Am looking at flying from Seattle to Venice via Amsterdam, Is 1 hour 25 minutes sufficient time to make the transfer in Amsterdam to a connecting flight to Venice? Both are Delta flights (operated by KLM I think) Am worried about getting through customs, etc? anyone done this?
Posted by
Chicago
8223 posts
That is enough time; if you miss the connection because of the first flight not leaving on time, the airline will just put you on the next available flight. If you are still worried just book a flight with a longer connection time which is probably more expensive
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Melinda, The same question one always has to ask in this situation:
Is this one booking, or two separate tickets?
If it is one booking, then the airline would not have made it unless they thought it was possible. And if the first flight is late, it is the airline's responsibility to put you on the next flight.
If this is two separate tickets, you would have to check in again at Amsterdam. No hope.
Customs is the check on goods, the contents of your luggage. Assuming one booking, your bags will be checked through to Venice, you will not see them at Amsterdam, so customs will take place in Venice. However customs is a random stop only, 95%+ are not stopped, so it takes zero time.
Immigration (aka passport control) is the check on people, whether you are allowed in and for how long. This takes place when you enter the Schengen Area, that is in Amsterdam and not in Venice. As above "If it is one booking, then the airline would not have made it unless they thought it was possible."
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA
22 posts
thank you both, very helpful and reassuring
Posted by
Spokane, WA
477 posts
I've taken the Seattle to Amsterdam flight and then connecting somewhere else numerous times. I actually took this flight to Venice two years ago and may be taking it again this fall. It is my flight of choice. The airport is very easy to navigate and I have made it with even less time in between flights. Often, they will have a line at immigration for people with short connections and there will be someone there assisting people. You should be fine.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8187 posts
Amsterdam Schipol is easy to navigate, just remember when you get off the plane and everyone heads for immigration, you want to look for the connecting flights immigration, not the one exiting outside the secure zone. That would require you to go back through security, delaying you. With connecting flights, you exit into the domestic terminal, maybe time to get a decent cup of coffee even.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2799 posts
You can get a sense of the on-time rate of the SEA-AMS flight by looking it up on https://flightaware.com/ (enter the flight number and scroll down to see recent history). Since that flight arrives so early, if for some reason you miss your Venice flight there will be one later in the day.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
We've flown Seattle to Italy five times now. We've done through Frankfurt, London, Paris and Amsterdam. Our hands-down favorite is the one you are doing, through Amsterdam. It's a very well run airport and the fact that you're on the same ticket through Delta/KLM means you'll be fine.
BTW, Venice is a very good place to recover from jet lag. (If you don't have lodging yet, look into Pensione Guerrato, our favorite in Venice. Very popular with RS travelers.)