Amsterdam airport question

[deadeye]

Hi everyone. I'm a US citizen taking a trip to Amsterdam and England over the christmas holidays. I've already figured out most of my travel plans (browsing this site was a big help, by the way)... but I have one concern, and I wanted to get some input.

At the end of my trip, I will be departing from Amsterdam AMS to fly back to the states. This flight leaves at 10:50AM. I will be coming from Nottingham.

I found a flight that leaves the East Midlands airport (just outside of Nottingham) at 6:50AM and arrives in Amsterdam at 9:10AM. That gives me an hour and forty minutes to get from that plane to my next flight. Will this give me enough time to do everything I need to do between flights (get my bags and re-check them, etc.), or is that cutting it too close?

I have no experience with international travel, and very little experience with airports in general, so I have no idea how long this stuff takes. I figured I'd ask the experts here for any thoughts or advice you have to offer. I'm really hoping this will work because my options for flights out of East Midlands are pretty limited.

Thanks in advance!

[mbo108]

Well if the plane is on time you should be okay. The Amsterdam airport is kinda big but really well organized. Why won't your bags be checked through to the States? Its one EU country to another?

[MeTurk]

You've no margin for error there at all. If you miss that flight home it could end up costing you a fortune to replace.

Go the day before and spend a night in Amsterdam, wind down before you go home.

[marc873]

This is a tough one. We have flown in and out of Schipol 8 times... Is it possible for you to check in online the night before for your connecting flight out of Schipol, so that you already have your boarding passes? Are you on the same airline (which I doubt)? Are you checking luggage, or is it all carry on's?
Schipol, is indeed quite a large airport, and if your gate is forever away, it could cause problems.... Personally, I would go for it, but I never have checked luggage to worry about, and then of course you have to hope your flight arrives on time.
We made a connection in 25 minutes flying from Iceland to Baltimore, through customs, and then a TSA check point, and got to the gate for the loading of the last zone.... You could always try to pick seats at the front of the plane, or do as we did, and chat up everyone around you, and get them to let you get through the crowd first. We had other travelers cheering us on, and blocking other passengers to help us get off FAST.....
Ya know, you could always fly into Schipol on a veryyyyy late flight the nite before, stay in the secure area and just spend the night at the airport.... Schipol does have a meditation room, with thick mats, that makes for perfect sleeping, but you have to remain inside the secure area to get to it.....
Welcome to the world of crazy travel... I would go for it, nervously, but still go for it!
I have to tell you, that Schipol does suggest arriving 2.5 - 3 hrs before international departures. Your biggest question is do you have to leave the secure zone and then get back in, or will you just be connecting gate to gate. If you can check in online and get your boarding pass, you shouldn't have to leave the secure area. Just don't fuck up and follow the heards of people out of the secure area, ya know.....
Good luck!
Cheers,
Marc
Cheers,
Marc

[Elizabeth]

I wouldn't do it.

You have to exit the plane
probably clear passport control bc you're flying non Schengen to Schengen
go to baggage claim
wait for bags
check in again
possibly hike to another section of the airport
clear security
prob clear passport control again
potential hike to the gate once again

If passport control or security wants to give you a hard time you'd be screwed.

better safe than sorry

[marc873]

Ya know Lizz, I forgot about the Schengen B.S.... That throws another twist into it. Its best to have that 2-3 hr time frame to make the connection. Although, I would still consider giving it a shot if I had no other options......

[joe7f]

If you do decide to take the flight, make sure you print your boarding pass or something that shows you are leaving shortly. Chances are that if someone was going to give you a hard time, having proof of leaving that day would lessen the time you spend waiting. This happened to me at Gatwick.

Keep in mind that in many airports the conveyor to airside stops 30-45 minutes before take off. Even with no lines, it is impossible to make your flight. This ALSO happened to me at Gatwick.

--Joey