Frankfurt Spotting?...

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Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Hiya guys,

You may remember my thread the other day about my next day trip, where I was looking for as many flights as possible.

Well ive decided to look down a different avenue, and try to visit another of my 'must visit' airports (Already got LHR and AMS booked, CDG is next summers agenda), and today I looked for fares for FRA, and found a fairly reasonable £80 return fare with British Airways from Manchester, on virtually every return date in December.

Just wondering is FRA still as spotter friendly as it once was? I seem to have read things about the observation terrace closing etc, dont want to spend so much, and go through alot of travelling to get to MAN if the spotting is no good, I imagine it still is, but just wanted to confirm.

Thanks in advance :).

Original post

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

I was told it still is an amazing place to spot. My uncle went to the viewing area about a month ago, and nearly missed his flight as he spent too much time there :p

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Sounds good! I am going to keep investigating prices, FRA is somewhere I would love to visit, and was reminded about it when Andy said he wanted to visit there at MAN.

Just to let you know Elgan, you have got the year wrong on your Canada flights in your sig! :D.

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

Haha thanks for spotting Tom :p

Very stressful evening ;)

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 6,503

I'm not sure if Frankfurt still does the airside bus tours like I read it did some time ago. I'd be up for it anyhow.

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

The bus tour would be great if they still did it.

Is it just me, or all national airlines really expensive apart from BA? Just looked up LHs fares, and they want £254 off me, on the same dates from MAN, they can stick it where the sun dont shine!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,887

CDG is getting a nightmare to go spotting. The local police (and military!) have effectively banned spotting altogether.

FRA is a great place, but bear in mind that this year the observation platform will close. The other platform at terminal 2 may reopen again, but that still remains to be seen. Having said that, the observation platform was never that great anyway as you'd be facing the sun most of the day.

Around the perimeter some great spots can be found. In particular the approach to 25L and 25R. (spot one on the map at the link) You can walk there from terminal 2, but it will take you around 20 minutes. Well worth the walk though!

http://www.rmas.de/Fotopunkte/fraport_a4.pdf

FRA still has airside tours, but when I did one I was not impressed. The windows are dirty, the view highly "touristical" ("on your left are the baggage carts, these are used to......") and worst you will be facing the sun most of the time.

Member for

21 years

Posts: 4,209

Frankfurt is really good, however everything is outside. I went last May and it was fine, but December will be rather cold, it gets really windy up there!

Member for

21 years

Posts: 4,209

The viewing terrace has been "closing" for years now, and its still there. I dont think Tom is a photographer, so views into the sun wont be an issue, plus again its December, so it will probably rain anyway ;)

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Thanks for the replies, maybe id be better off waiting until next summer then.

Back to my multi flight day trip!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,887

If he is not a photog then all is not lost when the observation platform is indeed closed. The food area at T2 has large windows that overlook the gates and remote parking at T2 and also overlooks both parallel runways and (way way back) the USAF base.

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

I am indeed not a photographer :).

Member for

19 years 9 months

Posts: 334

The bus tour would be great if they still did it.

Is it just me, or all national airlines really expensive apart from BA? Just looked up LHs fares, and they want £254 off me, on the same dates from MAN, they can stick it where the sun dont shine!

Just checked Lufthansa site and they quote £129 for a day return.

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

You might have been looking at a different date ;).