changing to different carrier--how does this work?
 

Okay, another question for the group.

I want to fly over to Europe on one carrier and then connect on another carrier. These will be two separate tickets and I will probably be connecting in Frankfurt.

Can I just go straight to the connecting gate and check in? Or do I have to exit security then check in at the regular check-in area?

If both carriers have an interline agreement, have your second PNR linked to the first one, and the transatlantic carrier will at least check your luggage through to your final destination, and hopefully issue a boarding pass for your connecting flight. Failing that, there should be a transfer desk airside to issue a BP for your second flight.

For passengers without luggage, some European airlines do accept US-style check-in at the gate, although this is not ideal: there might be no staff at the gate until late, there may be a queue for the lone agent present, and you would be among the last to pick a seat if the above happens.

If your connecting flight is on a discount carrier, you will most likely have to check in landside at the regular check-in desks.

[This message has been edited by monahos (edited 06-26-2003).]

Assuming you don;t know it already, give yourself a lot of time if you are flying on non-flexible tickets. If you miss the connection, you may have to standby for the next flight. The worser cases are that you'd have to pay a change fee or buy a new ticket.

YOu'll probably arrive at Terminal C from US - CO,DL are bunched normally at gates C6-12 Intra-Eurpoe tend to be out of A&B. As others have mentioned, without linked itenary folks may hassle you. FRA as the first airport to scan shoes - All shoes,without exceptions.......

I think this may depend on where your final destination is. If you are connecting with an internal flight your luggage may have to clear customs at FRA.

If the final destination is a Schengen country, you clear immigration at FRA but customs at your airport/Schengen country of arrival.

I'm not too sure what happens for domestic German flights. For British ones, you clear U.K. immigration at the int'l airport (usually LHR) and customs on arrival at the final airport(!)

This would be in terminal 2. If allowed, you can take the airside people mover to T1 (the train carriages are segregated to airside and landside).