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 7, 2022, 12:21 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: Flying Blue silver
Posts: 168
At Schiphol airport: no passport check and no security check when transfering from a flight ex SFO onto a flight to INV. Just get off the SFO flight and proceed to the departure gate for INV (most probably D 06, a collection of gates at 'streetlevel' from where a bus will take you to the KLM Cityhopper plane to INV. You always stay within Non-Schengen, passport check will take place at INV. You are also not arriving from a non-secure airport/country, so no security at Schiphol. Have a good journey from SFO to INV
Aug 11, 2022, 11:55 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 215
Park Cafe Terrace in November
I have a three hour layover in Schiphol and access to KLM lounges, but I would like to get some fresh air and sunlight during that time. I've read the Park Cafe has an outdoor terrace, but I'm intested in knowing whether it's open in November. Also, are there other places in Schiphol where I might be able to access sun and/or the outdoors. (I am leaving in the dark and arriving in the dark at my destination and would like to offset my jet-lag.)
Aug 11, 2022, 2:31 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: VLC
Programs: FB Plat (Y3), All Accor Gold (Y2)
Posts: 641
Aug 19, 2022, 1:41 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,381
Seeing as there are no checks whatsoever this will be more than plenty of time. You just walk from your arrival gate to your departure gate and that's it.
Aug 19, 2022, 1:43 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,381
For some reason I can't edit my post above - I missed the fact that you'll be collecting baggage, which means you'll have to clear passport control twice (once on arrival, once on departure), wait for luggage, check in and clear security again. 2 hours sounds downright impossible to me.
Aug 19, 2022, 1:43 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: South London
Programs: British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 215
Thanks, I'll look in to an earlier flight.
Aug 21, 2022, 6:35 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 50
Transfered in AMS a week ago (from Singapore bound to CDG) :
- no SP Lane available at security check (I asked two times to the guy who was standing below the "priority lane / short connections" sign but he simply answered "no" two times although I showed him my BP with huge SP on it)
- line was long but was moving quite fast though
- unfortunately the pax just in front of us triggered a security alert and instead of having his luggage furtherly inspected on the side, the whole lane was blocked and with 6-7 other passengers we were blocked as we already passed the body scan but our luggages were still in the process of being scanned. Police came including some with huge massive guns and 8-10 security staff were handling the situation, inspecting the luggage, looking at the scanner screen and talking to each other. At some point one of the passengers started to lose his patience as we were blocked while all other lanes were proceeding as usual. He was answered to step back and keep quite as they had to deal with a "serious security threat". After 45-50 min, our luggages were finally checked on another lane and we left, while the security staff were still inspecting the luggage, looking at the screen and talking to each other.
I am just curious what kind of "serious security threat" could it be. It didn't require to evacuate the premises but at the same time it was absolutely impossible to inspect the passenger and his luggage on the side. It had to block the whole lane with the passengers who had nothing to do with this pax.
- no SP Lane available at security check (I asked two times to the guy who was standing below the "priority lane / short connections" sign but he simply answered "no" two times although I showed him my BP with huge SP on it)
- line was long but was moving quite fast though
- unfortunately the pax just in front of us triggered a security alert and instead of having his luggage furtherly inspected on the side, the whole lane was blocked and with 6-7 other passengers we were blocked as we already passed the body scan but our luggages were still in the process of being scanned. Police came including some with huge massive guns and 8-10 security staff were handling the situation, inspecting the luggage, looking at the scanner screen and talking to each other. At some point one of the passengers started to lose his patience as we were blocked while all other lanes were proceeding as usual. He was answered to step back and keep quite as they had to deal with a "serious security threat". After 45-50 min, our luggages were finally checked on another lane and we left, while the security staff were still inspecting the luggage, looking at the screen and talking to each other.
I am just curious what kind of "serious security threat" could it be. It didn't require to evacuate the premises but at the same time it was absolutely impossible to inspect the passenger and his luggage on the side. It had to block the whole lane with the passengers who had nothing to do with this pax.
Aug 22, 2022, 7:35 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: AMS
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum, TK Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 172
I am just curious what kind of "serious security threat" could it be. It didn't require to evacuate the premises but at the same time it was absolutely impossible to inspect the passenger and his luggage on the side. It had to block the whole lane with the passengers who had nothing to do with this pax.
Not really something to post about in this thread...sometimes you just have bad luck...
Sep 11, 2022, 1:08 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,453
We're flying SFO-AMS-HAJ all on KLM in J. We have a 2 hr 40 min layover in AMS. I'd prefer to use the non-Schengen lounge but I'm concerned about lines at passport control as we'll need to go through that for our flight to HAJ. I don't suppose there's a simple way to determine the expected wait at passport control when we arrive from SFO other than going over there and checking out the line?
Sep 11, 2022, 1:51 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: Flying Blue silver
Posts: 168
We're flying SFO-AMS-HAJ all on KLM in J. We have a 2 hr 40 min layover in AMS. I'd prefer to use the non-Schengen lounge but I'm concerned about lines at passport control as we'll need to go through that for our flight to HAJ. I don't suppose there's a simple way to determine the expected wait at passport control when we arrive from SFO other than going over there and checking out the line?
Sep 11, 2022, 3:43 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,453
Indeed. And if the lline is short, that would encourage you to stay a bit longer in the non Schengen lounge and when you return then to go through passport control, hey, wow, there is a long line.... Just saying that the situation can change within 5 mins. One moment it is busy, the next it is quiet and the other way around. There may be a separate line for short connections but guess what: yours is not short, yours is 2 hr 40 mins. Be smart, spend a little bit of time in the NS lounge then make sure you go through and if time left use ther rest in the Schengen lounge. I wish you nice flights
Sep 12, 2022, 2:18 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Central France
Programs: BA Exec, Flying Blue
Posts: 17
Transfer question Paris to Canada via AMS
First time transferring in Schipol. We are flying CDG/AMS KL Business class then onto AMS/YYZ KL Business class with lounge access to 'Lounge 52'.
The question is any idea which piers we will arrive and depart from (normally) and will 1h35 be enough time to transfer, passport control and pop into the lounge?
AF (ticket) will not allow a switch onto an earlier flight from CDG although we have been re-routed by AF from the direct AF CDG to Montreal service and now via AMS on KLM. This is in January so I am hoping by then things will have calmed down. Sorry if it is a silly question, just worried as only one service a day to YYZ.
The question is any idea which piers we will arrive and depart from (normally) and will 1h35 be enough time to transfer, passport control and pop into the lounge?
AF (ticket) will not allow a switch onto an earlier flight from CDG although we have been re-routed by AF from the direct AF CDG to Montreal service and now via AMS on KLM. This is in January so I am hoping by then things will have calmed down. Sorry if it is a silly question, just worried as only one service a day to YYZ.