Is is possible to change planes at the Berlin -Tegel airport in 40 minutes? (Assuming the first flight is on time) The particulars are: Air Berlin TLV - TXL, then TXL -MIA on a Thursday morning.
Family of four, two adults, two children (2 years and an infant). One parent schlepping a car seat. Checking the arrivals and departures at TXL is seems the first leg typically arrives in Terminal C and the second leg departs from Terminal B. Do they have to go through a security checkpoint when just changing planes? I know I have seen that in other European airports.

My family is coming to visit, , and Air Berlin changed the time of the plane out of TLV. Timing is important as they are coming for a major family event. I am beginning to wonder if they should leave a couple of days earlier (the flight does not fly every day) rather than miss the connection.


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FLYGVA
co-moderator Germany Forum

Coming from TLV you'll have to clear immigration and, since the outbound flight is to the US, go through normal plus an extra security check. If both legs are on the same PNR you should be able to through-check any bags, but whether they'll make connection is doubtful.

40 minutes if you're travelling light and solo would be pushing it, with kids and SWMBO in tow it's a silly proposition that's near certain to end in tears. Not even MUC will do you a 40-minute non-Schengen to US transfer, and they're the best in Europe at that particular game (35 mins intra-Schengen, with checked bags).

Agree with above comments. Even though tegel is a small airport, 40 minutes is cutting it close especially with a family.

Moving this thread to the Germany forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz co-moderator

Thank you for all your replies. This has been very useful!

I take it these are both AB flights? Just as a matter of reference: last year I flew AB MIA-TXL and our flight arrived almost an hour behind schedule because of a delayed departure. When I got off the bus (remote stand parking) and entered the building to go through immigration, there was an AB representative there asking for the passengers transferring to St. Petersburg. I don't know if they took them directly to the gate airside, or just ushered them through immigration and security. Since you are coming from a non-Schengen country and departing to another non-Schengen country, I'm not sure if you actually need to go through immigration. For example, you wouldn't have to do that at AMS or even FRA since those flights are clustered in the same terminal areas.

40 minutes is tight but you should easily make it at TXL. It is without a doubt the simplest and fastest airport in the entire world. Five minutes walks you through all the gates. Immigration is very quick,too

For international flights I am not sure how Tegel works, but last time that I flew Air Berlin through Tegel (from Sweden to Switzerland), I had a 35 minute planned transfer time, and still had about 15 minutes spare time (another flight arrived late with 2 people connecting to my second flight, so it waited and left a few minutes late, time to load their luggage and wait for them)

If it wasn't for the kids I'd side with berlindave. If they do go for it, I suggest taking a good look at a map first to make sure things go smoothly (although, as mentioned, it is a very simple airport).

Yup. Just check the arrival and departure gates and terminals carefully beforehand. TXL was designed by a genius.

If AB offered this connection and you have both flights on one ticket, you should be ok.
Not only that TXL is a small airport, but if you have booked it as offered by AB on one ticket they should know you are coming and make arrangements for your individual transit, should time make this necessary.
They are really trying hard to offer a good service for international transot customers at this makeshift airport, but certainly everywhere things can go wrong. So if you have some status membership with Oneworld or Etihad, state it. If you check baggage through (which might even help to make certain they become aware you will transfer), make certain they put a big "transit" or "short transit" badge on it and if possible also a "priority" badge. TXL is quite good at tight baggage transfers, but put all necessities in your handluggage!

Thanks again for all the replies. They have been most helpful and we feel much more positive about making the connection.

I have one additional question: Does anyone know about gate checking a stroller? AB has told my family that if they miss the TXL to MIA connection, they would but them on a flight to JFK, and then JFK to MIA. In that case, they might need the stroller while they wait on the (now two) connections.

Why does OP have to clear immigration at TXL (unless the airport physically doesn't have an airside for non-Schengen to non-Schengen transfers)?

OP does have to clear security not because the outgoing flight is heading to US but because the incoming flight was non-EU.

If OP ends up TXL-JFK-MIA, the stroller will come out at JFK due to US requiring every passenger to clear immigration and customs at first US port.

The "unless" is the right point.

So it is the physical constraint at TXL that makes immigration check necessary not because one is connecting in Schengen from/to non-Schengen.