How much time needed for connecting flight at Schiphol - separate tickets

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From my experience through Schiphol; it is too tight of a connection and I would not risk it, here's why:

  • There are frequent delays at Schiphol (due to weather).
  • The immigration queues for transit can get very, very long; as almost all external flights land in the same morning rush hour period. Even if you land at AMS (ie, go through immigration for arrivals) the queues there are also notorious.
  • Depending on where your plane is parked, it may take a while to get to immigration itself.
  • Next headache would be to exit, and then check-in again for the Berlin flight. Once you make it to the arrivals mall area, a brisk walk will take you to departures, but then you have to deal with the queues there again.
  • Did I mention the security queues? As you'll have to go through security screening again.
  • Once you get past all that and get a sip of water, you'll have to rush to your gate. Schiphol requires a lot of walking.

In short, if you wear your running shoes, have no luggage, and are very lucky you may be able to make the connection.

Personally, I would plan on the 12:30 flight as I would want to get something to eat and take some time to relax after the long flight in.

Schiphol is not a bad place to spend some time. The food establishments are great, and then there is the amazing clock.

Upvote:3

I have done transatlantic flights continued within Europe with a low cost flight more times than I would want to count. My advice is, if you are doing such for the first time: plan on being on next plane. I can't tell when that is because currently Delta has flights arriving at 6:50am, 9:10am, 10:40am but I can't see any at 5:55AM. You should research the day when you are flying and plan accordingly. About 3-3.5 hours is safe at Amsterdam for such a connection: one hour to deplane and get through immigration, one hour to get through check in and security and one hour because it's Schiphol.

If you end up with a long layover, Schiphol has a Yotel airside so you can get a shower and a quick shut eye.

Upvote:3

I live in Amsterdam and use Schiphol as the main airport. In my opinion, Schiphol is one of the most organised and easy to follow signs airport. However, it is quite big.

I would say 3 hours is really enough for me, however, I know main passengers' paths and I'm a tall man to walk quickly.

So if you have a heavy bag, you sit at the end of the plain, you have children that slow you down, you have a nationality that might slow down you at the immigration, you plain is delayed then you might have small delays that in sum will make it hard to be on time.

So if I would you, I book this flight and I will study before the mapping of the Schiphol to mentally prepare yourself with the route. And when you're here, just try to keep in mind that you should be there and don't worry much that you will miss.

And you can always ask for help airport service for route confirmation or ask people in the security queue to pass you in front because of the shortened connection.

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