Navigating MUC Airport
 

Travelling ORD-MUC on UA, arriving T2, then MUC-PMI on AB, departing from T1A. We have 2 hours between arrival and departure.

UA cannot check us in for AB, but can interline the bags. So...when we arrive, where will we go?

Do we claim the bags for customs, go through customs and drop them right off for transfer, then exit security to get to T1A to check in for AB? Or something else??

www.munich-airport.de has BEAUTIFUL maps of the airport, but I can't make hide nor hair of them - too much info.

You arrive T2, go through immigration, you will not reclaim your luggage (as this is checked through to PMI and customs will be there) and walk across the airport plaza to T1. There is a bus service airside from T2 to T1, however, walking is by far easier and quicker. In your shoes I would check-in online before you leave the US for your MUC-PMI flight. Two hours is plenty of time.

If they do interline the bags, you've got no worries. Your bags will be checked all the way through to Palma with no need to even think about them in MUC. Merely proceed to Terminal 1 and to the AB check in kiosks or counter. If memory serves, there is a bus that can take you from the secure area of T2 to the secure area of T1, so there shouldn't be a need to re-clear security.

You will need to clear passport control in MUC, but this has never taken me more than 5 minutes. In reality, the security screening has never taken long either, so if you wanted to walk it, you will still have no trouble making your flight and reclearing security.

Make sure you show the AB check in person your baggage tag sticker so they can marry it up with your AB boarding pass.

You should even have time for some fine Bavarian lunch / dinner. Most US flights get in early these days due to winter backwinds. You will have no problem what so ever.

There is - all passengers arriving from outside the EU and continuing on another flight must be screened (EU-mandated).

If for some reason UA does not interline your bags, then you will have to claim in them in T2, clear customs, then walk them across the plaza to T1. Note that the Christmas market is going on on the plaza, but early in the morning most stands will still be shut.

All good news. I don't think on-line check-in will be available in the US because AB is not *A (that looks like either matrix multiplication or Polish notation!) and we bought through UA...will check though.

Jetzt muss ich mein dictionary finden! College German was a LONG time ago...

I don't see why you can't check in before you leave the states. The only trick is that AB only lets you check in via your booking code and name. I'm not 100% positive with AB, but the booking code you got from UA (6 digits) is usually not the same one as in the other carrier's database. The good news in that AB has a US toll free number you can call at any time. They should be able to give you the AB booking code, and with that you will be able to check in up to 30 hours before your flight - plenty of time before your MUC flight. To repeat - if you either do this or checkin in at MUC, be sure to show them your baggage receipts so they can enter the bags into their system.

Assuming the return is the same - you should check since I'm not sure AB will interline bags to UA - many low-cost carriers don't interline.

I once (1,5y ago now) had a combination flight AA + AB.
AB online check-in didn´t work then, though trying to get help as AB gold member via hotline. They didn´t found a way, but maybe nowadays it´s different.

Anyway, as already said: 2h are more than enough and I´m absolutely sure you won´t have any hurry.

You are right. Last time I connected in MUC (and took the bus airside from T2 to T1), it was a Schengen - Schengen flight, so there would have been no need to reclear security. However, I did experience the reclearing earlier this year in AMS. Good catch.