4 hour layover- MUC or FRA?
Jan 17, 2013, 10:28 am
#16
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Location: VCE
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Yes, LHR is lots of fun if you like to be bussed from your short-haul DUS flight or long-haul TLV flight which arrives at T1 to your connecting flight at T5, wait at the fast track for 30 minutes to be screened by BAA for a second time arriving from a supposedly safe country. Even on regular T5 to T5 connections you still have to queue for security and I do not even want to imagine how long it takes without fast track.
I still regularly fly BA and connect in LHR but I do not see why this should be any better compared to FRA. On the contrary, at least in my experience I find myself much faster in a lounge at FRA compared to LHR. The BA lounges are better though at least if you do not have access to the FCLs or FCT.
Anyway this is a bit OT and comming back to the OPs question MUC is a decent airport for connecting while FRA is fine and can be annoying at times, IMHO.
I still regularly fly BA and connect in LHR but I do not see why this should be any better compared to FRA. On the contrary, at least in my experience I find myself much faster in a lounge at FRA compared to LHR. The BA lounges are better though at least if you do not have access to the FCLs or FCT.
Anyway this is a bit OT and comming back to the OPs question MUC is a decent airport for connecting while FRA is fine and can be annoying at times, IMHO.
How is it possible that an airport of this low quality of service and mind boggling bad brand new design is possible in such a high quality country of friendly people like Germany?
OP skip FRA and go to MUC.
Jan 17, 2013, 10:37 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2005
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) and friendly is at least relative. I have to admit that my experiences with A plus are limited and it may well be that it is a pain. I am really sorry to hear that.
Jan 17, 2013, 10:39 am
#18
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I have been reading/following the BER story and this is also incredible. It is something I would expect to happen in a little country in Africa- not in the capital city of Germany!
Jan 17, 2013, 11:40 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2009
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I reckon BER might turn out to be one of Europe's best airports once it finally opens. 
But regarding FRA it must surely be Europe's worst major hub and I see little hope of that improving in the near future.
But regarding FRA it must surely be Europe's worst major hub and I see little hope of that improving in the near future.
Jan 17, 2013, 12:38 pm
#21
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The last few "improvements" however of FRA have made it into an extremely difficult airport to move through quickly. I also have the perception there must be some type of "work to rule" thing going on with the security staff as they have become significantly ruder and borderline hostile to customers in the last six months or so and work at a speed that could hardly be described as efficient.
Passport control also seems to be significantly understaffed for the size of operation they are now running- and I have doubts if there has been any adjustments based on the impact of A380 operations which result in a very large number of passengers all arriving at exactly the same time.
MUC or ZRH are thus far better choices. I even now choose MAD over FRA and currently am rating it as a tie with CDG for worst large airports in Europe.
Jan 17, 2013, 10:50 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,187
MUC is a wonderful airport. I always choose this if possible as transfers are so easy. It is clean and comfortable.
FRA is neat if you are an airplane nerd like me and enjoy watching the sheer variety of air traffic on your downtime/connections. FRA's big problem is that they never tore down the old main buildings and started new - it is a cobbled together mess now, even for those who know how to navigate it!
However, the real problem is the poor service lately alluded to by others at FRA.
Indifference and arrogance seems to be the norm now!
FRA is neat if you are an airplane nerd like me and enjoy watching the sheer variety of air traffic on your downtime/connections. FRA's big problem is that they never tore down the old main buildings and started new - it is a cobbled together mess now, even for those who know how to navigate it!
However, the real problem is the poor service lately alluded to by others at FRA.
Indifference and arrogance seems to be the norm now!
Jan 18, 2013, 1:33 am
#23
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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Posts: 14,165
To be clear- this is not LH staff- the issue at FRA is particularly security which are in a competition with certain USA airports now for the "who can offend and upset the greatest number of families and older customers"- and may win at the rate they are going. MUC has always had very professional staff in my experiences.