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Frankfurt Connection UA to LH- enought time?

Is 1 hr 25 minutes enough time to connect from a International United flight (arrival time 9:45 am) to a Lufthansa flight to Florence? Looks like both are Terminal 1. We are sitting in the front of the plane in business and have carryon bags only, so no waiting for luggage. Any advice if you've connected through Frankfurt. Do you have to go through security again or not, since it's an inter-EU flight?

Posted by
15041 posts

I've made that connection to that very same flight every time the flight from the US was on time or close to it. Often the flight to Florence is a little late, so that helped at times. I take that flight one to three times a year. However it's a long way between gates (lots of walking with some escalators and rolling walkways help), therefore we sometimes made it just on time for boarding. You have to go through passport control and again through security between your arrival flight from the US and your intra EU flight. You don't have to clear customs in Frankfurt therefore you won't see your checked baggage till you get to Florence. As such having checked bags or not doesn't matter. Once in Florence you may be checked by italian Customs officers (they wear gray uniforms). They might ask you where you are flying from but they are unlikely to stop you to actually check your luggage, there are no Customs forms to fill (unlike what the US Customs require upon your return).

Posted by
1626 posts

Roberto, Again thanks. Worst case we miss our connection and get on the next flight. At least we are in Europe :)
I'm sure I'll have more questions for you as you seem to be the resident expert on Northern Italy.

Posted by
15041 posts

It might be the same Terminal 1, but it's a huge terminal and it's a long walk from the arrival gate to the departure gate to Florence. You also have to go through 2 lines, for passport control and security check. There is no guarantee the flight will be early. In the last 15 days that flight has been late (meaning over 15 min. late) in 4 instances, 2 of which by almost 1 hour.
One hour and 25 min. will be enough, but wear running shoes in case of delays. If you miss that flight it's a 4 hr wait until the next plane to Florence.

Posted by
2779 posts

The minimum connecting time (that's required to make it) in Frankfurt from UA to LH vv. is 45 minutes. You'll stay in the same terminal building. Also your flight from the US is likely to get in early anyway...

Posted by
32171 posts

Karen, The time should be quite adequate. On one of my trips, I had a connection time of exactly one hour between an Air Canada flight and a Lufthansa connecting flight to Rome. I asked both my Travel Agent and the Flight Attendants if that was adequate, and was assured it was. I was told that it might be a problem at other airports, but not in Frankfurt given the efficiency of things in Germany. As it turned out, I was at the departure gate for my next flight in 20 minutes! There were a few factors that helped in my case. I was seated at the front of my AC flight, just behind Business Class. Therefore I was able to get off the plane and to Passport control quickly, without having to wait for the plane to empty. Since I was one of the first in line at Passport control, I didn't have to queue for long. As I recall, I did have to go through security again but it was so fast and so efficient, the process was very quick! Happy travels!