Seems like a good place to ask: I am picking up my SIL from a United/Luftansa flight from SFO on Monday, driving from Stuttgart. I'm a little terrified (hate driving in airports, don't much like driving in general). My plan was to park in short-term parking and meet her at the terminal. Anything I should know? How difficult will this be? I plan on trying to use the web to figure out what terminal/gate she'll be arriving at but I'm still worried about parking and missing her as she won't have any way to contact me. I'm probably over-stressing but I've had enough crazy experiences at SFO and LAX to feel really intimidated by huge international airports.
I don't remember all the specifics, as it is usually stressful driving to airports, but I have been to the Frankfurt airport a few times and I have to say it is a pretty easy airport to navigate....good signage. I don't know how far you are from the airport, but if you are really that nervous maybe you could take a trial run late one evening when there is not a lot of traffic.
If she has an AT&T cell phone she can add 50 texts for $5 while traveling internationally so maybe you wouldn't feel so stressed if you knew she could text you.
There are designated " meeting points in both terminals. Here's a map. The designated meeting point are the gray squares with four arrows pointing in. Parking is in the Frankfurt Airport Center. You can take the pedestrian bridge across the access road to Terminal 1.
Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. All my internet searches told me was that it was huge and busy. The map is perfect, Lee, as is the parking advice, James.
Instead of trying to park at the airport, it might be easier to find a Park + Ride lot near one of the nearby S-Bahn stations and come in on the train. The S-bahn arrives at the Regionalbhf, underground, across the street from Terminal 1, and you can cross under the street and come up into Terminal 1 near the meeting point. From Kelsterbach, where there is a Park + Ride (€2/hr), it takes 3 min to the Regionalbhf; the fare is €2,50 per adult each way. This webpage, www.pundr.hessen.de/index.php?id=suche, will help you find Park + Ride locations. There is also a free Park + Ride at Offenbach Hbf on your way into Frankfurt. 33 min trip; €4,10 each way adult.