MUC layover questions
 

Our STL-->MUC-->JMK flight got changed and we're currently looking at a ~6hr layover in MUC. However, there is a slightly earlier flight that would allow ~8hr layover in MUC; we flew into MUC a couple years ago and took the train to Venice and spent a few hours in Munich and loved it. So my questions:

• what is involved in leaving/rentering security/customs at MUC?
• are our layovers too tight to see any sights in MUC?
• would it be worth it?

I did a search and read some older threads that referenced an MUC layover thread that was a dead link

I flew ORD-MUC-BRU two weeks ago, with an intentional 12-hour layover in Munich. I had no issues at passport control in MUC; just needed to show my paper CDC vax record along, of course, with my US passport. No testing was required. I am vaxed and boosted.

I took the train to Marienplatz and had a very enjoyable late morning and afternoon. I was asked for my QR code at one restaurant, but was admitted with no issue when I showed them my paper CDC record.

I'm not sure how many "sights" you could see (like the BWM museum or Deutsches Museum), but you have time for a meal and a beer or three and them some wandering.

I had to fill out a passenger locator form for entry into Belgium and listed Germany as one of the countries I had visited in the last two weeks. I do not know what the Greek requirements are.

As long as you're fully vaxxed there should be no issues with entering Germany. You no longer have to complete a form so it's just a question of showing proof of vaccination. Marienplatz is about 40 minutes by train from the airport (every 20 mins) so even if it takes 90 mins for immigration and travel you could certainly see a bit of the centre/go shopping, have something to eat and get back on the train in time for your connection, or even squeeze in a more focused trip eg to the Olympiapark. As the MUC-JMK leg would be a Schengen trip, there's just no passport control, just security. You could reckon on a solid 4 hours in the city if there are no delays to your inbound flight.

If you're coming in the warmer months I'd definitely favour a drink in a beergarden over sitting in the airport!

I should have prefaced this before: all of us are vaxed and a couple of us are boosted. With that out of the way...

The last leg (MUC-JMK) is the one I'm concerned about, as Covid has complicated everything, and I've read and am still confused; I don't want to leave and then at security in MUC be asked for a test or some other unforeseen thing Greece requires that came about all because we left the airport instead of just staying in the terminal, and thus bone the rest of our trip.

Trip is middle of May, which is a couple months earlier than my last time in Munich, so I'm not sure what the temps will be that time of year.

If Covid has taught us anything, it's that it's literally impossible to predict any country's Covid-related entry requirements! But if your final destination is Greece, whatever paperwork you need to get into Greece will be verified when you check in in the US, so you will need to have any required test certificates, completed health forms etc. before you get on the TATL leg of the flight. I cannot envisage the situation you describe happening, in which rule changes would be announced and implemented in the few hours you were in the air/in Munich before boarding. Most countries give at least a couple of days' notice if the rules are changing.

You would obviously need to check for yourself whether entering Germany would impact quarantine regulations for you subsequently entering Greece, but again that's impossible to assess until nearer the time. Ditto whether you meet the requirements for entering Germany. There isn't really a way around this unfortunately. This page in English is useful for Germany's immigration info: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus/2317268 - there will be something similar for Greece if you google it.

As it stands - if it helps at all - you would be able to enter Germany and then Greece without any extra testing or Covid forms to complete.

FWIW, European countries are generally scrapping Covid regulations rather than introducing new ones, so unless there is some new and catastrophic variant identified in the meantime, people who are fully vaccinated should be fine to travel without quarantine or extra testing, particularly between EU member states. I don't know when you were vaccinated/boosted but some countries now only count your last vaccination as valid if it was completed in the last 270 days. Again, you'll need to check the rules for Greece/Germany nearer the time.

Sorry for not being able to give a definitive answer. This thing is a moving target, albeit one which is hopefully slowing down now. At least info is widely available in English.

May in Munich ought to be pleasant, high teens Celsius or low 20s if we're lucky. (For me that's t-shirt weather but it's all about what you're used to!)

Please consider that normally only boostered is considered as fully vaccinated in Gernany.

If I understand correctly I will not need a covid test prior to flying to Munich this weekend. I have received two jabs plus a booster of Moderna.
Is this the accurate interpretation?

I thought that too, but then I couldn't actually find it written down anywhere! The Auswärtiges Amt directs people to this page for information about vaccination validity, which doesn't say anything specific about boosters (in the English or German version).. https://www.pei.de/EN/newsroom/dossi...html?cms_pos=3

When I entered Greece on Tuesday 8-MAR-2022, I only had to show my printed PLF with the big V on it.

Starting on Tuesday, 15-MAR-2022, no PLF will be required. But expect to show proof of vaccination OR negative test performed within 24 hours of arrival.

My biggest concern is testing negative when tested at ATH airport pre-departure. I do want to return home then instead of being sent to quarantine!

OP, see the entry rules for each country at https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php It is mostly up to date for most countries.

It actually lists specifically what the requirement is for full vaccination. Two doses, for all approved vaccines. The main difference for Americans is that people are considered fully vaccinated with one dose of Jansen (J&J), but Germany doesn’t consider that fully vaccinated and requires a second dose (of something). So from a US perspective a boostered J&J recipient would be okay, but someone with just the original dose isn’t.

Ironically enough, the trip that stemmed my original question in this thread was supposed to happen *last year* but I pre-emptively took a test a few days before our departing flight. Due to work I am exposed to Covid daily and while I wasn't sick I just had something in the back of my mind telling me to get tested, and sure enough I tested +. Never did really get sick but boy was my wife mad when we had to cancel our trip!

BTW: thank you to everyone for the replies!