CLBtravel

I am concerned that I've booked a flight with connecting times too close -- will arrive in Amsterdam from Atlanta at 5:55 a.m., leaving Amsterdam for Berlin at 7:05. I have worked with a travel agent in making plane/hotel/tour reservations for trip --my 2nd time to use this travel agent. She assured me back in March that was plenty of time but as I get closer to trip in July, I get more concerned. What do you think? Thanks!

Andrew

If everything is on time, that should be plenty of time. Amsteram's Schiphol Airport is generally very efficient. I mean, don't dwell when you get off the plane - move to the line for immigration quickly, proceed through the security screening, and then proceed to your connecting gate.

Otherwise, if your flight from Atlanta is late and you miss your connection, you will simply be put on the next flight to Berlin. Delta/KLM right? You can check yourself to see how many direct flights there are from Amsterdam to Berlin on the same day. I'd guess 3 or 4 more flights that day after the one you are booked on. At worst you'll arrive in Berlin an hour or two late.

greg

You will likely to have <u>too much</u> time, assuming you have booked both flights as a part of the same reservation so checked luggage, if any, is checked all the way to Berlin.

Different airports have different layover time expectations. AMS requires one of the least amount of time. I use it at least twice a year. I am <u>VERY</u> comfortable with 60 minutes connection time. You have 70 minutes!

The longest it took to get to the connecting terminal was when the flight was at the very tip of A gate -- furthest. Even that, it took 35 minutes. Delta flight will most likely to arrive on E gate. I had a record connection time in May. It took - 17 minutes to get off the plane, go through the passport control, carry-on check, and be sitting at the boarding area chair of the connecting flight.

Average, it takes about 25 minutes. The AMS passport control and carry-on security check are very efficient.

You need much more time at sprawling airports like LHR or CDG. AMS is not one of them.

Southam

Internal flights are more flexible than international departure but you need to be in the departure lounge as quickly as you can. Do not dare to enter a duty-free store until you are in sight of your departure lounge, which may have a separate security clearance. Departure times are misleading; airlines want you in your seat well before departure and can close the doors a half hour or more before that time.

travelhorizons

I agree with Andrew. If you're on a DL/KLM itinerary - a misconnect is on the airline. They'll just put you on the next flight.

jane1144

If you book a seat near the front of the aircraft on your first flight, you can get off a lot faster. It saved my bacon on a connection in Frankfurt!

flpab

Jane is correct, I always pay a little extra to be up front and have only carry on bags. You should be ok.

nytraveler

As long as this is a single ticket they will ultimately get you to Berlin at no extra cost.

But - you need to plan ahead and move briskly - since door on the departing plane can close 30 minutes ahead of official departure.

Agree:

Sit near the front of the plane

Make sure you can move quickly with your carry-on

Move briskly to Immigration and have your passport ready

Move immediately to the next gate - no stopping in the restroom or to shop or whatever - so you can navigate another security line and be ready to board

If you have checked luggage be sure to pack one day's clothing in your carry-on in case the checked luggage is delayed

Chances are good you will make it but there are no guarantees

CLBtravel

Thanks, everybody. Got seating switched now to close to front of plane for economy class. Will plan to move quickly once off plane. And will plan well for carryon. I feel more reassured -- I've never had to switch planes in Europe, one time of doing it in United States/Canada missed flight because Atlanta was delayed 2+ hours because of thunderstorms.

CLBtravel

As it turned out, we didn't make the connection. Delta flight was almost 2 hours late leaving Atlanta because of mechanical problems. It did make up almost an hour during the flight itself but that wasn't enough to save us. Delta already had us booked on the next flight, 3 hours later, when we landed. We easily made the connecting flight home since the Munich flight into Amsterdam was on time. But advice given here was very good -- there was indeed a security clearance right before our departure lounge. Thanks, everyone!

mokka4

Thanks for letting us know how it turned out!