Xyzzy

At the FRA-B security checkpoint yesterday they had the throughput of about one person per 1.5-2 minutes per checkpoint. I timed it during my wait. All electronics had to come out. Each person then ended up with three to five bins f stuff. They were actually pretty good about making sure re-scans didn't hinder the flow of people even more than everything else. There looked to be a separate checkpoint set up just for re-scans of people and bins full of stuff. The surrender-box had zero to do with the backlog.

marctbb

Its my main airport so I know some of the lounge staff and people elsewhere too, that said I have recognized the increasing lines as well, asking everyone around, Fraport isnt upping capacity as it wants to provide more passenger capacity to Ryanair which will supposedly move into T3, there are LH employees stating that they might occupy parts of T3 as well, but anyway

At the same time there arent as many security personel available according to most employees you ask about the issue, that said

I have seen a 1h line at the A gates priority lane on a Monday at 11am, and seen the same area with eight open checks a week later and maybe 5m line, planning seems to be an issue, as I have seen similiar things at B, ten lines open with maybe three passengers each, and the same day weeks later only having four lines, for of which was for priority, serving a lot more passengers

Same for B, where the additional sec check for non EU flights adds additional time for transfers

Since this has been the case for some months now I just never add connections that are within an hour of departure to my schedule, if security is part of transfer, as its just no longer possible to know if you can make those, even though I consider the airport really convenient considering it doesnt take you more than 7m from any LH lounge to the corresponding gates

mozilla

Lounge A26 to gate A69 is only doable in 7 mins without carry-on (backpack is fine though) and when you need to burn a lot of calories, but maybe that doesn't count as "corresponding", notwithstanding they're both in the same concourse.

But it's doable, I did A42-A69 in 10 minutes by foot once.

marctbb

with corresponding, I was referring to the closest lounge to ones departure gate, so the A24 lounge, which apparently recently got an update and reopened, would only work for lets say A18 to A40

sophialite

FS_FRA

This is one of the few things I hate about FRA as my home airport. With about 80 departures from there last year, I agree that this has become a total joke! A-Gates especially. But also Z-Gates where often there is no Priority Lane. One trick is to just walk past the first security area (turn right after passport control) and then go upstairs.

I've found (OK, admittedly frequent ) tweeting at the Bundespolizei in FRA reasonably successful in getting lines opened at the A-gates "Fast"-Lane / Gold Track when you can hardly get through the BP scanner at the start.

@bpol_air_fra adding @airport_fra for max effect...

Bundespolizei are responsible. Missing your flight because they don't staff all security lanes is a disgrace. Luckily people are mostly understanding when the line is a mile long and you politely ask if you can go past them (in my experience, YMMV)

aster

At other European airports I've often witnessed how airport staff actively pass by long queue lines and call out for passengers on flights where boarding ends soon, before escorting them to the front to get them through faster. Maybe FRA is just too big for such service?

On a side note I guess the Singapore model of doing all screening at the gates themselves is not such a bad idea after all...

FS_FRA

FRA used to have a "Last Minute" lane.... also they used to have a functioning Priority Lane (that was not open to everyone and their donkey....)

mozilla

Concourses D and E have gate screening, while A, B, C (except C1) and Z have centralized screening, so FRA can definitely compare.

It works for D/E because that part mainly serves pax beginning their journey. A/B/C/Z serve a lot of connecting pax, however, and while it won't make a difference for connections that originate from non-Schengen, gate security would significantly affect intra-Schengen connections, the bread and butter of concourse A and B. It would mean a lot of additional pax who now benefit from EU One-Stop Security would suddenly be subject to screening, which may negate the gains of moving to a gate-screening model. MCT's would need to be increased as well, reducing the number of connections that can be ticketed.

SIN doesn't benefit from being in an area with One-Stop standardized screening rules like the US or the EU, so there's no difference there as everyone needs to be screened anyway.

chris63

RoyalSwazi

sophialite

GUWonder

Some airline flights from Germany are being cancelled due to industrial action by security screeners in Germany. For example, A3 has cancelled flights from DUS because of this.

oliver2002

Verdi is striking for an average wage of 20€/h. TXL and SXF saw the first wave, today its the turn of STR/DUS/CGN.

chris63