Due to the pandemic, etc., it's been a while since we've flown internationally. I'm currently trying to book flights to the US this summer, and the one return flight I'm looking at has a 1 hour and 40 minute layover in Amsterdam.
Do you think that's long enough for a layover? We'd be flying Detroit to Amsterdam to Zurich. I can't seem to remember if we'd have to get our luggage and re-check it when we're in Amsterdam, but it seems like we've had to do that in the past whenever our layover was in a foreign country. But my memory is fuzzy. So I'm curious if others here think that a 1 hour 40 minute layover would be enough time to get everything done (luggage, customs, etc.) before having to catch our connecting flight to Zurich?
The issue with connecting in Amsterdam is passport control.
It's a short layover - however in the passport control line they start calling out asking for flights that are leaving at X-time, to get those that have short connections through so they can make their flight.
Luggage should be checked through to the final destination.
I’m not sure about the luggage thing either (I think it’s checked through) as it’s been a while but Amsterdam is horrible to transit through and I would probably allow extra time myself.
Passport control and security are horrendous there.
I’d rather waste time hanging around in an airport than stress about missing a connection.
I have had the misfortune of having to literally run what seemed like miles through Schipol airport to catch a connecting flight and arriving at the plane a red faced, sweaty mess.
The good news is your baggage will be checked through to Zürich, the not so good news is that you will be entering Schengen there so you will be going through passport control.
This is assuming you have a single ticket on KLM or Delta/KLM.
1 hour 40 minutes should be sufficient but that assumes your flights are on time. If your Detroit flight is delayed KLM will put you on their next flight to Zürich. But your bags likely will travel without you. Make sure you have a clean pair of knickers and your wash-bag in your carry-on, in case they have to put you up overnight.
Way back when I would have done this no issues. Nowadays I would leave more time. But the good news is that if you have one ticket, they will somehow sort it for you and get you home.
I always hate having to sit around an airport for a long time during a layover after that long flight over the Atlantic, but it sounds like I should probably try to find a flight with a longer layover, just to be safe.
I've been in some horrendously long passport control queues before, and knowing our luck, that would be the case.
Check out how many more flights there are in case you miss that connecting flight?
Normally I ́d say that if the airline offers you the ticket with this transit time, it should be ok. As it is their problem if you miss the connecting flight.
Do keep in mind that the distances are hugh in Schiphol. Have a look at the airport map to see where you might land (non Schengen) and how far it is worst case to the Schengen area.
I did this route last year, Amsterdam is pretty smooth passport control - it was all automated/scanners. 1hr 40 is plenty IMHO and yes, your bags will be checked through unless you are combining tickets
It is fairly widespread and you sometimes have to walk quite a bit. Nothing that would take you hours but in combination with passport control it can take longer.
I am tempted to book it, because the only other options are something like a four-hour layover somewhere else or TWO connecting flights. That flight over the Atlantic is already so long as is, the last thing I want to do is make the journey any longer.
Do you think it's safe to assume that the airline would put us up on the next flight to Zurich for free if we miss our flight and that there would be space for us on that flight? (But I know that's probably too theoretical to answer...)
But that's a good point -- Why would they even offer that option if that layover time wasn't easily doable?
My experience is that you can make the connection when they offer it. They wouldn ́t offer it otherwise.
Whether you will be on the next one if you miss the connection, I can ́t say. I normally am but then I have a frequent flyer card from the airline I fly most with.
Yes, if you have a single booking they will put you on the next flight and, if necessary, provide hotel if necessary.
IIRC Pier G is for the low cost airlines, so you can ignore it. F&E are non-Schengen long haul. The upper level of Pier D is short haul Non-Schengen while the lower level is Schengen as is Piers B and C.
My best guess is you will arrive at E or F and leave from D.
I actually just noticed that a few of the other flight options have a layover in Amsterdam of only 1 hour and 10 minutes. Not that I'm considering booking that one, I'm just surprised they'd even offer one so short.
I think we might book the one with the 1 hr 40 min layover and hope for the best. And if we have to be put up in a hotel for the night, at least maybe I'll have a chance to finally visit Amsterdam for a bit. (That happened years ago when a delayed flight to Singapore allowed me to visit Tokyo for a day).
No, 1h10 is not enough particularly if you have checked luggage. 1h40 shoulf be fine but don’t doddle until you are through customs into Schengen.
The airlines have a process known as MCT, minimum connection time. They will not offer you a connection that does not meet their MCT. There are ways to book a connection less than the MCT but then the airline will not be responsible for a mis-connection.
If you buy it all as one ticket, then they have applied Minimum Connection Time otherwise they couldn't sell you the ticket.
This means that the connection is "guaranteed" by the airline - so if you miss your connection, they have to hold the connecting flight if reasonable, or put you on the next flight even if it means paying for your overnight stay. Then if you are delayed more than a 4 hours (I think), they have to give you a bit of money too.
I've made international connection in AMS with less than an hour scheduled transfer. If ticketing is KLM on both legs they bear the burden and will get you there. Essentially if they are selling the ticket with that connection I would not worry. I did have worries about luggage and took extra in carry-on, mine arrived fine. Some colleagues who travelled the same route the day before had to wait for their luggage. Coming back is easier when there are several flights per day to CH, a bit more difficult flying out to international destination when there might be only one flight per day.
Helps in the transfer process if you have an EU, shengen, passport in my experience as well.
That's the idea, right? Recently flew to Cape Town via London (BA) and we literally just made the connecting flight, but literally they were just closing the gate. Our luggage didn't make it! A connecting flight within Europe wouldn't worry me too much, however.