How much time to change planes at Frankfurt airport

Question

I am traveling from Sydney to Warsaw and flying with Cathy Pacific to Frankfurt and then either Lufthansa or LOT to Warsaw. Since I am flying on two tickets I cant check my bags all the way to Warsaw. How much time do I need to go through immigration, bag collecting and customs after arriving to Frankfurt and then checking bags again and going through security etc.

I am arriving in Frankfurt at 6.30am and my possible flights to Warsaw can be either at 9.15 am or 1.35 pm. Which one should I choose?

Lisa B · Accepted Answer

You should chose to do it on one ticket. If not then the 1.35. As although the 9.15 is feasible and Frankfurt efficient, delays to your inbound flight, a inbound flight schedule change or queues could mean you miss Nd you have to pay for a walk up fare. The 1.35 is the safer option.

KVE1005 · Answer

As much as I don't mind FRA, on two tickets, I'd choose the 1:35pm.

Hans_DEN · Answer

2 separate tickets is risky. Choose the 1:35pm or even later.

Florian254 · Answer

+1

Kot21 · Answer

Thank you all. Will take 1.35 pm then.

Swissdiver · Answer

FRA is now the worst hub in Europe, by very far. So definitively the 1:35pm flight. Now you have to understand you are still at risk of loosing one of your tickets when travelling on several! Imagine your first flight is severely delayed or cancelled and you'd loose the second one! On the way back, it could be even worse as a now show at FRA (for whatever reason) would cancel the whole return flight to Australia!

Bottom line, if it is still possible, do book a single ticket! And if you wish to fly Cathay, you might want to consider another transit airport in Europe where a One World airline could fly you to Warsaw (i.e. Helsinki, London or Madrid).

Kot21 · Answer

I am afraid that I am stuck with the ticket I have – bought it for the frequent flyer points. The good news is that on the way back I am not flying via Frankfurt and all the return flights are on one ticket. Thank you very much for all your helpful advice.

Swissdiver · Answer

So only the FRA WAW leg seems to be at risk, which is then a limited one. Enjoy your trip!

Florian254 · Answer

Recommending Madrid or London over FRA is imho at best a onesided opinion. If the OP is stuck due to a pointredemption ticket and now has seven(!) hours to change in FRA even with a serious delay of two to three hours on the inboud he should be more than fine.

Actually in FRA the longest diistance between two terminals can be done in 30 min walk and try this in LHR. And I´d rather deal with the immigration in FRA than in LHR longest wait in FRA ever (!) was 20 min.

Kot21, do not panic unless something really serious happens on your inbound you should be fine. In FRA, simply follow the signs.

And of course I´d prefer MUC or ZRH as Hub.

Swissdiver · Answer

Florian,

Well if you connect at LHR without entering the UK, there is no need for immigration! And, excepted for the few flights requiring a terminal change, T5-T5 works like a charm, with not so much walking. Just brilliant.

Talking about hubs, CDG (on AF) reorganised itself completely: connections there are now quite straight forward!

MUC: I like it, but the LH lounge is quite poor.

How much time to change planes at Frankfurt airport - Air Travel Forum

How much time to change planes at Frankfurt airport