Is FRA the worst major airport in the developed world?
Sep 27, 2016, 10:53 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
Sep 27, 2016, 1:51 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
Sep 28, 2016, 7:25 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Peon Gold
Posts: 2,915
I was just there yesterday. It might be basically brand new, but god damn is it a .... show of a maze. I don't recommend trying to connect to a T3 international flight from T5. What an ordeal.
Sep 28, 2016, 9:44 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Programs: Mainly Hilton Hhonors, SAS Eurobonus
Posts: 1,981
I got lost in FRA once.
I was in transfer and fancied one of these nice sandwiches from Caviar House & Prunier to bring onboard my next flight.
Very difficult finding the shop and it turned out that I somehow went landside and/or to another terminal along the way - no signage/warning or I didn't see any at least.
Had to go through security again and fight for my sandwich.
I was in transfer and fancied one of these nice sandwiches from Caviar House & Prunier to bring onboard my next flight.
Very difficult finding the shop and it turned out that I somehow went landside and/or to another terminal along the way - no signage/warning or I didn't see any at least.
Had to go through security again and fight for my sandwich.
Sep 28, 2016, 2:51 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,392
LHR and CDG are terrible. FRA isn't bad, MUC is better. VIE and ZRH aren't too bad either. Given the choice between connecting in LHR or CDG vs. walking swimming to Germany, I'd walk/swim.
Sep 28, 2016, 3:44 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,522
Little harsh.... Connected many times at LHR. Had more bad than great experiences (yes, had ONE), but it was never a totally mess.
Sep 29, 2016, 5:46 am
#26
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: MUC
Programs: Compulsory Traveller
Posts: 305
Sep 29, 2016, 6:22 am
#27
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: M&M FTL; BAEC Bronze
Posts: 1,043
Having a premium ticket then there was a dedicated line for me, but this was not signposted and I only found it (right at the end) because I went looking. If you were not sure then you would be likely to join the normal lines and wait ages to get through security.
But it depends on the airport. Transferring in Singapore is also a dream, although long walks are possible. And I even had good experiences at DFW.
Sep 29, 2016, 10:58 am
#28
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: DE
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 22
FRA immigration time is extremely dependent on what other flights are arriving at the same time. When transferring from TATL to Schengen, I've had a grab bag of wait times. I've just learned to pad my transfer time just in case.
CDG gets my vote for worst for immigration lines in Western Europe, taken from my experiences 5/6 years ago: I just recall chaotic masses of passengers and indifferent staff.
LHR T2 (the only place I've transferred there) has been fine since it opened, although the walks can be sometimes hilariously long. Have never had the (dis)pleasure of visiting T5
CDG gets my vote for worst for immigration lines in Western Europe, taken from my experiences 5/6 years ago: I just recall chaotic masses of passengers and indifferent staff.
LHR T2 (the only place I've transferred there) has been fine since it opened, although the walks can be sometimes hilariously long. Have never had the (dis)pleasure of visiting T5
Oct 5, 2016, 3:23 am
#29
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,057
T5 has won awards!
(I tell myself through gritted teeth every time I transfer through there. Possibly an award for employing shouty people who know less about the layout than you do).
If you want the real joyful T5 experience, try getting off a QF/EK at 0530 at T3 or wherever after a long-haul from SYD/MEL/AKL and transferring over on the bus then going through Immi as a non-EU national, then joining the "fast lane" (LOL) at security.
I'd take FRA any day.
(I tell myself through gritted teeth every time I transfer through there. Possibly an award for employing shouty people who know less about the layout than you do).
If you want the real joyful T5 experience, try getting off a QF/EK at 0530 at T3 or wherever after a long-haul from SYD/MEL/AKL and transferring over on the bus then going through Immi as a non-EU national, then joining the "fast lane" (LOL) at security.
I'd take FRA any day.