1h45 vs 6h20 layover in AMS
 

For VIE to JFK in mid-November, which layover would you pick-- 1 hour 45 min or 6 hour 20 min in AMS? Is the shorter one too risky, and is the longer one enough to go into the city?

Oh, that is a tough call.
What's the on-time record for the first choice? Any way you can tell?
What time of day is the arrival? How much daylight time would you have for the longer layover? I think the train from airport to town might be less than an hour, but how early do you have to be there for the later flight to check in? Will you have luggage you'll need to store if you do the later flight or will it be checked through?
Conversely, if you do the shorter one, I'd recommend carry-on only.

You will make it, but will your luggage??

The first flight arrives Sunday 11:50am, and the two choices for to JFK leave at 1:35 or 6:10pm (all KLM). Maybe I should just book the later one to be safe, and then decide whether to stay at the airport depending on how whether the first flight is on time/early/late?

If you leave the airport you have to factor in the time it's going to take to go through customs, immigration on the way out and immigration and security on the way back in.
I'm starting to think this is only going to allow you about an hour or so in the city itself.
If you really want to see AMS, any chance of an earlier arrival or later departure?

I don't need to see Amsterdam too badly-- this will be at the end of a two-week trip, so I'll probably be exhausted anyway. My main concern is missing the connecting flight with the shorter layover (which is the itinerary I have on hold right now).

If that's the case, I'd probably just risk it with the shorter connection. Even if you don't do carry-on and you make the connecting plane but your luggage does not, JFK is your final stop, right?
Or, if you miss the 2nd flight, they'll re-book you on another.

Thanks for the input. I'll keep the reservation as is then.

You won't be bored during your layover. There is lots to do at the airport itself
http://theamsterdamguide.planeteye.c...t-the-airport/

Should you want to go to Amsterdam, you have plenty of time.
http://theamsterdamguide.planeteye.c...rport-layover/

Sundown in November is at 16:45

I don't think an hour and forty-five minutes is such a short connection that I would avoid it in Amsterdam. If for some reason your first flight is delayed and you miss the second one, you know there is a later flight for them to put you on. I had a much shorter connection scheduled (45 minutes, if I remember) and we did not make it, but were rerouted and got home just an hour or two later than the original plan.

I'm still wavering-- tempted to go for a canal boat ride. Is it correct that I won't have to go through immigration/passport control to exit the airport? How long does it usually take to go through security on the way back in?

November in Amst. may not be the best time for boat rides.....
We had 90 min conection for Barcelona and made it ( even my friend's bags made it). On the way back we had more than 3 hours .... too long.
I would take an early flight.

re: <<November in Amst. may not be the best time for boat rides.....>>

What do you mean, does it get flooded or just cold?

I think you have a good chance making the shorter connection.

Since you're going from EU to EU, I believe you don't need to go through immigration/customs when you arrive from VIE.

If you're taking carryon only, I'd double check to make sure there's a luggage storage facility at AMS before choosing the longer connection.

We had a six hour layover in Amsterdam en route to Rome in March of 2007. While my husband, my 14 yr old son and I were discussing the idea of taking a chance on a canal tour, we overheard three ladies saying they were glad to get out of the airport and got a taste of Amsterdam, and still had plenty of time to make their flight.

Long story short, we stowed our carry on luggage at the coin operated lockers, and yes you have to go through customs since you are leaving the airport and got our passports stamped.

It was less than an hour to get to the central station in the city and the canal tours start right outside of the train station.

I was glad we took the opportunity to have a glimpse of Amsterdam (albeit jet lagged) and made it back to Schiphol with enough time to grab a quick bite to eat before our flight to Rome.

This thread http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...x-question.cfm just brought up another consideration: in case I do any shopping in Paris or Vienna during the trip, the only way to get a VAT refund would be to exit at AMS to get the forms stamped right?

(Sorry if these are dumb questions, but having been lucky enough to get mostly direct flights, I've had very little recent experience with layovers).

(Never mind the detax question-- the poster on the other thread was mistaken; I did a bit of searching, and there are airside refund offices at most airports).