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Connecting in Amsterdam [AMS] - Consolidated thread of transfer Q&A

Old Jul 12, 2022, 9:35 am
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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:
  • 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). 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.





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Connecting in Amsterdam [AMS] - Consolidated thread of transfer Q&A

Old Jan 12, 2023, 3:10 pm
  #106  
 
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Thank you. I was concerned about the short layover, especially in light of the recent issues with staffing at AMS. If our PDX flight was delayed, what would be the minimum time required to transfer at AMS without any checks?
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Old Jan 13, 2023, 2:22 am
  #107  
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Originally Posted by scomis
Thank you. I was concerned about the short layover, especially in light of the recent issues with staffing at AMS. If our PDX flight was delayed, what would be the minimum time required to transfer at AMS without any checks?
You could feasibly do it in 20 minutes with some luck. realistically counting on 40 minutes is fine.
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Old Jan 14, 2023, 9:40 am
  #108  
 
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My company booked me via DL from DUB > AMS > PDX in J, with the first leg being on KLM and the 2nd on DL.

Same PNR, both codeshare DL flights, but there's only a 50 minute layover at AMS.

Chances? Would it be easier if I checked bags or carried on?
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Old Jan 14, 2023, 5:14 pm
  #109  
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It's enough if the DUB flight arrives on time or thereabouts. If it's delayed by 15+ minutes, you might miss your connection, but there's plenty of flights KL can rebook you on to get you to Portland on the same day.
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Old Jan 19, 2023, 6:31 pm
  #110  
 
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Just booked a cheap flight deal to Porto, Portugal for the fall. On the return, our connection time in AMS is only 1:05. The full return is OPO-AMS (KLM Cityhopper) and then AMS-IAH (KLM). If I have it right, this means we will need to transfer from the Schengen to non-Schengen areas of the airport and go through security and passport control?

Based on what I am reading here, this "should" be possible if our first flight is on time? I would normally never book a flight with this tight of a connection, but the flight was so cheap ($310 round trip!) that we figured it was worth the risk of getting stuck in Amsterdam 24 hours worst case.
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Old Jan 20, 2023, 12:01 am
  #111  
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Originally Posted by bswiz
Just booked a cheap flight deal to Porto, Portugal for the fall. On the return, our connection time in AMS is only 1:05. The full return is OPO-AMS (KLM Cityhopper) and then AMS-IAH (KLM). If I have it right, this means we will need to transfer from the Schengen to non-Schengen areas of the airport and go through security and passport control?
Just passport control (exit of Schengen area).

Originally Posted by bswiz
Based on what I am reading here, this "should" be possible if our first flight is on time?
Definitely feasible.
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Old Feb 20, 2023, 11:22 pm
  #112  
 
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Sorry for the novice question, but I haven't connected in AMS. I have a 1 hour 35 minute US to Shengen Area connection. From what I've gathered, I shouldn't have any problems time wise. But what about checked baggage? Is that sufficient time for the bag to connect?
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Old Feb 20, 2023, 11:29 pm
  #113  
 
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Originally Posted by ghsbass0406
Sorry for the novice question, but I haven't connected in AMS. I have a 1 hour 35 minute US to Shengen Area connection. From what I've gathered, I shouldn't have any problems time wise. But what about checked baggage? Is that sufficient time for the bag to connect?
Absolutely yes.
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Old Feb 25, 2023, 10:49 am
  #114  
 
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Question on short transfer

My mother (70s) has an upcoming flight ORK-AMS-TRD with an advertised 45 minute transfer. She'll be traveling in Y and only with hand luggage. Ork is non schengen from what I understand so I'm taking it from the wiki that she'll need to go thru security. I looked for a transfer service and found an escort on the Schipol website but its in excess of E200. Which is incredibly expensive for a few minutes of use.

I'm just wondering if it's possible? KL are selling the flight so I presume they consider it possible.
thanks!
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Old Feb 25, 2023, 12:29 pm
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There will be passport control, but no security. Queues can be long for non-EU passport holders.

As for walking distance, the ORK flight will likely be a bus arrival so right next to D3. TRD departure likely to be a B gate. So not the longest possible at AMS, but not exactly short either.

Is it possible? Absolutely yes. Would I book it for my mobility restricted mother? Absolutely no.

Normal mobility assistance (being driven on a cart from gate to gate) is free of charge, but unlikely to be fast.
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Old Feb 28, 2023, 12:06 am
  #116  
 
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Be testing the system for sure on our two weekend trips in March. We book all our tickets direct with KLM so there will be no issue if we miss our flights which is always good to know.

This weekend we have a 45 minute connection time en route to Marseille and a few weeks later its down to only 40 minutes to get to Porto. Since we arrive from ABZ, chances are it will be a bus to the terminal then we obviously need to get through into the Schengen section of Schiphol. We will see how it goes
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Old Feb 28, 2023, 1:10 am
  #117  
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Originally Posted by dsched
My mother (70s) has an upcoming flight ORK-AMS-TRD with an advertised 45 minute transfer. She'll be traveling in Y and only with hand luggage. Ork is non schengen from what I understand so I'm taking it from the wiki that she'll need to go thru security. I looked for a transfer service and found an escort on the Schipol website but its in excess of E200. Which is incredibly expensive for a few minutes of use.

I'm just wondering if it's possible? KL are selling the flight so I presume they consider it possible.
thanks!
45 minutes is do-able, but it's not going to make for a generally non-stressful transit for my septuagenarian relatives doing UK/US-AMS-Schengen trips using US passports. Even if the plane reaches the AMS gate (or a bus stand) on time, the amount of time required to deplane and start trekking through the airport terminal on foot can vary based on where the passenger is sitting on a plane. Passport control can be a real obstacle at times. And then there is the walking distance to go between the gates. I've not used the paid transit assistance service thing at AMS, so can't comment on how much that would help or how reliable that is. I do know that some transit assistance services at European airports have minimum connection time requirements that far exceed the general MCT for the route (when it comes to those not requiring transit passenger assistance).
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Old Mar 15, 2023, 8:55 am
  #118  
 
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As a Skyteam Club Elite member flying non Schengen-(KL)-AMS-(Transavia with KL flight no)-schengen, will i have access to the Crown lounges at AMS?
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Old Mar 15, 2023, 11:15 am
  #119  
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Officially, only FB Gold and Plat (assuming you are flying Y). However you can always try.
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Old Mar 15, 2023, 7:42 pm
  #120  
 
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Is it correct that US passport holders can use transit e-gates in AMS when arriving Schengen and departing non-Schengen?
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