Making a connection in FRA

[FlyingDobber]

Dear All,

Booked flights in J from OSL-FRA-SIN-AKL on a SQ ticket and have just 60 minutes to connect from OSL in FRA (this is a Luftnhasa flight but I have a SQ2135 flight number) and then pick up SQ25 to SIN.

I then connect after 1:50 to SQ4281 (operated by ANZ).

I am concerned that I would not have sufficient time to get from the OSL aircraft to the SIN aircraft in FRA. My last two flights through FRA have caused me missed connections. The last one I arrived at the gate, sweating and out of breath as they closed the doors!

I am hoping that being all on one SQ ticket I would be offered som protection, however as the next flight from FRA is at 2200 I would then miss the connection to AKL.

The tickets are booked so its a valid connection.Am I right to be slightly concened? Any advice would be appreciated.

[SQ228]

Dear All,

Booked flights in J from OSL-FRA-SIN-AKL on a SQ ticket and have just 60 minutes to connect from OSL in FRA (this is a Luftnhasa flight but I have a SQ2135 flight number) and then pick up SQ25 to SIN.

I then connect after 1:50 to SQ4281 (operated by ANZ).

I am concerned that I would not have sufficient time to get from the OSL aircraft to the SIN aircraft in FRA. My last two flights through FRA have caused me missed connections. The last one I arrived at the gate, sweating and out of breath as they closed the doors!

I am hoping that being all on one SQ ticket I would be offered som protection, however as the next flight from FRA is at 2200 I would then miss the connection to AKL.

The tickets are booked so its a valid connection.Am I right to be slightly concened? Any advice would be appreciated.

The worst thing that could happen is that you miss SQ25, end up on SQ325, then get rebooked onto SQ285 to AKL, I would imagine. Of course this means getting home the following morning and a day spent in Frankfurt, but it's all on one ticket so they would have to rebook you if there's a delay I would think.

FRA can be painful to transit through. Not CDG painful, but annoying at least, especially if you get bussed in from a remote stand. Look for the letter B as soon as you see a sign and if it breaks it down further, then B19-59 which is the non-Schengen section with passport control.

Often you land into the A gates from Euro ports and the signs will lead you through the transit tunnel that runs under the tarmac between the A section and the B section. If you reach a point where B is indicated in both directions (this has happened to me) then go the direction that does not include C, as that is likely to be the tunnel route which takes you away from the main concourse where C is located, and that is much more direct to reach where SQ flies out of.

Hope that's some help anyway.

[FlyingDobber]

The worst thing that could happen is that you miss SQ25, end up on SQ325, then get rebooked onto SQ285 to AKL, I would imagine. Of course this means getting home the following morning and a day spent in Frankfurt, but it's all on one ticket so they would have to rebook you if there's a delay I would think.

FRA can be painful to transit through. Not CDG painful, but annoying at least, especially if you get bussed in from a remote stand. Look for the letter B as soon as you see a sign and if it breaks it down further, then B19-59 which is the non-Schengen section with passport control.

Often you land into the A gates from Euro ports and the signs will lead you through the transit tunnel that runs under the tarmac between the A section and the B section. If you reach a point where B is indicated in both directions (this has happened to me) then go the direction that does not include C, as that is likely to be the tunnel route which takes you away from the main concourse where C is located, and that is much more direct to reach where SQ flies out of.

Hope that's some help anyway.

Thanks for the advice. Yep all day in FRA - its not the most exciting place, even been into the city on occasions but its a bit dull!

Being rebooked is ok...I guess but I am into AKL a day later. Unlikely to book me onto a flight out of somewhere else instead? LON for example or would I just sit and wait?

Any idea where SQ departs in FRA? Looks at today - it seems that the OSL flight arrived into A and SIN left at B46. That tunnel is a nightmare! The other issue that sometimes, if arriving from the uk (non-schengen) you need to go through security again which adds a delay.

Will wait and see. Thanks for help.

[Pinkfloyd]

Well you could try SK4755 which gives you about 10 minutes more time, or LH865 which would make more sense...

[SQ228]

Yep all day in FRA - its not the most exciting place, even been into the city on occasions but its a bit dull!

Yeah, Frankfurt is essentially a massive airport, a massive trade fair and a massive bank. Hardly a recipe for entertainment or fun...

[FlyingDobber]

Yeah, Frankfurt is essentially a massive airport, a massive trade fair and a massive bank. Hardly a recipe for entertainment or fun...

LOL - even better that Mrs FlyingDobber is a vegetarian. You try and get vegetarian food in Frankfurt...she had sour pickled cheese last time we went into the city!

[Kyo]

Short answer is most likely NO. But since you're on the same ticket, you're safe regardless. Last time I missed my connection I had to cought out Eur340 in the opposite direction, FRA-OSL. 6 hours later... and despite getting fast-tracked through security, the bus had pulled away from the gate. Never again!

[carhartt79]

You might still make the flight but I guess your baggage won't. Had the same experience when I have the same layover time in YYZ from YYT towards LHR. Lesson learned from this: Layover time personally for me would have to be at least 1,5hr to be absolutely safe.

[jani]

But why would they allow you to book this type of ticket with such a short connection time if the risk of you missing the flight is so big?

[FlyingDobber]

But why would they allow you to book this type of ticket with such a short connection time if the risk of you missing the flight is so big?

I guess they dont take into account remote stands, long walks, lifts that are slow (or inoperable), security, and passport checks as well as a not too pleasant airport!

Its a valid connection! Bags may be an issue as once in AKL I have one night before a flight to RAR on NZ. Could be tricky or look like a beach bum in J from Oslo!

[kapitan]

My last two flights through FRA have caused me missed connections. The last one I arrived at the gate, sweating and out of breath as they closed the doors!

You have done it twice before and you know how frantic it can be and yet this third time you are attempting it again....... why should you seek assistance!!!

[SQ228]

You have done it twice before and you know how frantic it can be and yet this third time you are attempting it again....... why should you seek assistance!!!

That's a fair point, but why do SQ keep selling the connection? They know better than we do how FRA operates and offering passengers a connection on a ticket that is too tight is their decision. Part of the trust you give an airline when booking is that the itinerary sold to you is actually feasible. I know things do go wrong and it's a huge airport, and they rely on LH to play their part, but at the end of the day, they have an unhappy customer.

[Kyo]

That's a fair point, but why do SQ keep selling the connection? They know better than we do how FRA operates and offering passengers a connection on a ticket that is too tight is their decision. Part of the trust you give an airline when booking is that the itinerary sold to you is actually feasible. I know things do go wrong and it's a huge airport, and they rely on LH to play their part, but at the end of the day, they have an unhappy customer.

Actually I'm starting to have an idea that could make use of this 'unexpected' misconnect

[FlyingDobber]

You have done it twice before and you know how frantic it can be and yet this third time you are attempting it again....... why should you seek assistance!!!

Because it was "cheap"

[Airbus SAS A340-500]

Actually I'm starting to have an idea that could make use of this 'unexpected' misconnect

Don't you get something like 600 euros if they bump you off due to a misconnection? I remember there is some EU regulation that compels the airline to provide some sort of compensation?