My fiancee and I are looking into travelling to Rome for our honeymoon (in October). Due to timing of wedding events and using frequent flyer points, we will probably need to connect once in Europe. We were wondering if those more familiar with Munich and Frankfurt could give an idea of the amount of time to get through immigration and customs. The flights we are looking at has a 1 hour 45 minute in Munich, the other option would be connecting through Frankfurt with 2 hours, 20 minutes. Does this seem like enough time? Our bags would be checked all the way through to Rome.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
The 1:45 should be adequate if everything clicks. And Munich is a smaller airport. However, I personally would opt for 2:20 just for a little pad and the time difference is not that great. Immigration is pretty informal anymore -- mostly standing in line, present passport, maybe get a stamp, and go but you will have to go through security again -- which is a pain and take time.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
You should have plenty of time with with either option, especially since your bags are going to be checked through. You won't have to go through customs. You'll just go through passport check, go to your next gate area, and have another security check. Since you're traveling on a single ticket, you'll already have your boarding passes for the second flight.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
One issue, particularly with Munich, is what airlines. Lufthansa uses Termnal 2. A lot of other airlines, including non-international ones, also Air France, use Terminal 1. It's quite a walk between terminals, although there is a shuttle somewhere.
Posted by
OP
Denver, Colorado
3 posts
We would be connecting from a United flight to a Lufthansa flight. I looked at the Munich airport website and it shows that most United flight seems to arrive in T2, and the Lufthansa flights to Rome depart from T2 (at least for yesterday, today, and tomorrow). Thanks for the help!
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
For what it's worth, the minimum transfer time for T2 is 30 minutes. Munich Airport specializes in tight connections.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Is that a true United flight or a code-share flight on Lufthansa. Hope for the later; the service on Lufthansa is far better.
Posted by
Sheboygan, Wisc., USA
934 posts
Several years ago I had a 45 minutes to change planes in Munich. I questioned this with my travel agent and she assured me it would work. About a week before we traveled we were advised that they had changed our flight because time changes in our scheduled flight gave us only 40 minutes and they dont allow less than 45 minutes in Munich.