Flight from E-Burg>Prague>Frankfurt>US

[AKguy 1]

So one of our resident members had a little misshap running through some European countries enroute to the US and their flight paths are similar to Anna's, so I got a little concerned and started checking to see if she'll need a transit visa.

This is the response I got from Czech air.

Thank you for your email. We are very sorry for late response.

The transit visa would be required only in case the flight from

Frankfurt to the US would not be on the same day as the arrival

to Frankfurt. If passenger has layover in Frankfurt before the flight

to the US, the transit visa would be required. Yet, we strongly recommend

passenger to contact German embassy in Russia to learn more.

Yours sincerely,

Michal Havel

I have since asked for his clarification on "same day", is it 24 hours or the day of the month.

She'll arrive in Frankfurt on the 19th and leave on the 20th, but it's less than a 24 hour difference.

Anyone else run into this?

[Brad and Vika 129]

I think the response is an oddball way of telling you that she needs a visa to overnight in Prague. I don't think she will be able to leave the airport otherwise. In any event, she can always stay in the airport regardless without a visa. Not sure if she can get a transit visa in the airport to spend the night if necessary, but you might check into that too.

[AKguy 1]

Looks like we'll have to get her a German visitor visa after finding this.

Important Note concerning Airport Transit

Only five airports in Germany have an International Transit Area

1. Cologne/ Bonn (transit only possible between 4:30 am and 11:00 pm)

2. Düsseldorf (transit only possible between 06:00 am and 09:00 pm and only if the airline has arranged the transit with airport security – please check with your airline)

3. Frankfurt/Main

4. Hamburg (limited time frame only 04:30 am to 11:30 pm)

5. Munich (München)

Please note:

Airport transit privilege does not apply and you will need a visitor visa:

1. if you have to pick up your baggage and/or have to check-in again (please verify with your airline). This applies

2. if you are transiting through two or more airports in the Schengen Countries (for example: Miami-Frankfurt-Paris-India) This applies

3. if you hold an open ticket

4. if your stay in the international transit area exceeds 12 hours Aaaand This applies

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I have spent several over-nights in Frankfurt, Prague and Munich. My usual mode was to go to the city (which Anna cannot do obviously) and enjoy the city until the wee hours and then go back to the airport and wait at the gate until my flight. When I have to leave early in the morning I am too afraid to go to a hotel as I would fall asleep and never wake up in time.

The point of this is...no one has ever asked me for an ID while in any of those airports except leaving and re-entering. As long as I stayed inthe secure area, no questions asked. Of course, as an American I do not need a visa but how do they know I am American?

I think if she just stays in the secure area, she will be fine.

[Brad and Vika 129]

I think there are some airports where you can get a transit visa at the airport if you need to overnight. I have spent the night in Warsaw and Frankfort - and met people from non-visa waiver countries (like Ukraine and Russia) that I think got the visa due to the time they would be in layover. Since I didn't need a visa I didn't really pay much attention. The hotels near the airport are not really near anything cool to see - but you can train it to Weisbaden (I think).

[SMR 368]

I have spent several over-nights in Frankfurt, Prague and Munich. My usual mode was to go to the city (which Anna cannot do obviously) and enjoy the city until the wee hours and then go back to the airport and wait at the gate until my flight. When I have to leave early in the morning I am too afraid to go to a hotel as I would fall asleep and never wake up in time.

The point of this is...no one has ever asked me for an ID while in any of those airports except leaving and re-entering. As long as I stayed inthe secure area, no questions asked. Of course, as an American I do not need a visa but how do they know I am American?

I think if she just stays in the secure area, she will be fine.

I don't know, but I wouldn't count on this. They can certainly figure out how long your layover will be when you board the first plane. I'm not sure they will, but in order for a Russian Citizen to board a plane to Germany, they will probably check for a visa or, lacking that, a continuing ticket. They will likely check the dates on the continuing ticket.

When my wife transferred through Frankfurt, they checked her ticket and US visa. They wanted to make sure she could leave for the US before they would let her on the plane to Germany. Also, she had an active Schengen visa at the time, although I don't think it was used for entry to Germany. Her layover was on the same day and very short.

Given the circumstances that AKGuy lists under "Please Note," I would be safe and get a transit visa or at least contact the German Embassy.

[Waitinggent 2]

The issue is the rule which forbids a person without a visa from from flying from 1 Schengen country to another. This is the problem. It isn't an issue of staying inside the airport. If she was only transferring in 1 Schengen country it would be easy.

I have spent several over-nights in Frankfurt, Prague and Munich. My usual mode was to go to the city (which Anna cannot do obviously) and enjoy the city until the wee hours and then go back to the airport and wait at the gate until my flight. When I have to leave early in the morning I am too afraid to go to a hotel as I would fall asleep and never wake up in time.

The point of this is...no one has ever asked me for an ID while in any of those airports except leaving and re-entering. As long as I stayed inthe secure area, no questions asked. Of course, as an American I do not need a visa but how do they know I am American?

I think if she just stays in the secure area, she will be fine.

[slim 1,519]

Is she planning on staying in the terminal for that long?

I would think with a layover that long she'd want to find a nice place to take a shower and lay down for a while. A "pit stop" would probably be pretty nice. I say get her a visa and a room if possible. Sleeping in a real bed is so nice while on layover. Plus, with a lot of travel still left to go, she'll probably really appreciated being rested up. (And you'll appreciate her being rested when she arrives!)

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The issue is the rule which forbids a person without a visa from from flying from 1 Schengen country to another. This is the problem. It isn't an issue of staying inside the airport. If she was only transferring in 1 Schengen country it would be easy.

Good information. Thanks.

[AKguy 1]

She'll have an 11 hour layover in Frankfurt and doesn't want to leave the Airport. I won't argue with her.

I'll talk with her in a few minutes and convince her that'll she'll need to get a visa for this trip. She's going on information from "friends" who've all done the same trip... right.

Thanks for input fellas!

[AKguy 1]

You think if I rebook her ticket and have her only flying through Frankfurt that we'll solve this problem without getting a visa?

Not affraid she'd not be able to get that visa, we're just getting tight on time. Wait for visa, or, click click click click... click done.

[SMR 368]

You think if I rebook her ticket and have her only flying through Frankfurt that we'll solve this problem without getting a visa?

Not affraid she'd not be able to get that visa, we're just getting tight on time. Wait for visa, or, click click click click... click done.

You may or may not still have problems with the length of the layover. If the layover is the same day and the only Schengen stop is Frankfurt, I can say from experience you shouldn't have any problem. The German border security will want to see her visa to US to make sure she will be able to continue her flight but if that is in order she should be fine.

[AKguy 1]

That's what I thought too. Only other real question is her having to recheck her baggage in Frankfurt.

See what happenes when I try to save a buck on airlines? "A box? You're shipping me in a box??" But baby, Fed Ex is sooo much cheaper!

Actually I just wanted her 1st POE to be in Anchorage... and the price was good.

[Waitinggent 2]

Yes, if the tickets are refundable, I think you should re-book and avoid the 2 Schengen connections. Maybe you should book her out of Kiev, Moscow or St. Petersburg, where you can arrange only 1 stop in Europe. There are flights from these cities going directly to the USA also, and you can check the baggage straight through. Then, you can get her a side ticket from her city to whichever city has the best flight to Anchorage. I know from St. Petersburg, there is a flight to Anchorage with only 1 stop in Minneapolis - although this is probably an expensive flight. You can find something cheap from Moscow with 2 reasonably short connections in the USA - Atlanta and Seatle. Good Luck.

That's what I thought too. Only other real question is her having to recheck her baggage in Frankfurt.

See what happenes when I try to save a buck on airlines? "A box? You're shipping me in a box??" But baby, Fed Ex is sooo much cheaper!

Actually I just wanted her 1st POE to be in Anchorage... and the price was good.

[Waitinggent 2]

Let me take back the checking the bags all the way through. As I am sure you know, if she has a connection in the USA, she will need to get her bags and go through customs at her first POE.

Yes, if the tickets are refundable, I think you should re-book and avoid the 2 Schengen connections. Maybe you should book her out of Kiev, Moscow or St. Petersburg, where you can arrange only 1 stop in Europe. There are flights from these cities going directly to the USA also, and you can check the baggage straight through. Then, you can get her a side ticket from her city to whichever city has the best flight to Anchorage. I know from St. Petersburg, there is a flight to Anchorage with only 1 stop in Minneapolis - although this is probably an expensive flight. You can find something cheap from Moscow with 2 reasonably short connections in the USA - Atlanta and Seatle. Good Luck.