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
Eastern Iowa, USA
8235 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
Uppsala, Sweden
7246 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
OP
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
Green Bay
21337 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
Uppsala, Sweden
7246 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
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1619 posts
If I had a 5 hour layover in some airport, I would choose Schiphol.
Download their app. The airport also seems to be full of real live people who want to help you and answer your questions.
See: https://www.schiphol.nl/en/at-schiphol/services/
Art: https://www.schiphol.nl/en/blog/an-artistic-start-to-your-journey/
There's a library, too.
Posted by
Green Bay
21337 posts
And a gambling casino!
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you all!
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8235 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
Salem, Oregon, USA
2820 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/