Jul 12, 2022, 9:35 am
Last edit by: Fabo.sk
Minimum Connection Times
Standard MCT is 40 minutes for Schengen and 50 minutes for Non-Schengen flights.
Individual airlines/destinations might have raised MCTs though, for example connections from Delta to Schengen KLM raise MCT of 1 hour.
Under no circumstances should self-connecting passengers use these times as a guide for their own travel.
Amsterdam terminals/lounges
Amsterdam Schiphol airport operates on a single terminal concept.
Airside, there are 4 "lounges", Lounge 1 in the Schengen area, lounges 2-3 in Non-Schengen, lounge 4 is Schengen. These Lounges are not airline lounges, they refer to common terminal areas outside the piers. Do not confuse them with VIP lounges, those are signposted as "airline lounges".
Lounge 1 is between piers C and D, lounge 2 between D and E, lounge 3 by pier F, and lastly lounge 4 is connected to Schengen gates M (low-cost pier). Additionally, area between piers E and F is called Holland Boulevard. Keep this in mind as you mind find location references based on these.
All lounges are interconnected and you can pass between them without leaving secure area (the only exception being Schengen low-cost pier, more in Piers section)
Piers and gate numbering
There are 7 piers. Going counterclockwise from south:
Transfer security
Transfer security is not needed when connecting from Schengen to either Schengen or non-Schengen destinations (except in case of self connect with baggage pickup, or self-connect to Schengen low-cost pier).
In case of connecting from non-Schengen to either Schengen or non-Schengen, transfer security is required, unless coming from following secure arrival countries:
Non-Schengen EU (Romania, Ireland etc.), United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Singapore (important: does not apply to flights via Denpasar or Jakarta, only direct non-stop flights!)
All other must pass through transfer security
Passport control
There is central transfer passport control location just off the level of pier D.
e-Gates are available, but not always turned on.
Holders of select non-EU biometric passports can also use these e-Gates, in particular when leaving Schengen.
Airline/VIP lounges
Following lounges are available in AMS:
Schengen:
Privium Club Lounge (landside) - between Departures 1 and 2 on check-in level. To the left of entrance of Departures 1 security. Only accessible to Privium holders departing Amsterdam.
Privium Express Lounge (airside) - one level above departures, next to entrance to D pier (by former entrance to terrace).Only open until 1pm. Now open until 9pm. Only accessible to Privium holders (departing or arriving).
KLM Crown Lounge 25 - one level above departures, on level of D pier (above passport control) away from apron. Caters to SkyTeam and select partners.
Aspire A26 Lounge - two levels above departures (level of Panorama terrace), accessible via area by D pier above passport control. Accessible with Priority Pass and other buy-in providers.
StarAlliance Lounge (A27) - two levels above departures (level of Panorama terrace) - next to A26, accessible via area by D pier above passport control. Caters to StarAlliance. If closed, eligible pax can use A26 immediately next door instead
Non-Schengen:
Privium Club Lounge West (airside) - main departure level, Holland Boulevard (between E and F), side away from apron. Behind restaurant Dutch Kitchen. Only accessible to Privium holders and passengers of Singapore airlines.
KLM Crown Lounge 52 - main departure level, Holland Boulevard, closer to pier F. Escalators or elevators will take you to reception one level up. Caters to SkyTeam and select partners.
Aspire A41 Lounge - two levels above Lounge 2 (close to D pier). Access next to Frames restaurant. Accessible with Priority Pass and other buy-in providers.
British Airways Lounge - two levels above Lounge 2 (close to D pier). Access next to Frames restaurant. Permanently closed; pax can use A41 instead.
Baggage
If you are connecting through Schiphol on one Skyteam itinerary, your bags will be checked through to your final destination, regardless of how long the layover is.
If you are connecting through Schiphol on separate itineraries (a.k.a "self-connecting") and the two airlines do not have an interline agreement, then you will need to recheck your bags. You will need to pick up your bags, go landside, check them again, and re-enter through security.
Standard MCT is 40 minutes for Schengen and 50 minutes for Non-Schengen flights.
Individual airlines/destinations might have raised MCTs though, for example connections from Delta to Schengen KLM raise MCT of 1 hour.
Under no circumstances should self-connecting passengers use these times as a guide for their own travel.
Amsterdam terminals/lounges
Amsterdam Schiphol airport operates on a single terminal concept.
Airside, there are 4 "lounges", Lounge 1 in the Schengen area, lounges 2-3 in Non-Schengen, lounge 4 is Schengen. These Lounges are not airline lounges, they refer to common terminal areas outside the piers. Do not confuse them with VIP lounges, those are signposted as "airline lounges".
Lounge 1 is between piers C and D, lounge 2 between D and E, lounge 3 by pier F, and lastly lounge 4 is connected to Schengen gates M (low-cost pier). Additionally, area between piers E and F is called Holland Boulevard. Keep this in mind as you mind find location references based on these.
All lounges are interconnected and you can pass between them without leaving secure area (the only exception being Schengen low-cost pier, more in Piers section)
Piers and gate numbering
There are 7 piers. Going counterclockwise from south:
- B pier, Schengen: Used by some KLM Cityhopper flights (bus gates as well as non-jetway positions reachable from the terminal by stairs), Lufthansa Group airlines, LOT and some lowcost airlines.
- C pier, Schengen:
- D pier, combined: This pier is capable of handling both Schengen and Non-Schengen flights. Non-Schengen gates are on the main level (plus bus gates on ground level), Schengen gates on top.
- E pier, non-Schengen:
- F pier, non-Schengen:
- G pier, non-Schengen:
- H/M pier: H/M pier is a low-cost pier used mainly by easyJet. The setup here is a bit unusual: Pier is separated in half lenghtwise. The part closer to the aprons is non-Schengen and is connected to the non-Schengen areas of the airport at the junction of pier G. The part further from the apron is Schengen part (M gates) and is not connected to other parts of the airport, with own security control and a small shopping/F&B area. The gates are on the ground level, with the stairs to them in the middle between Schengen and non-Schengen walkways, accessible from either side as needed. Aircraft are reached by walking from the gate to the airplane directly in front.
Transfer security
Transfer security is not needed when connecting from Schengen to either Schengen or non-Schengen destinations (except in case of self connect with baggage pickup, or self-connect to Schengen low-cost pier).
In case of connecting from non-Schengen to either Schengen or non-Schengen, transfer security is required, unless coming from following secure arrival countries:
Non-Schengen EU (Romania, Ireland etc.), United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Singapore (important: does not apply to flights via Denpasar or Jakarta, only direct non-stop flights!)
All other must pass through transfer security
Passport control
There is central transfer passport control location just off the level of pier D.
e-Gates are available, but not always turned on.
Holders of select non-EU biometric passports can also use these e-Gates, in particular when leaving Schengen.
Airline/VIP lounges
Following lounges are available in AMS:
Schengen:
Privium Club Lounge (landside) - between Departures 1 and 2 on check-in level. To the left of entrance of Departures 1 security. Only accessible to Privium holders departing Amsterdam.
Privium Express Lounge (airside) - one level above departures, next to entrance to D pier (by former entrance to terrace).
KLM Crown Lounge 25 - one level above departures, on level of D pier (above passport control) away from apron. Caters to SkyTeam and select partners.
Aspire A26 Lounge - two levels above departures (level of Panorama terrace), accessible via area by D pier above passport control. Accessible with Priority Pass and other buy-in providers.
StarAlliance Lounge (A27) - two levels above departures (level of Panorama terrace) - next to A26, accessible via area by D pier above passport control. Caters to StarAlliance. If closed, eligible pax can use A26 immediately next door instead
Non-Schengen:
Privium Club Lounge West (airside) - main departure level, Holland Boulevard (between E and F), side away from apron. Behind restaurant Dutch Kitchen. Only accessible to Privium holders and passengers of Singapore airlines.
KLM Crown Lounge 52 - main departure level, Holland Boulevard, closer to pier F. Escalators or elevators will take you to reception one level up. Caters to SkyTeam and select partners.
Aspire A41 Lounge - two levels above Lounge 2 (close to D pier). Access next to Frames restaurant. Accessible with Priority Pass and other buy-in providers.
Baggage
If you are connecting through Schiphol on one Skyteam itinerary, your bags will be checked through to your final destination, regardless of how long the layover is.
If you are connecting through Schiphol on separate itineraries (a.k.a "self-connecting") and the two airlines do not have an interline agreement, then you will need to recheck your bags. You will need to pick up your bags, go landside, check them again, and re-enter through security.
Connecting in Amsterdam [AMS] - Consolidated thread of transfer Q&A
Aug 8, 2023, 7:30 am
#182
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
Aug 10, 2023, 9:29 am
#183
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: JAX/St Augustine, FL
Programs: Delta Plat, Southwest RR, HHonors Diamond, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 529
Would 40 mins on a Friday night be sufficient for BLL-AMS-LHR? Last time I went thru Schengen to Non-Schengen, the line for immigration was very short.
Aug 10, 2023, 9:48 am
#184
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,685
40 mins is always tight, even with no lines. I thought BLL was an Embraer which would have meant bus transportation, but it seems it has been an A321 from Privilege Style recently, which I guess means C or D gates and thus a relatively short walk
Aug 10, 2023, 9:54 am
#185
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: JAX/St Augustine, FL
Programs: Delta Plat, Southwest RR, HHonors Diamond, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 529
BLL-AMS was E190 back when March when I flew it.. Not sure I want to roll the dice on a 40 min connection to preposition overnight at LHR back to the MCO the next morning or take the early Saturday morning AMS-ATL.. decisions decisions
Aug 10, 2023, 10:01 am
#186
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,065
Question is what is the next chance to get to LHR and can you make your MCO flight then?
Your connection is the last LHR flight with KLM. There is another one with BA but it's not a given that you'd be rebooked on it. Would you still make your MCO flight if you arrived to LHR at 9?
Your connection is the last LHR flight with KLM. There is another one with BA but it's not a given that you'd be rebooked on it. Would you still make your MCO flight if you arrived to LHR at 9?
Aug 10, 2023, 10:14 am
#187
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: JAX/St Augustine, FL
Programs: Delta Plat, Southwest RR, HHonors Diamond, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 529
Question is what is the next chance to get to LHR and can you make your MCO flight then?
Your connection is the last LHR flight with KLM. There is another one with BA but it's not a given that you'd be rebooked on it. Would you still make your MCO flight if you arrived to LHR at 9?
Your connection is the last LHR flight with KLM. There is another one with BA but it's not a given that you'd be rebooked on it. Would you still make your MCO flight if you arrived to LHR at 9?
Aug 10, 2023, 10:22 am
#188
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,685
Is the convenience you gain from taking the later flight from BLL greater than the possible (let's say 10-20% probability) inconvenience of having to be put up in an AMS hotel, deal with possible rebooking and the (let's say 1% probability) risk that the 7am flight is full and you cannot be rebooked onto it?
Aug 10, 2023, 10:52 am
#190
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: New York
Posts: 1,257
All this information is great, but I wonder whether KLM's baggage transfer in Amsterdam is still (again?) efficient. In mid-December, on a Friday afternoon, my brother and I (both in our late 70s and both with both US and EU passports) will travel SOU-BOD with checked luggage and a transfer in AMS. Transfer time is scheduled for one hour, and both planes are Embraer Cityhoppers. I understand one hour transfer is sufficient for passengers, but is it enough for transferring the bags? And can anyone in this group speculate on how we would move from one plane to the other, e.g., via bus from parking stand to terminal or perhaps just within the transfer lounge? I understand coming from the UK passport checks are simple and no security check is required. Thanks for your insights and help.
Aug 10, 2023, 11:02 am
#191
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: JAX/St Augustine, FL
Programs: Delta Plat, Southwest RR, HHonors Diamond, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 529
So now your question is:
Is the convenience you gain from taking the later flight from BLL greater than the possible (let's say 10-20% probability) inconvenience of having to be put up in an AMS hotel, deal with possible rebooking and the (let's say 1% probability) risk that the 7am flight is full and you cannot be rebooked onto it?
Is the convenience you gain from taking the later flight from BLL greater than the possible (let's say 10-20% probability) inconvenience of having to be put up in an AMS hotel, deal with possible rebooking and the (let's say 1% probability) risk that the 7am flight is full and you cannot be rebooked onto it?
You have a valid point on all the probabilities of what could possible go wrong either due to wx or mechanical or any other number of factors
Aug 10, 2023, 12:25 pm
#192
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,065
All this information is great, but I wonder whether KLM's baggage transfer in Amsterdam is still (again?) efficient. In mid-December, on a Friday afternoon, my brother and I (both in our late 70s and both with both US and EU passports) will travel SOU-BOD with checked luggage and a transfer in AMS. Transfer time is scheduled for one hour, and both planes are Embraer Cityhoppers. I understand one hour transfer is sufficient for passengers, but is it enough for transferring the bags? And can anyone in this group speculate on how we would move from one plane to the other, e.g., via bus from parking stand to terminal or perhaps just within the transfer lounge? I understand coming from the UK passport checks are simple and no security check is required. Thanks for your insights and help.
Since both of your flights will be on Embraers, you will arrive by bus, and will be let out close to the passport check. You can use your EU passports to use automatic check or EU holders queue. Should be OK.
You will leave however from B pier, which is a decently long walk away... 10 minutes easily. 15 depending on which gate and your walking speed. If you are not comfortable with that, try to arrange for transfer assistance/wheelchair service. https://www.klm.nl/en/information/as...ity-assistance
Will be traveling solo for work so I can be flexible, if I miss the connection. The upside is taking a later morning, direct flight back back to Florida on a VS A350 with Amex Lounge access vs 8:30AM flight from AMS to ATL and then having to connect to Florida.
You have a valid point on all the probabilities of what could possible go wrong either due to wx or mechanical or any other number of factors
You have a valid point on all the probabilities of what could possible go wrong either due to wx or mechanical or any other number of factors
Now you say you fly to Florida on VS A350 so that would mean you fly to MCO not MIA (seriously, why do people make people who try to help them play detective? Just give all the info....) and the first departure is 11:50. That should be fine, but you might as well buy the afternoon one from LHR, that way you are sure to make it, and if you arrive night before, you have a nice long morning in London.