BRU or FRA for Transit to US?
Sep 18, 2015, 12:44 pm
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, UA Silver
Posts: 1,366
Thanks everyone! I'm familiar with MUC and quite like it, but the timings don't work out for any of the routings except FRA and BRU, as I need to (try to) get home by a certain time... I don't have status on *A so the lounges won't really influence my decision- I do have a lounge club pass, for which I think there is a lounge at BRU and not one at FRA, but I've heard that the former isn't great. I have been thinking about the fact that there are many more options out of FRA to get home if my original flight has issues; that might sway me.
Sep 18, 2015, 2:05 pm
#32
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,317
Thanks everyone! I'm familiar with MUC and quite like it, but the timings don't work out for any of the routings except FRA and BRU, as I need to (try to) get home by a certain time... I don't have status on *A so the lounges won't really influence my decision- I do have a lounge club pass, for which I think there is a lounge at BRU and not one at FRA, but I've heard that the former isn't great. I have been thinking about the fact that there are many more options out of FRA to get home if my original flight has issues; that might sway me.
Sep 18, 2015, 2:40 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: All of them, UA-Plat, 1MM*G
Posts: 881
May I add another question to the mix. I will be transferring in BRU from nonSchengen (Africa) to the US. Do the passport control holdups also affect such transfers? And if so, are there times of the day that are worse than others? Also, given that I have a fairly lengthy connection (~6 hrs.), can I evade this transfer passport line simply by exiting into Belgium, taking the train downtown, downing a beer and some mussels, and returning to the airport?
Jan 26, 2020, 11:42 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: IND
Posts: 301
Is BRU still terrible for transiting from Schengen to non-Schengen? I am looking at a CDG-BRU-ORD flight, with a 1:45 layover (CDG-BRU on SN and BRU-ORD on UA). My other option is a 1 hour layover in FRA. Which would be the better option?
Jan 26, 2020, 11:57 am
#35
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: YEG
Programs: AC 25K
Posts: 120
I have recently been through BRU and FRA. I have access to "Priority" security, and the lines at BRU were much, much shorter than at FRA.
There is no way I would take a chance on a 1-hour connection in FRA if I had to go through security there.
There is no way I would take a chance on a 1-hour connection in FRA if I had to go through security there.
Jan 26, 2020, 12:36 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
If you're risk-averse or need to make that connection, I'd choose BRU. Less complicated airport, less walking (well, maybe), no risk of security re-screen, and more time margin in your scenario.
IME the Schengen-exit border control at BRU has always been swift, but I'm aware there are others with different experiences.
IME the Schengen-exit border control at BRU has always been swift, but I'm aware there are others with different experiences.
Jan 26, 2020, 5:21 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: IAH
Programs: MileagePlus-Premier Silver, Marriott Bonvoy-Silver Elite
Posts: 698
Even at 1:45 you may be cutting it short in BRU, unless you carry a EU passport, which is a breeze apparently. Us “foreigners” have to stand on a long line to do passport control going Schengen to non-Schengen. It easily takes an hour to go through it, and I did that in December. No security though.
Last edited by VRFast; Jan 26, 2020 at 5:31 pm Reason: inaccurate info
Jan 27, 2020, 12:45 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: IND
Posts: 301
Even at 1:45 you may be cutting it short in BRU, unless you carry a EU passport, which is a breeze apparently. Us “foreigners” have to stand on a long line to do passport control going Schengen to non-Schengen. It easily takes an hour to go through it, and I did that in December. No security though.
Jan 27, 2020, 12:54 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,415
Thanks everyone. Since I normally don't book short international connections like this, does anyone know if I do miss my BRU-ORD flight due to long passport control lines, how does United normally deal with that situation? Would they put me on one of the later flights going to EWR or IAD and then fly me to ORD? Would they charge a change fee?
FRA should not involve security either though, not sure where that suggestion is coming from.
Jan 27, 2020, 2:29 pm
#41
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
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Jan 27, 2020, 2:40 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,415
Probably from the many FRA "should not involve security"-transfers that involved a security re-screen. Although you have a point, that would almost exclusively be non-Schengen to Schengen transfers (with clean origin bearing no relevance), not the other way around, at least in a strict *A context, and on the condition one does not use the SkyLine to transfer. In BRU it's easy, no re-screen .
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Feb 5, 2020, 1:33 pm
#43
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: UA GS, UA 2MM, HH LT Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,803
I flew through FRA last year JNB-FRA-USA and, if I remember correctly, had to clear security and passport control (maybe just security?). Anyway, I had 1:50 between flights and missed my connection due to standing in line. However, from the FRA airport website:
You are arriving from outside the Schengen Area and your destination is in a non-Schengen country: Usually no passport check is mandatory, provided that that you do not leave the transit zone.
You are arriving from outside the Schengen Area and your destination is in a non-Schengen country: Usually no passport check is mandatory, provided that that you do not leave the transit zone.
Feb 5, 2020, 4:32 pm
#45
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
I flew through FRA last year JNB-FRA-USA and, if I remember correctly, had to clear security and passport control (maybe just security?). Anyway, I had 1:50 between flights and missed my connection due to standing in line. However, from the FRA airport website:
You are arriving from outside the Schengen Area and your destination is in a non-Schengen country: Usually no passport check is mandatory, provided that that you do not leave the transit zone.
You are arriving from outside the Schengen Area and your destination is in a non-Schengen country: Usually no passport check is mandatory, provided that that you do not leave the transit zone.