Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners) - Getting through FRA security in 30mins for LH domestic flight?

Hi all,

I'm off to the *A Megado later in the week, and have decided that I'm going to be going to the dinner on Friday - but this means that I'm going to have a bit of a run through security to get to my outbound flight from FRA... I'm a bit of a worrier and as my ticket is non-refundable and I'm on the last flight of the day. As such I'd appreciate any advice you have to give - I've read a few posts here which answered some of my initial questions - and also made me feel a bit better as it should be a simple process I hope!;

My Details;
> I'll (hopefully) check-in in the morning (in person) and will only be carrying one bag of handbag
> Leave Seeheim @20:45, apparently its a 30minute trip, so arrive at FRA about 21:15 (perhaps a few minutes later than that)
> My flight departs @21:45 (last one of the day FRA-TXL).
> I'm in business

Thoughts/Questions;
- Do LH let you check in bags many hours before your flight? (I'd be checking it in at say 6am in the morning for a 9pm flight)
- Should I deliberately check an item of luggage too to make it more of a hassle for the flight to leave without me and more likely to wait?
- Is there any way to speed up my trip through FRA, I guess its business class security lanes for me and hopefully not getting too lost. If I presented myself at checkin 30mins before the flight would they lead me there to make sure I get there in time :D?


Thanks in advance,

lv

You can checkin in the morning and I guess you can also check your luggage at that time.
If you are at FRA T1 at 30 minutes to departure you should be able to make it to the flight. Security at this time is not too busy. Your flight will depart from the A pier and you can use the priority security lane there. If you are lucky your gate will be A11 (2mins walk) if you are unlucky A42 (10mins walk).

The entire timing of this is a bit risky but if things go according to your schedule you should be ok. However, there is no buffer !

How come your ticket is non-refundable but you are in business ? Is this an award flight (BMI)?

My Details;
> I'll (hopefully) check-in in the morning (in person) and will only be carrying one bag of handbag
> Leave Seeheim @20:45, apparently its a 30minute trip, so arrive at FRA about 21:15 (perhaps a few minutes later than that)
> My flight departs @21:45 (last one of the day FRA-TXL).
> I'm in business

Thoughts/Questions;
- Do LH let you check in bags many hours before your flight? (I'd be checking it in at say 6am in the morning for a 9pm flight)
- Should I deliberately check an item of luggage too to make it more of a hassle for the flight to leave without me and more likely to wait?
- Is there any way to speed up my trip through FRA, I guess its business class security lanes for me and hopefully not getting too lost. If I presented myself at checkin 30mins before the flight would they lead me there to make sure I get there in time :D?

Security should be light at that time of the evening. LH will most likely also check you luggage early in the day.

The only question mark is which gate your flight will be departing from. If it's A01 through A17, you're good.

If it happens to be A30something, you're looking at a 10-15 minute walk once you clear security...

I would suggest you see if you can leave Seeheim a bit earlier than just one hour before your flight is scheduled to depart, if the ride takes a little bit longer you'll most likely find yourself in an uncomfy situation. Exactly zero room for error is not the best choice IMHO...

You will be cutting it very close. In my book it is a tad too ambitious. Give an extra 15min at least, better 30 to be on the safe side.

Check the gate two to three hours before the flight and adjust your timing accordingly.

If it happens to be A30something, you're looking at a 10-15 minute walk once you clear security...or even A40/A42 as I always seem to have for Brussels flights (if for once they do not depart from a bus gate). Even with A42, I think it would probably be just manageable if you are at security 30 minutes before the flight and walk very swiftly. I agree with the others though, add an additional 30 minutes to be on the safe side. How do you want to get from Seeheim to FRA?

LH's check-in deadline for domestic flights is 30 minutes hence it is reasonable to assume that you will make it to the plane on time.

FRA departure gates are announced well in advance (i.e. previous day) on the LH website. The crucial question is not how long it will take from check-in to the gate but how long it will take from Seeheim to FRA check-in.

The crucial question is not how long it will take from check-in to the gate but how long it will take from Seeheim to FRA check-in.

+1

If there is a delay on the A5 or the A67, good luck. Granted, both highways should be fine at time of the day, but still...

Slightly OT and blasphemie on this board, but what about forgetting about the flight & taking the overnight train instead (midnight departure from Mannheim or Darmstadt). It still shows sleeper availibility.

I do the TXL-FRA-TXL run all too frequently and have resorted to using the train and the overnight train a number of times for the return segment.

Slightly OT and blasphemie on this board, but what about forgetting about the flight & taking the overnight train instead (midnight departure from Mannheim or Darmstadt). It still shows sleeper availibility.

I do the TXL-FRA-TXL run all too frequently and have resorted to using the train and the overnight train a number of times for the return segment.

Isn't the train quite expensive ?

How come your ticket is non-refundable but you are in business ? Is this an award flight (BMI)?

Yep - its an award flight from bmi, means it was ~£90 for business, or £80 for economy.... - and revenue tickets were a couple of hundred euros for Y.... not much of a choice!

As for why not the train (or the morning after!) - I'm meeting my wife at TXL, her plane will arrive about the same time as mine and we have a reservation at a hotel for that night (made many months ago using Marriott points before devaluation) so that makes it pretty non-changable too (we're off to the 20th anniversary of the mauer fall)

Last night the plane left from A11, lets hope its the same Friday - thanks for the information about the gates 24hours in advance, that will help me out. Interesting comment about the gate times, good to know that too.

Only thing I haven't seen an opinion on is checking the bag in the morning? I'm thinking that will be a good idea... might make them keep that gate open a few minutes longer (because of the hassle of the unload) - is that a logical thought?

Thanks for all your suggestions and thoughts - I know I'm cutting it fine but the choice is either;
1 - Miss most of the dinner with an earlier bus
2 - Get a very expensive taxi 15 minutes before a completely free bus.... the value part of me doesn't like that
Oh, and this is partially my fault as I booked a flight thinking the bus left at 8pm, but that was from FRA not the hotel :)

Time for me to run a bit!

Let us know how it worked out in the end !
...If you miss your flight you will have plenty of time to post about it ... ;)

The time needed depends very much on the time of day. My personal record stands at 12 minutes from the ICE train platform to some B-Gate checkpoint at some early evening time. Including safety ("slow lane" but empty) and I think including passport control. But light luggage only and good shoes.:D

1 - Miss most of the dinner with an earlier bus
2 - Get a very expensive taxi 15 minutes before a completely free bus.... the value part of me doesn't like that

What makes you think the bus will leave at precisely 20:45? It could be late, waiting for others, etc etc. Get a cab - a cab will be able to drop you immediately outside "A" departures, which is another plus.

Isn't the train quite expensive ?

Nope.
If booked 3 days in advance, the fare incl sleeper berth w/ full duvet et al is € 109 one way (just checked). Under three days, it jumps to € 169.

The deluxe single compartment with own shower, table and chair is € 169 one way three days in advance.

Breakfast always included in sleeper cars.

I've found myself quite often in OP's position: having to cut a (client) dinner short to make the last flight home. Especially for SCN-TXL and MUC-TXL, I've since resorted to taking the overnight train. Works for me since I can fall asleep instantly almost anywhere.

OT: Great stuff: ZRH-TXL (or to HAM, CGN etc.) with your significant other in the deluxe category. It's a loooong, undisturbed train ride :cool:.

If there is a delay on the A5 or the A67, good luck. Granted, both highways should be fine at time of the day, but still...

There are road constructions going on. The A5 between Darmstadt and the airport is construction zone with a strong speed limit. So you might expect some "delays" there.

You also have to keep in mind, that the number of control agents is reduced during times of low frequency. If there is a increased feeling of a threat or one person with "suspicious" material in his/her carry-on, then you plan will blow up.

To be on the safe side, I would also suggest to add 30 minutes to your planning.

Hello

Can confirm the construction on A5, nearly have the distance to the airport is construction with speed limit of 80 km/h (driving it every day to work from Darmstadt) so 30 min is very ambitious.

May I suggest a cab.

http://rheinmaintransfer.de/

(sorry only German the eglish flag bottom right did not work on Firefox)
Cost Seeheim-FRA 45€

Or http://www.taxi-seeger.de/preisliste_flughafentransfer.html

(english all the way at the bottom)

Cost Seeheim-FRA 42€

Not cheap but flexible.

Cheers
aquaguy