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Customs and Connection Time in Amsterdam

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Customs and Connection Time in Amsterdam

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Old May 6th, 2008 | 06:14 AM
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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?
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Old May 6th, 2008 | 06:16 AM
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You don't go through customs in A'dam. Your bags should be checked all the way through and you will go through customs in Athens. You will, however, go through immigration/passport control in Amsterdam.
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Old May 6th, 2008 | 07:27 AM
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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.
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Old May 6th, 2008 | 07:53 AM
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Great - thanks! And thanks for the advice on the Starbucks and food. It will be morning when we arrive so this will come in handy. Weird about the gum!
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Old May 6th, 2008 | 07:56 AM
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Not so weird - saves sticky messes all over the place. Not every one is careful about disposing of their chewed gum after all.
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Old May 6th, 2008 | 08:18 AM
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<<< 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

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Old May 6th, 2008 | 09:45 AM
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Didn't think about messes with the gum. I've just never heard of a rule like that, but it's a good one.

I have US to Athens via AMS tickets, all on KLM.
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