Amsterdam would be my # 1 preference, although the service in Frankfurt is really efficient and I've had luck there even with a tight layover. Paris CDG would be least preferred (least efficient).

Haven't been through Frankfurt so I can't comment on that but Schiphol would be my vote as well.

Amsterdam. I avoid both CDG and especially Frankfurt like the plague. Neither are designed for transfer passengers.

Amsterdam #1, Frankfurt #2, Paris (De Gaulle) #3.

AMS would be the best. Paris is the absolute worst. Not just of this list but bottom of nearly any list. I tried it again last week after avoiding it for some time. Once again I came away saying "never again."

My European major hub ranking (from best to worst) for transfers from/to North America. Based on my personal experience.

1. MUC
2. AMS
3. CPH
4. ZRH (equally good with CPH)
5. FRA
6. LHR
7. FCO
8. CDG

I have not used any other for transfers from the US, although I might have landed there as last destinations, so I can't rank them as to their ease of transfer. Malpensa was also a decent hub for transfer, but Alitalia moved its hub to Rome FCO years ago.

I would sooner be boiled alive than deal with a transfer at CDG again. Never been to Amsterdam but I've gone effortlessly through Frankfurt numerous times.

Schipol is wonderful. CDG is woeful.

Easiest = Amsterdam
WORST = CHUCKY D.

I'm chuckling as I once purposely planned a Paris/Amsterdam trip to fly into CDG and out of Schiphol. Figured I could stand CDG just long enough to get through immigration, grab the luggage and bolt but not long enough to sit around in it for several hours before an international flight.

Given these 3 choices only, I would say...FRA is the #1, ...don't know AMS, was there once ages ago. With Paris CDG I've always lucked out, sometimes taxing, but I never had to change planes there. That I avoid, aside from being very familiar with the place. But if you're not, I would not recommend it.

CDG is awful, IMO. I avoid it, and also Rome's FCO. Amsterdam is easy. I've only been through FRA on a quick connection, but it seemed fine to me as well. Just skip CDG if possible and you're good.

As the entry point into the EU, before connecting onward:
Amsterdam hands down!

I've had multiple stressful connections both in CDG and FRA, arriving from Canada - both are equally bad, in my experience.

LHR and FCO can be really hairy if there are ANY labour disruptions at all (unfortunately, a frequent enough occurrence these days).

One real problem to consider, if there are delays, is if you are also changing carriers at that connecting airport (like in the case of code-shared flights). As much as I like Munich, you will be hard-pressed to get assistance from Lufthansa if you are arriving on a late flight from another carrier. Lufthansa has to be the WORST carrier for that specific situation, which is a big risk when connecting through MUC or FRA. Even BA is better for that...

I don't normally make connections if I can help it. I typically get the most direct flight I can find, carry on only, and am on the road within minutes of landing.

I've flown into Schipol (then connected through there on the way home) and found it a modern, well-run airport. If you have an extra hour or so, there is a satellite display from the Rijksmuseum in the airport.

I've also flown into Frankfurt twice and out once. Frankfurt isn't a particularly modern airport but it's well-run, the signage is clear and it's great for catching a train quickly and easily (station at the airport).

I haven't flown to CDG. From reports I've read, here and elsewhere, I wouldn't use it unless it didn't make sense to fly elsewhere.

Have used all three more than once. AMS is probably the easiest, and smallest of the three - or at least it seems that way. Frankfurt would be next. It is big, sprawling and sometimes a long distance walk to the next gate but it well organized, good signage with typical German efficiency. CDG is something else. Huge, sprawling with remote terminals that appear to be miles away. I find it confusing and time consuming. If using Frankfurt I would add an extra hour and two or three from CDG.

AMS, CDG is a nightmare and AMS is so nice and compact. Frankfurt has been ok in my experience but AMS is smaller and it has been some years since my Frankfurt experiences to be honest

I've changed flights twice in Frankfurt and had no problems; actually a very nice airport with a mall if you have a long layover. I've changed planes in Paris and Amsterdam once each; Amsterdam was OK what I saw, had a short layover.

But Paris; I avoid it like the plague, even when flights cost less. The one time I was there the people were rude and wanted to argue and blame our party when we missed the connecting flight even though our flight from the states was late due to the airlines. Also, there was an older gentleman in line ahead of us who did not speak French or English and was having trouble communicating with the ticket agent; I believe he spoke Russian. The ticket agent solution was to holler at the man and call security. Fortunately other people in line was able to translate for the man and assist him.

1 Frankfurt

2 Amsterdam

3 Take a slow boat to Europe to avoid Paris' airport.

The only airport I would choose is Frankfurt am Main. I've only changed planes there once and never at the other two, but my reason for choosing FRA is it's the only airport of the three served by Lufthansa, my airline of choice for trans-Atlantic flights. (Note: there are "Lufthansa flights" into CDG from US cities, but they are all code-share Lufthansa flights operated by US flag airlines. I haven't had a good experience on a US flag airline to/from Europe in a decade.)

In January 2002, I changed planes on my way back to the US from Munich. I changed concourses (A to B) and had to go through security three times (it was just after 9/11), but still made the change in under an hour.

My all time favorite change airport is Düsseldorf. I changed there recently. Even with outgoing passport check, my gates were just down the hall from each other.

Have flown in and out of all three and made connections in two of them. Amsterdam would be my choice hands down simply because of it's relative size. But with "...a tight layover timeframe.." anything could happen in any one of the three that would upset your plans. Better to try for a little longer layover time. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around.

Dean,

I've travelled through all of them on many occasions, and this would be my preference order (with comments).....

1. FRA - It's a very large airport but extremely well organized (IMO). I've had flight connections scheduled there with as little as ONE HOUR transfer time, and managed to make the connection (including going through security). However, that was an unusual case and there were probably several random factors that helped.
2. AMS - It's also large but well organized. As I recall it's a single terminal airport so a fair amount of walking is required between gates.
3. CDG - My least favourite of the three you mentioned. It's large with several terminals and in my experience, not particularly well organized. I try to avoid connections there at all cost.

Although not on your list, I was through LHR a few days ago on a connecting flight and although it's a large facility, it's much better organized than I remember from previous occasions.

Hi,

My favorite, by a long shot, is Munich. It is so easy to get through, efficient, and modern. On our trip last month we went through Amsterdam both ways. It was my first experience through that airport and it was pretty good. The one negative was on our way over. We got of the Delta flight at 6 AM and the mass of people at passport control was huge. It didn't seem that organized, but it only took about 15 to 20 minutes to get through.

I hate, hate Frankfurt!

AMS is great. CDG is a nightmare unless you have a long layover. Don't know Frankfort.

The way CDG is laid, in most cases you have to exit the security area, probably move to a different terminal - sometimes close, sometimes very distant - and pass again security control. If you have to change airplanes there be sure to have a lot of time. I remember once doing Rome-Paris-Santiago (Chile), and in spite of having more than one hour for the connection and leaving from facing terminals, it was a real rush.

Frankfurt is very large and you may need twenty minutes or more to reach a distant gate, but it is not as difficult as Paris. I don't know about Amsterdam.