How much time to connect in Frankfurt?

1¼ hour is a little tight for a change in Frankfurt, but I've made a change (outgoing) in a little less than an hour, including a change of concourses (A to B). And that was right after 9-11; I had to go through security three times!

I assume both flights are Lufthansa? If so, they will both arrive and depart at Terminal 1. But if you are changing airlines, that could be problematic, particularly if the Frankfurt-Prague airline uses Terminal 2. If the whole connection is on one ticket, particularly if you have checked luggage, Lufthansa should make sure you make it to Prague.

Thanks Lee. Yes, the whole trip would be on Lufthansa. Doesn't appear to be a price difference between the earlier (1.25 hour layover) versus later (4 hour layover) flight. Just need to decide if I want to take the risk and get to Prague earlier or hang out in Frankfurt for a few extra hours. Good to know it doesn't look like I'd have to change terminals. Thanks again for the input.

That should be plenty of time. Minimum time is 45 min. so you have an extra 30 min. All Lufthansa flights use terminal 1.
Check your flights history to see how often it has been early or late. Just type in LH and your flight number.

Flights from N. America are often early. Sometimes up to an hour early. If they are late, it is often the fault of the airport you are departing from. Airlines know this and build a cushion of extra time into your flight duration. It allows them to then "be on time" more often.

I had a 50 minute layover in Frankfurt in May due a last minute flight change out of Chicago. Was a little panicked as it was not planned. I asked to get a seat near the front of economy there was no need to worry. I ended up having time for a cup of coffee while waiting for my flight from Frankfurt to Brussels. This was all on Lufthansa.

Since you will be all on Lufthansa and all on one ticket, I'd go for the shorter connection. If the worst happens and you miss the connection due to late arrival, they will put you on the next available flight at no extra charge. Since there's one a few hours later, you're set (my advice would be different if the next connection were not until the next day, such as a flight to Asia).

An hour is adequate, 90 minutes comfortable making 75 minutes OK.

It seems that airlines schedule Transatlantic flights with time cushions for delayed departures and/or bad headwinds. I've had flights depart an hour late and still arrive on time. Of course even a two hour connection could be in too short in the event of a major delay.

Your alternative case if you miss the 75 minute connection is Lufthansa putting you on the later connection flight that would have been a 4 hour layover. And if checked baggage misses the connection it gets delivered to your hotel without you having to be the porter.

You should be fine. I try to get a 2 hour layover in Frankfurt only because I love to visit the Pocket Shop book store.

Thanks everyone for the input - I can always count on these boards for awesome advice from people who have already "been there, done that." Very, very helpful. Think I'm going to go with the shorter layover - fingers crossed :)

We had what I thought a tight connection for a chicago-frankfurt-budapest a few years ago, but made it fine. Be ready to walk a bit because it always seems that the inbound flight is on the last terminal and you will need to go thru passport control. But as I have recently discovered that if Lufthansa (or any other carrier) determines this connection time as "legal" the term the industry uses, then they will make sure you are on the plane or it is their problem, not yours. We had this with British air last May and they were holding the plane for us at Heathrow (I hate Heathrow!)

I go through Frankfurt four times a year on average. I have done two 1 hour connections but by the skin of my teeth and absolutely no enjoyment. Consider if your flight in is just 15 minutes late, there is no way. My flights (United) have always been parked on the tarmac and we have always had to take a bus to the terminal making it worse. If I have any choice at all I make Frankfurt a 2 hour layover.

We have had some nerve wrackingly short connections at FRA; and not only did we make it, but so did our luggage. That being said, however, I would choose the 4 hour option, as we did on a recent trip. You can get a meal, window shop, and/or just cat nap near your gate. I like to reduce stress.

Thanks for the additional responses - still haven't hit "book" yet - now thinking maybe the 4 hour layover is the way to go. Decisions, decisions...first world problems, right?!?