Layover in Frankfurt: How to Make All Connections Without Tears and Stress

Our colleague Igor recently missed his connecting flight in Frankfurt.

"I had a layover in Frankfurt. Since I flew to Germany , I had to go through passport control and security. I had an hour for the transfer, I thought I'd make it, but it wasn't that simple. After security, there was little time left, and I simply didn't make it because Frankfurt Airport is very large. I arrived at one terminal and departed from another. The crowd carried me along into the corridor, and I didn't bother with the train. Both of my flights were operated by Lufthansa. When I realized I was hopelessly late, I went to a special counter and explained the situation. The Lufthansa staff were understanding and rebooked me for free on the next flight 2.5 hours later. By the way, if I had been flying the second leg with a different airline, I wouldn't have received such a gift."

So that you don't rush around the airport like pigeons in a park, we'll tell you what to do to ensure your layover in Frankfurt doesn't turn into a nightmare.

Airport-City

Frankfurt Airport is one of the largest airports and transfer hubs in Europe, and it is also Lufthansa's main hub. The airport has 2 terminals: — Terminal 1 handles flights for Lufthansa and airlines belonging to Star Alliance, sometimes Aeroflot flights — Terminal 2 for flights of other airlines (OneWorld and SkyTeam alliances) A free Sky Train (also known as Sky Line) and buses operate between the terminals, which can be used by both transit passengers and airport visitors. The train departs every 2-3 minutes. Igor, maybe you could have made it!

If you are planning a flight with a layover in Frankfurt, allow at least 1.5-2 hours between flights. Especially if you need to go through passport control. Thirty and forty-minute layovers at this airport are a separate kind of extreme sport. But there are exceptions: if you fly with the same airline before and after the layover, the second flight might be delayed to allow all passengers to clear passport control and security. However, this is more often an exception than the rule. For passengers from non-EU countries, there are special counters for passport control: "Non — EU Nationals."

If a short layover is unavoidable, use the SCSC emergency registration service. The process is as follows: an airline employee will meet you at the aircraft exit and escort you to SCSC, where you will undergo expedited registration, customs, and border control. Afterward, a special bus or car will take you to your connecting flight. The service must be booked no later than 4 days before departure, and the cost depends on the number of people.

Now, this is nice!

You can take a shower in Terminal 1! The pleasure costs 6 euros, and the price includes: shower gel, hairdryer, and towel. And if the layover is long, but not long enough to check into a hotel, you can relax with yoga classes. It's free, and everyone will have their own screen with program choices for their level. There's a large game room with consoles and even a casino. And that's not even mentioning the lounge areas. They are paid, but isn't comfort worth more than money? There is also a hotel on the airport premises, but outside the transit zone.

What about trains?

Frankfurt Airport is so large that it's called a full-fledged city under one roof. And a city is supposed to have a railway station. Here there are even two: for long-distance trains and suburban trains. To go to the city, you'll need suburban trains S8 and S9 at Terminal 1's suburban train station. Take a train in the direction of Offenbach; they run every 15 minutes. The same trains run back to the airport, but you need to take one in the direction of Wiesbaden. The airport station is called Regionalbahnhof (you'll arrive directly at Terminal 1, sections A and B). You can also reach nearby major cities from the airport. You'll need the platform for intercity trains IC and ICE.

Transit Zone

Exiting the transit zone without a visa is prohibited — this is a rule at any airport. The transit zone of both Frankfurt Airport terminals is unified, and you can move freely between them. However, a transit visa is not always required: — If the flight is operated by the same airline. — If the stay in the transit zone is less than 24 hours. If you are flying with different airlines, it's better to get a visa, as there's no guarantee your luggage will be transferred to another flight without your involvement. And without a visa, you won't be able to do this because the baggage claim area is not considered a transit zone. Now we're calm about you — you definitely won't get lost! And find tickets on our website. Have a pleasant flight <3