Tight connection at AMS

[Mark in CA]

I seem to be in the habit lately of booking trips with tight connections in at least one direction. Last time, it was a one-hour layover between Air France flights at CDG while traveling BUD to SFO. Now, I'm booked on KLM with a one-hour layover at AMS while traveling SFO to BUD.

The connection at CDG actually went well, and I had no problem walking from one terminal to the other and getting through security (again) and to the gate.

Can I expect a similar experience at AMS? (I haven't flown through AMS since the mid 70s!)

[Phileas Fogg]

AMS remains one terminal although a darn big one, if booked with the same airline on a thru ticket then it becomes the airline's problem to expedite one thru.

A year or so back I had a 1 hour connection with CX in HKG, plenty of time for the connection, just a lack of time to finish the mega cup of coffee I had purchased

[Fester Karbunkle]

I've been through AMS with 50 minute connections more times than I care to remember. I have never missed a flight.

A short connection might even be an advantage baggage wise, as bags with a SHOCON tag bypasses the baggage system.

[Hotel Tango]

One hour in AMS will be fine for you. If you have checked-in baggage that might be another story (although I think they are improving in that area in more recent times).

[obgraham]

It works okay if your arriving flight is on time.
It works okay if your arriving and departing flights are on the same concourse. But if you come in on the International (like E)and go out on the European concourse (like B or C), you have to go through passport/security control. Last time through there that line was immense, and slow moving -- over 30 minutes.

[ExXB]

Seeing as Hungary is in the Schengen area you will be required to 'arrive' and have your passport stamped at Schiphol. Before entering the gate you will find a security check.

If your flight from SFO is on time, no worries - an hour is plenty. If not, that's KLM's problem.

[piton]

As obgraham says it works if everything is on time & gates not too far away.

The E pier is the most likely for San Fran arrival and better than the F pier - closer to the Schengen (EU) gates. You will have to go through passport control & a security (xray) check & then leg it to the upper D or the C pier. I believe there is usually a separate queue for short connections if the passport lines are long. Schiphol is generally well signposted .

KLM usually shows the gates of departing connecitons on the onboard video screens some time before landing so you can check where you are heading.

Plus there are several flights a day to BUD so you can get a later one in the worst case scenario.

[piton]

Just to be clear - there is a separate passport control and security check for connections - you do not need to go down to the baggage area one or go landside - the transfer passengers' passport check is on your left as you come out of the E pier.

[tezzer]

However

If your arriving flight is delayed, then the odds are that you will be on the remote runway that's halfway to the coast which gives you a 15 minute taxi in just to compound the late arrival and force the increased trot across the terminal to try and make your connection.

"Passenger Tezzer, please proceed to gate D6 for immediate boarding. You are delaying the flight, and your bags will be offloaded".

Or similar

[Mark in CA]

Thanks, all. AMS sounds like a piece of cake. I am familiar, in general, with connections between international and EU flights and the passport and security routines. I have made this trip many times, just not through AMS.

My experience flying eastbound has been good, and the flights often arrive in Europe a half hour or so early because of tailwinds. Departing SFO should be OK, barring any mechanical or other human issues. Weather certainly won't be a problem in late May. Earthquakes, maybe, but not weather.

[farci]

It's the baggage!

A short connection might even be an advantage baggage wise, as bags with a SHOCON tag bypasses the baggage system

I assume as you've arrived from SFO you will have checked bags and there's the problem.

I am not as sanguine as Hotel Tango that transfer baggage at AMS is improving, based on three UK-Schengen flights in three months with SHOCON stickers and Priority due to status. On each occasion I made the flights but the bags did not accompany me on the second sector which departed within one hour to 90 minutes.

That's OK if you remain at your destination and bags can come on the next flight. If it's short duration at BUD you may spend a lot of time being lied to by handling agents as to their projected arrival

[ExXB]

Farci - Next time ask them not to put the Priority tags on. Not just at AMS, but just about everywhere, ramp-rats hate being told how to do their job.

[Mark in CA]

Farci -- in this case I will be in BUD for many months, so no problem with delayed baggage. There's another AMD-BUD flight about three hours after our scheduled flight, and I believe at least another one after that later in the day.