Germany - How long to clear inbound customs in FRA?

Arriving on UA at 7:10 with carryon. What time can I get the regional train to Wurzburg. They leave every half hour. Do I need to buy a ticket in advance online or can I get it at the station.

It takes me about 10 minutes

This seems a topic better suited for the Germany Forum.

FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum

Please move if you feel it would be better there.

You can get your ticket at the train station.

Clearing immigration depends on the lines, obviously. Clearing customs is then simply a matter of walking through the baggage claim area and out the green 'nothing to declare' corridor into the arrivals hall. Immigration hasn't taken me more than 5 minutes in FRA, but I walk quickly and make a beeline for the passport control desks.

You can get your ticket at the train station.

Or you can save time on the day by buying it online. Just make sure you buy a flexible ticket.

Clearing immigration depends on the lines, obviously. Clearing customs is then simply a matter of walking through the baggage claim area and out the green 'nothing to declare' corridor into the arrivals hall. .

I don't know why people keep getting mixed up between Immigration and Customs here on FT...

Arriving on UA at 7:10 with carryon. What time can I get the regional train to Wurzburg. They leave every half hour. Do I need to buy a ticket in advance online or can I get it at the station.

The "regional" trains you are talking about actually are high speed ICE. There are some regional trains but you will need to connect via S-Bahn.

Clearing customs in Germany and many other European countries, as long as you don't have anything to declare, should not take any time at all. Simply go through the "green" exit and, unless there is a spot inspection, you will be done. If you have something to declare, use the "red" exit.

I don't know why people keep getting mixed up between Immigration and Customs here on FT...
Only by our friends from North America (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/518060-munich-first-class-lounge-41.html#post18479160)... I'm sure the OP wasn't asking about clearing customs only.

Immigration hasn't taken me more than 5 minutes in FRA, but I walk quickly and make a beeline for the passport control desks.

^
The beeline is critical. Don't dawdle.

If you have a UA flight on LH ticket you can add a Rail&Fly Ticket for 29 EUR which allows you to take basically every train to every German train station. Some other airlines offer this free of charge (AA, US i.e.).

Otherwise you can go on the German rail website on www.bahn.de (they have an excellent english section) and purchase your ticket there. You will need to print it at home and show the credit card you used for payment when presenting your self printed ticket to the train attendant on board. Booking ahead will allow you to get discounted tickets (the earlier the better, as when trains are empty you should get tickets as low as 19 EUR on this sector). However, be aware that these tickets ("Sparpreise") are only valid on the selected train, and can't be used for any other train than stated on the ticket. If you miss your train due to an air delay, it's your problem.
You can buy directly at the station as well (do not buy with the numerous travel agencies advertising train tickets on the way to the rail station, as these charge ticketing fees), but only with the German railway office at the station or better at the self service booths which accept credit card and run in English, too.