Connection Time

On January 2, we flew from Madrid to SFO on United through Frankfurt. We had over 3 1/2 hours and thought we had plenty of time. As it turned out, we barely made it. The security was extremely intense. We were already in a secure area, but had to go through additional security screening, then show our passports to 3 or 4 more officials after going through the screening. Our tickets had to be reissued after again showing our documentation and answering questions. Each group traveling together was interrogated at the gate before getting onto the plane. An off-duty flight attendant sitting next to us on the plane said that a week earlier, Frankfurt airport was swarming with militia with guns. I am sure all of this was directly related to the Christmas day bombing attempt, but I wonder how much Frankfurt has eased up by now. By contrast, on December 28, just 3 days after the attempted bombing, we had a 30 minute connection from Brussels to Madrid through Munich, and made it with time to spare. The difference had to be the fact that the Frankfurt flight was headed to the US. Maybe someone who has traveled through Frankfurt in the past few weeks could give you a better report on current connection times. If security is even remotely like it was in early January, your connection time is probably too short.

I think that, if the flights are on time, you can make it, particularly if the airlines have ticketed you that way.

A few years ago, I made a transfer in Frankfurt coming from Munich in a little less than an hour, but it was hectic. We had to go from Terminal A (arrival) to Terminal B (departure). Somewhere between the concourses and the gate we went through security three times. We had to hustle all the way, and we had carry-on bags. But you are coming home. If you have checked bags they will catch up to you sometime.

You can look for your flights and where they will be arriving/departing here.

You can also find a map of the airport here.