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Connecting at Schipol

I'll be flying from the US to Schipol and then connecting on a separate ticket, so I'll have to pick up and recheck my baggage. Will I have to go through passport control before picking up my baggage and checking it in for my connecting flight? Is a 3 hour layover enough time for that whole process? Thanks!

Posted by
8431 posts

Yes. You will need to go through immigration, exit the secure zone, wait for your bags, exit to arrivals, wait to check in, check-in, then go through security, and find your gate. Doesn't matter if your destination is within the Schengen zone or elsewhere.

3 Hours is tight for that, especially with risks for a delay. If you can carry your bag on, then maybe doable based on your tolerance for risk. Changing planes in Schiphol, with carry-on only, I have done it in under an hour.

Posted by
7305 posts

Yes, you will need to go through immigration and customs and go landside and then check your luggage for the second flight and go through security again.

What is your final destination and which airlines?

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks for your replies. Going to Tel Aviv on ELAL.
I can switch my flight and arrive earlier at Schipol to make it a 5 hour layover if necessary.

Posted by
21892 posts

Yes, you will have to go through passport control to get your luggage, then go through security again to get airside. I am assuming your next destination is in the Schengen Treaty Zone. If not you will have to go through passport control a second time. I'd go with a 4 hour layover time, as even 3 hours is close in my mind. Can you manage this trip with only carryon luggage? That would make life a whole lot easier for you.

PS. Go with 5 hours. Flights on El-Al are likely to have extra security procedures, plus you will have to go through passport control a second time.

Posted by
7305 posts

Going to Tel Aviv means going through passport control again, so five hours sounds a lot better than 3 hours.

Keep in mind that this will count as one day in Schengen if that is important to you.

Posted by
8431 posts

Just saying, if you did not check a bag, all you would need to do is exit the airplane into the international terminal, walk less than 10 minutes to your boarding gate...and that is it. No Immigration, no customs, just walk from gate to gate.

I realize that may not be possible based on what you need to bring with you, but just putting it on the table.

Posted by
2998 posts

Use the airport's website to track your specific travel day and flight info - it tells you how busy the airport is predicted to be, what baggage carousel you'll fetch your luggage, and importantly how busy security is getting back in the airport. The info about busy-ness is available a few weeks ahead, the luggage info is day of. Without question I would choose 5 hours - depending on exactly the time of year you're flying and how well things are going at the airport, that even might be cutting it close. Plenty to do at the airport to entertain yourself, including a nature park complete with birdsong and comfy chairs https://www.schiphol.nl/en/at-schiphol/services/airport-park/

Posted by
1406 posts

Won't your flight be considered an international flight from AMS? In addition, doesn't El Al have stringent security procedures - a quick search suggests they require passengers to check in three hours prior to departure so they can conduct an interview. So if you need to check luggage, the earlier flight makes sense.

And as suggested above, if you had only carry-on, there wouldn't be any need to leave the non-Schengen area of the airport.

Posted by
1 posts

So, to piggyback off your question, what is the process (with a carry-on) for a SEA to AMS flight then connecting to MUC. Once I go through Passport Control do I need to exit security and re-enter or can I proceed to my connecting gate?

Thanks

Posted by
21892 posts

There is a passport control point between the Schengen and non-Schengen sections of the airport. From SEA, you will go through this check point and get your passport stamped for entering the Schengen Zone, then walk to the gate for your flight to MUC. No further security checks.