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Flying to India - Connection Help
Posted on 8/18/25 at 9:09 pm
Posted on 8/18/25 at 9:09 pm
I’m flying to IAH to India (Bangalore) and want to stay on United Airlines or Star Alliance to get miles/points and continue maximizing my status.
Best options go though Germany, specifically Frankfurt and Munich. Do yall think 1.5 hour layover coming from IAH would be enough to make my connnection in one of those airports?
If I don’t do that tight connection, next option is like a 4 hour layover. I want to avoid that if possible. Thanks guys!
Best options go though Germany, specifically Frankfurt and Munich. Do yall think 1.5 hour layover coming from IAH would be enough to make my connnection in one of those airports?
If I don’t do that tight connection, next option is like a 4 hour layover. I want to avoid that if possible. Thanks guys!
8
Posted on 8/18/25 at 9:35 pm to skewbs
I'd choose the 4 hour. The connections from the Z (US) gates to any other gates takes a long arse time on the walk, the trains, etc, in FRA. I haven't been to MUC.
Also consider that flights through FRA to India and full of people that... Uh, don't move quickly. What about Turkish? TK34 out of IAH, and the food will be awesome.
ETA: Any layover in the TK lounge in IST is not a layover, it's a vacation.
Also consider that flights through FRA to India and full of people that... Uh, don't move quickly. What about Turkish? TK34 out of IAH, and the food will be awesome.
ETA: Any layover in the TK lounge in IST is not a layover, it's a vacation.
This post was edited on 8/18/25 at 9:36 pm
Posted on 8/18/25 at 9:51 pm to skewbs
What's the need for a short connection?
I flew KLM (not Star Alliance I know) to India and had a 7/8 hour layover in AMS. Took the train in and poked around.
New IST isn't as convenient for the same purpose as Ataturk was, but still, a layover is nice in this circumstance. Something to consider.
As a side note, I would not frick with a layover at IST under 1.5 hours. From experience.
I flew KLM (not Star Alliance I know) to India and had a 7/8 hour layover in AMS. Took the train in and poked around.
New IST isn't as convenient for the same purpose as Ataturk was, but still, a layover is nice in this circumstance. Something to consider.
As a side note, I would not frick with a layover at IST under 1.5 hours. From experience.
Posted on 8/18/25 at 10:31 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
, I would not frick with a layover at IST under 1.5 hours.
That's no joke, you clear security at the foreign airport, then essentially do TSA again in IST, with long lines of people coming from every shithole on Earth. When I had to actually enter Turkey for a few hours before my flight the next day, I got to Ataturk three hours before my flight and came uncomfortably close to missing it because third world people.
And do NOT fly into AMS on a United (*A) flight expecting to make a connection. You will taxi for 45 minutes to get to your gate. From personal experience.
Posted on 8/18/25 at 11:17 pm to skewbs
Avoid Air India unless you can get on their new A350s.
I'd lean towards the 4 hour layover in FRA, if you're in First/Business you can head to the lounge. If you're in Economy it could take you 20+ minutes to deplane making your connection even tighter.
I'd lean towards the 4 hour layover in FRA, if you're in First/Business you can head to the lounge. If you're in Economy it could take you 20+ minutes to deplane making your connection even tighter.
Posted on 8/19/25 at 6:02 pm to skewbs
quote:
Best options go though Germany, specifically Frankfurt and Munich
been a while since I've done it, but I liked connecting through Munich a TON better than Frankfurt but you're likely to find more flights for the latter
This post was edited on 8/19/25 at 6:03 pm
Posted on 8/19/25 at 8:29 pm to skewbs
I’d opt for 4 hour layover and grab some beer. Frankfurt airport with only 90 minutes could be challenging.
Posted on 8/19/25 at 11:03 pm to H2O Tiger
quote:
Avoid Air India unless you can get on their new A350s.
That should probably be just avoid Air India with no qualifiers. There are 3 ish travel bloggers that I follow and I don't think there has been one positive review. The culture is ... challenging.
Posted on 8/21/25 at 6:44 am to LemmyLives
If you want to maximize your Star Alliance...I would actually go West...better airplanes and service. You will probably fly United to Tokyo and then ANA or Singapore or Thai.
But if going through Europe, getting in and out of Frankfurt security is the worst if you want to do something. Munich security is not as bad, but longer train trip to town.
The advantage of flying Lufhansa is that they plane will not be 80 to 90 percent Indian like flying from LHR. I love going to India, but I need calm before the chaos that you get when you get there.
Enjoy...
But if going through Europe, getting in and out of Frankfurt security is the worst if you want to do something. Munich security is not as bad, but longer train trip to town.
The advantage of flying Lufhansa is that they plane will not be 80 to 90 percent Indian like flying from LHR. I love going to India, but I need calm before the chaos that you get when you get there.
Enjoy...
Posted on 8/21/25 at 9:17 am to skewbs
I make this trip every now and then but I am on OneWorld (MSY-LHR-BLR).
With that being said, 1.5 hours is not something I would chance in FRA. As you are not entering the Schengen area, you won't have to clear customs, and you will remain in Terminal 1. Sometimes you have a recheck (think TSA) but it is quick.
The concern would be arriving late into FRA from IAH. For context, UA46 is late almost every trip, and averages an arrival time of 11:55 (not 11:15) which is not super uncommon for long hauls.
There is a MUC connection with 2:30 min
You *Could* do as someone suggested west bound but you would have to get to LAX/SFO to continue onward to HND on ANA. Then you would have to connect in SIN from HND. Not worth it.
With that being said, 1.5 hours is not something I would chance in FRA. As you are not entering the Schengen area, you won't have to clear customs, and you will remain in Terminal 1. Sometimes you have a recheck (think TSA) but it is quick.
The concern would be arriving late into FRA from IAH. For context, UA46 is late almost every trip, and averages an arrival time of 11:55 (not 11:15) which is not super uncommon for long hauls.
There is a MUC connection with 2:30 min
You *Could* do as someone suggested west bound but you would have to get to LAX/SFO to continue onward to HND on ANA. Then you would have to connect in SIN from HND. Not worth it.
Posted on 8/23/25 at 7:43 am to skewbs
quote:
If I don’t do that tight connection, next option is like a 4 hour layover. I want to avoid that if possible. Thanks guys!
When I take big international trips, I always tell myself that another hour or two of sitting around at the airport playing on my phone is a small price to pay for some buffer time to handle unexpected delays or problems that could sabotage the trip.
And considering you have essentially every song, movie, TV show, and all the collective knowledge of the human species in your hands, it’s not difficult to pass the time.
Take the four hour layover.
Posted on 8/23/25 at 6:07 pm to Globetrotter747
If you are flying between Sept 20th and Oct 5th do the Munich layover. If you can extend it for a much longer layover you could partake in Oktoberfest.
Posted on 8/23/25 at 8:45 pm to skewbs
I had a 45 minute layover in Frankfurt heading to Houston from Barcelona. I made it but I had to legit run. That's a big airport.
I hate long layobers though.
I hate long layobers though.
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:57 pm to Napoleon
Any transition from the US (Z) gates to anywhere else is tough. But at least if you're going intra Schengen, you will have a bunch of options, which OP isn't doing. Not the case for the disastrous flights to/from India.
This post was edited on 8/23/25 at 10:10 pm
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