Naive Airport Advice Please
Discussion
I will be travelling to Brazil via Amsterdam airport on Sunday with work.
I have flown plenty of times but never with a connecting flight. Is it that much different to a single flight checking in? Do I actually go through passport control in Amsterdam or stay on the "external" side?
Any simple pointers would be appreciated.
I have flown plenty of times but never with a connecting flight. Is it that much different to a single flight checking in? Do I actually go through passport control in Amsterdam or stay on the "external" side?
Any simple pointers would be appreciated.
You'll probably need to go through further security at Schiphol, so you'll need passport and tickets handy.
You'll have the carry-on bags x-rayed at the gate as well - so don't buy liquids at Schiphol (except sealed duty free stuff) and expect to get it on board.
Do visit the casino and porn dvd shop
Oh, and KLM intercontinental sucks big time
You'll have the carry-on bags x-rayed at the gate as well - so don't buy liquids at Schiphol (except sealed duty free stuff) and expect to get it on board.
Do visit the casino and porn dvd shop
Oh, and KLM intercontinental sucks big time
Edited by Puggit on Tuesday 10th November 21:43
If you have a through ticket, you should stay airside - follow the transit signs. If you have separate tickets you'll have to go through customs, probably. I haven't flown via Schipol like this for a while but had you thought also about baggage reclaim ?
Is it a through ticket ?
Are the two flights with the same airline ?
If not are they affiliated ? Star Alliance etc.#
Is it a tight transfer time-wise ?
If the airlines are same/affiliated and a sensible time period is between the flights your baggage should go straight through without you needing to re-claim it.
If the airlines are not the same you probably will need to re-claim it and check it back in - this probably ensures you clearing customs to get to the baggage hall.
Whatever - check with the UK airport when you check in, and check again in Schipol as you want your luggage in Brazil when you get there.
However it works, check again on the return trip as it can be different.........
Is it a through ticket ?
Are the two flights with the same airline ?
If not are they affiliated ? Star Alliance etc.#
Is it a tight transfer time-wise ?
If the airlines are same/affiliated and a sensible time period is between the flights your baggage should go straight through without you needing to re-claim it.
If the airlines are not the same you probably will need to re-claim it and check it back in - this probably ensures you clearing customs to get to the baggage hall.
Whatever - check with the UK airport when you check in, and check again in Schipol as you want your luggage in Brazil when you get there.
However it works, check again on the return trip as it can be different.........
Funnily enough, a chap at work was regaling me with tales of connecting flights at Schipol today.
He said it's dreadful. You have to get off the plane, walk what seems like the length of the building, go through whatever checks, go upstairs, then walk back the entire length to get back on the same plane.
This is obviously third-party info and I'm sure your gate number must have an impact on the amount of legwork necessary.
He said it's dreadful. You have to get off the plane, walk what seems like the length of the building, go through whatever checks, go upstairs, then walk back the entire length to get back on the same plane.
This is obviously third-party info and I'm sure your gate number must have an impact on the amount of legwork necessary.
V8mate said:
Funnily enough, a chap at work was regaling me with tales of connecting flights at Schipol today.
He said it's dreadful. You have to get off the plane, walk what seems like the length of the building, go through whatever checks, go upstairs, then walk back the entire length to get back on the same plane.
This is obviously third-party info and I'm sure your gate number must have an impact on the amount of legwork necessary.
Sounds like he went into the Schengen area and sounds about right, most UK flight arrive on D pier 1-36. I fly to Norway from the double gated piers D7&/D5 which is around a 10 minute hike after going through the Schengen passport area which can take a good 10-15 minutes too if busy.He said it's dreadful. You have to get off the plane, walk what seems like the length of the building, go through whatever checks, go upstairs, then walk back the entire length to get back on the same plane.
This is obviously third-party info and I'm sure your gate number must have an impact on the amount of legwork necessary.
Alan Alan Alan said:
V8mate said:
Funnily enough, a chap at work was regaling me with tales of connecting flights at Schipol today.
He said it's dreadful. You have to get off the plane, walk what seems like the length of the building, go through whatever checks, go upstairs, then walk back the entire length to get back on the same plane.
This is obviously third-party info and I'm sure your gate number must have an impact on the amount of legwork necessary.
Sounds like he went into the Schengen area and sounds about right, most UK flight arrive on D pier 1-36. I fly to Norway from the double gated piers D7&/D5 which is around a 10 minute hike after going through the Schengen passport area which can take a good 10-15 minutes too if busy.He said it's dreadful. You have to get off the plane, walk what seems like the length of the building, go through whatever checks, go upstairs, then walk back the entire length to get back on the same plane.
This is obviously third-party info and I'm sure your gate number must have an impact on the amount of legwork necessary.
V8mate said:
Funnily enough, a chap at work was regaling me with tales of connecting flights at Schipol today.
He said it's dreadful. You have to get off the plane, walk what seems like the length of the building, go through whatever checks, go upstairs, then walk back the entire length to get back on the same plane.
This is obviously third-party info and I'm sure your gate number must have an impact on the amount of legwork necessary.
That's what happened to me at Schipol, long walks and plenty of time req'd. He said it's dreadful. You have to get off the plane, walk what seems like the length of the building, go through whatever checks, go upstairs, then walk back the entire length to get back on the same plane.
This is obviously third-party info and I'm sure your gate number must have an impact on the amount of legwork necessary.
PS Mr Mod, I am now leaving the holidays and travel forum WITHOUT partaking of any more of it's delights!
i like schipol - the size of the place means passing the time is easy.
have transited a few times through there with klm, has alwasy been a doddle. if you're stuck/unsure where to go there are klm personnel everywhere. i misplaced my suit carrier once [ahem, in the bar] and had a small army of them hunting it down on my behalf.
have transited a few times through there with klm, has alwasy been a doddle. if you're stuck/unsure where to go there are klm personnel everywhere. i misplaced my suit carrier once [ahem, in the bar] and had a small army of them hunting it down on my behalf.
schmalex said:
Schiphol is a big place, but I'm pretty sure that you'll be held in a secure connecting flights area. Generally, your bags will be checked all the way through from London, meaning you won't have to collect them at AMS (although this isn't always the case at every airpot)
Just check on the receipt sticker they give you for your luggage. If it says AMS then you will need to collect and re-check it.Just ask at check-in about the luggage.
We transited through there with KLM last month (out and back). Aside from KLM's clever way of changing or cancelling flights on you, and the staff there's OBSESSION with hand-luggage checks, it wasn't too bad. And yes, our luggage was checked straight-through both ways - you really don't want to be doing it the other way. And no, none of it got lost.
Yes, the place is huge, but the boards give you approximate times-to-gates, which helps, and there's a huge choice of eateries and shops. Plus there are 4 or 5 KLM "transit centres" where staff can help you - used them on the way out to find out about our return-flights fiasco (call centre were worse than useless, the chap was downright rude), and they were really helpful.
KLM themselves - really don't expect much from the food on short-haul. Long-haul dinners not too bad, but their breakfast was an odd choice - scrambled egg or French toast, which if you don't do egg meant f-all except a rock-hard bread-roll and some questionable yoghurt. Oh, and the cabin-crew quality is very variable - we had one lovely stewardess and two stroppy, disinterested ones, and we had to clean up one seat almost by ourselves (the previous occupant had left chocolate everywhere which hadn't been cleaned up!). IFE gear was worn/half-knackered too. Won't use them again by choice, but they weren't the worst we've flown with.
Final tip - they don't do 'waitress service' for drinks and snacks in economy class (unlike every other long-haul I've flown with!) - you have to go to the back of the plane and help yourself or ask one of the steward/esses in the galley.
Yes, the place is huge, but the boards give you approximate times-to-gates, which helps, and there's a huge choice of eateries and shops. Plus there are 4 or 5 KLM "transit centres" where staff can help you - used them on the way out to find out about our return-flights fiasco (call centre were worse than useless, the chap was downright rude), and they were really helpful.
KLM themselves - really don't expect much from the food on short-haul. Long-haul dinners not too bad, but their breakfast was an odd choice - scrambled egg or French toast, which if you don't do egg meant f-all except a rock-hard bread-roll and some questionable yoghurt. Oh, and the cabin-crew quality is very variable - we had one lovely stewardess and two stroppy, disinterested ones, and we had to clean up one seat almost by ourselves (the previous occupant had left chocolate everywhere which hadn't been cleaned up!). IFE gear was worn/half-knackered too. Won't use them again by choice, but they weren't the worst we've flown with.
Final tip - they don't do 'waitress service' for drinks and snacks in economy class (unlike every other long-haul I've flown with!) - you have to go to the back of the plane and help yourself or ask one of the steward/esses in the galley.
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