Our Review of Munich Airport (MUC)

Our Review of Munich Airport (MUC)

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Munich Airport (MUC)

PROs

Location: Munich Airport is conveniently situated near Freising, about 28 km northeast of Munich. Actually, it’s situated inside the towns of Oberding, Hallbergmoos, and Marzling. Two S-Bahn lines (S1 and S8) that offer regular and effective service to the city are among the many public transportation options that connect the airport to the city.

Modern and Clean Facilities: MUC is known for its high degree of cleanliness and modern design. The airport has a lot to offer, including roomy terminals, a selection of dining options, lounges for elite travelers, and leisure areas.

Airline Hub: MUC Airport is a hub for Lufthansa. It is also a focus city for Air Dolomiti, Condor, EuroWings, EuroWings Discover and TUI fly Deutschland.

Efficiency: The airport is renowned for its effectiveness, especially when it comes to processing passengers and managing bags. In general, security checks are swift, and the terminal structure facilitates quite speedy aircraft transfers.

Family-Friendly Amenities: Munich Airport offers a range of family-friendly amenities, such as kid-friendly play spaces, family toilets, and nursing rooms. Families with little children can travel easily and enjoyably - thanks to these services.

 

CONS

Congestion During Peak Times: Even with its effective operations, the airport may get packed during the busiest travel times, which include the summer vacation. Longer wait times may result for baggage claim, security, and check-in.

Seasonal Weather Disruptions: Being located in southern Germany, Munich Airport can occasionally face delays or disruptions due to severe winter weather, although the airport is well-prepared with snow-clearing operations.

Expensive Parking Fees: Parking at Munich Airport may be expensive, particularly if you need it for long-term parking.

Limited Late-Night Services: Even though the airport remains operational 24/7, several stores and eateries close at night. For tourists who arrive late on their flights or who travel at night, this may limit their alternatives.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Terminals: There are two primary terminals at Munich Airport: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The two terminals are completely equipped. Because shuttle buses are necessary for transfer, make sure to verify the terminal of your flight well in advance to provide ample time for transfers.

Transport to and from Munich: S-Bahn trains (S1 and S8), regional and intercity trains, taxis, and shuttle services are just a few of the transportation alternatives that MUC provides. The city center can be reached in around 45 minutes using the dependable S-Bahn. Check the timetable for transport availability if you’re arriving late at night because certain services might not be available after midnight.

Check-in Areas: Terminal 1 check-in area is located in level 4 of departure level on west side. Terminal 2 check-in area is also located in level 4 of departure level area along with security checkpoint.

Amenities: Munich Airport has state-of-the-art amenities, such as the magnificent Airbräu brewery located in the main terminal, which serves Bavarian food and local beer. Both terminals provide a large assortment of stores, eateries, and lounges.

Family-Friendly Features: With play spaces, nursing rooms, and kid-friendly services available in both terminals, the airport is suitable for families. For families traveling with kids, family check-in rooms are also provided.

Lounges: Travelers can access several lounges across the airport that offer comfortable seating, complimentary refreshments, and a quiet atmosphere to relax or work before flights. Look for options in both terminals to suit your needs.

Additional information:

• Free Wi-Fi: Enjoy free, unlimited Wi-Fi throughout the airport while waiting for your flight.
• Rest Zones: Munich Airport has rest zones that include comfortable seating spaces and NapCabs, which provide private sleeping accommodations for extended layovers.

Other Reviews

Strengths

Munich Airport is highly regarded for its modern facilities, excellent cleanliness, and efficient layout. Passengers frequently praise the airport’s clear signage, comfortable waiting areas, and the wide variety of shops and restaurants. Terminal 2, in particular, is noted for its smooth check-in and baggage processes. The airport consistently earns top ratings from Skytrax, including the prestigious “5-Star Airport” certification and awards for “Best Airport Staff in Europe” and “Best Airport in Central Europe.”

Weaknesses

Despite these strengths, recent reviews highlight notable problems, especially in Terminal 1. Many travelers report long and slow-moving security lines, sometimes exceeding an hour, and insufficient staffing at critical points. Baggage handling can be slow and confusing, and some passengers mention that staff can be unhelpful or lack English proficiency. There are also complaints about the long distances between gates, limited seating in certain areas, and a lack of self-service baggage drop facilities. These operational issues, particularly during peak travel times, have led to stressful and chaotic experiences for some passengers.

Overall Score and Justification

Munich Airport stands out for its outstanding facilities, cleanliness, and passenger comfort, earning top marks in these areas. The shopping and dining options are excellent, and the airport environment is generally pleasant and well-maintained. Staff service is usually good, especially in Terminal 2, but can be inconsistent elsewhere.

However, the airport’s efficiency is currently undermined by significant problems with security and baggage handling, particularly in Terminal 1. Long waits, poor crowd management, and occasional language barriers with staff have negatively affected the overall passenger experience.

Taking all these factors into account, Munich Airport deserves a final score of 3.5 out of 5. This reflects its world-class infrastructure and amenities, but also acknowledges the operational shortcomings that have recently impacted many travelers. If these issues are addressed, the airport could easily return to a higher rating in the future.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Munich Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Munich Airport (last month)