Frankfurt Airport Spotting
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Manchester
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Frankfurt Airport Spotting
Hi all
I have a spotting trip to Frankfurt booked since the 8th November last year. I am departing on the 11th September from Manchester to Frankfurt staying for 1 night. It has been my intention from booking the trip that I was going to the spectator terraces via Terminal 2. The terraces may not be ideal but due to the requirement of having facilities close by I am happy with this decision.
Unfortunately, Terminal 2 and the terraces are currently closed. I regularly check the Frankfurt Airport website for updates on the re-opening of Terminal 2 but currently no date has been set. This leaves me with a couple of questions that I hope someone can help with please.
1, Does anyone have any inside information on a possible opening date for Terminal 2 and if it does open the chances of the terraces following suit?
2, Another option is to stay airside in Terminal 1 upon arrival in Frankfurt. I have done this in Amsterdam Schiphol on many occasions. Instead of exiting the terminal building you stay airside and view aircraft from a convenient window. Then exit when I want to head for my hotel. Is this possible at Frankfurt?
I know about the viewing decks at the perimeter of the airport but they are all too far out to walk (Is this the case?) and there are no facilities once there.
Any help and observations would be much appreciated. Kind regards
Len
I have a spotting trip to Frankfurt booked since the 8th November last year. I am departing on the 11th September from Manchester to Frankfurt staying for 1 night. It has been my intention from booking the trip that I was going to the spectator terraces via Terminal 2. The terraces may not be ideal but due to the requirement of having facilities close by I am happy with this decision.
Unfortunately, Terminal 2 and the terraces are currently closed. I regularly check the Frankfurt Airport website for updates on the re-opening of Terminal 2 but currently no date has been set. This leaves me with a couple of questions that I hope someone can help with please.
1, Does anyone have any inside information on a possible opening date for Terminal 2 and if it does open the chances of the terraces following suit?
2, Another option is to stay airside in Terminal 1 upon arrival in Frankfurt. I have done this in Amsterdam Schiphol on many occasions. Instead of exiting the terminal building you stay airside and view aircraft from a convenient window. Then exit when I want to head for my hotel. Is this possible at Frankfurt?
I know about the viewing decks at the perimeter of the airport but they are all too far out to walk (Is this the case?) and there are no facilities once there.
Any help and observations would be much appreciated. Kind regards
Len
From the terminal (and the terrace) you miss what's using the new runway as I suspect you know.
What I can't tell you is whether arrivals in T1 even see a useful window. Arriving in T2 you don't.
There is a bus to the eastern end of the original two runways (nr Zeppelinheim) and there is surely still a pub or two in that village. (two buses to get there, one to get back IIRC, also trains, change at Sportfeld)
I used to walk frequently from T1 to the eastern end, and occasionally to the western end which is a bit far.
My opinion is that - as long as visibility is adequate - the ends of the original two runways are the very best spotting spots and although I'm no photographer, likely best for pictures because the sun is mostly behind you. I'd be very sad to take a trip to a foreign airport only to notice that all the best stuff is somewhere invisible. If all else fails, take a taxi or hire a push-bike to get to the best viewing point.
What I can't tell you is whether arrivals in T1 even see a useful window. Arriving in T2 you don't.
There is a bus to the eastern end of the original two runways (nr Zeppelinheim) and there is surely still a pub or two in that village. (two buses to get there, one to get back IIRC, also trains, change at Sportfeld)
I used to walk frequently from T1 to the eastern end, and occasionally to the western end which is a bit far.
My opinion is that - as long as visibility is adequate - the ends of the original two runways are the very best spotting spots and although I'm no photographer, likely best for pictures because the sun is mostly behind you. I'd be very sad to take a trip to a foreign airport only to notice that all the best stuff is somewhere invisible. If all else fails, take a taxi or hire a push-bike to get to the best viewing point.
2, Another option is to stay airside in Terminal 1 upon arrival in Frankfurt. I have done this in Amsterdam Schiphol on many occasions. Instead of exiting the terminal building you stay airside and view aircraft from a convenient window. Then exit when I want to head for my hotel. Is this possible at Frankfurt?
