timing for train reservation from Frankfurt airport to Stuttgart

First place, I have never found customs to be anything but a walk-through. On the other hand, immigration (passport) can take a little bit of time, but probably no more than 10 min, although, if several planes land at the same time, maybe longer. Nevertheless, I have always gotten to the Fernbahnhof within an hour of landing. You don't need a reservation for the train to Stuttgart; there are lots of trains. But, if you want one, you should be able to buy it, along with your ticket, at the Fernbahnhof. The major concern should be that if your flight is late, and they sometimes are, a pre-bought reservation or non-refundable ticket would be worthless. For the return flight, I always allow 2½ hrs and have usually waited at the gate.

For your return to the US, assuming you are flying out of Frankfurt, be aware that there are two security checks: the first one is to get into the general gate areas, and the second one is to get into the gates for planes to the US (they are clustered at the end of terminal). So, be sure to allow time for this second check.

Thanks for the responses. New York, do you suggest I get there earlier than 2 1/2 hrs to allow time for the 2nd check in or is 2 1/2 hrs enough in your opinion.

Portland, I always allow 3 hours at the airport for international flights, but I'm risk-averse when it comes to this. Two and a half hours is probably enough. What I meant was, in the US, once you've passed through security, you can dawdle at shops and the like, then get to your gate when boarding starts, and not have any trouble. But in Frankfurt, you need to go through a second security check to get into your US-bound gate, so you have less time for dawdling than you may be used to. Again, I never missed a plane because of this, but I did cut it much closer than I felt comfortable (because I was not aware of the second security checkpoint).

I think the three hour recommendation is more for checked luggage, to make sure it has time to get on the plane, than for the person. The last few times I have allowed 2½ hours and always had to wait at the gate. But I always have only a carryon, so I don't know if 2½ hours is enough time for checked luggage. I have also been in Frankfurt airport enough times to know exactly where I am going. If it's your first time there, you might want to allow extra time to find your way. And since you are flying United, you should have a gate in Terminal 1. Those flying airlines that use Terminal 2 need a little more time to change terminals. Lastly, since you are coming in on the train, you can be relatively sure at what time you will arrive. People coming in by car need to allow for possible traffic delays or time waiting to return the car.

Thank you both for the info. It is my first time in the airport and getting a train. I appreciate the advice.

Sue, On the way to Germany, I wouldn't bother with a "train reservation". Once you're clear of Immigration and have your Passport stamped, just buy a ticket and take the next train to Stuttgart. You might pack along a printout of the departure times from the bahn.de website, so that you'll have some idea when the next departure is. One point to note is that there are two different rail stations in the Frankfurt airport. The Fernbahnhof is for long distance trains and is the one you'll likely be using to Stuttgart. The other station is the Regionalbahnhof for local trains. As I recall, the walk to the Fernbahnhof involves a walk across an overpass and then down to the station platforms. There's a ticket office there, where you can buy tickets either from a staffed ticket office or Kiosks. There are trains from the airport to Stuttgart at least every hour, so you won't have long to wait. I've used that method in the past, for example from the Frankfurt airport to Rothenburg ODT. On the return trip, I'd suggest being at the airport about 2-3 hours prior to an international flight. I'd allow at least 20 minutes for the walk from the Fernbahnhof to your check-in area. Lee or one of the others will be able to provide more detailed information on the Fernbahnhof. Happy travels!

I suggest flying from Frankfurt to Stuttgart. It's like PDX to SEA, they run often. If your ultimate destination is STR it's easier to just stay in the airport, if your ultimate destination is somewhere inbetween FRA and STR, the take the train.

Sue, I was wondering too why you hadn't just purchased your flight into Stuttgart instead of Frankfurt? It's only about US$50 more and saves time and inconvenience. Changing your tickets is probably not worth it now but next time you might consider it.

I would mention that if you're on a tight budget, buying a train ticket in advance can save you a lot, more than half the cost of a full price ticket. But as others have mentioend, if your plane is delayed, then you eat the cost of the ticket and have to buy a full price one. So it's usually better in this case just to buy a ticket when you get there. As for seat reservation, well, it's 4 euro in second class, and if you're stressed out and tired it can be good for peace of mind, as the trains from Frankfurt to Stuttgart can get very crowded as it's a popular commuter route.