Self Transferring through Frankfurt?
Apr 25, 2021, 9:25 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 11
Self Transferring through Frankfurt?
Hello,
I want to fly from Bangkok to Brazil and the best route is through Frankfurt. However, I have to fly with Thai Airways to Frankfurt and then self-transfer to catch my Air Europa flight.
I have 6 hours to self-transfer.
I am not an EU citizen.
I am wondering if I would be unable to go through immigration, collect my baggage, and check it in with Air Europa given the COVID restrictions.
Anyone know?
Thank you
I want to fly from Bangkok to Brazil and the best route is through Frankfurt. However, I have to fly with Thai Airways to Frankfurt and then self-transfer to catch my Air Europa flight.
I have 6 hours to self-transfer.
I am not an EU citizen.
I am wondering if I would be unable to go through immigration, collect my baggage, and check it in with Air Europa given the COVID restrictions.
Anyone know?
Thank you
Apr 25, 2021, 10:24 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Silicon wasteland
Programs: UA 1KMM
Posts: 1,381
Hello,
I want to fly from Bangkok to Brazil and the best route is through Frankfurt. However, I have to fly with Thai Airways to Frankfurt and then self-transfer to catch my Air Europa flight.
I have 6 hours to self-transfer.
I am not an EU citizen.
I am wondering if I would be unable to go through immigration, collect my baggage, and check it in with Air Europa given the COVID restrictions.
Anyone know?
Thank you
I want to fly from Bangkok to Brazil and the best route is through Frankfurt. However, I have to fly with Thai Airways to Frankfurt and then self-transfer to catch my Air Europa flight.
I have 6 hours to self-transfer.
I am not an EU citizen.
I am wondering if I would be unable to go through immigration, collect my baggage, and check it in with Air Europa given the COVID restrictions.
Anyone know?
Thank you
On different tickets, almost definitely not. Thai will not let you board as you are not admissible to Germany.
Apr 25, 2021, 10:33 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 11
if they are on the samer ticket, this might be ok. If you have to enter germany to get bags, that might be ok since you are doing it for purposes of transit and germany allows this. But be prepared to be denied entry.
On different tickets, almost definitely not. Thai will not let you board as you are not admissible to Germany.
On different tickets, almost definitely not. Thai will not let you board as you are not admissible to Germany.
I suppose all Schengen airports follow the same regulations, i.e. you can transit through the international area but cannot enter Schengen without a EU passport even if it's just for 7 hours to get your baggage and check in at another airline.
Apr 26, 2021, 1:23 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: BER
Programs: OW Sapphire, *A Gold
Posts: 987
Are you a resident of Thailand by any chance?
Apr 26, 2021, 1:58 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: BER
Programs: OW Sapphire, *A Gold
Posts: 987
Apr 26, 2021, 2:24 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
You can transfer in FRA. The expression 'self-transfer' is misleading; if you mean that you have two separate tickets then no, you cannot do what you propose because you are not eligible to enter Germany, which is your destination on your first ticket. You'll be denied boarding in BKK. You have to purchase a single continuous ticket.
Apr 26, 2021, 2:31 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 11
You can transfer in FRA. The expression 'self-transfer' is misleading; if you mean that you have two separate tickets then no, you cannot do what you propose because you are not eligible to enter Germany, which is your destination on your first ticket. You'll be denied boarding in BKK. You have to purchase a single continuous ticket.
Well, I buy from a site like kayak.com and they say I have to "self-transfer" which entails passing through immigration, getting my baggage, and taking it to the next airline. Customer service at the Frankfurt airport said this would be fine provided I have a negative COVID test taken less than 48 hours prior to flight but I am not sure I trust them. Like you said, I would technically be flying to Germany and entering that country. No visa is required for my passport but because of COVID I do not think I can enter the Schengen zone as a non-citizen.
Apr 26, 2021, 2:34 am
#9
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Thank you.
Well, I buy from a site like kayak.com and they say I have to "self-transfer" which entails passing through immigration, getting my baggage, and taking it to the next airline. Customer service at the Frankfurt airport said this would be fine provided I have a negative COVID test taken less than 48 hours prior to flight but I am not sure I trust them. Like you said, I would technically be flying to Germany and entering that country. No visa is required for my passport but because of COVID I do not think I can enter the Schengen zone as a non-citizen.
Well, I buy from a site like kayak.com and they say I have to "self-transfer" which entails passing through immigration, getting my baggage, and taking it to the next airline. Customer service at the Frankfurt airport said this would be fine provided I have a negative COVID test taken less than 48 hours prior to flight but I am not sure I trust them. Like you said, I would technically be flying to Germany and entering that country. No visa is required for my passport but because of COVID I do not think I can enter the Schengen zone as a non-citizen.
Apr 26, 2021, 2:39 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 11
Are you on one ticket or not? If you are on two separate tickets (which it sounds like you are) you will be denied boarding in BKK because you are currently not permitted to enter Germany to retrieve your luggage. This has nothing to do with customer service in Frankfurt and everything with the airlines check-in in BKK. Make your life easier and buy a single ticket from the airline, not Kayak and the like.
Looks like 2 tickets.
Yeah, probably better to buy straight from the airline in these times.
Looks like 2 tickets:
Self-transfer
This amazing price is possible because we combined separate tickets. Please remember to check in between flights, recheck any luggage and bring a visa if needed when you leave the transit zone to check in
Note that it is your responsibility to check if you are allowed to enter and leave the countries you are traveling through. For example, the Self-transfer Guarantee does not apply if you are denied boarding due to pandemic restrictions.
Apr 26, 2021, 2:53 am
#11
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I'm glad they at least spell it out very clearly for you! Welcome to FT!
Apr 26, 2021, 4:40 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Posts: 9,396
I don’t think Air Europa flies Frankfurt to Brazil direct. You need to transfer in Madrid. Hence, this itinerary will not be allowed for you because you need to enter Schengen.
Apr 26, 2021, 5:19 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 93
Okay I had a look for you.
Germany - You can enter as a non EU citizen so long as you were living in Thailand previous 6 months. If not no luck. You would also need the antigen, LAMP or PCR test from past 48 hours before arrival.
Spain - As I assume your new ticket would be Frankfurt to Brazil via Madrid. If you gained entry to Germany using Thai residency, you would be allowed to fly to Spain as you are flying from Germany (another EU country) but would need a PCR, antigen or LAMP past 72 hours.
Brazil - You can enter as you are a resident as you state but remember would need PCR past 72 hours.
Also to note Spain - Brazil direct flights are currently suspended so ensure that flight is realistic that it will even take off. I would recommend if you did not spend past 6 months in Thailand to use another route. You are admissable to the US if you were not in UK, EU, Iran, Brazil, China, South Africa in past 14 days so could look at flying to Brazil via USA. Another option as other posters mentioned was Qatar or Emirates.
If you could do an airside transit through Germany or Switzerland straight from say Bangkok to Sao Paulo via Frankfurt, or Bangkok to Sao Paulo via Zurich this would also be no problem. Main issue is under your proposed plan you need to actually enter the schengen area through passport control.
Germany - You can enter as a non EU citizen so long as you were living in Thailand previous 6 months. If not no luck. You would also need the antigen, LAMP or PCR test from past 48 hours before arrival.
Spain - As I assume your new ticket would be Frankfurt to Brazil via Madrid. If you gained entry to Germany using Thai residency, you would be allowed to fly to Spain as you are flying from Germany (another EU country) but would need a PCR, antigen or LAMP past 72 hours.
Brazil - You can enter as you are a resident as you state but remember would need PCR past 72 hours.
Also to note Spain - Brazil direct flights are currently suspended so ensure that flight is realistic that it will even take off. I would recommend if you did not spend past 6 months in Thailand to use another route. You are admissable to the US if you were not in UK, EU, Iran, Brazil, China, South Africa in past 14 days so could look at flying to Brazil via USA. Another option as other posters mentioned was Qatar or Emirates.
If you could do an airside transit through Germany or Switzerland straight from say Bangkok to Sao Paulo via Frankfurt, or Bangkok to Sao Paulo via Zurich this would also be no problem. Main issue is under your proposed plan you need to actually enter the schengen area through passport control.
Apr 26, 2021, 5:33 am
#14
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Join Date: Feb 2007
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Posts: 4,783
Thai Airways to Frankfurt
Thank you.
Well, I buy from a site like kayak.com
Well, I buy from a site like kayak.com
Well, I buy from a site like kayak.com and they say I have to "self-transfer" which entails passing through immigration, getting my baggage, and taking it to the next airline.
Last edited by warakorn; Apr 26, 2021 at 7:41 am
Apr 26, 2021, 5:37 am
#15
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Posts: 31,452
Okay I had a look for you.
Germany - You can enter as a non EU citizen so long as you were living in Thailand previous 6 months. If not no luck. You would also need the antigen, LAMP or PCR test from past 48 hours before arrival.
Spain - As I assume your new ticket would be Frankfurt to Brazil via Madrid. If you gained entry to Germany using Thai residency, you would be allowed to fly to Spain as you are flying from Germany (another EU country) but would need a PCR, antigen or LAMP past 72 hours.
Brazil - You can enter as you are a resident as you state but remember would need PCR past 72 hours.
Also to note Spain - Brazil direct flights are currently suspended so ensure that flight is realistic that it will even take off. I would recommend if you did not spend past 6 months in Thailand to use another route. You are admissable to the US if you were not in UK, EU, Iran, Brazil, China, South Africa in past 14 days so could look at flying to Brazil via USA. Another option as other posters mentioned was Qatar or Emirates.
If you could do an airside transit through Germany or Switzerland straight from say Bangkok to Sao Paulo via Frankfurt, or Bangkok to Sao Paulo via Zurich this would also be no problem. Main issue is under your proposed plan you need to actually enter the schengen area through passport control.
Germany - You can enter as a non EU citizen so long as you were living in Thailand previous 6 months. If not no luck. You would also need the antigen, LAMP or PCR test from past 48 hours before arrival.
Spain - As I assume your new ticket would be Frankfurt to Brazil via Madrid. If you gained entry to Germany using Thai residency, you would be allowed to fly to Spain as you are flying from Germany (another EU country) but would need a PCR, antigen or LAMP past 72 hours.
Brazil - You can enter as you are a resident as you state but remember would need PCR past 72 hours.
Also to note Spain - Brazil direct flights are currently suspended so ensure that flight is realistic that it will even take off. I would recommend if you did not spend past 6 months in Thailand to use another route. You are admissable to the US if you were not in UK, EU, Iran, Brazil, China, South Africa in past 14 days so could look at flying to Brazil via USA. Another option as other posters mentioned was Qatar or Emirates.
If you could do an airside transit through Germany or Switzerland straight from say Bangkok to Sao Paulo via Frankfurt, or Bangkok to Sao Paulo via Zurich this would also be no problem. Main issue is under your proposed plan you need to actually enter the schengen area through passport control.