Consolidated FRA connection time/logistics-Domestic & International
Mar 11, 2019, 5:38 pm
#796
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,659
Is your child a lap child? If your child needs a seat, then it may be challenging to find a flight with two seats together if you misconnect.
By the time you pay for a checked bag, is basic economy cheaper? If you buy economy I think you can then pay for economy plus which might make sense with a child. I'd also check the seat map to see if one of the middle bulkheads on UA has seats. That gives you a bit more room with the kiddo.
I hate Frankfort. The security is really picky. I had to unpack all my camera gear because the x ray machine couldn't see it. I've never had to do that anywhere else.
By the time you pay for a checked bag, is basic economy cheaper? If you buy economy I think you can then pay for economy plus which might make sense with a child. I'd also check the seat map to see if one of the middle bulkheads on UA has seats. That gives you a bit more room with the kiddo.
I hate Frankfort. The security is really picky. I had to unpack all my camera gear because the x ray machine couldn't see it. I've never had to do that anywhere else.
Mar 11, 2019, 5:39 pm
#797
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,391
The primary difference, besides what you already stated, is that it can't be changed voluntarily. If something happened and you needed to shift the schedule by a day or two, absent something like a death or serious illness in the family, your tickets would have no value.
Mar 11, 2019, 5:55 pm
#798
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 29
Is your child a lap child? If your child needs a seat, then it may be challenging to find a flight with two seats together if you misconnect.
By the time you pay for a checked bag, is basic economy cheaper? If you buy economy I think you can then pay for economy plus which might make sense with a child. I'd also check the seat map to see if one of the middle bulkheads on UA has seats. That gives you a bit more room with the kiddo.
I hate Frankfort. The security is really picky. I had to unpack all my camera gear because the x ray machine couldn't see it. I've never had to do that anywhere else.
By the time you pay for a checked bag, is basic economy cheaper? If you buy economy I think you can then pay for economy plus which might make sense with a child. I'd also check the seat map to see if one of the middle bulkheads on UA has seats. That gives you a bit more room with the kiddo.
I hate Frankfort. The security is really picky. I had to unpack all my camera gear because the x ray machine couldn't see it. I've never had to do that anywhere else.
Last edited by smgord; Mar 11, 2019 at 7:35 pm
Mar 11, 2019, 6:43 pm
#799
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
Mar 11, 2019, 6:49 pm
#800
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,125
It's a Sunday in July, first thing in the morning, around 8:30 AM is the time of the second flight. I've never been to FRA before and just feel like if the slightest thing goes wrong, we are in for it. I don't mind waiting for the next flight (in fact, I'd prefer to be booked on it), but what if it is full? Per below, wondering if I'd be better off booking nonstops in Basic Economy and paying for seats and luggage. It comes out a few hundred more, but I'm so conditioned of being afraid of Basic Economy that I'm not sure what else might be different, once I've paid for seats and bags. It seems like not much, but then why is the price difference to economy so much more?
Mar 11, 2019, 6:49 pm
#801
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 29
Thank you all. UA's pricing was all over the place today, and I found nonstops in both direction, regular economy class, for about $300 more than the flight with the FRA layover. I took it and cancelled the other. This is a good result, although it does mean that now I get to spend the next 24 hours obsessing over this. The Delta flights were one stop both ways about about the same price as this, so I consider this a good deal.
Mar 11, 2019, 7:32 pm
#803
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 29
Mar 11, 2019, 7:56 pm
#804
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
The only good thing about those brutally early flights is the lack of traffic. The extra $300 is worth it not to have a shorter connection. July is when I have seen the long lines so it can happen. I have ended up transiting FRA or MUN every July for the past 6 years. I usually plan on having at least 2 hours connection. Hope you and you son have a wonderful trip.
Mar 11, 2019, 8:56 pm
#805
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 29
The only good thing about those brutally early flights is the lack of traffic. The extra $300 is worth it not to have a shorter connection. July is when I have seen the long lines so it can happen. I have ended up transiting FRA or MUN every July for the past 6 years. I usually plan on having at least 2 hours connection. Hope you and you son have a wonderful trip.
Mar 16, 2019, 1:37 pm
#808
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,033
What's funny is that before LH issued BPs contained my PreCheck, I would go upstairs and have the agent print new UA BPs but the Lounge attendant would always think I am going upstairs to the Business Lounge and try to redirect me downstairs to the SEN lounge. After a few times I started asking the attendant if the UA agent was upstairs while she was scanning my BP for lounge access.
Is the UA desk that is around the corner from the lounge ever manned? I've never seen it opened.
Is the UA desk that is around the corner from the lounge ever manned? I've never seen it opened.
Mar 16, 2019, 1:40 pm
#809
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
Mar 16, 2019, 2:02 pm
#810
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,033
It was more of just a question as I've never seen anybody at the desk but I can say this there were a few times that I went to the lounge and the UA agent hadn't arrived yet and at times I just don't care to go to the lounge. Moot point now a days as my BPs now have PreCheck.