Customs and Connection Time in Amsterdam
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
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Customs and Connection Time in Amsterdam
My husband and I will have 1 hour and 25 minutes from the time our KLM flight from the U.S. lands in Amsterdam until our next flight to Athens. Will this be enough time to clear customs in Amsterdam? Will it help time-wise if we only have carry on bags instead of checking bags?
#3
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 26,778
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Unless you have an unreasonable delay, this should be plenty of time.
As noted, you won't have to clear customs, but you will have to go through passport control and security. Just follow the signs to the B-C gates, which I think are further labeled as Schengen (the name of the treaty that provides for passport-free travel within much of Europe) Gates.
You will then clear passport control and have your carry-ons re-screened. I have never had this take more than maybe 5-10 minutes.
Once you pass passport control, you will basically be in a shopping mall. Some places you might be interested in, assuming a morning arrival, would be the Starbucks, which is just to your left once you enter the main, two-story atrium. For food, there is a cafeteria behind the Starbucks (not great, but open at all hours) and on the second level above the electronics shop is a food court. Once you are past this atrium, the food and shopping options are more limited, so get what you want there.
Also, bring your own gum. The sale of gum is banned in Schiphol.
As noted, you won't have to clear customs, but you will have to go through passport control and security. Just follow the signs to the B-C gates, which I think are further labeled as Schengen (the name of the treaty that provides for passport-free travel within much of Europe) Gates.
You will then clear passport control and have your carry-ons re-screened. I have never had this take more than maybe 5-10 minutes.
Once you pass passport control, you will basically be in a shopping mall. Some places you might be interested in, assuming a morning arrival, would be the Starbucks, which is just to your left once you enter the main, two-story atrium. For food, there is a cafeteria behind the Starbucks (not great, but open at all hours) and on the second level above the electronics shop is a food court. Once you are past this atrium, the food and shopping options are more limited, so get what you want there.
Also, bring your own gum. The sale of gum is banned in Schiphol.
#6
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 0
<<< Will this be enough time to clear customs in Amsterdam? >>>
What sort of tickets do you have - US to Athens via AMS or US to AMS & AMS to Athens
If the latter then you have to take into account how you are going to get checked-in in time - is on-line an option for example - and how you are going to get through immigration, collect bags, find check-in desks and get checked in, all in a period of about 40 minutes. It also means if you miss the flight it's up to you to solve the problem, not the airline
What sort of tickets do you have - US to Athens via AMS or US to AMS & AMS to Athens
If the latter then you have to take into account how you are going to get checked-in in time - is on-line an option for example - and how you are going to get through immigration, collect bags, find check-in desks and get checked in, all in a period of about 40 minutes. It also means if you miss the flight it's up to you to solve the problem, not the airline







