Hi...first time flying to Europe. We are headed to Paris on Air France via connection in Frankfurt. Not sure how it works when we land in Frankfurt...do we just go to the next gate for our connecting flight to Paris? Do we need to go through some type of Immigration/Passport control before heading to the gate? Since we are continuing on Air France I am assuming our luggage goes to final destination and we do not have to collect at Frankfurt and re-check for Paris?? Our layover is a bit over two hours. So many questions as this is our first time and so excited!!! Thanks for your help!
Posted by
OP
Detroit
3 posts
Great! Thanks so much..sounds fairly easy. We have a direct flight on the way home so shouldn't be too much to worry about there. Only four more months but who's counting ; )
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4085 posts
You will go through entrance immigration procedures in Frankfurt for Germany and France (although France has the right to check your passport at Charles de Gaulle. You may have to show your luggage at a cursory inspection in Frankfurt and then recheck it right there, but I am not sure: Try asking Air France. In any event, it can be a tedious process but you should have enough time. If not, Air France will put you on another flight in a couple of hours.
Here's a thought for next time: Air France flies non-stop from Detroit to Paris and, frequently, the price isn't much different. Charles de Gaulle airport is tedious too but the non-stop avoids reboarding etc. and is certainly faster, a valuable benefit after a tiring overnight flight. And for the return, the AF nonstop can give you a midday departure so you don't have to get up early. But never mind. The excitement of the trip won't be dimmed by minor inconveniences.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
First, don't worry. You will not be on your own, wandering around; if there's a required step, you will be "forced" to do it (in other words, you can't just bypass security, passport control, or customs when they are required). Frankfurt airport is well signed and there are always English speakers around. Assuming you are all on one ticket:
Your bags should be checked through to Paris (make sure of this when you check in in Detroit). You will not see your checked bags again until Paris. You will go through immigration (passport control) in Frankfurt (since this is your entry point into the Schengen Zone). You will then find your connecting flight to Paris; there is usually not another security check (unless, like me, you go to baggage claim by mistake). Here's where you need to read the signs, which are good (I just went the wrong way, but it was my fault). When you land in Paris, you will pick up your checked bags and go through customs. However, this is basically invisible; assuming you have nothing to and that you are not stopped for inspection, you will walk through the "Green Channel-Nothing To " door, and you're done. Welcome to Paris! On the way back when you check in in Paris, make sure your bags are tagged through to DTW. Your flight from Paris to Frankfurt is like a domestic one in the US. When you get to Frankfurt and follow the signs for your flight to Detroit, you will go through passport control (again, it's not possible to get to your gate and bypass this). There will be a second security screening just before your gate (the gates to the US are all clustered in one area with its own, second, security check, so don't dawdle getting to this). When you land in Detroit, you will go through immigration. You will then pick up your checked luggage, and go through customs. Welcome home!