gate, have we walked to Austria yet?). Got to embarking gate, another passport check (fast).

3. Then a final boarding pass scan (not looking at passport) as you board bus (if you are in this situation) to the tarmac for the plane.

Granted, this all occurred days after the Israel Gaza strip situation was evolving, so I don't know if that had any effect.
There was no distinction in lines for business or non-business travelers. Everybody went into the same line.

I'm a Global Entry traveler and US security was a breeze in comparison, but I expect there to be more scrutiny at security in airports in general. I notice they have been really checking powders.

OP here.

It appears that I will be arriving at Terminal 1A. This could be a satellite gate or one of those where you deplane, go down the movable steps and hop on a bus. Our next flight will be in Terminal 2.

@Periscope says that I don't need to rescreen and to take the escalators after passport control to avoid doing so.

Does my arrival terminal negate that advice or should I still be able to only go through security in Charlotte (my US departure city) and not in Munich (my EU arrival city)?

arriving at Terminal 1A. This could be a satellite gate

?
Terminal 1 is a very "wide" terminal, with the gates grouped in areas designated as A through E. A gates are the northernmost group.

Terminal 2 is a separate building across the Munich Airport Center from Terminal 1. You could go out of security and walk between the terminal, then go back through security to get into T2. I understand that there are shuttle buses that go around on the tarmac between the gate sides of both terminals. You might be able to avoid security by taking a shuttle bus. I also think there are buses for either landside and airside. Your flight attendant might be able to advise you.

@Periscope says that I don't need to rescreen and to take the
escalators after passport control to avoid doing so.

I think Periscope is talking about passport control in Terminal 2. The main terminal 2 building has out-of-Schengen, H, gates on the top floor. Passport control is in the middle of the wide terminal. After passport control you either go straight ahead to elevators down to baggage claim, which is outside of security, or, apparently, you can take escalators down one floor to the in-Schengen, G, gates, without leaving security.

https://www.munich-airport.com/_b/0000000000000019860280bb651a9ad8/shuttle-service-t1-t2-en.pdf

I'm absolutely talking about T2 Satellite to T2 , through Passport Control and down the escalator to both T2 Schengen Gates and T2 NON-Schengen Gates.

ALL airside NO security.

Given the status in the world today, I would not be surprised if you have to go through security to get on a US flight. And more picky than usual is a possibility.

The last time I left Munich (ten) years ago) there was TSA (US) security at the gate for the flight to the US. However, when I flew from FRA five years ago, there was no security at the gate.

When I flew from FRA to the US in Jan., 2002 (four months after 9/11) there was security everywhere.

I live in Vienna and we often fly to Munich to go home to the US.

Upon arrival in Munich you will only go through passport control to get on your flight to Vienna.

When you are departing Munich, you will need to go through security as you enter the airport as well as passport control (assuming you are on a direct flight to the US). Security at airports changes all the time and depends on the machines in use. I have not had to take my shoes off in a European airport in ages. Often now I don’t even have to remove electronics. It is hard to answer your question, particularly given the recent threats in Europe.

@Emily
What do you know about the shuttle buses between T1 and T2? Since shuttle passengers have been outside security, in a bus on the tarmac, do they have to go through security on arrival at the other terminal.

I'm asking because the OP has already stated that they will be arriving at T1, and the only flights to Vienna, I believe, leave from T2 (Lufthansa and Austrian Air both use T2). They will have to transit from T1 to T2, and the only possible way that won't involve security is if those shuttle buses don't require security at the next terminal.

The only other way to go between terminals is to leave security in T1 and walk across the MAC to T2, but then you would have to go through security to get to the gates in T2.