Flying from DFW to Trieste

[dottedline]

Looking to book a flight into Trieste for a cruise. Most all of the flights have at least one plane change in the USA and then again in Frankfort Germany. The one in Frankfort is one hour. Would we have time to get to our new gate? Don't we have to stand in line to go through immigration/customs before boarding our flight into Italy? I can't find a longer layover in Frankfort without also getting a long layover in the USA, which is nuts.

[CruiserBruce]

This is a topic frequently discussed on the Cruise Air board, here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/77-cruise-air/

 

No, one hour in FRA is not long enough, if it is your first stop in Europe. FRA (Frankfurt) is a big, busy airport, if you arrive at the peak morning times, you probably will have to park at a remote "stand" (not a gate), and be bussed in. Then you will need to clear Immigration before you go to your next gate. In most cases, your bag will be checked to your final destination, and Customs in Europe is a very simple, fast process, but you won't do it at FRA.

[-Lew-]

After two itineraries through FRA we avoid it at all costs.  Google Flights shows one-stop flights from DFW to TRS through FCO.  You might want to check them out.

[euro cruiser]

Yes, the United/Lufthansa code share uses FRA as the connection while American uses FCO.   

 

You will pay significantly more for the one-stop flights vs. two stops on Delta/KLM code share (Altanta, FCO) or ITA (JFK, FCO).

 

If you purchase directly from the airlines vs. through a third party they are obligated to get you on the next flight if you miss a connection they booked.  At FCO that sometimes means, in my experience, someone meeting you at your first flight, escorting you through passport control and on to the next flight in order to make it.  That was almost the norm with Aliitalia, it may be that ITA has carried on that tactic.