We are planning a trip to France in August. The return flight I am looking at is out of Nice on KLM with a 1 hour 20 minute
layover in Amsterdam before our Delta flight back to the U.S. Is this enough time to get through the security process
at AMS and get to our gate? Without knowing where the KLM flight will arrive at AMS and where the Delta flight will
leave from makes me a little nervous about there being enough time. Thanks for any input you can provide.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11830 posts
Is this all on one ticket? If the airline is selling it as a single ticket you should be OK. No dilly-dally time, but manageable.
If you are buying two tickets, you are asking for trouble.
Posted by
New York, NY
4057 posts
Is there more than one flight to your US destination in case you miss the connection assuming this is all on one ticket?
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14620 posts
Honestly I would not do this since it sounds like you’ve not bought the ticket yet.
Is there an earlier flight out of Nice?
I know airlines supposedly only sell itineraries that are doable but if there is any glitch you are not going to make it. The international flight home will likely start boarding 50 to 60 minutes before the posted departure time. You’ll be leaving the Schengen zone so will process thru Amsterdam border control to have your passport stamped. They usually have line monitors who will move you up if you have a short connection.
I will also say that I am very risk averse when it comes to high stakes flights. Others are not.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2679 posts
I’m with Pam. I like a longer connection. I live with the goal of never being that person, running through the airport, dragging my bag, frantic. I would not book that.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
19958 posts
Depends on your risk tolerance and your ability to be flexible if things go south on you. For AMS I like 3 hours, but would do a 2 hour layover if need be, but nothing shorter because going I want to get there, and coming back I want to get home and dont want to screw with another night stuck someplace. But I know people who would do it in a heartbeat to save $250.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8312 posts
We hear of personnel problems at the Schiphol Airport. It's hard to say if the time allotted works. We came thru there a year ago and had no problem of any kind.
Delta and KLM are partner airlines. If you buy the trip on one reservation, go for it. They would have to get you home. You don't say where you're flying to, but you can look online to see if there's another later flight home as a backup flight.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10593 posts
That's a good itinerary. Nice is a very easy airport for check in and AMS is very easy to transit--unless they have a major luggage breakdown like last year. Hopefully they are prepared this year. I wouldn't hesitate with those two airports and would do it.
Posted by
The Netherlands
1569 posts
Right now everything is pretty much back to normal at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. 1 hour and 20 minutes is enough time to make your transfer. Still, it’s best to first make sure you’re thru passport control and make it into the Non-Schengen Zone part of the airport.
Upon arrival look up the gate for your next flight and follow the signs to that gate. When you do, you will automatically bump into passport control. Go thru passport control first and locate your exact gate, before stopping somewhere for coffee, shopping etc.