Question about connecting to train from BA flight - appr. one hour enough?
Dec 4, 2023, 12:33 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 139
Question about connecting to train from BA flight - appr. one hour enough?
My flight lands at 11.05 on a Tuesday morning next February (luggage to collect) - what are my chances of catching a 12.14 train to Berlin Ostbahnhof to connect with an EC express - friends in Germany say I should be okay but I have my doubts...
Dec 4, 2023, 12:36 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
would be a way too short connection for my very own risk tolerance. at any airport.
it could work tho. that's 69 minutes. totally doable if everything is on time. the way from the luggage belt to the train station is like 5 minutes.
it could work tho. that's 69 minutes. totally doable if everything is on time. the way from the luggage belt to the train station is like 5 minutes.
Dec 4, 2023, 12:37 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci. And BA Gold – previous awards - Gold 11, Silver 7, Bronze 4.
Posts: 4,239
Are you in CE? If so, any chance you can squeeze everything into hand luggage only?
Dec 4, 2023, 12:56 am
#4
Join Date: May 2023
Programs: BA
Posts: 31
It depends on the day.
if it was like my experience on Friday, it took 45 minutes to clear passport control.
However, a friend on a different flight was in the train station in about 45 mintues from landing on Friday.
so really dose depend on the que and the people your stuck behind.
if it was like my experience on Friday, it took 45 minutes to clear passport control.
However, a friend on a different flight was in the train station in about 45 mintues from landing on Friday.
so really dose depend on the que and the people your stuck behind.
Dec 4, 2023, 1:20 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BER
Programs: BAEC GGL/GfL, Lufthansa SEN, Hilton Diamond, misc other stuff
Posts: 1,374
Is Ostbahnhof your final destination? If so don't even worry about this since there's different trains that leave like every 20-30min depending on the schedule. Note that the FEX (Flughafen/airport Express) currently does not serve Ostkreuz (not Ostbahnhof) this month. You can take both the RB (Regionalbahn) and S-Bahn where the former would be the preferred and faster option.
Dec 4, 2023, 2:15 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: BAEC GOLD, Star Alliance, HH Gold
Posts: 76
It used to be reliably fast going through passport control in Berlin but our last trip in October took us over an hour.
A Turkish flight landed before us which made it extremely busy.
2 weeks ago I spoke to someone arriving on an EU passport. The automatic gates were closed and was apparently taking up to 2 hours to get through.
Providing the machines are open for residents and EU passports and you don't have busy flights before yours I expect you would make it in good time.
A Turkish flight landed before us which made it extremely busy.
2 weeks ago I spoke to someone arriving on an EU passport. The automatic gates were closed and was apparently taking up to 2 hours to get through.
Providing the machines are open for residents and EU passports and you don't have busy flights before yours I expect you would make it in good time.
Dec 4, 2023, 3:22 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 139
Thank you all for the input - I hadn't even thought about the possible weather delays....I did have an express to catch at Ostbahnhof - the next one is an hour and a bit later - I'll go for that one - I didn't want problems with specific trains on tickets and trying to explain to a Db ticket inspector. Too much stuff just for cabin baggage.
Just for info - anyone traveling to Frankfurt - it'll be a long wait just to get your passport stamped...not to mention walking about half a mile - I am exaggerating a little!
Just for info - anyone traveling to Frankfurt - it'll be a long wait just to get your passport stamped...not to mention walking about half a mile - I am exaggerating a little!
Dec 4, 2023, 5:20 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2023
Posts: 4
Frankfurt also depends heavily on which planes have just landed. I have almost walked right through and also had to wait a long time (in both terminals).
And remember for anyone with a German residency card - even though most of the signs have not been updated, you can use the EU EasyPass electronic gates at Frankfurt even with non-EU passports now.
And remember for anyone with a German residency card - even though most of the signs have not been updated, you can use the EU EasyPass electronic gates at Frankfurt even with non-EU passports now.
Dec 4, 2023, 5:53 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Boston, London
Programs: BA GGL/GfL
Posts: 321
It used to be reliably fast going through passport control in Berlin but our last trip in October took us over an hour.
A Turkish flight landed before us which made it extremely busy.
2 weeks ago I spoke to someone arriving on an EU passport. The automatic gates were closed and was apparently taking up to 2 hours to get through.
Providing the machines are open for residents and EU passports and you don't have busy flights before yours I expect you would make it in good time.
A Turkish flight landed before us which made it extremely busy.
2 weeks ago I spoke to someone arriving on an EU passport. The automatic gates were closed and was apparently taking up to 2 hours to get through.
Providing the machines are open for residents and EU passports and you don't have busy flights before yours I expect you would make it in good time.
Technically with certain passports you can also just register for EasyPass even without a residency card. US for instance, from first hand experience. I'm sure the vast majority of non-EU using that system are resident card holders as the Bundespolizei staff are regularly bemused by someone not possessing one.
Dec 4, 2023, 6:45 am
#12
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,103
Queue's for immigration can be longer than at Tegel. Plus one flight a day seems to get bussed to an immigration hall where other airlines arrive and many passengers have to be photo'ed and fingerprinted. This took a very long time to clear. Despite this the bags had not arrived.
You could be OK, but it is very risky.
You could be OK, but it is very risky.
Dec 4, 2023, 7:49 am
#13
formerly Sleepy_Sentry
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 614
I’ve been able to clear plane to train in 20 minutes, including automated passport control. It’s worth the risk so long as you can take a later regional train at no cost. If using one of the non-EU lines, try to sit near the front of the aircraft.
Just look at train times on bahn.de ahead of time. Know what train options you have and the last possible train you can take. As others mention frequency is an issue.
Working in your favor is the fact that DB has poor on-time performance and could easily be late as well.
Just look at train times on bahn.de ahead of time. Know what train options you have and the last possible train you can take. As others mention frequency is an issue.
Working in your favor is the fact that DB has poor on-time performance and could easily be late as well.
Dec 4, 2023, 7:58 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 139
My Db tickets would be non flexible - however I have always found Db staff understanding but of course I would not rely on it...
The flight lands at 11.05 - the train is at 12.14 the next train is at 12.28 but then I have only a few minutes at Berlin Ost to catch my express - too much to go wrong - I think I'll book the later train....
The flight lands at 11.05 - the train is at 12.14 the next train is at 12.28 but then I have only a few minutes at Berlin Ost to catch my express - too much to go wrong - I think I'll book the later train....