Connection in AMS [merged thread]
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 821
Connection in AMS [merged thread]
Hi there, ive looked and looked and looked and cant find the answer. As soon as the restrictions are lifted, i need to fly to JNB on business and my plan is to fly Qatar from AMS>DOH>JNB and back.
Using the online tool, i see i dont require any short term visas or anything but im wondering how it works out with my cases as it looks like my only option is to fly KLM from UK to AMS.
With the way everything is at the moment, are there rules that allow luggage to be tagged onto final destination even if bookings are all separate and with different airlines or "Clubs"
Im not sure i will be allowed to exit airside to pick up case then recheck in without hitting any quarantine rules ?
Any help would be appreciated.
Using the online tool, i see i dont require any short term visas or anything but im wondering how it works out with my cases as it looks like my only option is to fly KLM from UK to AMS.
With the way everything is at the moment, are there rules that allow luggage to be tagged onto final destination even if bookings are all separate and with different airlines or "Clubs"
Im not sure i will be allowed to exit airside to pick up case then recheck in without hitting any quarantine rules ?
Any help would be appreciated.
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It is not quite clear and I am not sure what you mean by "club", but presuming that you are flying on two separate tickets: #1: UK-AMS and then #2: AMS-DOH-JNB. KL will not check bags across separate tickets. Thus, you will need to meet whatever the requirements are as the time of your travel to enter the Netherlands, claim your luggage, take it to the QR counter and check it in there.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 821
It is not quite clear and I am not sure what you mean by "club", but presuming that you are flying on two separate tickets: #1: UK-AMS and then #2: AMS-DOH-JNB. KL will not check bags across separate tickets. Thus, you will need to meet whatever the requirements are as the time of your travel to enter the Netherlands, claim your luggage, take it to the QR counter and check it in there.
Thanks for the response and "club" was meaning different alliance ie if i think if i was on separate tickets with BA and Qatar then it could be checked through but wanted to know if Covid had changed check through with different non linked airlines.
So from above it looks like if im KLM to Qatar then i need to pick up cases which essentially means I will be treated as NON TRANSIT and have to go land side and be subject to any quarantine rules that exist in that circumstance which i think at this point would render it not possible.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
I believe you are making this unnecessarily complicated. When travel restrictions from the UK are life’s, and you can enter South Africa, it would be wise to buy a single return ticket, possibly with a transit stop. Anything else would be foolish.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 821
Business Class from UK to JNB is coming in at over Ł2400 with Qatar. Flying to Amsterdam changes the price to Ł1400. So my options are Economy from UK or Business from AMS and therefore AMS wins.....if its possible.
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
That would require you to be admissible to the Netherlands. Otherwise you will be denied boarding in London and lose the value of you business class ticket from AMS. Whether you are admissible to the Netherlands will depend on the regulations at that time. Note that you will not be in transit, regardless of whether you have checked luggage or not.
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The separate tickets only work if you do not check luggage and you fully understand that if your xLHR flight is delayed or the schedule changed, you will lose your QR ticket and likely have to purchase a new one.and may also find yourself returned to the UK.
This simply is not the time to travel on separate tickets unless there is no alternative. You do have an alternative.
This simply is not the time to travel on separate tickets unless there is no alternative. You do have an alternative.
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
The separate tickets only work if you do not check luggage and you fully understand that if your xLHR flight is delayed or the schedule changed, you will lose your QR ticket and likely have to purchase a new one.and may also find yourself returned to the UK.
This simply is not the time to travel on separate tickets unless there is no alternative. You do have an alternative.
This simply is not the time to travel on separate tickets unless there is no alternative. You do have an alternative.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,469
You might want to research other good departure ports for South Africa, e.g. OSL. I recall from a discussion 6-9 months ago, that Norway considered your type of travel to be "transit" for the purpose of covid regulation. But rules may have changed since then.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ATL/DFW
Programs: Delta PM, SPG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, AVIS Preferred Plus
Posts: 388
AMS Transit - Do I need a 4 hour Rapid Test
Soon to fly ATL-AMS-DXB. In addition to RT-PCR test results done within 72 hours, do AMS airport needs Rapid testing within 4 hours of boarding even for transit passengers?
Does ATL Airport do Rapid Testing?
Does ATL Airport do Rapid Testing?
#12
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Pagus Bracbatensis, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Programs: DL SPlat, KLM Bump, Privium Plus, GOES
Posts: 2,065
Currently you have a couple of options (USA is a high-risk country);
If your journey includes a transfer in the Netherlands or another country, the rules are as follows:
If your journey includes a transfer in the Netherlands or another country, the rules are as follows:
- If you start your journey in a safe country and change planes in a high-risk country
without leaving the airport, you are not required to present a negative test result. If you leave the airport, however, the negative test result requirement does apply to you. - If you start your journey in a high-risk country and change planes in another country
the negative test result requirement applies to you, even if the country where you change planes is a safe country. This means you must present a negative NAAT (PCR) test result based on a sample collected no more than 24 hours before boarding. Or you can present both a negative NAAT (PCR) test result based on a sample collected no more than 72 hours before arrival in the Netherlands and a negative rapid test result based on a sample collected no more than 24 hours before boarding. The result remains valid during the layover and in the event of a delay. - If you start your journey in a high-risk country and change planes in the Netherlands you will only need to show the results of an NAAT (PCR) test based on a sample collected no more than 72 hours before arrival in the Netherlands.
Safe countries with a low COVID-19 risk
Safe countries outside the EU/Schengen area
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Rwanda
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Thailand
- China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau). Only if China lifts entry restrictions on European travellers. Travellers from China are not required to present a negative COVID-19 test declaration.
Safe countries within the EU/Schengen area
- Iceland
- Portugal
Safe countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
- St Maarten
- Saba
- St Eustatius
#13
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ATL/DFW
Programs: Delta PM, SPG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, AVIS Preferred Plus
Posts: 388
Thanks. Looks like I don't need the 4 hour rapid test based on the option below
- If you start your journey in a high-risk country and change planes in the Netherlands you will only need to show the results of an NAAT (PCR) test based on a sample collected no more than 72 hours before arrival in the Netherlands.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: DTW
Programs: DL DM, 3.3 MM Miler, Lifetime Hilton Diamond VIP, United, American, National ExecElite
Posts: 201
Just flew through AMS two weeks ago to IST. No test required to transfer in AMS. In fact, no one in AMS or IST even checked for my COVID-negative test They left it to Delta check-in at the airport in DTW to confirm I was good to go.
Last edited by HohoGAP; Apr 26, 2021 at 11:53 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ATL/DFW
Programs: Delta PM, SPG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, AVIS Preferred Plus
Posts: 388