We'll be arriving first class from SFO, checked bags (scheduled 9:35 arrival). Will need to catch the train to Koln, transferring to Paris.

How much time should we allow to get off the plane, get through passport control, collect bags, and get to the train station? Unless we're early, I have a feeling catching the 11:09 might be a bit tight, but thought I'd check with the experts.

Jim

If you're on time you can make it within 45 minutes, at least that's how long it took me the two times I did it. So I guess you should be safe.

Yes, international arrival with checked luggage (F) and going to the train station - 45 minutes are OK !! I would say, it could work in less then 45 minutes.

Thanks.

So is there an expedited passport control and/or baggage claim for F?

Without luggage you can make it in under 20 mins - all things going well and not arriving at a very remote A40 gate or so.
With luggage you should also be able to make it in under 1 hour. 45 mins sounds about right on average.

..Usually you have an extra 5-10 mins as the trains hardly ever run on time nowadays anymore ... except when I need to make a tight connection, that is the day they are on the minute ...

Noexpedited Passport control, but it shouldn't take more than 5 mins or so. (Unlike entering the US!). LH F bags are tagged as HON luggage and should arrive first off the belt - and usually do.

Worst case is get gate at the far end of A, or bus gate with wait for bus. But even then shouldn't take much more than 30 or 40 minutes. Last time, with no checked bags, I was on the train platform (incl ticket purchase) in 15 minutes of arrival.

Be aware that there are two train stations at Frankfurt airport. You want the Fernbahnhof.

Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen Fernbahnhof

If everything runs according to schedule, 45 mins will be plenty. However ...... as it goes these days.

Can you check the bag to Koeln. I know you used to be able to check in at Koeln, if the train ticket was issued by LH. Does it work in reverse? Or, do you have a DB ticket?

On the way back we'll be spending the night at the airport, so that's not an issue; the concern is the train we'll be trying to catch the morning we arrive in FRA.

But it sounds like we should be ok if our flight is relatively ontime (we may even be able to make the 10:40 and have a less rushed connection in Koln). It's nice to know that some airlines pay attention to tagged baggage and allow it to arrive first.

Add half an hour if you need to buy a ticket - long queues and/or ineffective ticket-machines at the upstairs station at FRA. much better to order tickets online from www.db.de

And keep an eye on the German news about the train-drivers' industrial dispute. The courts ruled the mainline drivers couldn't go on strike, but...

Upstairs at platform 1 at Koeln is the 1st-class lounge, accessible with a 1st-class ticket UNLESS it's a 1st class rail-pass which they won't recognize.

Hi Jim,
Is there any reason that you need to go via Cologne? If I see it correctly, you will connect in Cologne to the Thalys with a connection time of just 9 minutes. If anything goes wrong and you are delayed (flight or train) this is quite tight, especially as the Thalys will probably not wait for the ICE as it is run by a different company. Therefore I would suggest using the ICE at 11.54h to Karlsruhe, connecting there to the TGV. This would provide you with another 45 minutes in FRA in case your flight is late, and you would have more than 30 minutes for your connection in Karlsruhe. In Paris you would arrive not even half an hour later compared to going via Cologne (16.34h instaed of 16.08, ok it will be Paris Est instead of Nord...).

(Before booking, please check if this connection is available at your day of departure, I just checked a random date...)

The GDL train engineers union has agreed to accept arbitration by two well-known conservative politicians. The union will refrain from further strike action until at least August 27.

Actually, that's what I've started to lean towards.

If I got your details right you are arriving on LH in first class. Then, given your flight is on time, you even should be able to use the additional time at FRA to take a shower in LH's First class lounge before collecting your luggage and boarding the train. As mentioned before, if you buy a first class ticket for the train, you can also use the DB lounge at the train station directly above the platform. They have nice seats, free coffee/tea/soft drinks, and you can just leave 5-10 minutes before the departure of your train. However, the lounge is of course nothing compared to LH's First class lounges.