Travelling Through Frankfurt vs Travelling Through Newark

[shippingforecast 126]

Hi all. My CR-1 interview is scheduled for next Monday, so I'm almost done with the process for now. I'm just looking into flights.

My normal route to Houston (George Bush) is from Birmingham (UK) via Amsterdam Schiphol. I usually fly with Delta (operated by KLM). However this time around I can't find that route as a one way ticket. On top of that, my wife has gifted her air miles to me, but these are with United. I'll be able to fly for virtually nothing, but they don't operate an Amsterdam route. I've managed to find two routes from Birmingham via Newark or via Frankfurt, Germany. I've been through Frankfurt as a connection before but didn't have any checked baggage as I was on a backpacking mini-break in Madrid.

What I want to know is if anyone has any experience of travelling through Frankfurt with checked baggage and whether the baggage was checked through to the final destination. I want to avoid landing anywhere in the US other than Houston; I don't particularly like the idea of doing POE anywhere else and potentially missing a connection. I also know I'll have to collect and recheck my baggage in Newark which again, doesn't sound ideal as quite obviously I'm travelling with a lot of extra stuff this time around. However if I have to do it in Frankfurt I'll probably end up just going to Newark to cut the total journey time down.

Thanks for your help as always.

[JohnR! 5,495]

United is part of Star Alliance, which means that Lufthansa handles them in FRA, wihch is one of the best airports in the world for connections. I wouldn't waste a second worrying about it - you won't have to collect your baggage in Frankfurt, since it'll be transferred to your US flight automatically. You'll only need to collect it at your point of entry in the US. All in all, FRA is a better option than EWR in your particular case.

Edited May 5, 2015 by JohnR!

[megandeli 5]

I flew through Frankfurt on my way to Rome and had no trouble. Newark is a nightmare though. If I were you, I would do the Frankfurt route and then your POE would be smoother Good luck!

[shippingforecast 126]

United is part of Star Alliance, which means that Lufthansa handles them in FRA, wihch is one of the best airports in the world for connections. I wouldn't waste a second worrying about it - you won't have to collect your baggage in Frankfurt, since it'll be transferred to your US flight automatically. You'll only need to collect it at your point of entry in the US. All in all, FRA is a better option than EWR in your particular case.

I flew through Frankfurt on my way to Rome and had no trouble. Newark is a nightmare though. If I were you, I would do the Frankfurt route and then your POE would be smoother Good luck!

Awesome advice, thank you both. I usually fly with Sky Team partners but I have flown with Lufthansa once before and they were exceptional, so I'm pleased to know that.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Awesome advice, thank you both. I usually fly with Sky Team partners but I have flown with Lufthansa once before and they were exceptional, so I'm pleased to know that.

Can't you take a coach to Heathrow then fly non-stop LHR to IAH on United?

And for what it's worth if you were purchasing with money, you can buy a round trip ticket cheaper than one-way and cancel the return.

[shippingforecast 126]

Can't you take a coach to Heathrow then fly non-stop LHR to IAH on United?

And for what it's worth if you were purchasing with money, you can buy a round trip ticket cheaper than one-way and cancel the return.

I looked into it, and it is fairly cheap to get from Birmingham coach station to Heathrow T5, but most of my family and friends are based around the Midlands so they want to do the whole "drive me to the airport and wave goodbye at the gate" kind of thing.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I looked into it, and it is fairly cheap to get from Birmingham coach station to Heathrow T5, but most of my family and friends are based around the Midlands so they want to do the whole "drive me to the airport and wave goodbye at the gate" kind of thing.

Maybe they could wave goodbye at the coach station. Right? They could even run down the road after the coach waving. Can't do that at an airport.

There's 3 flights a day...around 9:30, 11:30, 1:30. Looks like the 30,000 air miles option is pretty wide open. When those get taken, it's 65,000 miles for economy. On May 21st, there's a first class open for 57,500 air miles on the 787 Dreamliner. My husband flew one in March and had wifi. We messaged all the way across the Atlantic. That is your flight. Do it!

I flew first class once when it was Continental (pre-merge) and they feed you so many awesome treats. Wine and cheese/breads/fruit snack, dinner, ice cream sundaes, breakfast. Real plates. Cloth napkins. I had one of the best steaks ever on that flight. And the reclining seat beds.

Also you said she was "gifting" you miles. She doesn't have to actually transfer them to you. They charge for that. She can purchase your ticket with her miles and list you as the traveller.

Yep, May 21, First Class

It's T4 not T5 now

Edited May 5, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[shippingforecast 126]

Maybe they could wave goodbye at the coach station. Right? They could even run down the road after the coach waving. Can't do that at an airport.

There's 3 flights a day...around 9:30, 11:30, 1:30. Looks like the 30,000 air miles option is pretty wide open. When those get taken, it's 65,000 miles for economy. On May 21st, there's a first class open for 57,500 air miles on the 787 Dreamliner. My husband flew one in March and had wifi. We messaged all the way across the Atlantic. That is your flight. Do it!

I flew first class once when it was Continental (pre-merge) and they feed you so many awesome treats. Wine and cheese/breads/fruit snack, dinner, ice cream sundaes, breakfast. Real plates. Cloth napkins. I had one of the best steaks ever on that flight. And the reclining seat beds.

Also you said she was "gifting" you miles. She doesn't have to actually transfer them to you. They charge for that. She can purchase your ticket with her miles and list you as the traveller.

Yep, May 21, First Class

It's T4 not T5 now

Uh... How did you know my intended travel date? Are you watching me? Can you see what I'm doing, right now?! Ha.

Yeah I should have probably been a little clearer with the "gifting" part as I don't hold a United air miles account, she'll just be listing me as the traveller. There are coaches that go at midnight that would get me there well within time for the 9:30am flight... And I see that as easier than people booking the morning or day off of work to see me off. She only has 45,000 saved so it'll need to be the economy saver award option. I'd love to be able to have wifi and keep connected. Le sigh. Every time she flies she goes business or first class, and more often than not she gets off the plane a little tipsy with all the mimosas they feed her.

When did they change terminal? The last time I was there was November and United were still operating outta T5.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Uh... How did you know my intended travel date? Are you watching me? Can you see what I'm doing, right now?! Ha.

Easy. Monday interview. Give them a week to return passport. Add a few days and see what is available for reward flights on Thursday.

When did they change terminal? The last time I was there was November and United were still operating outta T5.

Husband told me that. He flew in and out of T4. March 18 and March 31 this year. However, I did flight status check for yesterday and today and they all say T2. Weird.

Oh...I see now--

London Heathrow terminal relocation

As of June 4, 2014, all United Airlines flights will arrive at and depart from Terminal 2 at London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

Now he's confused since he thought it was T4. So he's playing the "old" card and saying he can't remember anything anymore. Hahaha. He said it was definitely called the Queen's Terminal. Looked that up and it is T2.

[wbeem 568]

The EWR connection is easy. The bag recheck is just the usual collecting your bags and going through customs, then you drop them just after you clear the customs area. You don't have to go to a check in desk - it's all taken care of for you.

I've only had good experiences with Newark International and United and starting to search flights for our final departure, my preference is to have my POE before landing at my final destination. The reason for this is that it makes it easier for predicting an arrival time when you land on a domestic flight.

[Dave&Roza 748]

Hi all. My CR-1 interview is scheduled for next Monday, so I'm almost done with the process for now. I'm just looking into flights.

My normal route to Houston (George Bush) is from Birmingham (UK) via Amsterdam Schiphol. I usually fly with Delta (operated by KLM). However this time around I can't find that route as a one way ticket. On top of that, my wife has gifted her air miles to me, but these are with United. I'll be able to fly for virtually nothing, but they don't operate an Amsterdam route. I've managed to find two routes from Birmingham via Newark or via Frankfurt, Germany. I've been through Frankfurt as a connection before but didn't have any checked baggage as I was on a backpacking mini-break in Madrid.

What I want to know is if anyone has any experience of travelling through Frankfurt with checked baggage and whether the baggage was checked through to the final destination. I want to avoid landing anywhere in the US other than Houston; I don't particularly like the idea of doing POE anywhere else and potentially missing a connection. I also know I'll have to collect and recheck my baggage in Newark which again, doesn't sound ideal as quite obviously I'm travelling with a lot of extra stuff this time around. However if I have to do it in Frankfurt I'll probably end up just going to Newark to cut the total journey time down.

Thanks for your help as always.

My vote is for a direct flight from either LHR or FRA on Lufthansa. You do not have to worry about your lugggage until you reach your destination. You do not have to worry about how long it takes to clear Customs given you are arriving with a visa that needs to be processed. The flight time is shorter as each stop requires the plane to fly slower for take off and landing and then there is the time on the ground. I have had issues everytime I've flown into Newark--weather, late baggage, late connecting flight, late arrival, long lines at CBP checking passports.

Dave