EasyPass-RTP Enrollment
 

Apologies if there is a thread for this already -

I have a pretty dumb question about the EasyPass RTP program for US citizens. I transit FRA a decent bit and it's usually my port of entry into Schengen as LH's main TATL hub, so I was considering enrolling. Are the enrollment centres at e.g. FRA landside or airside?

I was having trouble parsing out where in FRA the office would be according to the program website :o Thanks!

It is landside, on the ground floor near one of the entrances. Don't do what I did and go to the Police office on the 1st (US 2nd) floor :)

When I enrolled in October it took about 20 minutes -- but half of that was the officer trying to find the other officer who had left his terminal logged into something and was locking my officer out :)

Drat, I suspected as much. How much time would it take to go landside, enroll, and then head back airside? Something tells me that's a little on the crazy side but my current trips are all just transits of FRA and maybe I'm not giving German efficiency enough credit :)

Can't really help you there -- I'm a T2 Non-Schengen guy. Security there is usually quick but I have never been thru T1 Schengen...

Location
 

In Terminal 1 A, checkin area Lufthansa First Class towards the leftmost entrance on the the departures level (looking from airside to entrance). It's within a kind of modern glas/metal built hut.

YMMV. That's assuming no one is ahead of you and/or nothing comes back in background check.

Unfortunately, all of my upcoming FRA transits are 2h00 or less. If I get in early and feel bold I might go for it (I find it hard to imagine any security line being that long) but not all that likely.

On the flip side, I've never had to wait all that long for passport control either, so meh :)

EasyPass renewal
 

We applied in 2016 and were told it was tied to the passport we used to enroll and valid until that passports expiry.

This information came from the officer who handled our application.

Used my EasyPass-RTP for the first time this month. When OK, except the "helper" at the gates saw my US passport and insisted I was in the wrong place. I kept trying to tell him I had registered and he kept insisting I had to go over to the other line. I still had my enrollment form and showed it to him and he finally let me use the gates. I probably didn't save any time -- but hopefully I will in the future.

I do have a question though -- for the exit check can I also use the EU gates? They do have automatic gates for US (and other countries) but sometimes the line backs up and you have to wait until enough clears so that you can reach them. In my case, it was a large group of young people -- under 18 -- so they couldn't use the automatic gates and the line backed up quite far. I was eying the empty EU gates but wasn't sure if EasyPass-RTP lets you use them.

Yes you can use it for exit but the problem again is the helper.

So I finally have a chance to be landside in FRA, and I have an exceedingly dumb question... where is the enrollment center? I looked around for maybe 20 minutes tonight before giving up. I found a Bundespolizei office next to the security checkpoint into Z from T1 Hall A (level 3), but it seemed to be closed (was ~19.30). Hours online claimed until 21.30 but "core hours" were only until 18.00.

Reading the comment thread makes it seem like that was wrong, but I didn't find anything else likely-looking, hmm..

I applied in Dusseldorf but here is the info on the website for Frankfurt. Here is the link to the site with the listed airports: https://www.easypass.de/EasyPass/EN/...pass_node.html

Frankfurt Airport, terminal 1, hall B, level 3, stairs to skyline train
Opening hours:
06:30 - 21:30
Core hours:
08:00 - 18:00
Phone: 0049 (0) 69 3400-5147
E-mail: [email protected]

If that is upstairs, that is the wrong place. I went there first and you had to get buzzed in the officer who answered the door wasn't too happy -- not rude, just "why is this tourist bothering me" :)

The place where I signed up was down by the check in desks. It was like a separate little building inside the check in hall.

Yes indeed, that sounds like where I tried to go. It was after 18.00 so I think it was just closed; I didn't try knocking on the locked door very hard because it seemed awkward. The website says "level 3" which is "upstairs" there, hence my confusion. You're saying a hut down by the check-in counters... is it over to the right (facing toward airside) by the LH F doors?

It was last October and I'm not usually in T1 -- but that sounds about right (don't know where LH F is)

Level 3 is the checkin/departures level. The T1B booth closes at 6pm: https://www.easypass.de/EasyPass/EN/...pass_node.html

Huh. The lifts suggest that '3' is the mezzanine level, or maybe I was just tired after 22+ hours in planes and airports. I'll have a look before my 10.45 departure this weekend :)

I forgot to follow up on this - I did finally find it but only after asking the LH checkin agent where to find it.

I clearly don't know my way around FRA landside well enough. It is indeed on the mezzanine (not departures) level, but there is a separate area on Level 3 which can only be accessed from deeper within the departures hall than the ticket counters. You have to start in the B hall and go all the way back (towards the runways) and turn left to find the escalator with the sign for Terminal 2 (doesn't even say "via SkyTrain"). Go up to Level 3 and then turn right to find the Bundespolizei office there. It is not in the hut in A departures where it used to be; it has moved.

Registration was quick and painless, but I did not attempt to use it on my way out -- officer said "one to two hours" and I didn't feel like cutting it close.

Can't believe I missed this before. I have to register next time I transit FRA and don't have a 1-hour connection...

Better hurry.. not sure if this will still be good when the EU starts requiring ETAs for US passports in 2021.

We registered in 2016 and have used it many times now.

I don't see how ETIAS will block the Easypass-RTP setup... Global Entry works fine with ESTA too.

So I had an open jaw trip coming up -- Berlin and Prague. I thought I'd fly into Berlin and use my Easypass-RTP. Well, Delta's flight (JFK-TXL) arrives at gate A01 which has its own little passport check area and no machines -- just two guys in a booth (one EU, one everybody else) :(

Flying into FRA this summer so I'll use it then.

Each terminal is different. At DUS, Pier C inbound has it while outbound have gates, I've never seen them in operation. At Pier B, no gates at all. At Pier A, inbound available and I never flew out of Pier A.

Looking for feedback if you all find it valuable to have the EasyPASS-RTP.

The reason I ask is... with a US passport you still need to wait for an officer to unlock the gates and give you a stamp it seems.

I get saving a bit of line getting to the passport control, but with priority line is that really worth having to deal with the line helpers and trying to insist you are at the right line?
Then potentially waiting within the gate for someone to open it and stamp your passport?

Seems to me like the system isn't streamlined enough. Again this just what I am currently seeing but would love your thoughts.

The big advantage I've seen is the EU lines usually move way more quickly, so even if you have to wait for a stamp in my (limited) sample set you get thru the whole process quicker. Same goes on exit as well.

Since it doesn't cost anything (other than a bit of time) I don't really see any downside.

The egates are always monitored by a BuPo officer so there is no wait if you have to see one for whatever reason. The gate just shows a red sign and asks you to see an officer. It then opens and leads you to the waiting BuPo desk.

German citizen with Global Entry.
When it comes to the re-registration after two years. I have to see the Bundespolizei again, right? How long after the visit to them, before my GE membership is updated, or can be used again?

I think you mix Global Entry with Easy Pass - which are not the same. Question related to Global Entry are better asked in this forum: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trusted-travelers-732/

FLYGVA
co-moderator Germany Forum

FLYGVA,
thank you for your reply. I am not mixing them though. This may indeed be the wrong thread, but registration with the Bundespolizei is a prerequisite for German nationals without a green card to participate in Global Entry. After two years it needs to be renewed. Therefore I decided to ask my question here, instead of a general GE thread, hoping a German who has gone through the process would answer. I live in the US on a visa. My two years are up prior to my next visit to Germany. Therefore I was wondering what happens during that 'grey zone' and immediately after re-registration.

There is a specific thread for Germans who have global entry here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trus...s-germany.html

To answer your specific question, you don't need to go to the BuPo after two years. Only when you renew the TTP after five years you ned to to go to the BuPo again.

Question about enrollment. I went to the Police bureau at Berlin Tegel last week. Helpful agent had me complete 2 forms and he took a photocopy of my passport.

He then said I'd need to do some sort of enrollment online, but I can't find any info about that. Am I missing something? Is the police visit not enough? And is there any way to tell if I'm now active?

No online registration required: https://www.easypass.de/EasyPass/EN/.../rtp_node.html

EasyPass RTP - only in Germany?
 

Hello - I arrived in Frankfurt late and was running to my next flight. My husband (who is Spanish) breezed through with his electronic passport. As I'm American I waited in the short line. The nice Border Post officer told me I could get EasyPass by applying, but as I didn't have time I just thanked him and ran on - eventually making my flight! :> Now I'd like to get EasyPass but I usually use Frankfurt (and Munich) only transiting into Europe. Is EasyPass-RTP available at any other airports in Europe, particularly Spain? Thanks for any help you might be able to offer!

It’s only in Germany.