FRANKFURT, GERMANY
Frankfurt Airport
Airport Symbol: FRA
Contact Info:
Ph: 49 (0) 69 6 90-66634,
Website: www.airportcity-frankfurt.com
Overview: About 11km, 7m from city center. The Frankfurt airport upon arrival is a bit of a labyrinth. Airport assistance will take you through, what seems like, a lot of hallways to get you to the baggage claim. Even though there are only two terminals, there are several floors in Terminal 1 and the floors have several hallways and shops that may take you here and there.
Departure is fairly straightforward. Sometimes the signs seem to take you past the actual halls you need to take. There are a few security checkpoints along the way to depart, or rather, to make connections. If you have a shorter hop within Europe, you’re likely to take a smaller plane. To reach the smaller planes, you’ll need to take a shuttle to the plane. The shuttles do have lifts and belts to secure you. Once at the plane, you’ll be transferred to a service lift, operated by a service truck. At this point, you transfer onto an aisle or plane chair, then be transferred into the large truck. The truck will take you directly beneath the plane’s door and lift you up. It’s a pretty exciting system.
For long haul flights, you enter the plane in the customary fashion: through the gate, down the corridor and transfer to an aisle chair and then airport assistance will wheel you to your seat.
The Frankfurt airport is a great, clean airport and even a nice safe place to stay the night if you’re without a hotel room during a trade fair. There are lounge chairs to extend your feet or three row seats with no armrests in between, making it perfect to stretch out and sleep. Plus, you can check you luggage in 24 hours in advance. The powers that be are expanding the airport to include a third terminal.
There is also a variety of options to reach Frankfurt’s city center or downtown. You can take a taxi, bus or the S Bahn. Or, arrange a hotel service transport.
Handicap Airport Services:
Train Lift – Level 1
Airport Assistance (fee)
Link for info: The Franfurt international airport actually has a section on their website and services at the airport for the handicap traveler! Here’s a link:
Frankfurt Airport Handicap Services
Staff: Staff is helpful. That’s for sure. The airport has a handicap assistance program and the airport’s website has a handicap assistance section. The gentleman who helped me at arrival. The only thing that occurred in my experience was that my wheelchair was not brought to the door of the plane. He brought a standard airport wheelchair. He apologized, said it was his communication failure and was kind enough.
Money, Cash Machines ATMs: There are a numerous banks, cash machines and currency exchange. There’s a Deutsche Bank Geldautomatic, or ATM, in Hall B of Terminal 1. But, this is in the departure section. So, you must make your way up a level from the baggage claim, follow the signs to Hall B in an open, hub area where there are some shops, cafes, etc. The cash machines are located directly in the center.
Bathrooms: large with handrails for support. Also, hanging ladder ropes to help you pull yourself up.
Airport to City Center: Use Frankfurt’s phenomenal metro system.
Airport Train Station under Terminal 1. InterCity trains and S-Bahn commuter trains go to Frankfurt. Sky Line provides links from Terminal 1 to 2.
The S-Bahn S 8 line (bright green) between the airport and Frankfurt center runs every 10 minute s and takes you to the main station.
Cost: 3,50 eur
A cab ride from the airport to the Hauptbahnhof area or Innestadt costs between 20 to 25 eur.
Frankfurt to Airport: Hauptbahnhof Station – Take S-Bahn S 8 line (bright green) going to Wiesbaden. Get off at Flughafen Regionalbahnhof. Listen very carefully to the announcements while you’re on the metro.
Elevators, Lifts: in the Bahnhof station, there are two lifts alongside each other going down to the S Bahn lines. Make sure you take the lift that reads Wiesbaden Hbf S 8 and S 9. The lift will take you down a level. The S 8 line to Wiesbaden runs on track 103.
Accessibility: there is no step to enter the S Bahn from the Bahnhof station. At the airport stop, the platform is lower so there is a step down to the platform.
At the airport, there is a lift going up to Terminal 1. The other terminals have escalators. No matter which way you go, you’ll end up ascending to the transfer terminal level. So, if you go up to Terminal 1, you just have to make your way to the other terminals if need be. The signs are easy to read. Check out the pictures.
Airport Food: Terminal 1, the restaurants near the ticket counters are more expensive than the interior restaurants or food stands.
Fly Away – coffee is 1 euro more than Quickers and Weiner Feinbacker, which costs 2,30 euro with milk.