Connection times - Amsterdam

Ok, so there are some good fares for flights from GLA to LAX, but they go through Amsterdam. I have never been to the Amsterdam airport, so I'm a little leery of a 1 hour and 5 minute connection time for KLM airlines.

Anyone know that airport? The KLM website says to allow 40 minutes minimum connection, and as I'm non-shengen (sp?) going to non-shengen I shouldn't have to pass through customs or security there.  Is an hour really enough time to get from Plane A to Plane B there?

Would it be a hassle if one of us was in a wheelchair, as far as making the connection?

Thanks!

Ok, so there are some good fares for flights from GLA to LAX, but they go through Amsterdam. I have never been to the Amsterdam airport, so I'm a little leery of a 1 hour and 5 minute connection time for KLM airlines.

Anyone know that airport? The KLM website says to allow 40 minutes minimum connection, and as I'm non-shengen (sp?) going to non-shengen I shouldn't have to pass through customs or security there.  Is an hour really enough time to get from Plane A to Plane B there?

Would it be a hassle if one of us was in a wheelchair, as far as making the connection?

Thanks!

It literally will take you 30 minutes to walk between gates even using the people movers. It is a huge airport!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I would allow more time, especially if using a wheelchair. They make the wheelchair passengers wait til everyone else has gotten off the plane so it adds a minimum of 15 minutes to your time. The shorter connections also make it more likely for luggage to not make it to the plane.  

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I would allow more time, especially if using a wheelchair. They make the wheelchair passengers wait til everyone else has gotten off the plane so it adds a minimum of 15 minutes to your time. The shorter connections also make it more likely for luggage to not make it to the plane.  

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

As mine did not. I didn't get my luggage until late the day after I arrived in North Carolina. It didn't leave Amsterdam and the same time I did.



Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I’m ridiculously familiar with that airport! Spent 2, 24 hour, layovers there sadly. You should be fine making your connection. When I was there last, they closed down the airport unless you held a ticket.....police in body armor and automatic weapons! Not the norm for sure!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Well huh.

Once we land at LAX we'd be heading up to Solvang, but only for a day, and then down to San Diego. So if our luggage goes AWOL that would be a significant problem. We were going to be traveling light (our carry-ons were going into our empty suitcases), with a change of clothes or two only. So if it did go AWOL and they had to deliver it, it'd need to be taken down to San Diego. Not sure they'd even do that.

Am going to wait until after the end of the year to book, anyhow. I think I'd like a bit longer of a layover. I'm just doing everything in my power to not have to go through one of the London airports, as we've both had horrifically bad experiences at them.

Well huh.

Once we land at LAX we'd be heading up to Solvang, but only for a day, and then down to San Diego. So if our luggage goes AWOL that would be a significant problem. We were going to be traveling light (our carry-ons were going into our empty suitcases), with a change of clothes or two only. So if it did go AWOL and they had to deliver it, it'd need to be taken down to San Diego. Not sure they'd even do that.

Am going to wait until after the end of the year to book, anyhow. I think I'd like a bit longer of a layover. I'm just doing everything in my power to not have to go through one of the London airports, as we've both had horrifically bad experiences at them.

One hour and 5 minutes is really not enough. I've been through that airport enough to know it is highly possible you will leave Glasgow late and will barely make your connection unless you can walk at a very brisk pace. I barely made my last connection because of a delay leaving EDI. It is a huge airport and the gates are rarely close together. 

With all due respect to Rick but he spent a very long layover there. He wasn't nearly jogging to make his flights.

My daughter's had the same experience connecting through AMS as well.

If you can find a flight that gives you a slightly longer connection time then it would be perfect. But missing that flight from AMS to the US would mean staying an extra day in AMS as those flights are typically once a day.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Yeah, I'm hoping for an hour and a half at least.

Know anything about Charles de Gaulle?

Yeah, I'm hoping for an hour and a half at least.

Know anything about Charles de Gaulle?

I flew through CDG coming home with an hour layover. It wasn't as much of a rush but returning you do go through security again.  And I had to go downstairs of the terminal to get a boarding pass as I wasn't given one leaving Raleigh. I was only given the boarding pass from Raleigh to CDG.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Hmmmm.

Well, I'm not comfortable with less than 1.5 hours anywhere, but especially somewhere I haven't been before. Maybe I'll get lucky and Aer Lingus will throw a fare special on. You pre-clear in Dublin both ways, that way.

I’m ridiculously familiar with that airport! Spent 2, 24 hour, layovers there sadly. You should be fine making your connection. When I was there last, they closed down the airport unless you held a ticket.....police in body armor and automatic weapons! Not the norm for sure!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Charles de Gaul (I know I’ve spelled that wrong)  is my absolute most loathed airport.  I have NEVER had a positive experience.  Missed about 4 flights.  Have had luggage take a week to catch up.  It’s basically a giant plane parking lot!  You pull up on a spot of concrete and are bused to the terminal.

Granted I’ve avoided that airport for over 10 years so it could be better now.

I agree at leaving longer for a connection.  Long hauls usually start boarding about an hour/50 minutes before departure.

Charles de Gaul (I know I’ve spelled that wrong)  is my absolute most loathed airport.  I have NEVER had a positive experience.  Missed about 4 flights.  Have had luggage take a week to catch up.  It’s basically a giant plane parking lot!  You pull up on a spot of concrete and are bused to the terminal.

Granted I’ve avoided that airport for over 10 years so it could be better now.

I agree at leaving longer for a connection.  Long hauls usually start boarding about an hour/50 minutes before departure.

British airways actually lost my friends luggage at CDG recently, completely gone for their entire trip and not returned ever. One bag did make it to them 6 days in. Another had horrid experiences with canceled and delayed flights there last year. I would say its still not wonderful.

I have my fingers crossed for an Aer Lingus deal as that sounds the easiest for Nan!

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

If the airline is allowing you to book that flight combo then they consider the connection to be valid. However, AMS does secondary screening for US flights at the gate -  I imagine if you are there then no problem. I haven't been through there in years, but its a very large airport, although well-run.

I avoid CDG like the plague - we were going to Sweden via CDG one year from the US for Christmas and there was some industrial action and everything was cancelled except, oddly enough, Scandinavian flights. Its a very strange layout as well - AMS is a better option of the two.

I would wait until after the holidays as most flight sales are between second week of Jan and first week of February. LAX is a tricky, tricky market to get a deal on, we are looking for flights for June right now as well. If nothing good comes up out of LHR then we will probably do the usual trick of flying to Stockholm to get the SAS flight - their premium economy product is outstanding and the price is almost the same as economy out of London. Sure you have the add-on cost of the transit flight and the overnight hotel, but for decent service, lounge access, extra luggage allowance, and not getting squished into a tiny area for 12 hours, I am ALL for it.

Extra luggage allowance, she said inquiringly?