Connection time in FRA...advice please

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Sep 15, 2007 | 7:41 pm
  #1  
Hi, I'm arriving in FRA on Christmas Day at 7:20 a.m. from USA and am planning on booking a flight to CDG the same day. Can anyone give me some advice on what would be the earliest/safest time you recommend that I could depart from FRA, considering I have to pick up bags and go through customs/immigration, and may have to change terminals. I am flying NW coming into FRA and may consider booking LH from FRA to CDG (although I'm not tied to any airline).

Thanks
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Sep 16, 2007 | 4:41 am
  #2  
Quote: Hi, I'm arriving in FRA on Christmas Day at 7:20 a.m. from USA and am planning on booking a flight to CDG the same day. Can anyone give me some advice on what would be the earliest/safest time you recommend that I could depart from FRA, considering I have to pick up bags and go through customs/immigration, and may have to change terminals. I am flying NW coming into FRA and may consider booking LH from FRA to CDG (although I'm not tied to any airline).

Thanks
You do not need to pick up yor bags and go through customs. You only go through immigration in Frankfurt. One hour is OK for a connection at FRA, one and a half is plenty.
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Sep 16, 2007 | 10:07 am
  #3  
Quote: You do not need to pick up yor bags and go through customs. You only go through immigration in Frankfurt. One hour is OK for a connection at FRA, one and a half is plenty.
But I will have 2 separate tickets. One ticket USA-FRA (purchased already on NW) and another FRA-CDG (which I have yet to purchase, perhps on LH).

Are you sure that I won't need to clear customs and pick-up my bags in FRA first? I figure that I would have to clear customs and pick-up bags and then re-enter for my FRA-CDG trip.
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Sep 16, 2007 | 1:58 pm
  #4  
I think that you should ask this question in the Germany section of the World forum . I'm pretty sure you'll get your answer there.
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Sep 16, 2007 | 2:08 pm
  #5  
Quote: But I will have 2 separate tickets. One ticket USA-FRA (purchased already on NW) and another FRA-CDG (which I have yet to purchase, perhps on LH).

Are you sure that I won't need to clear customs and pick-up my bags in FRA first? I figure that I would have to clear customs and pick-up bags and then re-enter for my FRA-CDG trip.
You should be able to get bags tagged through (on showing the onward ticket at check in).

You will clear immigration at FRA, but should not need to do customs.
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Sep 16, 2007 | 11:57 pm
  #6  
For additional discussion, let me move this to our Travel->Germany forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz
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Sep 17, 2007 | 7:17 am
  #7  
Quote: You will clear immigration at FRA, but should not need to do customs.
You certainly need to "do" customs -> with your hand-luggage.

20 Meters behind immigration, you simply go through a green channel, smile and you are through. No need to fill out any stupid forms or declaration. Friendly, efficient and fast. In CDG you should not expect anything either. Flights from Frankfurt are intra-Schengen-intra-EU domestic flights and I have never seen any customs officials for a Frankfurt flight.
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Sep 17, 2007 | 8:51 am
  #8  
Why not use AF from FRA-CDG? As a Skyteam member, interlining your bags should be easier. If your bag comes into Paris without the green borders on the bag tag, it might get checked in CDG at Customs but I've never been checked. I've waited a long time claiming bags in FRA. For some reason the bags always seem to take at least a 1/2 hour to show up on the carosel.
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Sep 17, 2007 | 9:51 am
  #9  
Quote: Why not use AF from FRA-CDG? As a Skyteam member, interlining your bags should be easier.
I am actually member of *A, but got a wicked fare to FRA on NW, so my preference would be to go LH. AF fares are higher at the moment.

Thanks for everyone's input.
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