Frankfurt (Main) Airport — Local services in Frankfurt

This airport SUCKS!

I arrived at FRA on the very efficient, comfortable choo choo from Munich (about 3h 15m) directly to the airport (thanks Deutsche Bahn). If I get to review them, I will too.

Ok..so arrived with plenty of time ahead of my American Airlines flight to Dallas. Here's where things went to hell. What happened to German precision? It completely skipped FRA.

The airport is under construction so once exiting the train station with clearly marked signs to terminal 2...one descends to ground level to a s&^tshow. Hundreds of people packing on to buses due to construction and no way to walk or avoid this mess. It was a international cross-cultural, behavioral nightmare. Then began the VERY slow trip to T2, packed in (how I managed to avoid whatever highly infectious disease that was being hacked up by the large man standing 2" from my face, I do not know!).

Once arriving at T2, after stopping at every parking lot, here comes more confusion. The departure hall is rammed with people in lines that snake across any viable way to traverse them to find AA. There is ZERO signage that is helpful. BTW - AA is all the way at the very end of the terminal and you have to squint to see the signage whilst dodging pissed-off people waiting in winding queues. I literally walked back and forth, even asked other One World Alliance carrier folks (Finnair, Qatar etc) desks where American was, and got three different answers. Once finally arriving (note - top tier status on AA) at the Business Class check-in...I said now, out of breath and sweaty, "wow, it's not easy to find you all.." to which I got a silent and completely disinterested shrug from the not-so-charming German lady who probably is a contract worker for AA. No mention of status, no smile, zip. Ego intact, onward.

Boarding pass in hand and just when you think you've conquered the worst of it - alas, that not be true. (I will say that immigration and customs was a breeze and automated, nice!)

I schelped (again no signage with a lot of walking back and forth) to the Japan Airlines First Class Saga Lounge. Fab, this sounds great, Japanese civility to save the day!! Oh no...again, a massive disappointment. The food was inedible (by now I'm starving), the shower (grateful for that option now that I completely sweated through my. gear - glad I brought two sets of briefs) suite didn't have a toilet. I re-dress, exit and go pee down the hall in the mens, and return. Note - there's only two in high-demand shower suites in a lounge to handle Qatar, American, Japan Airlines premium passengers. I got a knock on the door to my not so clean and tidy shower stall to hurry myself up about 12 min into the exercise. The room being so small that I had to stand on one leg to dry and dress the other so that my socks didn't get wet. Fun times.

Here we go....now it's time to join the unwashed (calm down, this is just funny I'm not being elitist though I'm sure someone will say that) masses crowding through another security area into a holding pen. Then they announced, not in English, but in German that the flight was delayed. I had to ask a few people, looking confused myself and ascertained now that my connection in Dallas back to NYC was at risk. Ok...so I go up to the charming (not...my luck) lady that happened to be the same one who checked me - note, she was even less thrilled with the chaos at the gate than during our lovely interaction earlier, to try and change my ticket. Suffice to say that was a useless endeavor. I called American back in the U.S. - they worked it out.

Boarding - Group 1...there must have been 150 "priority" passengers in group one, on a plane that holds less than 300 passengers. Suspect. Parents were taking extra time to board with what looked like teenage children which was ... ridiculous. It was basically one big free-for-all, like forcing hundreds of us pigs in to a pen that was one door width wide. I stayed back until the last of the last of the last boarded, then popped on, settled in and had a moment of gratitude...

I can’t remember the last time a DB train was on time. Seems the only things you can rely on them these days is be overpriced and to go on strike and dispel the myth of German punctuality 😬

The Frankfurt Airport Fernbahnhof, also known as Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof, is the railway station located at Frankfurt Airport. It primarily serves long-distance trains, connecting the airport to major cities in Germany and beyond, such as Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, and Berlin.

You can buy tickets at ticket counters, automated machines, or online through various websites and apps.

Deutsche Bahn is the primary operator for long-distance trains, but there are also other providers depending on your destination.

As for punctuality and reliability, German trains, including those departing from Frankfurt Airport, are generally known for their punctuality and efficiency.

However, delays can frequently occur due to various factors such as weather, maintenance, or “unforeseen” operational circumstances. It's always a good idea to check the schedule and allow some buffer time, especially if you have a tight connection or...

The Frankfurt airport train station is my first stop on a nine day trip and we're off from here to Düsseldorf.

Getting from the airport to the train station was easy enough with good signage pointing the way to "trains" and step free access. In the station, there are plenty of kiosks from which you can purchase your ticket and they operate in multiple languages including English. My American credit card worked just fine (if you don't have a pin, try "0000") and I had a ticket in hand for the next train.

There are a few food and drink opportunities here and a few seats to wait because it's warmer in the ticketing level than it is on the platform level.

Train arrived on time and from the correct track. Thankfully, the train displayed the destination so I knew I was getting on the correct one. Overall, quite easy to negotiate. I'd like to see more seating available to...