Layover and Interconnecting Flight - Questions?

1 hour is a short time for Munich. It is a long ways to customs and then to your next gate. if you experience any delays with your incoming flight, you may be in trouble. We went through Munich last year and even the connections lines were long and they made you empty your carry on bag because they wanted to see all liquids and even any cords and chargers for your devices. Lots of pissed off people.
Your agent giving you a 1 hour connection time is within the "limits" but, in Munich and Frankfurt and even Heathrow, it is a very tight.
If you miss your fight? Well, you had better discuss this with your agent. You may very well be out of pocket. As for you luggage, the airport systems are pretty good normally. Anything could happen though on short connections.

But when I depart in Munich, shouldn't i already be deemed as 'screened' to fly - ie. my carry on has already been security reviewed when I leave my host city. I thought I"d just be landing in Munich and then head to the gate where my connection flight leaves and since I"m already security checked prior. Will need to study the Munich airport.

Zebraman wrote: ↑ But when I depart in Munich, shouldn't i already be deemed as 'screened' to fly - ie. my carry on has already been security reviewed when I leave my host city. I thought I"d just be landing in Munich and then head to the gate where my connection flight leaves and since I"m already security checked prior. Will need to study the Munich airport.

If you are not coming from Europe (Schengen country), you will still need to go through customs and they have extra security.
I though as you did the first time I flew through Munich.

If it's a same airline connection, i.e., you flew in on LH and connecting to LH(or at least same alliance flight), it will usually not cost anything to rebook if you miss your short connection. BUT, depending on where you are headed, the next flight may be few hours larer or even next day. And even if it's free doesn't mean there will be seats for you.

You might have a chance depending on where you're seated on the inbound flight (can take quite a few extra minutes if you're seated at the back, which is very precious in your case) and where you're going to (connecting flights to outside Schengen won't require going through passport control which isn't the fastest n Germany). Pay to sit upfront if you can.

Pete_Coach wrote: ↑ If you are not coming from Europe (Schengen country), you will still need to go through customs and they have extra security.
I though as you did the first time I flew through Munich.

Not entirely true. Fights arriving from the U.S. are deemed to be adequately screened (for whatever reason/rationale) so no further screening is required.

Damn...$68 advance seat selection per passenger - brutal.

So if I"m going to Sweden from there, I will need to go through passport control then. Blah.

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ You might have a chance depending on where you're seated on the inbound flight (can take quite a few extra minutes if you're seated at the back, which is very precious in your case) and where you're going to (connecting flights to outside Schengen won't require going through passport control which isn't the fastest n Germany). Pay to sit upfront if you can.



Not entirely true. Fights arriving from the U.S. are deemed to be adequately screened (for whatever reason/rationale) so no further screening is required.

Might want to see how many flights there are after your connection to ARN, GOT or wherever your final destination is, as well as alternates.

Apparently, in Munich there is a automated passport check system - provided that one has one of the newer passports, which I do. I believe I could use this, but not sure.

I really wished i had a direct flight.

$60 to check in a baggage too. Anyone want to fund my trip? LOL

I’m not familiar with the Munich airport, but last month we had a flight to Lisbon with a very short connection in Amsterdam (50 minutes). Because Amsterdam was our first arrival point in Europe, we had to go through customs there. There was a long line up, but I told the agent that was standing near the back of the line, that we had a very short connection time. He then took us to a different customs desk, where we by-passed the other passengers.
In fact we still had time to spare, before our next flight.

Not sure if this can be done in Munich too, or what the layout of the airport is, but in Amsterdam it was very efficient.

AMS has a short connections passport control line as you found out. I haven't transited MUC in decades. I don't think many (or any other) airports in Europe have this.

Thanks all. Ok, my flight lands in Terminal 2 5th floor, and my connecting flight is on the 4th floor of the same terminal. There is no baggage pickup required on my part as it goes to my final destination in Sweden. It appears that to get to Level 4, there is a Passport Control gate - this is what I believe is the only step required prior to taking the elevator/escalator downstairs to my next gate on that level.

Zebraman wrote: ↑ Thanks all. Ok, my flight lands in Terminal 2 5th floor, and my connecting flight is on the 4th floor of the same terminal. There is no baggage pickup required on my part as it goes to my final destination in Sweden. It appears that to get to Level 4, there is a Passport Control gate - this is what I believe is the only step required prior to taking the elevator/escalator downstairs to my next gate on that level.

1 hour and 5 minutes is risky with an international connection. Can you not change it?

Haven’t connected via Munich... but that is a big airport and a short delay can mess up your plans. Are there later flights that day? Did you book this through the airline direct or a 3rd party?

Keep in mind the 1 hour & 5 minutes means the time the actual aircraft touches down and the time the next flight departs:
- factor in your departure from your original destination in Canada (even a 10 minute delay which is inevitable at YYZ) can throw your plans out of whack.
- Keep in mind once you arrive in Munich the 1 hour and 5 minutes is already ticking once the plane touches down (you still have to taxi to the gate and wait for the crew/ground crew to prepare for disembarkation) at a big airport this can cut 10-15 minutes into the hour.
- There’s not really a general rule of thumb that they will “hold” your next flight to wait for connecting passengers. I tend to see this more when it’s the last flight of the day. Most flights close the doors at 5-10 minutes before departure (so again this cuts into your window).
- Maybe someone else can chime in here.... many airports in Europe don’t strictly use jetways so you may be required to take a bus from the terminal to your aircraft. In my experience they start/end boarding earlier to account for the time required.
- I’ve certainly made tight connections with checked baggage. I’ve had luggage lost on DIRECT flights... but with a 1 hour connection you have much less time for your bags to be loaded between flights. Make sure to pack essentials in your carry on as you have a greater risk of having your bags placed on a later flight.

.... can this result in out of pocket expenses? Sure. If the departure out of Canada is late due to a weather delay (a summer mid afternoon/earlier evening thunderstorm). Then you will have to pay out of pocket expenses in Munich while they try to place you on the next flight. Make sure you have flight delay - misconnection and baggage loss/delay insurance.

You should be ok as long as the flight departs on time from yyz.
Check with flight steward onroute if it gets tight they can help you.
Munich is easy connections compared to frankfurt or london.
Enjoy your trip

BrunetteGirl wrote: ↑ 1 hour and 5 minutes is risky with an international connection. Can you not change it?

Haven’t connected via Munich... but that is a big airport and a short delay can mess up your plans. Are there later flights that day? Did you book this through

Keep in mind the 1 hour & 5 minutes means the time the actual aircraft touches down and the time the next flight departs:
- factor in your departure from your original destination in Canada (even a 10 minute delay which is inevitable at YYZ) can throw your plans out of whack.
- Keep in mind once you arrive in Munich the 1 hour and 5 minutes is already ticking once the plane touches down (you still have to taxi to the gate and wait for the crew/ground crew to prepare for disembarkation) at a big airport .

Excellent post brunettegirl. However arnt published arrival times usually the gate time of everything goes to plan (which we know doesn’t but I fly a lot of on time domestics that’s at gate at time)

To the OP see how many more flights there are afterwards. Getting stuck in Munich isn’t the worst thing. There’s a fast train to the airport it’s a lovely city. Hopefully you like beer and meat accommodations are generally reasonably priced depending on what your standards are.

Worst case it’s a nice stop over.

Good tips from brunettegirl and I think you’ll make it but regardless if you do or don’t post back to help future googlers

Thanks again everyone: I can't change my flight to another at this point, so I will just have to 'wing' it and cross my fingers. Let this be a lesson learn for me - yes. I spoke to AC and the airport - I should be be able to make the connection and as some of you say, it all depends on the flight leaving and landing on time. I'm told Munich is a very efficient airport, and like some say, Munich is definitely not a bad place to have a layover overnight if I get shifted to the next day (by the way, there are 4 flights leaving to Munich that afternoon and into the early evening).

I will keep everyone posted in 4 weeks time

GangStarr wrote: ↑ Excellent post brunettegirl. However arnt published arrival times usually the gate time of everything goes to plan (which we know doesn’t but I fly a lot of on time domestics that’s at gate at time)

To the OP see how many more flights there are afterwards. Getting stuck in Munich isn’t the worst thing. There’s a fast train to the airport it’s a lovely city. Hopefully you like beer and meat accommodations are generally reasonably priced depending on what your standards are.

Worst case it’s a nice stop over.

Good tips from brunettegirl and I think you’ll make it but regardless if you do or don’t post back to help future googlers

Published departure times meaning the time the flight will depart .... so it’s possible that they will push back from the gate at 9:57am for a 10:05am departure. They tend to make flight arrival times a bit longer to counter in the logistics. But still a 65 minute connection time something running even 10 minutes behind can throw the OP’s plans off.

BrunetteGirl wrote: ↑ .... can this result in out of pocket expenses? Sure. If the departure out of Canada is late due to a weather delay (a summer mid afternoon/earlier evening thunderstorm). Then you will have to pay out of pocket expenses in Munich while they try to place you on the next flight. Make sure you have flight delay - misconnection and baggage loss/delay insurance.

Pete_Coach wrote: ↑ If you miss your fight? ... You may very well be out of pocket.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but if the two flights are on one PNR (i.e. one ticket), wouldn't the airline bear the cost (of putting OP on another flight) if the first flight is delayed, or even if the flight is on-time but OP gets held up at custom and missed the connection?

Friendly reminder to OP: Remember to check the credit card you purchased the ticket with to see if there's any travel insurance already offered.

manho wrote: ↑ Correct me if i'm wrong, but if the two flights are on one PNR (i.e. one ticket), wouldn't the airline bear the cost (of putting OP on another flight) if the first flight is delayed, or even if the flight is on-time but OP gets held up at custom and missed the connection?

Friendly reminder to OP: Remember to check the credit card you purchased the ticket with to see if there's any travel insurance already offered.

If it is one airline and the next flight is with a partner airline, there is chance they will honor and the OP would be put on the next fight. But, there are conditions on the ticket that would explain the circumstances upon which they would accept responsibility.

manho wrote: ↑ Correct me if i'm wrong, but if the two flights are on one PNR (i.e. one ticket), wouldn't the airline bear the cost (of putting OP on another flight) if the first flight is delayed, or even if the flight is on-time but OP gets held up at custom and missed the connection?

Friendly reminder to OP: Remember to check the credit card you purchased the ticket with to see if there's any travel insurance already offered.

If it’s “controllable” delay (flights were delayed due to maintenance/ crew issues ... within the airline’s control) then yes OP would be rebooked on the next available flight to the final destination. OP says there are a few flights that day- so that’s good. But it doesn’t necessarily mean there will be seats available so he could be waiting around all day for the next flight.

If it’s beyond the airline’s control (weather for example) then the OP would be out of pocket for expenses. Even delays like an emergency landing/ delayed departure/disembarkation for a sick or unruly passenger.... terrorism (Paris CDG airport for example after the Bataclan attack had delays due to increased security)......air traffic control issues at an airport.... If OP is sent to secondary screening in immigration .....can be classified as “uncontrollable” delays and the airline will not reimburse. Generally speaking, for reasons I mentioned above that is where travel insurance would kick in and reimburse.