Europe custom question
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, UA MM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,329
Europe custom question
Can anyone exain customs in Europe? It's been a long time since I te alled through myiple countries on the same itinerary and quite honestly I don't remember how it was handled. I'm traveling FCO-MUC-EWR. Do I need to coect my bags in MUC and recheck them? Or wi I check them all the way through and go through customs in EWR? It's a connection in MUC for 2 hours so no stopover or anything like that, the entire flight is on LH.
TIA
TIA
#2
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
Customs and immigration are handled by separate agencies in Europe, and each process is determined by different international agreements. However...
For FCO-MUC-EWR, you won't have to recheck your bags on the same itinerary.
FCO-MUC will be like a domestic flight (although you'll have to present a passport at check-in). You'll go through emigration checks at MUC, and probably enhanced security for the MUC-EWR flight. Then you'll go through immigration and customs checks at EWR.
MUC is a very nice airport to connect at - 2h is plenty.
For FCO-MUC-EWR, you won't have to recheck your bags on the same itinerary.
FCO-MUC will be like a domestic flight (although you'll have to present a passport at check-in). You'll go through emigration checks at MUC, and probably enhanced security for the MUC-EWR flight. Then you'll go through immigration and customs checks at EWR.
MUC is a very nice airport to connect at - 2h is plenty.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2009
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#8
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
Also, in the places where you "always" have to show the passport (i.e. even on domestic flights such as in Greece) you do that at both check-in and actual boarding, independent of whether you've checked luggage or not. Of course, LH in Germany doesn't ask for a passport when boarding Schengen flights, but this is really an exception.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
#10
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 344
Also, in the places where you "always" have to show the passport (i.e. even on domestic flights such as in Greece) you do that at both check-in and actual boarding, independent of whether you've checked luggage or not. Of course, LH in Germany doesn't ask for a passport when boarding Schengen flights, but this is really an exception.
Who "checks in" for short Schengen flights? Typically you'd have only a carry on, use a mobile boarding pass or a printed one which gets you through security. There are never passport controls at security at any airport that I'm aware of and I think I've been to most in Europe. Plus several airports like AMS, VIE, at times BCN and others have stopped checking at gates.
You would be a moron to go to an airport without your EU ID or passport, but "needing" one is becoming increasingly rare.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
What your wrote is incorrect and LH is not an exception as more and more airports stop checking IDs at gate.
Who "checks in" for short Schengen flights? Typically you'd have only a carry on, use a mobile boarding pass or a printed one which gets you through security. There are never passport controls at security at any airport that I'm aware of and I think I've been to most in Europe. Plus several airports like AMS, VIE, at times BCN and others have stopped checking at gates.
You would be a moron to go to an airport without your EU ID or passport, but "needing" one is becoming increasingly rare.
Who "checks in" for short Schengen flights? Typically you'd have only a carry on, use a mobile boarding pass or a printed one which gets you through security. There are never passport controls at security at any airport that I'm aware of and I think I've been to most in Europe. Plus several airports like AMS, VIE, at times BCN and others have stopped checking at gates.
You would be a moron to go to an airport without your EU ID or passport, but "needing" one is becoming increasingly rare.
1) "Short Schengen flights" can be more than 3-4 hours long. Still, many people do check their luggage (I guess this is what you meant by checking in) and the length of the flight is absolutely irrelevant
2) I never said anything about passport control at security. Indeed, a passport/ID was never required in contrast to the BC.
3) Gates/CI: Italy, UK, Greece, Cyprus, France and possibly more. Moreover, what do you mean by "at times BCN"? It's the airlines and/or the Governments making the rules and not the airports.
The simple fact is that you never know ahead which airport/airline will ask for one.
As for somebody being a moron when not having one, again don't be that absolute, some people are simply forgetful.
#13
Join Date: May 2013
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#15
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
No, I believe that they're outside the Schengen area. They are also not covered by ordinary Schengen visas, so if one requires visas for these places they would have to be applied for separetely.