Self-connecting from the USA to Frankfurt at Dublin

It's a self connect.

Looking at the Dublin Airport website flight arrivals UA from Chicago lands at Terminal 2. It is too early in the day yet to get a gate number. But looking at other arrivals closer in time the website doesn't seem to give gate numbers for arriving flights.

I did look at the O'Hare website as sometimes the US or Canadian airport websites have better information than those of the arrival airports- not in this case.

Lufthansa leaves from Terminal 1, but as a point of interest Aer Lingus also have a FRA flight at 1645 from Terminal 2.

The airport website also has an interactive map (I hate those things) but other websites have static maps (far more my preference)- https://www.dublinairport.com/at-the-airport/the-map

There is a gate plan here- https://dublinairportdub.com/map

https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/carry-on-baggage
Please note that Lufthansa checks during boarding whether the carry-on baggage rules are being adhered to. Carry-on baggage that is too large or too heavy will be taken at the gate and loaded into the cargo hold for a fee. The fees for this are significantly higher at the gate than in the check-in hall and can only be settled by credit card.

Will luggage comply with Lufthansa specs? The route through the airport likely is different if you have to check the bags vs. being able to do carry on.

Gates change daily so you can't go by todays gate to be the same as your day of travel.

When they arrive, they can't make a wrong turn to passport control as they will be guided that way. They must go through passport control before they do anything else--except use the toilets. No need for turn by turn directions.

Once out of immigration, he will pass through the baggage claim area and then have to make his way to Terminal 1. As long as our husband reads and speaks English, and can ask for help if he can't, then all he has to do is follow the signs to T1. (I know you want turn by turn directions but seriously, it's not that difficult.)

Once at T1, what he does next depends on whether or not he has his boarding passes for the Lufthansa flight.

If he doesn't have them, he will have to check in at the Lufthansa desk.

If he has them, he can go straight to security.

There are signs in English but there will also be plenty of people who can direct him where to go. Turn by turn directions will probably confuse him more.

Once through security, he has to wait until they post his gate but that won't be for hours.

If your husband has problems, I'll bet the 13 year old can figure it out.

A good point was made......United's carry on rules are much less strict than Lufthansa.

Clear is not available outside the US.

As you asked for unusually specific information- this morning the flight arrived at Gate 423. It then forms UA316 back to Newark.

I found the gate # out when the flight was about 40 minutes out over the Atlantic approaching Galway- by using flight radar.- flight radar also tells you the rest of the day's flights for that aircraft- hence why we know the return flight is UA316.

You can check that out every day if you want and (if they have wifi on board) your husband and teen can find it out, live on the day, so they are prepared on landing, if that is what makes them feel comfortable.

It can also be double checked by looking at Dublin Airport departures for UA316 each day.

Also looking at the airport departures check in for FRA is at Area 8 in Terminal 1. At least today the allocated gate for the FRA flight is shown on flight radar as gate 224- which of course may vary when it actually lands inbound from Frankfurt at 1650.

Thank you all for the replies. Yes, English speakers. Fair point about the 13 year old. Really appreciate the help with flight radar hyperlink as well as the Dublin Airport departures hyperlink. They're traveling light, two backpacks and one small roller. All fit the Lufthansa requirements (153cm x 8kg). Their tickets include a checked bag though, so they may go ahead and check them. They'll have boarding passes on their phones. I really appreciate all the help.

Don't worry about their arrival gate. It can change while the plane is taxiing. It happened to me last week.

And it doesn't matter......your husband has two choices when they all arrive in Dublin....follow the crowd to Passport Control or hide in the toilet until the police find them. (LOL)

The walk from T2 to T1 is less than 15 minutes. It's a straight shot. You really can't get lost. And just FYI, they will also need to go through immigration in Frankfurt since Ireland is not in Schengen,

Have you considered what will happen, on a self connect like this, if the flight from Chicago is cancelled?

In after care on the enquiry I noticed that the Tuesday night UA flight from Chicago was cancelled (Wednesday morning arrival at Dublin). UA's responsibility will end on getting you on the next possible flight to Dublin, not on getting you to Frankfurt.

That may mean the next direct flight the following day, or putting you on a domestic connecting flight to Newark or Dulles for a flight to Dublin. However as the (2) Newark (UA 023 and UA 317) and Dulles (UA 228) flights arrive before the O'Hare flight that may not work, or they may put you on a connecting flight to Dublin through another European hub. Or they may transfer you to the Aer Lingus direct flight from O'Hare.

Lots of variables.

I don't know how often such cancellations happen. But worth pondering in case your family have to think on their toes.