Why Get To The Airport Earlier For International Flight?

[The AD]

I will never fly into that airport again from Canada as US Customs in that airport is the biggest cluster fuck I have ever been in, twice. Vibes if that is your home airport.

Interesting, I've never had any problems going through customs at Sea-Tac.

[teledad]

I made a 75 minute Frankfurt connection without too much trouble, connecting between Nice and the US. Even had time for a quick beer. It's a big airport though, and you'll need to go through passport control since you're going between non-Schengen and Schengen. (Assuming you're going to a Schengen country - Schengen and EU countries overlap but aren't identical.) Also I seem to recall going through security when switching terminals, though it was much faster than US security (they laughed at me when I automatically took off my shoes).

[old goat]

Had a great connection in Munich once, flying from Venice to SFO. 5 hour layover, so we took the quick train downtown and had beer and sausages at the Ratskeller, eating at a table with a German couple while around us soccer fans were singing songs. The place claimed to be in business since the 13th Century.

[smartyiak]

at some airports the international terminal is the quickest way to get through tsa (philly, concourse A...)

Not always. In Philly, if you're unfortunate enough to arrive just after an entire fucking high school is leaving for a band trip to France, you're screwed (thank God for pre-check!!!!)

[riser4]

Clarification for FRA airport question: NOT plane to plane connection times, although it is helpful too. Train. Coming in on a train to the long haul station (fernbahnhof), not the local and regional one under terminal 1. Need to catch a plane, most likely a Lufthansa flight. I am trying to get a feel for what is reasonable. And not a train ticket that has a Lufthansa flight number, although that would be cool. As far as I know I can check my luggage at the Lufthansa counter on the mezz level instead of humping it to the terminal if flying same. My FRA to OTP trip is not Schengen, Romania has not joined yet. Have they? My sister says two hours before departure. That seems short.

[Ted Striker]

Look up the check-in cutoff for your airline/airport. Most have earlier cutoffs flying international (and yes, US->Canada counts, even if you fly out of a domestic terminal) due to additional bag screening, whether or not you check a bag. And generally you need to check in with an agent even if you don't have a checked bag so they can check your passport (and visa if applicable).

They may not always strictly enforce the cutoff but you can be sure that if they're overbooked and you check in late they're going to bump you since it doesn't cost them anything (unlike the alternatives). Basically with a late checkin you're essentially flying standby.

This is the correct answer.

(It's not really for additional bag screening, it's for the additional paperwork the airline has to prepare, file, and carry onboard, but same diff)

I will never fly into that airport again from Canada as US Customs in that airport is the biggest cluster fuck I have ever been in, twice. Vibes if that is your home airport. And ya, what Bromontana said on page 1.

You must have been arriving from a small town, because all of the major airports in Canada have US Customs so you clear before you depart.

Also, Seatac is not a great airport, but it's better than it used to be.

[plugboots]

Also, Seatac is not a great airport, but it's better than it used to be.

I've been flying a ton now with a new job, and that is a true statement. Not as cool as some of the upgraded airports with iPads seemingly at every chair, or at least usb plugs, but not bad. Although the de-icer system they have DOES NOT WORK.

[teledad]

My sister says two hours before departure. That seems short.

2 hours seems reasonable to me. Fernbahnhof is about a 10 minute walk from Terminal 1 (where LH flights depart). The airport is a maze but just follow the signs. Lines can be long but usually move quickly.

[riser4]

2 hours seems reasonable to me. Fernbahnhof is about a 10 minute walk from Terminal 1 (where LH flights depart). The airport is a maze but just follow the signs. Lines can be long but usually move quickly.

Thanks! Have you ever checked your bags at the LH checkin in said train station? It looks really convenient and all, being at the top of the escalator and it saves one from dragging luggage any further than you have to. For the record, while I made one round trip through there three years ago, I spent the night in a hotel instead of going directly from train to plane. It was an early flight and the train schedule just wasn't conducive to that. I completely agree with both the maze statement and the sign statement. I was amazed at just how efficient such a mess could actually be. Just don't have to use the crapper.

[teledad]

Thanks! Have you ever checked your bags at the LH checkin in said train station?

Nope, usually fly with just carry-on unless I have skis or a bike. Only been to FRA on business trips.

[riser4]

Nope, usually fly with just carry-on unless I have skis or a bike. Only been to FRA on business trips.

How stringent is LH with their carry-on in economy class? Part of my trip is for work and while I can get all of my clothes in my little carry-on roller for 5 days, I am interested in how much I can get away with for my 'laptop' backpack (one carry-on plus a personal item...). The one I have now is bigger than the official size on the LH website, however no airline has ever said anything about it so far. It fits under the seat in front and I have short legs.

[Meathelmet]

I've got a flight coming up to Canada and was just thinking about the common advice that you need to get to the airport earlier for international flights. Why is that? You only go through customs when you arrive in the foreign country so I can't understand what's different at the departure airport whether you're flying domestic or international that would make any difference. My international flying experience is limited, so maybe I'm missing something. Thoughts?

Because.

Connecting flights are one thing. Missed one in Stockholm (to Calgary) due a delayed flight and fuck, what hassle that was. Semi "Chartered" trip, and the answer was that "because you dont have the connecting flight with the same carrier, you are fucked".
After 60mins of intese haggling me & missus got on the next plane departing 6hrs later. Our once-in-a-lifetime skitrip to Fernie would have gone to shitters as we would have had to buy the tickets (2000$/person/oneway) to get there. Might not apply in your case.

The second one is the GringoFactorTM.

Reasons might vary.

Once was is traveling with ABS : Osaka airport, flying home with ABS. All the IATA documents..yet... 1hr before the non-english speaking custom guys called their supervisor. Then 30 seconds of shouting (to the forementioned Dumb and Dumber) and a quick SuperMario like go-cart taxi ride to the gate.

Second time : Camera equipment. Digital cameras were ok, 4x5" Field not so. Result = 45min delay.

Third time : My shoes did not pass the explosives sniffer test. Go figure. Had spent several days on a range in them...= 1hr.

Fourth time : Bags containing 3 months of climbing & skiing gear with me, flying back from Zurich. 2.4kg of overweight in ski bag. Transferred 1kg to the hand luggage. Still no mercy from the check in lady. Ended up shoving 1.4kg of camalots, carabiners and hexes in my jacket pockets (this was before 9/11). Then..all good.

Fifth : Argentina. No reason. "Step aside, Senór." 2hrs waiting, no questions. Then got green light, ran to the plane. People staring and fuming, flight delayed by 30mins...because Gringo got tagged by A Factor.

6th,7th,8th...83rd...

Shit happens. Why risk by timing it tight? I travel quite a bit yet I find quite relaxing to be able to spend time at the airports. Read, chill, eavesdrop on people..


And oh riser3, Frankfurt is ok, it is not Schiphol... But, as it is Germanys largest airport there might be some congestion at normal business hours and holidays..duh. And, as having flown to/from Germany lately quite a bit in the last months, it might be prudent to reserve extra 30mins or so for the security.

[frorider]

Two words. Global Entry. FTW.

Connected thru Toronto on a recent trip to yurp. The pre entry US customs was a fucking nightmare. Took an hour.

[Meathelmet]

How stringent is LH with their carry-on in economy class? Part of my trip is for work and while I can get all of my clothes in my little carry-on roller for 5 days, I am interested in how much I can get away with for my 'laptop' backpack (one carry-on plus a personal item...). The one I have now is bigger than the official size on the LH website, however no airline has ever said anything about it so far. It fits under the seat in front and I have short legs.

Sry, did not see this one..
LH have been quite a bitch with the carry-on. AirBerlin and others, not so. Just flew with 17kg of books in my carry-on and other stuff in my laptop bag with AB. Security lady said "scheiße" when having to handle the bag.. Have seen people having to hand over their hand luggage to the plane personel quite often lately though. As everyone in Europe nowadays seem to travel only with them, the overhead compartments are quite packed and they have to throw the excess luggage to the hold. Be prepared to that so you have everything you need in the laptop bag.

[Ted Striker]

Two words. Global Entry. FTW.

Truth.

Connected thru Toronto on a recent trip to yurp. The pre entry US customs was a fucking nightmare. Took an hour.

YYZ airport sucks in every way.

[riser4]

Sry, did not see this one..
LH have been quite a bitch with the carry-on. AirBerlin and others, not so. Just flew with 17kg of books in my carry-on and other stuff in my laptop bag with AB. Security lady said "scheiße" when having to handle the bag.. Have seen people having to hand over their hand luggage to the plane personel quite often lately though. As everyone in Europe nowadays seem to travel only with them, the overhead compartments are quite packed and they have to throw the excess luggage to the hold. Be prepared to that so you have everything you need in the laptop bag.

Thanks. Yes, I always pack the roller case so that I could do without it in a pinch. Essentials go with the laptop. If they take it from you and you are doing a non-stop on the small to medium planes, do they give it back on the jetway like here in the US? Or do you end up having to get it at baggage claim? And I would have liked to have seen that scene with the heavy carry on. Sounds priceless. She needs to eat a better breakfast and maybe lift a few weights if she wants to compete in the big leagues.

[riser4]

Shit happens. Why risk by timing it tight?

All kinds of reasons. Sometimes cost is a big factor when I am paying for it myself. And my stupid reservation app at work won't take connections into account and so it tends to flag more expensive flights, you know, the ones with a decent connection time, as out of policy because they are not the cheapest ones. Personally, yes, I like to go for a comfortably long layover. Don't forget enough time to take a leisurely big steamy dump.

[Timberridge]

YYZ airport sucks in every way.

Plus they have the song playing throughout the airport, 24/7. Its enough to drive even a hard core Rush fan crazy. I'm like "Dudes, I get it..what about the other hits?"

[The AD]

Because.

Connecting flights are one thing. Missed one in Stockholm (to Calgary) due a delayed flight and fuck, what hassle that was.

I'll buy your gringo factor explanation, but I'm not getting this. How does getting to your originating airport early help you make a connection?

[Kevo]

Anyone with actual experience know how much time I should allow between arrival at the Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof and when my [international] flight is scheduled to depart? In one case an EU flight and in another case, Canada.

Depends where your incoming flight is coming from. I've transfered through FRA a couple times. Last month I flew Singapore-Frankfurt-Edinburgh and it took about an hour to get from my arrival gate to the lounge near my departing gate. I didn't have to pass through customs because I wasn't entering an EU passport control area, but I did have to take a train and go through security.

Last year or the year before I transefered Denver-Frankfurt-Hamburg and had to pass customs and security in FRA. It took about 30-45 minutes.

[riser4]

Depends where your incoming flight is coming from. I've transfered through FRA a couple times. Last month I flew Singapore-Frankfurt-Edinburgh and it took about an hour to get from my arrival gate to the lounge near my departing gate. I didn't have to pass through customs because I wasn't entering an EU passport control area, but I did have to take a train and go through security.

Last year or the year before I transefered Denver-Frankfurt-Hamburg and had to pass customs and security in FRA. It took about 30-45 minutes.

Again, see above. Not plane to plane. TRAIN to plane. Not the airport train. Not the local service train (s-bahn). But a real ICE train arriving at the fernbahnhof. So checkin and security and all that shit.

[OldLarry]

Fuck that for canuckistan. I'm there every other week, though they did make me get a work visa

[riser4]

I almost missed my Frankfurt connection because I had carried on a skateboard which is OK in the US but verboten in the EU apparently. Got the cops called and an escort to my next flight. All of that took about an hour IIRC.

Skateboarding is not a crime!

[old goat]

Because.

Connecting flights are one thing. Missed one in Stockholm (to Calgary) due a delayed flight and fuck, what hassle that was. Semi "Chartered" trip, and the answer was that "because you dont have the connecting flight with the same carrier, you are fucked".
After 60mins of intese haggling me & missus got on the next plane departing 6hrs later. Our once-in-a-lifetime skitrip to Fernie would have gone to shitters as we would have had to buy the tickets (2000$/person/oneway) to get there. Might not apply in your case.

The second one is the GringoFactorTM.

Reasons might vary.

Once was is traveling with ABS : Osaka airport, flying home with ABS. All the IATA documents..yet... 1hr before the non-english speaking custom guys called their supervisor. Then 30 seconds of shouting (to the forementioned Dumb and Dumber) and a quick SuperMario like go-cart taxi ride to the gate.

Second time : Camera equipment. Digital cameras were ok, 4x5" Field not so. Result = 45min delay.

Third time : My shoes did not pass the explosives sniffer test. Go figure. Had spent several days on a range in them...= 1hr.

Fourth time : Bags containing 3 months of climbing & skiing gear with me, flying back from Zurich. 2.4kg of overweight in ski bag. Transferred 1kg to the hand luggage. Still no mercy from the check in lady. Ended up shoving 1.4kg of camalots, carabiners and hexes in my jacket pockets (this was before 9/11). Then..all good.

Fifth : Argentina. No reason. "Step aside, Senór." 2hrs waiting, no questions. Then got green light, ran to the plane. People staring and fuming, flight delayed by 30mins...because Gringo got tagged by A Factor.

6th,7th,8th...83rd...

Shit happens. Why risk by timing it tight? I travel quite a bit yet I find quite relaxing to be able to spend time at the airports. Read, chill, eavesdrop on people..


And oh riser3, Frankfurt is ok, it is not Schiphol... But, as it is Germanys largest airport there might be some congestion at normal business hours and holidays..duh. And, as having flown to/from Germany lately quite a bit in the last months, it might be prudent to reserve extra 30mins or so for the security.

I'm pretty sure flights have to be booked as a single trip if you want free rebooking for a missed connection, even with the same airline. If for some reason you booked a flight from a to b and then later booked from b to c on the same day with the same carrier, you would be screwed if you miss your connection or the first flight is cancelled. You might be able to haggle your way on especially if it's the same airline but no guarantee.

Re transferring luggage from overweight checked bag to carryon--I had to do that once. I transferred by son's uniform , didn't realize he had a bottle of bourbon rolled up in the pants. After the bag was xrayed a couple of times and the bourbon was found, they didn't arrest me--they let my wife go and put the bourbon into 3 oz plastic bags.

Re explosives--Squaw doesn't let patrollers use their personal packs to carry hand charges--wouldn't want residue on them.

Schipol does have a nice little museum in the terminal with old masters from the Rijkmuseum