Early morning TXL departure
Aug 30, 2017, 5:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Early morning TXL departure
I have a 6am departure on KLM (route TXL-AMS-LAX). KLM.com says to arrive at the airport 3 hours early, but from what I can tell it's a small airport. We are in business class but am not sure the lounge will even be open that early.
Is 3 hours really necessary for this departure? I am not sure if I clear immigration here or in AMS when leaving the EU, which I'm sure makes a difference, but even an extra 30 minutes sleep (checking out of the hotel at 0300 instead of arriving at TXL at 0300) would be welcome prior to a long travel day.
Is 3 hours really necessary for this departure? I am not sure if I clear immigration here or in AMS when leaving the EU, which I'm sure makes a difference, but even an extra 30 minutes sleep (checking out of the hotel at 0300 instead of arriving at TXL at 0300) would be welcome prior to a long travel day.
Aug 30, 2017, 7:32 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
You will go through outbound passport control when leaving Schengen, so in AMS.
I would probably arrive at the airport around 4:30-4:45.
I would probably arrive at the airport around 4:30-4:45.
Aug 30, 2017, 11:03 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Sep 6, 2017, 1:37 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Germany
Programs: United Mileage Plus, Marriott Rewards Gold, Club Carlson, Starwood Gold, AAdvantage
Posts: 50
This might be a little late but we had a similar flight recently on KLM doing TXL-AMS-IAH. We also got there 3 hours in advance which was a mistake. The check-in staff (all 2 of them) didn't even arrive till 4:00 am. All the passengers were just waiting around cluelessly before then. The check in process involved using the automatic kiosks with the staff available to help people with problems.
Once past security, the only things available were a duty free shop that was just opening and a small coffee kiosk with a long line. We ended up drinking an espresso from a vending machine!
We have the same flight coming up in a few days and plan on arriving the airport at 4:00 am.
Once past security, the only things available were a duty free shop that was just opening and a small coffee kiosk with a long line. We ended up drinking an espresso from a vending machine!
We have the same flight coming up in a few days and plan on arriving the airport at 4:00 am.
Sep 7, 2017, 5:37 am
#5
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,162
45-60 min before departure is enough if you have luggage to check. Checkin for all KLM flights in Europe close 40 min before departure. Without luggage and prior online checkin you can show up 10mins before boarding begins to go thru security. 3 hours earlier is absurd for TXL.
Oct 20, 2017, 6:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,748
Glad to have seen this thread.
In about 2 weeks, I leave TXL at 6:35 am (TXL-CDG-MSP-OKC) so perhaps the sticking point will be CDG where I have 1 hour 40 minutes to connect from AF to DL.
In about 2 weeks, I leave TXL at 6:35 am (TXL-CDG-MSP-OKC) so perhaps the sticking point will be CDG where I have 1 hour 40 minutes to connect from AF to DL.
Oct 27, 2017, 10:32 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: most of them
Posts: 3,283
definitely no reason to get there very early. I had a flight on Brussels Airlines that left at 6:50. I was in "business" class. So check in was fast but there was a pretty big line for economy (don't know if that was due to the Air Berlin situation or not as it was mid-Sept). I didn't realize that once I went through security I was basically stuck at the gate with nothing to do. It is a very small airport.
Oct 29, 2017, 1:33 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,748
Yesterday I did OKC-ATL-CDG-TXL.
We had a medical on arrival at CDG which made going from 2E to 2F quickly was a challenge. My concern was not having a unified ticket (DL D1, AF Y).
When I leave TXL later this week, is it the case that one does both security and passport at TXL but then skip both - or at least passport control - when connecting at CDG (for MSP)?
In terms of checking luggage at TXL, I will have Sky Priority check-in which at least gets me out of the long economy line.
We had a medical on arrival at CDG which made going from 2E to 2F quickly was a challenge. My concern was not having a unified ticket (DL D1, AF Y).
When I leave TXL later this week, is it the case that one does both security and passport at TXL but then skip both - or at least passport control - when connecting at CDG (for MSP)?
In terms of checking luggage at TXL, I will have Sky Priority check-in which at least gets me out of the long economy line.
Oct 30, 2017, 4:34 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
There is normally no passport control on TXL-CDG (there is a tiny chance that France may impose an extraordinary passport control on the inbound flight). You go through security at TXL and you should disembark inside the secure area of CDG, you then have to go through proper passport control to exit the Schengen Area before flying to the US, plus the extra "security" for US-bound flights at the gate.
Oct 31, 2017, 7:29 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
If you are leaving TXL at 0635, I would not get there before 0530. The AF lounge is nothing special, so I'd just go straight to the gate at about 0540, by which time most people would have passed through security already.
Nov 1, 2017, 9:12 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,748
Thanks. I did not even check to see if AF had a lounge at such a small airport.
I need a little extra time due to interlining luggage. There might also be minor problems with my EBP on DL CDG-USA.
I need a little extra time due to interlining luggage. There might also be minor problems with my EBP on DL CDG-USA.