ladybug810

I returned from my trip and here's what I experienced at MUC. I arrived from SFO at one end of Concourse H and walked to the opposite end of Concourse H where I had to how my passport to a Lufthansa agent standing at a podium. (None of this was well marked--my friend and I had to ask around a bit.) The agent was certain I had to have a visa to travel to Israel with a U.S. passport, no matter how many times I told her you don't get the visa until you arrive at TLV. (I finally won that argument when she asked a coworker.)

Then I went through another small security checkpoint before arriving in the holding area, which was basically a large room with 3-4 gates, restrooms, two vending machines, and a smoking room. So get your food and walking in before going to the gate. I boarded through a jetway onto a plane without ever riding a bus.

This may differ depending on the airline. All of the gates in the hold room I departed from were Lufthansa.

flyingfkb

Hall F is only for check-in. It is a better secured check-in area. It does not have departure gates. You will use probably H gates for departure.

Due to historical reasons and very bad terrorist attack in Germany ( for example look up summer Olympics 1972) and around the world on anything related with Israel all flights to Israel are handled in special way. Meaning special secure check-in areas, special departure gates, EL-AL aircrafts are escorted by an armored police vehicle from the tarmac to the runway. Some of the the security measures are demanded by Israel.

cas_de

For example:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al#...te_gegen_El_Al

No doubt that incidents like the ones in 70 and 72 mentioned above were horrible, but the whole "Hall F" deal is solely relevant for MUC. So these measures are based on incidents more than 50 years ago and they only apply to pax originating in MUC. Transfer pax go straight to the gate in H. So I struggle to see why this is still mandatory (at least for LH flights - LY is a different story, though). A second security check in H, similar to flights to the US (SSSS) could be implemented rather than the circus to go F -> H.

oliver2002

The Israelis autorities regularly review their MUC security requirements with the state of Bavaria and the BPol. The damage done in 1970 in Riem, 72 Olympics and the 1982 attack in Riem goes deep. Each time there a new look at 1972 (there are a few interested parties that make sure the desaster is not forgotten) the MUC topic is tightened again/further.

In a pre pandemic audit/review the IL authorities even mentioned in the report that a separate terminal is a bad idea as it highlights where the terrorists could specifically attack and get 99% of their target victims. However in the final conclusion the terminal solution was kept because there would be no possibility to segregate the area within T1 or T2.

Curiously the F terminal is used for completing the dispatch of the refugee repatriation flights (when TLV flights are not operating)

NWplatinum

Thank you, given the security and terrorism situation I’m not surprised that TLV is treated as a separate area with more security. It turns out my ticket is an ecosaver, so I am ​​​​​just stuck with what the system assigned me upon check in?

NWplatinum

So if I want to use the LH lounge tomorrow with my Amex platinum card, how much time do I need before heading to the special F terminal? Is theirs a specific lounge that’s closest I should use?

oliver2002

You need to checkin at T1F, then go thru security there and be driven to T2H. Once you are there you can go to the T2H business lounge. Factor in additional time to get back to the gate because you have IL style security again there.

NWplatinum

My head is spinning just reading this. Is there signage pointing you to the right area? How much time should I leave the business lounge at T2H before going for boarding through security again?

oliver2002

Ask the security staff in T2H as you leave the secured TLV gate. They will tell you.

NWplatinum

Im here now they said I have to go to the special Tel Aviv gates and cannot go to H. You’re saying go to the Tel Aviv gate first, and then go to H and then go back?

PS. Many of the staff didn’t know what I was talking about and just said “yes yes.”

NWplatinum

Ah I see. So you go through F terminal, and it seems like the buses come every 30 minutes. Then it takes you to the main terminal where you can get into the lounge, at least according to the lady working the shop.

NWplatinum

Here now and wanted to get on a bus early to go to the lounge. They wouldn’t board the bus that arrived because “there wasn’t enough passengers.” So now maybe they’ll get a bus 1.5hr before departure or a single one an hour before departure. Needless to say im starving and this all totally sidetracked my lounge plans.

Not sure if this would work, but if I could change this I would get here early, go through regular customs in the main terminal to a lounge, then come to terminal F an hour before departure

oliver2002

MUC originating pax are not allowed to enter the regular terminal, you have to checkin and go thru security in T1F.

danielonn

What if you cannot climb stairs?

MumbaiDan

I did this in January and April.
Only MUC origin passengers are redirected, if you are arriving as transit you arrive in the normal terminal.
You will have then the normal procedure until you reach the gate where they will put you in a bus which drives you to the famous special "Terminal", which is just an additional security check.
Then you wait until everybody has their security check.
Then you go onto the Bus again and drive to an appron position where the heavy guarded LH plane is waiting.
There is no point to this.
The problem is the long double drive in a bus. You are doomed to get COVID if you don't wear a mask. So wear a mask!