Dear all,

I need to travel BRS (Bristol)-SIN (Singapore).
I am considering doing
BRS-AMS on KL1046 (0615-0845) and subsequently AMS-SIN on SQ323 (1025-0555+1). This will be booked on 2 separate PNRs.

I've a few questions about this routing:
1. Will KL interline the baggage with SQ, given that this is Non-Schengen to Non-Schengen?
2. Will this meet the min connection time?
- I'm guessing if they do not allow interlining of baggage, this would be a no-go, as there would not be sufficient time to retrieve the bags and re-checkin.

Thanks for your help!

I don't know about interlining, but don't expect them to do so. In that case the connection is pretty much impossible, especially given recent queues at immigration and security in AMS in recent months.

"Interlining" is a service that is put in place to allow 2 carriers to sell a single ticket. As such, interlining is a service intended only for those on a single ticket.

While you may occasionally get some airlines to interline across separate tickets, KLM is not such an airline.

"Non-Schengen to non-schengen" is of no relevance to interlining in this, or any other, case.

"Minimum connection time" is a concept that only applies to single tickets. In such cases, you are covered in case of misconnecting. When putting together your own connection on separate tickets, yiu should instead be maximising your connection time to increase your chances of making the connection separately. Remember, if your incoming flight is late, delayed, cancelled or diverted, you lose your next ticket. Buying a new ticket to SIN on the day of departure will be very expensive.

If you must travel on separate tickets, you should instead arrive in Amsterdam the night before the next flight.

thanks everyone. much appreciated.

A lot of airlines do bag interlining with many other airlines on separate tickets, especially in Asia.
Unless SQ changed its policy recently, they would interline with KL on SIN-AMS-BRS. But the reverse might not be possible. And the BRS agent might not even know how to do it. Better be 100% sure given your short connection of 1h40.

If you read the KLM website they make it clear that they will not do this unless all is on one ticket.
As said already that 'connection' is impossible

Is there any pattern to the slow inbound immigration - any particular immigration area to use or avoid?

It's pretty much a universal problem, aggravated by the fact that they seem to not open all immigration areas and redirect people to one.

Thanks - good to know. I have an upcoming trip transiting through AMS on separate tickets (Non-Schengen to Non-Schengen). Will bear this in mind in the case that I need to bring checked luggage.

I have built in a long layover (5+ hrs connecting off a reliable shorthaul flight which arrives around 8am) so even if the queue is 1.5hrs I should have plenty of time. Worst case I think is I just stay airside in the Non-Schengen and arrange to collect my luggage on the way back a few days later.

Last Sunday afternoon arriving pax were sent on a lengthy walk to Terminal 3, where all of two KMar officers were on duty. Needless to say, all the biometric passport gates were closed. For once I got something out of my Privium membership.

Johan

Some context for anyone interested. Not sure if this is worthy of a separate thread to monitor the situation.

http://www.nltimes.nl/2016/03/15/sch...travel-season/