Frankfurt flughafen fernbahnhof to Terminal 2D KLM checkin counter

Have you looked at the map of FRA airport? If not, start there.

I think you are cutting it way too close. See my webpage on FRA (www.germantravel-info.com/fra.htm) for a layout of Terminal 1 and the stations. The Fernbahnhof is away from the airport terminals, on the other side of the Autobahn. Fortunately, there is a covered pedestrian bridge from the Fernbahnhof to Terminal 1. Go to the top level of the Fernbahnhof; the walkway is in the middle of one side (side nearest track 4). There will undoubtedly be signs. There should be luggage carts around. You'll have to go first out the hallway to Terminal 1. . . . . ¶ When you get to the Departure/Arrival Hall of Terminal 1, in the back LH corner are stair/escalators to the Skyline. You might be able to go around the mezzanine to get to the Skyline; otherwise it's down to the main floor and to the back. The Skyline's an automated "people mover" from the top of the Terminal 1 building to the top of the Terminal 2 building. You can't take the luggage cart on the Skyline, but there will probably be carts at the other end left by people going the other way. . . . . . . ¶ I avoid Terminal 2 like the plague. Used in once in 2000. I'm not sure where the KLM desk would be. You'll have to go down at least one, probably more flights to get to the check-in level. . . . . . ¶ There is another direct connection from Bad Hersfeld arriving at 15:50 and a one change connection via Fulda arriving at 16:57. You really should consider one of them.

There is a shuttle bus from in front of Terminal 1 to the front of Terminal 2. It might be faster. It takes about 5 minutes from T1 to T2, but according to the German Rail site, it's a 10 min walk from the Fernbahnhof to the front of T1, and the bus runs every 15 minutes, about. You'd still have to come across the pedestrian bridge, down the stairs, and out the door of Terminal 1.

Sonal, I was at Frankfurt airport a few months ago, and also arrived by train. However I'm not sure if my arrival was at the Fernbahnhof? ¶ I found that the directions to reach the terminal areas were not well marked, and I had to get directions from staff and other travellers a couple of times. I believe my flight was departing from Terminal 1, but I would have to check my records. ¶ With only one hour, it could be difficult to get to the terminal, check-in and get through security in time for your flight. Is there any possibility you could take an earlier train to the airport? Good luck!

BTW, I know FRA like the back of my own hand and I wouldn't try to make a 1 hour connection. I usually leave myself 2-2½ hours. (I've always had extra time, but not always alot.) In 2002, I did make a Luftahansa-Lufthansa, Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, 1 hr connection, but that was not anything like what you are planning here.

The walk from the Fernbahnhof into Terminal 1 does take about 10 min. From here, you would need to take the Sky Train monorail to Terminal 2, which takes about 5 min. including the walk to it from and the ride on the Sky Train. Your one hour is woefully insufficient for check-in, security, etc. You need to catch an earlier train.... Suggested arrival time at the airport for inter-Europe flights is 1.5 hours, and doesn't evn include your stroll from the Fernbahnhof.

Thanks guys for your replies. Based on your suggestions I've rebooked my train and am now reaching the fernabahnhof at 5:00 PM instead of 6:00.

Trying to keep the main page uncluttered, I'll ask this related question here: Based on experience at FRA, do you think an hour between plane arrival at Terminal 1 (USAir, Star Alliance) and train departure at the Fernbahnhof is okay? This is for my parents who haven't adopted the RS philosophy of carry on only so they will need to stop by baggage claim, immigration, and validate their rail passes at the station. Thanks for your help! P.S. Lee that map is a great help, thanks for making that.

I'm sure that with carryon luggage I've made it from the plane to a platform in the Fernbahnhof in well under an hour every time. With luggage there would be some wait, but you'll probably spend most of that wait time in line at passport control. . . . . . . ¶ If this is just for estimating purposes, fine. There is probably an express train to where they want to go every hour, but I wouldn't try to use time based tickets. I've arrived at FRA an hour late before. You can make reservations for the next train at the ticket counter when you get validate your pass.

Okay, that sounds like a good plan. Thanks again for your help!

From the Fernbahnhof you'd need to walk to Terminal 1 B where the people mover to terminal 2 starts from. It's all escalators etc. so you're fine with your luggage. That part of the walk takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The people mover trains run every 5 minutes or even less and the wait for the next one is no longer than 5 mins, too. So that would be another 10 mins max. In terminal 2 the train arrives 2 floors above the check-in hall. You can locate the blue KLM desks while you're taking the escalators down. Give it another 5 mins. So all in all it'll be 30 minutes from Fernbahnhof to the check-in counters in T2 (no matter if D or E). I do it quite often and it always works out well...