SeamusSA

Traveling in UA Polaris/ LH Biz EWR-CDG-FRA-EWR on a United Vacations bulk fare.(Really a great deal!) Received msg that leg from CDG to FRA rescheduled to depart 10 minutes later, leaving a 45 minute connection (presuming on time arrival) which has me a bit concerned. We likely will have a checked bag. There are later flights FRA-EWR on LH or UA. A couple questions come to mind:

1. If the originating leg is delayed, there are no options for LH direct flights FRA-EWR, but there are two options for FRA-LHR-EWR, both involving UA operated flights LHR-EWR. Is LH likely to rebook us on one of those if we misconnect? Can I refuse other options which would require longer transit/more connections? Would I be responsible for the additional LHR fees?
2. If the LH CDG-EWR flight is delayed causing a misconnect at FRA, I presume we would be eligible under EU261 for delayed arrival at EWR - correct? (Compensation would be governed by length of delay, I understand.)
3. Another possibility is to reroute the entire leg to CDG-IAD-EWR, but unsure if UA will allow this change - is 45 minutes within MCT at FRA? (Can't find that MCT info anywhere)

Thanks all for your thoughts and suggestions

findark

Yes, that would be a reasonable request. I don't know how flexible LH can be during IRROPS; perhaps a question for the LH forum. IRROPS won't trigger a new collection of taxes, but transiting LHR doesn't incur APD anyway.

Yes, but based on the final delay to EWR so EC261 eligible if you are not suitably rerouted home.

I believe the MCT is 0h45 (see below), but a sympathetic UA agent might help you. Probably worth a call, especially if your booking class is available on CDG-IAD-EWR and you would prefer that. FRA is an extremely efficient airport for transfers in my experience, but a 45 minute D/I connection is really pushing it.

Kacee

LH would be obliged to rebook you. Can't predict exactly how it will play, but you have a right to be rebooked in business class, though it's possible you might have to wait for that. Connecting flights at LHR do not incur UK Passenger Duty.

Yes, assuming the delay to final destination is long enough.
MCT is 45 minutes. Which is borderline insane. (It works better the other direction, because the longhauls often arrive early.)

You could call UA Vacations and see if they'll rebook you on an earlier flight CDG-FRA, but it's at best 50-50 since you're within MCT.

ETA: And findark wins the race!

jsloan

Pretty sure the Allies won the war... CDG-FRA may be intra-Schengen but it's certainly not domestic.

The I-I table has the same line. Of course, it doesn't define Group 2...

OP: UA's schedule change policy includes a provision for having your layover get uncomfortably short. Whether or not they'll honor it on a United Vacations package, though -- I'm not sure, but it's worth asking. In theory, United Vacations should work as your travel agent here to handle any rebooking, but you might be able to get an actual United agent to help also.

Kacee

The table's a mess, but the only other option is 1:00, and that's not it, because .com will return tighter connections.

Miles Ahead

I've transited FRA a couple hundred times, and misconnected now and again.

• Expect LH to be totally unsympathetic to a short connection within MCT.
• If your connection is tight, and you experience a short delay, you may get an escort through FRA, My experience is that this is not much faster, but does prevent dawdling. Perhaps more importantly, the GA on your onward flight knows you are on your way.
• If you misconnect, the default rebooking will be the next direct flight. They will be relatively resistant to adding a segment even if it gets you there faster. To be fair, it rarely gets you anywhere much faster. But if this is not the case for you, you should tell them exactly what itinerary you want.
• If there is no direct flight available, they seem to prefer a connection in North America over Europe. Again, if you don't want this, it's better to have a specific alternative in mind.
• The kind of ticket seems to matter little once you misconnect.

jtwiz

I flew ARN-FRA (LH) and then FRA-EWR (UA) last week. We had a 2 hour connection and ended up getting to the gate just as boarding began. We were late into FRA (25 minutes), then they overshot the jetbridge and it took forever (literally 20 minutes!) to get it aligned, there was a long line to go through Passport Control to get to the Z gates (where UA flights to US leave from). If we only had 45 minutes, we would have missed our flight home. I would definitely have a backup plan all plotted out if you decide to take your chances with the existing routing.

seenitall

I agree that a 45 minute MCT at FRA is insane. First, it is common for your inbound flight not to park at a jet bridge, but rather at a remote stand. I have spent 10-15 minutes on a bus to the terminal from such a stand. You then have to go through passport control and likely backtrack out to the gate, where there will be secondary screening. If LH/UA is at all anal about all Pax being on board by T-30, this just doesn't work. So if everything goes perfectly, you will just make your flight. But if any single thing mucks up (e.g., late inbound, remote stand, long line at passport, etc.) you will be scrambling. But at least it's on your way back from your vacation and not its beginning.

cjermain

Just echoing some other comments here... 45 minutes is going to be really difficult. Are you young and athletic? In all seriousness, that will help, because there will likely be some running involved.

Personally, I would call UA and beg for some help. It just might work. In my experience, misconnecting on a business class ticket from a European gateway to the US can be a problem (depending on the day of the week) as there are not always business seats available same day.

threeoh

Remember that EC261 is not only the cash compensation but also meals/hotel while you wait. So if you don't need to be in EWR that day, consider accepting their overnight in Frankfurt, breakfast at the hotel, and the first flight to EWR in the morning.

Also if your CDG-FRA is delayed sufficiently before you get on the plane, you might be able to get on a CDG-EWR non-stop if there is room and the timing works.

TXJeepGuy

I did a 50 minute connection in Frankfurt a couple years back. At the time I booked I didn't really look into what goes into connecting through there. Flight from Amsterdam came into a remote gate, had to wait for the bus, and passport control was insanely slow. Barely made my flight back to IAH and I was running- only time in my life my name has ever been called in an airport.

I'd recommend against it.

Ted

If you mis-connect, they might offer you the late flight (5:30pm) FRA-JFK. So you might want to be prepared for that question. Might depend on if you will be leaving your car at EWR...

UAL250

FRA is a tricky airport sometimes. The first time I went through there, I had trouble finding my way around (I am embarrassed to say it wasn't until my third time there that I realized the Z and A gates are the same, just different levels ). The other big issue is you will almost certainly arrive at a bus gate. LH/FRA is efficient at this, but it does add time. And then you have the passport control, which will just add more time (sometimes it is empty, sometimes it is packed). I can not remember if there is security at FRA from a routing of Schengen -> FRA -> USA.

Do not expect to make this 45 minute connection. FRA is not MUC. Sprint when you get to FRA. That still may not be enough.

sannmann

I wouldn't do a 45 minute layover at FRA. Again, most of the intra-Schengen flights arrive into remote stands that involve a 10-15 minute bus ride into the airport. Plus, you're coming from CDG, an airport in a country that's constantly on strike; thus, you're almost already off the bat guaranteed a delay. I'd try to get at least a three hour layover at FRA. Since you're in Business, you'll have lounge access.

lotemblizej

I have had several very tight connections in FRA this year and have missed a few flights due to long passport control lines, poor signage and the very long distances I am sometimes required to walk to get to my next flight. FRA wasn't that bad in the past, but the large number of flights park at remote stands (both Schengen and non-Schengen) coupled with the airport seeming to be unable to cope with the current number of passengers makes every transit there a nightmare in the making. As mentioned in a previous post, LH usually rebooks into the next direct flight, though in one case they sent me via another European airport--Vienna. The heavens did align once and I did make a 50 minute connection this year from LCA to DUB, but that was non-Schengen to non-Schengen, which is actually better because no passport control. Good luck!