Which European city is easiest to change flights?
 

All other things being equal, if you were flying to Italy and could change planes in any of the following cities, which is easiest? Manchester, Brussels, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Munich or Zurich? Thanks!

Maybe I should have included, this is coming from the US.

London Gatwick or London Heathrow?

I would say pick one of the smaller airports such as Manchester.

Not CDG--that is last choice.
I like the German efficiency--I would pick Munich.

We transferred in Manchester both ways on a trip last month (on bmi, from US to Edinburgh, from T1 to T3). While busy, it is a small airport and getting from gate to gate was very easy.

But I think, in some cases, this will depend on which airlines and terminals are involved, and how much time you have. A transfer at Heathrow could be very easy, or it could be a nightmare.

Well. my first question is why change at all? No direct flights? If you need to change I reco Frankfurt - we always use that for Venice and it has always been like clockwork.

I have always found Heathrow to be a nightmare, but Gatwick isn't too bad. Frankfurt and Zurich were good also.

It depends on whihc airlines you are flying and the length of your stopover.

For example if you have to change terminals at an airport it is signficantly different from flying in and out of the same terminal.

Agree with BobtheN that CDG would be at the bottom of my list - but for me FRA would be down there to. I just hate that airport - I always seem to have for miles when I am there and dodge the smoking zones

It would be Heathrow in London. I appreciate the input. Living in rural Upstate New York, no, there are no direct flights. In fact, the closest airport is small and requires two changes to get there, something I'd like to avoid. Of course, JFK has the best connections, but that's a 4-hour drive even in good traffic (which you certainly can't depend on!). The next closest airports are Albany & Syracuse, and even Newark is closer than JFK. Guess I will definitely avoid CDG! I don't know which airline yet, I'll be using Hilton Honors Points for the flights so will go with the best connections, and Delta isn't a possibility. Was hoping to fly into Venice and out of Rome.

Although I have not passed through it personally, I understand from frequent fliers that Brussels is an exceptionally easy airport to get around, and aside from Manchester probably the smallest of those you listed.

Meant to add, I would rather go to the dentist than have to change terminals in a hurry at LHR.

I don't get it. You don't have non-stop flights from Buffalo or Albany to any airports in Europe anyways, so you'll have to change plane at a US airport to start with. JFK will give you the most choices to connect to Europe, and there are plenty of JFK-Rome non-stop flights.

I'm with rkkwan.

Zurich is easy and Amsterdam Too!
Definetly not LHR or CDG

Well, rkkwan, I realize there are nonstop flights to Rome from JFK, but not to or from Venice, so we would still have to change somewhere in Europe. The problem is convincing my husband to do the 4-hour+ drive to JFK (plus he hates JFK)! We wouldn't leave from Buffalo, that's a longer drive than JFK. We might also consider leaving from Newark, about an hour less driving. Either way, we'll have to change in Europe for Venice, or for Milan as well if we flew into or out of there instead.
I appreciate the information on changing in the various European airports.

Well, let's put it in a different way.

It sounds like EWR is the best airport for you to depart from. Since you can fly FCO-EWR non-stop, that's the best way for you to come back. Now, there are two airlines that fly this route - Continental and Alitalia. Delta also codeshares on the Alitalia (AZ) flight, so you can buy tickets from them as well.

DL and AZ are close partners, and so are these following ones - CO, NW, AF and KL. Their main hubs in Eurpoe are Amsterdam and CDG, along with Alitalia's hubs in MXP and FCO. Therefore, for the best connections from your schedule, with the fewest flights possible from your unnamed location in NY state, your best bet is CO or AZ (DL codeshare as well) to AMS, CDG or MXP, and connect to VCE via KL, AF or AZ. On the way back, fly CO/AZ from FCO-EWR.

From my experience, Zurich is the easiest one for transit. Heathrow is not so bad except in the early morning.

SusanP, you may want to try your "preferred" schedule first. If you know your approximate dates do a few "mock" trips to see what gives you the best connections. My original plan was to fly into Venice and out of Rome, but I found that the best timing and route for us was to fly into Rome and out of Venice via Brussels. I printed out AA's map to see each major european airport they flew out of and worked the system that way, figuring I needed at least 2 hours for the connection in Brussels. Hope this helps.

There is a non-stop from JFK to Venice...Delta, leaves around 8 pm, arrives around 10 am. I'm on it in 4 weeks, 6 days (not that I'm counting!)

rkkwan, I appreciate all those options you listed. AnneO, as I mentioned, Delta is not an option, as Hilton Honors Points don't work with them. However, I took your suggestion, DAJ, and checked connections going to Rome and returning from Venice instead and you were right, the connections are better. The small airport nearest us, Binghamton, even had better connections. Going to Venice and returning from Rome, all the flights came back through Philadelphia, and I've read numerous times about what a nightmare it is to come through Philly from an international flight. Coming from Venice, they all go through Pittsburgh (which is a great airport, we've been through there several times). There would still be two stops on the way back, but that would probably be outweighed by the airport being less than an hour from our house, as long as one of the stops isn't Philadelphia. Thanks to everyone for all the tips!

SusanP - Coming back through PHL is not a big problem, as long as you know you can exit the international terminal and go outside to get to the domestic terminal. The bottleneck is the security point, which you can bypass.

I have never had a problem at Heathrow. You do have to change terminals, but it is no big deal. Just make sure your "London" is in fact arriving AND departing Heathrow (British Air for one now uses all three airports, so you need to pay attention to the airport code letters to avoid arriving Heathrow and leaving from one of the other London airports which, I'm told, is a hassle).

Coming from Seattle this is my best route to Geneva, so don't have experience with the others you mentioned.

We like Frankfurt. Heathrow can either be good or a NIGHTMARE depending what terminal you are arriving and connected to. We have used both, Frankfurt is would be our first choice. Agree with the other posters...just don't go through CDG unless you have to. It is terrible.

My connection time(memphis/amsterdam/rome) at T'giving in Amsterdam is 65 minutes. What are the chances I'll make the Rome flight

Fairhope: if your flight from Memphis is more or less on-time your chance of making the connection is 99.99%. Amsterdam is an easy airport to transfer; you'll just need to walk to the departure gate and clear immigration. (you will automatically pass an immigration checkpoint on your way from your arrival gate to your departure gate)

CDG in Paris is TERRIBLE, avoid at all costs! I love Heathrow and Frankfurt personally

Frankfurt has always been a smooth change for us. Avoid Heathrow, it is a crapshoot depending on gates, terminals. Have also changed in Brussels. It is a small airport but the change was easy with no problems and that was right after 9/11. Hope this helps.

I try connecting through Amsterdam for European and Asian destinations.

I hate connecting through Heathrow and CDG is a nightmare. Frankfurt is OK but AMS is always the first choice for me.

Amsterdam is my personal fave. Not only is it easy to use, it's actually pleasant to be in.
Heathrow and CDG are examples of why people hate airports.

Schiphol in Amsterdam has to be one of the best airports to navigate through. It also has a lot of nice shops to help idle away the time if you're waiting for a connection, and a Rijksmuseum, complete with a Rembrandt (and the busiest Burger King in the world, supposedly).

If you have enough time before your flight to Italy, you can take the train and be standing in downtown Amsterdam in 20 minutes! We did that on a 7 hour layover from JFK to Rome. Stopped in a coffeeshop and found that was the best way to get over jetlag. Peace.

Robyn

Thanks to everyone for the additional input. I'll avoid Heathrow & CDG at all costs!

Just wanted to nominate artstuff for the best possible argument for choosing an airport.

Not the (really rather hokey) mini Rijksmuseum. But the opportunity to...er, not inhale.

The only thing in the world airport system that beats the swimming pool at Changi as a way of relaxing.

And a tip for the next time (and sadly, there definitely will be a next time) KLM messes me up

As I was scrolling through this post, I realized this is great information as I have not travelled that extensively to have experienced the vast array of airports mentioned. This is actually a great post and shows why Fodors.com is a wonderful forum.

Thanks for having asked this questions SusanP. Great Stuff!

Have only changed planes in CDG FRA LHR and MUC. Do not care for the first three choices. Munich is not bad at all.

By far, AMS is sooooo easy and actually pleasant

http://www.schiphol.nl/home/Index.jsp

Love the florist -- great to pick up a perfect Dutch bouquet en route.

Otherwise I'd plump for German or Swiss transfer points. LHR is a nightmare; and though I love France, CDG is to-be-avoided.
HTH!!

Amsterdam!

Amsterdam's Schipol Airport has always been know to be one of the most efficient airports in Europe.

Another vote for Schiphol, even despite the fact that the last time through, the baggage system broke down and our bags were delayed to our onward destination.

My favorite Schiphol story. When we arrived there and our bags had all been lost by British Airways, I was concerned about our car service waiting to meet us while we had to go fill out the forms with the disorganized BA office. When I asked a guard if I could go out to the waiting area and return to the baggage area (inside customs) he asked me if I had the person's cell phone number. When I said yes, he handed me his phone and told me to call them. Can you imagine that happening anywhere else?