Connect time in AMS -- 50 minutes enough?
 

We are connecting KL 602 (LAX-AMS) to KL 1845 (AMS-VIE) on Nov 28. The schedule has changed so we have 50 minutes to clear customs (US citizens) and connect to the next flight. We are in BE/FC.

Is this enough time or should I get a later flight to VIE?

I have done it but hold a European passport. It seems awfully tight to me.

If all on one ticket, you will be automatically placed on the next VIE flight if your arrival is delayed. 50 minutes is doable, if there are no delays.

If you are travelling on separate tickets, you should book a (much) later flight.

You will not clear customs in Amsterdam - unless you are not checking your luggage all the way through to Vienna and therefore have to reclaim it at AMS, but in this case you have no chance of making your Vienna flight.

You will only undergo an immigration check at AMS while transferring airside. Watch out for the "short connection" line at the border check, if your onward flight appears on the screen, you can skip the main queue.

I did it not too long ago and had time (to spare) to stop and pick up some of my favorite cheese and ginger cookies at one of the gift stores. As long as your flight comes in on time and you don't have to claim any luggage, you should be good.

Connect time in AMS -- 50 minutes enough?
 

If you'd feel more comfortable and your schedule change is >1hr you can change your VIE-AMS flight as long as they're on one PNE

Great to know - thanks

Easily done, especially when entering Schengen. Tight in AMS is 35mins or less. As already alluded to, watch for the short connection line. The real bummer is you won't have time to have a waffle.

I just flew out of AMS yesterday, connecting from DUB. The weather was crappy - in fact, I'm pretty sure (but not positive) that our Aer Lingus pilot tried to land the plane, but couldn't. We eventually did. A 1.10 hr flight turned into 1.5 hr. It was super cloudy and raining.

I didn't go through any customs check until boarding my connecting flight, and a woman that looked exactly like Oprah asked me like 6 questions and then let me through. I think you should be fine with 50 mins, but that's if your flight into AMS isn't delayed.

50 minutes is plenty of time. Especially in BE, you'll be off the plane and in the immigration line within 10 minutes. As mentioned above, you will likely be eligible for the special lane in the far left for short connections. Even if not, your BE ticket lets you use the premium line. From there it's 15 minutes tops to your Schengen gate.

Look for the priority/short connections lane to the left of the passport lanes.

Also, after they check/stamp your passport, you'll clear airport security, so be mindful of any liquids you may pick up before this point.

Is it doable? Sure. Is it likely? It depends a lot on how far apart your gates are and how fast you walk/run.

You will be going from one end of the airport to the other to make this connection.

You go through American style security in AMS (laptops out, no liquids, etc). When I did this in July they wanted all power cords out as well. That can take time depending on the line.

I had 40 minutes to make a connection to Oslo (scheduled for 70 mins but we were delayed inbound) and only made it because the Oslo plane ended up being 90 mins late.

You don't say if you are checking bags, but you have a much better chance of making that connection than your bags do.

You will go from non-Schengen to the Schengen area. KLM flights to Vienna most of the time depart from C/D. Total time needed from gate to gate should be around 25 minutes.
Should normally be no problem, your baggage should be labelled through all the way to VIE.

However if your plane is delayed and you can't make your connection you will be automatically placed on the next flight that's iirc departing at 14h25 instead of 9h55.

Flight Aware is a good site for tracking the timeliness of flights. Looking at the recent LAX-AMS flights, they tend to come in +/- 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival. If early, you'll be good, if late, making the 50 min. connection could be very tight.

As it'll be the end of November weather could impact your travel. AMS is normally pretty good in handling winter weather, but anything can happen.

Same bizarre experience with the power cords last week. A security agent tore through my laptop bag for every last wire, ear buds and 3.5 mm audio cable included.

You should make the connection if you hurry. However, if you want to add a day trip to Amsterdam or spend some time in the AMS lounge, the schedule change might give you the ability to make changes without fees.