Flying home from Florence, Italy

I did the Florence ->AMS->SEA in 2013 and this fall did Milan Linate->AMS->SEA. There were 5 of us and we were pretty novice travelers on the 2013 trip so we had the hotel arrange a taxi for 415AM. That put is in the airport about 430 which was plenty of time. The 1.5 hour transfer time is doable if everyone can move at a good pace thru the airport. This last Fall flying from Linate which left about the same time, I decided in the future that I would do what you have indicated and fly to Amsterdam the day before. It just makes for a really long day as I then fly from SEA to N. Idaho so that adds a few hours on to the whole journey.

You can actually stay in central Amsterdam particularly if you are close to the train station. It is a pretty quick ride to the airport. I have done that as well on another trip and I think we left the hotel about 7 for perhaps a 1030 flight and were there well before we needed to be. Very easy. Ibis Hotel is right at the train station.

Editing to add: You know there are flights both at 10AM and 230PM from AMS? I think when I left from AMS I took that 230 flight.

Hi Pam, Thanks for the advice. Yes I had heard there are two flights, but apparently at this point in April this is only the one. Maybe more as the season gets busier.

Ah, yes, time of year can make a difference!

Since you are flying through AMS I recommend getting the Schiphol airport app for your phone. You can put your flight information into it and get an alert if your flight is delayed. That was the ONLY notification we had that our flight from AMS to FCO had been cancelled. If I hadn't had it we would have been cooling out heels in AMS for a long time.

Also has a map so you can find your way around the airport, let's you know which baggage carousel to find your bags etc.

At that time in the morning, a taxi ride to the Florence airport is quick, well under a half hour. My last flight out of Florence was Alitalia from Florence to Amsterdam (And then on to SFO), and based on that experience, I would allow at least an hour and a half to deal with the airport. I remember getting in line before the desks had even opened, and the line was already very long. The flight was more than an hour late leaving Florence. Staffing at the desks and the gate was certainly inadequate, but maybe that was because the flight was going to be late anyway… Don't know, since there was no explanation.

I'd take into account how your kids are going to feel. If you leave your hotel in Florence at 4.15 a.m., you'll be rousing the little ones in the middle of the night and they won't really get any sleep until you board the plane in Amsterdam. How easy is it going to be to get them through Schiphol airport? Then a really long flight back to SEA. If you fly to AMS a day early, you lose one day in Italy and have one more hotel change. You could make that a lot easier by leaving your luggage in storage at Schiphol and just taking the basics for an overnight stay in Amsterdam. Maybe even take the opportunity to see a little of that city, too. It's about a 15 minute train ride from the airport to the city. Or you could even stay in The Hague for less money and spend another 15 minutes on the train. There are frequent trains.

thanks for the input. we decided the two leg option with overnight in amsterdam was best- less stress and more rested.

I never get to FLR before 60 to 75 min ahead of departure (I also fly early with Lufthansa) and I be flown out of FLR approx 40 to 50 times. The taxi ride is 10 to 15 min.
The packed check in Hall is a thing of the past. The airport terminal was rebuilt in 2013. There are 40 check in positions now for about 5 morning flights departing between 6:30 and 9. It's way huge for the current traffic. You now need less than 20 min for check in and security procedures.
1.50 hrs layover are enough unless the flight is delayed or canceled for weather.

Anne, my husband and I have the same plan you have except ours is in June. Pam and I both decided after our last trips that from now on we would stay the night in Amsterdam before the 10:40/10:05 flight. (Flight time depends on what time of year.) After my husband was due to fly home solo BCN to AMS, AMS-SEA, then SEA-LWS last year but sat on the tarmac for 2 hours in Barcelona, we decided that more than likely we will always fly into AMS the night before. We've made 1.5 hour connections in AMS many times over the years but it's just too chaotic. Several months ago when I wanted to purchase our FLR-AMS tickets, there weren't as many flights and I ended up with a PSA-AMS on Transavia for €124 each, non-stop. Of course we'll have the hassle of getting to Pisa but I've done it before and it's relatively easy especially for a mid-afternoon flight.
Have a great trip!

Since you mention a "layover" in Amsterdam on your return trip, I assume that day's whole route is booked on one ticket with Delta and it's code-shared partners. In that case, your checked luggage will definitely be checked all the way through from Florence to Seattle.

Thank you everyone. I was able to book a Delta flight from SEA-AMS and on return Florence to AMS with a night layover and then continuing on from AMS to SEA the next day. So we get an extra afternoon and evening in Amsterdam. I think it will definitely serve our family better to be well rested and less rushed and I'm actually excited about getting that last night in Amsterdam!