3 security checks coming home from Prague

I feel your pain, out of all the airports I've flown through, including Ben Gurion (Tel-Aviv), Frankfurt has strictest security for trans-Atlantic flights. Last summer my flight back to NYC originated from Frankfurt(no transfers), and I still has to go through 3 security checks:
The general airport check, a check to get to the portion of the terminal that handles trans-Atlantic flights (this included a full body search for all passengers, and a final check at the gate. When making travel plans I try to avoid Frankfurt whenever possible.

I fly to Europe each summer from Seattle and have always been able to get a non-stop flight going over. I have also been able to get a non-stop flight back to Seattle except one time. That time we had to stop in Chicago (O'Hare). Not only did we have to go thru customs and security there,both of which were madhouses, but we missed our connecting flight to Seattle. While trying to reschedule our flight to Seattle, the agent at the counter said that most folks coming in from overseas and connecting thru Chicago almost always miss their connecting flight. NEVER again will I fly thru Chicago! Fortunately, one can get non-stop flights from Seattle to Europe and return.

Why are people complaining of security? It is designed to keep us safe! Sorry, I don't get it.

I think the big point here is that, since I boarded the plane with no gun, bomb, or explosive liquid, I probably exited the plane with no gun, bomb, or explosive liquid. You could make me go through 15 security checks back to back to back...but chances are the 1st security check was sufficient.

Now if you want to talk about why passengers are screened multiple times, but cargo and post comes and goes freely then that's definitely something I don't understand either!

Remember, Security, especially TSA is not about actually catching anything, but making it look like you are "safe".

Frankfurt is my hub airport.

I know about and welcome airport security.

Frankfurt really is a case of overkill. If I fly from Birmingham ( BHX ) to either Prague, Athens or Malta using FRA as a hub I can go through as much as 3 security screenings in FRA and I've not exited the airport. In anyone's language that is two too many. Some of it is downright bizarre. Another thing, have you noticed that if you are flying on Lufthansa at Frankfurt you get a docking bay that connects to the terminal but if you're on other airlines you have to get a bus to the terminal ? If you can try and go via Munich ( MUC ) much nicer, quicker, friendlier and no unnecessary security screening, just a pleasant, quick, secure airport.

Security checks - I don't mind. But describing Frankfurt airport security as overkill is exactly correct!

Hi Tim,I understand what you mean; my daughter & I flew from Amsterdam to Minneapolis,we were security checked in Amsterdam; our flight landed & everyone went right into customs; we picked up our bags, in the same customs room & then had to go through a security check, in the same customs room & then were let out into the terminal to get on our connecting flight; that was silly & a waste of time; how could anyone do anything under the gaze of the customs people? maybe this is why there is free wine on international flights -- ha, ha;

no matter how you slice it, long distance air travel is grueling. For us in sw Washington state, having Lufthansa flying direct from Portland is such a great travel option! 9.5 hours direct to Frankfurt and I don't care how many security checks I have to go through; this is where using a travel agent vs. solo booking is helpful. They will know if you have enough time to make connections. And the service on LH can't be beat. It does seem silly you get checked coming off a secure plane...

This really isn't that unusual. I came back to Wisconsin from Stuttgart via Heathrow and Chicago. Of course I cleared security at Stuttgart, but you still clear it again in Heathrow, and then once more in Chicago. When I flew from Wisconsin to Quebec and changed planes in Montreal, we cleared security twice. If you change countries count on clearing security. If you really want a long wait, try clearing customers and immigration coming back to the US on a train from Toronto to Rochester NY. Now that's a long wait! It's something we have to live with today.

Steve - I totally agree with you! Tim -Considering I live in Chicago - a metropolitan area that has nearly 9 million people and the nation's busiest airport, I don't consider "herding" you through security at our airport a "huge waste of time." It protects me - and you.

So I guess from your rationale 4 security checks would be better than 3 and we should all be thankful to get 4 instead of just 3 because then we would be safer??? But then again why stop at 4? Perhaps 5 or 6 or 7 seven would make us even safer!

There comes a point when redundancy outweighs usefulness.

You only had one security stop at O'Hare, right? Not 3 or 4. If I returned to the US from another country and didn't have a security stop I would be concerned.
That's all I'm trying to say. In July, on the way home from Mexico, we had a security stop in Cancun, then again in Dallas where we switched planes, and again at O'hare.