DoggyDaddy

We are flying from Venice, Italy to Newark, NJ with a connection in Munich Germany (all on Luftsansa). As we have never had a connecting flight in Europe, what can we expect. I assume our bags will be checked all the way to EWR, but will we have to go thru customs, immigration, etc. in Munich, including re-checking our bags, like we had to do when we flew from Mexico to EWR with a stop in Houston?

Also, since we are flying Business Class, will we have access to the lounges in Venice and Munich?

Thanks in advance



DD

hyderago

Yes, you will have to go through passport control and customs in MUC since that is your port of entry into the Schengen zone.

Norri

Has Italy left Schengen?

slawecki

both have decent lounges, nothing special at either. do not know what time you are leaving. if you are on a single ticket, your baggage is checked through. muc is notorius for short transfers. the run can be a long one, but everyone seems to make it.

there has been so little time between transfers, i don't know what we went through, but there was only one, each time through.

MUC is a pretty simple airport. fra is a zoo.

flyingfkb

You will go through passport control in Munich since this is where you leave the Schengen Zone. Your Venice Munich flight will be handled like a domestic flight since it is within the Schengen Zone. So no passport control in Venice. Baggage will be checked trough all the way the EWR. This re-check nonsense is something particular to the US but not Europe.

As LH business class passengers you will have access to the Marco Polo Lounge at Venice airport and the LH Business Lounge at MUC.

JOUY31

Moving this thread to the Lufthansa Miles & More forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz co-moderator

TRAVELSIG

LH business class passengers at VCE also have access to the priority security lane which is directly left (if facing security) to the Lufthansa business class checkin area.

On a busy morning the priority security will save about 20 minutes at Venezia Marco Polo.

iainbhx

Yes, you will have to go through passport control into Schengen. No, you will not have to go through customs at MUC, you will go through customs at VCE.

NewbieRunner

But the OP is flying from VCE to EWR via MUC. Passport control in MUC to leave Schengen but customs in VCE? Strictly speaking there might be customs for departing passengers but you don't normally notice anything.

TRAVELSIG

Correct- the only way the OP will notice customs is if they want to claim VAT refund for goods purchased within Schengen- in which case they will have to claim it in Munich.

KLouis

The poor guy who asked for advice must now be completely confused. At any rate, I've never seen so many wrong answers in so few words! 1) There NEVER is a passport control between Schengen countries (here: Italy-Germany), except for occasional spot checks when leaving a plane upon arrival, and 2) NEVER-EVER a customs control when leaving any European country to go anywhere, at least not since the fall of the iron curtain. The only remaining "barrier" will be a very quick check of the passport in MUC when leaving the Schengen area.

ottone

For VCE-MUC-EWR:
in VCE: security check + ID check at boarding
in MUC: passport control (as you leave Schengen) and nothing more

NewbieRunner

iainbhx's answer below is correct for someone flying EWR-MUC-VCE but not for the OP who is flying VCE-MUC-EWR.

westincafe

Let me summarise for the OP to clear up the mess a bit:

That's what will happen:
1) in Venice
-you will check-in with LH at the business class desk and receive both boarding passes (Venice-Munich and Munich-EWR) at the same time. There will be an ID check and since you are flying to the US they might already here check if API is complete
- you bag will be tagged to EWR via MUC and you will only see them again in EWR. There is absolutely no need to look after them in MUC, LH will do that for you. Just make sure that you check your baggage receipts in Venice check-in to see if labeled correctly to final destination EWR
- then you will clear security in Venice
- you go to the lounge they will indicate you at check-in
- you board

2) in Munich
- after arrival you are in the Schengen gates. Proceed to the transfer escalator upstairs (where the non-Schengen gates are). Since you have already your boarding pass you can straight go to the non-Schengen area. Just follow the signs to the new gate indicated on your boarding pass to EWR.
- then you arrive at Passport control (emigration). You will be checked your documents here.
- then you are in non-Schengen. Here you can use the LH business lounge and relax until shortly before boarding
- when time comes proceed to your departure gate. Now since this is a US bound flight, there will be an extra API check before you can actually enter the designated departure area. Allow a bit of extra time to pass that checkpoint as sometimes there are queues.
- then you board

3) in EWR:
- you clear US immigration
- you collect your luggage
- you clear customs
Welcome to New York

I hope I didn’t miss any step.
Don’t worry you will be fine. Thousands of passengers connect like this in MUC every day. If in doubt just approach the LH service desk and reconfirm the procedure. But most likely you will not need any help since this is so easy, you will see.

Enjoy your trip!