Forward planning: mid-connecting in Frankfurt

[dlam]

I have a rather risky 60 minute connection in Frankfurt in a couple of weeks connecting on LH805 from ARN to SQ325 to SIN. While I know it’s within the MCT I know that with even the slightest delay, I’ll misconnect. The ticket is with SQ.

Neither SQ nor LH have been helpful on the phone and thus, I want to know what I can do on the day to mitigate any delays. If I see my aircraft delayed earlier in the day can I proactively contact LH to put me on an earlier flight to FRA? Otherwise the next flight to SIN isn’t until the next morning.

 

[offshore171]

I would get that changed. We have something similar coming up. Short LH flight to FRA followed by a long haul with Cathay to HKG (one ticket with CX)

The layover was 1h25.

As with yours, this is schengen to non, meaning you have to go through EU passport control at FRA. Thats where the problems lie. Apparently there’s recently been huge queues at FRA passport control, an hour or more. Reports of only two windows manned at times.

I rang up and had the first flight changed to an earlier one to allow a longer layover. It’s now 2hr 15 and I’m only just comfortable with that.

 

[dlam]

I would get that changed. We have something similar coming up. Short LH flight to FRA followed by a long haul with Cathay to HKG (one ticket with CX)

The layover was 1h25.

As with yours, this is schengen to non, meaning you have to go through EU passport control at FRA. Thats where the problems lie. Apparently there’s recently been huge queues at FRA passport control, an hour or more. Reports of only two windows manned at times.

I rang up and had the first flight changed to an earlier one to allow a longer layover. It’s now 2hr 15 and I’m only just comfortable with that.

yes, I did try to change the first flight and SQ tried to charge a change fee. I protested and they waived it. However, because Lufthansa is the operating carrier for the first flight, an earlier Lufthansa flight puts the whole ticket in a different fare category ... more $$$€€€

So, I fear I may have to track my inbound aircraft to try and proactively predict delays and convince LH to book me on an earlier flight. Surely they’d prefer that toshelling out on a Frankfurt hotel?

 

[offshore171]

Is it an option for you to fly in to FRA the night before and lay up?

Given your first sector is out of Sweden in mid january, there's every chance it will be delayed due to deicing operations.

Looks like it has run mostly on time recently, but there's been blowouts of 30-45mins on a few occasions, and January is more affected by deicing than December

Here's the recent history:

LH805 (DLH805) Lufthansa Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

Track Lufthansa (LH) #805 flight from Stockholm-Arlanda to Frankfurt Int'l

flightaware.com

The onward flight to Singapore seems to depart bang on time:

SQ325 (SIA325) Singapore Airlines Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

Track Singapore Airlines (SQ) #325 flight from Frankfurt Int'l to Singapore Changi

flightaware.com

Will you have checked bags or just hand luggage?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a rather risky 60 minute connection in Frankfurt in a couple of weeks connecting on LH805 from ARN to SQ325 to SIN. While I know it’s within the MCT I know that with even the slightest delay, I’ll misconnect. The ticket is with SQ.

Neither SQ nor LH have been helpful on the phone and thus, I want to know what I can do on the day to mitigate any delays. If I see my aircraft delayed earlier in the day can I proactively contact LH to put me on an earlier flight to FRA? Otherwise the next flight to SIN isn’t until the next morning.

If it's all on the one ticket the airline bears the responsibility. You will be put on the next flight, or an alternative routing, and may get compensation (up to €600 per person).

Minimum connecting times are a frequent topic and cause for concern. But they are minimum connecting times... people make the connection otherwise airlines wouldn't offer them - especially in Europe where there are hefty penalties for delays.

Because the connection times are legal, it's understandable that the airlines want to charge to change - especially if an earlier flight is higher priced. otherwise everyone would book the cheapest and then get a free change later. You can certainly track the flight delays for the day, but you can also try turning up to the airport in time for the earlier flight in ARN and they may put you on there free of charge as standby. Worst case you have to hang around ARN for a while until the LH805.

 

[offshore171]

If it's all on the one ticket the airline bears the responsibility.

While that's true, setting aside the financial cost, which is covered by the airline, the other aspect is the consequences to the traveller's onward plans. Only the OP knows the answer to that.

It's usually worse when it's a short haul to long, because the long haul you are connecting to may only go once a day. Whereas Long to Short is usually a minor issue because there's often another one of the short haul in a few hours which will hopefully have seats available.

You will be put on the next flight, or an alternative routing, and may get compensation (up to €600 per person).

This particular one is definitely at the tightest end of the spectrum and could well result in a misconnect even when both flights run bang on time, due to passport control @ Frankfurt (which isn't a trigger for EU261 compo)

You can certainly track the flight delays for the day, but you can also try turning up to the airport in time for the earlier flight in ARN and they may put you on there free of charge as standby. Worst case you have to hang around ARN for a while until the LH805.

This is a good suggestion and it costs nothing to ask.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This particular one is definitely at the tightest end of the spectrum and could well result in a misconnect even when both flights run bang on time, due to passport control @ Frankfurt (which isn't a trigger for EU261 compo)

Indeed. The OP may have to proactively manage their journey through immigration if the lines are long.

 

[dlam]

Thanks, both. It’s true, the connection is a bit tight for comfort. And even if the 60 mins is the official mct, experience says that it’s on the slippery side of unlikely I’ll make the connection. FRA can be a zoo.

The next flight to SIN isn’t until the next morning. It’ll put a dent in plans though the flight from SIN has a two night buffer, luckily.

 

[dlam]

It is annoying, as I already know a misconnect is a distinct possibility. An earlier flight from ARN would mitigate extra expense/worry for all parties, no?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It is annoying, as I already know a misconnect is a distinct possibility. An earlier flight from ARN would mitigate extra expense/worry for all parties, no?

From the airline perspective it's only a 'maybe' in terms of cost saving. They sell these connections everyday and people make them. The earlier flight is more expensive and they can make money off that.

If this tight connection is the result of a schedule change - that is, you originally chose flight(s) with a longer connection time - you should be able to change free of charge.