Hello All-

I am flying IAD-GVA with a most likely stop in FRA. If I do transfer in FRA, I was wondering what the transfer procedures are with regard to lounge access between connecting flights. Do you have to clear customs first like at LHR or is it like connecting to domestic flights in the US or between flights in ZRH where you don't have any passport control area? If flying on United, can I use Arrivals by United? Timing wise, UA is probably better but there is also LH for the transatlantic leg. Yes, I know LH has better service on board but I only want to judge on ease of transfers for now? Lastly, if you had the choice, would you connect in ZRH, MUC, or FRA? Thanks for the help!

I like MUC much more than either ZRH or FRA. Are you gold with UAL? What class will you purchase?

You will need to clear immigration and customs, as FRA will be your point of entry into the EU. I don't remember immigration ever being a hassle in FRA, but of course, YMMV. Be prepared to walk a fair amount if you need to change terminals.

In terms of lounge access and showers, the Arrivals service at FRA is often extremely crowded. When I connect to a LH flight, I simply bypass Arrivals/RCC, go straight through immigration, and then take a shower in one of the LH lounges, which are overall nicer than the RCC.

If you are Star Gold you are entitled to use the Senator Lounges which are a bit nicer than the LH Business Lounges. Do make sure to mention that you are Gold to the attendant, and show your card. Somehow most attendants will always want to direct you to the Business Lounge rather than the Senator lounge.

Overall FRA isn't a bad airport. Your connection will take a bit of time, but it's quite bearable.

Shipping this off to the Germany forum.

iluv2fly
Moderator, UA

Americans.....

GVA is in Switzerland and the Swiss might be everything but certainly not a member of the EU.... And if I had the choice, I would either connect in ZRH or MUC. ZRH gives you the advantage that you can clear SWISS immigration there and continue domesically, MUC is the easiest airport for a transfer.

Good try. But I happen to be French. And I can even place Switzerland on a map

Anyway, my point was that in my experience you have to clear immigration in FRA, because you're entering the EU. I cant compare to ZRH, I've never flown there.

Good try, but you stay airside and in transit. No need to clear German immigration or immgration for the Schengen area (as long as you don't use the exit to Frankfurt or connect to France).

Europeans....

Actually, if you transit in ZRH you won't clear immigration there - domestic flights in Switzerland are considered international, and you have to clear immigration afterwards in GVA IIRC!

I'm sure it's not a big deal though given Swiss efficiency - ZRH immigration rarely takes more than a minute, and BSL doesn't bother at all most of the time.

I am pretty sure on DUS - ZRH - GVA I cleared in ZRH. But I agree. It takes seconds.

Regardless of where you clear immigrations, if memory serves, you don't go through customs until you reach your final airport.

Does Switzerland green stripe their luggage tags like the Schengen airports?

It alsway depends from where and to where you travel:

US via transit in FRA to EX-EU EX-Schengen =
neither customs nor immigration in Frankfurt (eg. Switzerland)

US via transit in FRA to EU but EX-Schengen =
customs (handluggage only) but no immigration in Frankfurt (eg. UK)

US via transit in FRA to EX-EU but Schengen =
Immigration but no customs in Frankfurt (eg. Norway)

US via transit in FRA to EU and Schengen=
both, immigration and customs (handluggage only) in Frankfurt (eg. France).

Checked luggaged in the EU (or maybe better even Europe) will always clear customs at the final destination and it might well be that checked luggage is green tagged (and irrelevant for customs) whereas handluggage might be interesting for customs (eg. on EU transit in EX EU to EU, or: DUS - ZRH - CDG). Just imagine then 10 cartons of cigarettes you bought in ZRH while being on transit. If there were no (theoretical) customs these cartons were in the EU and you could give the cartons to anybody eg. travalling domestically. Well, this is the general principle. I am not sure it is always obeyed.

The green stripe has NOTHING to do with Schengen, you will find on departures from EU Airports and indicates that the luggage can pass EU customs without being checked. Switzerland is not part of the EU.

Just a follow up to this. I am flying SYD(CX)-HKG(CX)-FRA(AY)-HEL(AY)-LHR - I am currently oneworld sapphire (AA Plat. QF SG)\

I get into FRA at 5:45AM and speart at 10:45AM. I have never transited through FRA before. I belive I arrive into T2 and then fly out of the Schengen area.

I am little lost as to what this will mean in terms of lounge access. I believe I can use the Air France lounge in the Schengen area as that is the partner lounge for AY - I want to avoid this completely as I wish to avoid the open smoking area.

I dont mind which OW lounge I go to - I will just need a shower and a cold beer (It will be late afternoon for my body clock ).

Any guidance on this would be great.

Cheers

S

The AA lounge is outside security "upstairs" from their check-in gate. You could go to that one as well if you're exiting the security area during that five hour layover. AA has two showers at FRA and a full self-serve bar.

I don't know any of the ones behind security.

I hadnt planned to leave the secure area - but I dont mind if I do -. I plan to check luggage through to LHR and will have one carry on bag (maybe 1 1/2 )

Thanks

The only lounge available to you which has a shower is the AC, so you really don't have any choice (the other lounges are for short-haul flights, so they don't think a shower is needed). Better get there early, the AC has precisely one working shower at the moment (2 if they fix the other one), so there is sometimes a queue of an hour or 2 for a shower.