Amsterdam Airport Connections When Flights Not on Same Itinerary
 

I have two separate tickets for back-to-back flights into and out of Amsterdam Schiphol airport on the same day next month. I will arrive from at AMS from Oslo on KLM at 11:35 with one checked bag. Then, on a separate ticket, I will fly from AMS to the U.S. on Northwest departing AMS at 14:10 same day.

First, is this enough time to retrieve the bag, go through whatever immigration queues are necessary, exit the secure area, then check-in at Northwest, go through security and immigration again, and board Northwest flight?

Second, would this be simplified greatly if I did not have a checked bag, only carry-on? In that case, would I be able to stay within the secure area and just check-in at the Northwest gate instead of at ticketing and check-in (outside the secure area)?

Any comments appreciated.

Transfers are always simplifed when you don't check bags. With two separate tickets, you may or may not be able to check your bags through. Most airlines have interline agreements and will accept checked baggage from another airline. So don't assume you will have to retrieve and re-check your bag. Even if you do, there should be a place at baggage claim to re-check your bags.

Either way, I think you have sufficient time. That's 2-1/2 hours, and I'd feel comfortable with that in Amsterdam. But I'd also feel better if people with more recent experience there added to this thread. You might want to consider posting in the Europe forum.

Yes, it would be greatly simplified if you did carry on only. While AMS is very user friendly airport, I'd want to minimize any potential delays since you have 2 separate tickets (though I'm a little confused as to why you have 2 separate tickets).

In addition to the interline agreement Doug mentioned, KL and NW/DL are code share partners so they should be able to check your bag all the way through if you decide not to do carry on. If their web site doesn't provide the info, call and ask.

Because those airlines are partners, you might double check and make sure that you really do have 2 separate tickets rather than one ticket using 2 different airlines.

KLM/NW are practically the same airline so I don't think you'll have a problem checking your bags all the way through.

Just follow the "Transfer" signs. You can check in for your connecting flight at the transfer desk.

Should be very easy and quick.

To clarify, it really is two separate tickets. I bought a round-trip ticket from USA to Amsterdam, then later decided to add a side trip from Amsterdam to Oslo. The flight back from Oslo arrives at Amsterdam about three hours before my flight back from Amsterdam to USA.

If you're checking a bag, just show your reservation information for <b>both</b> flights to the check-in agent at Oslo, and they'll through-check your bag. They may or may not be able to give you a boarding pass for the second flight, but if not you can get it airside at AMS when you get there.

Thank you all for the very helpful comments and suggestions.

Duh ... I was stupid and things didn't sink in. If you call Northwest, they might actually be able to combine your records to indicate that you are on a connecting flight. For all intents and purposes, KLM and Nortwest are the same airline, so it might not matter that you booked the legs of your trip separately. It would be worth asking. I'm not sure they'd do it, but it would make the check-in process easier for you on both ends.