We will be returning to Seattle from Portugal in late October, and it looks like the best rates on flights will have us on a 15-hour layover at Schiphol Airport. Will we be able to leave the airport to stay in a hotel and how do we get back through security and immigration? We're trying to figure out where to stay and what the process is for leaving the airport and returning. Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Posted by
Reading, PA, USA
1589 posts
Simple, returning would be like just arriving at the airport for the first time. You would have to go through security. Assuming your flight is all one ticket, you would not have to recheck your luggage and would not have to check in again with your airline. I did the same thing in Zurich, but without a hotel stay.
Posted by
The Netherlands
1309 posts
When you return to the airport you will need to go through both security and passport control. If I were you, I would aim to be at the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2344 posts
I've done this scenario. There are a number of airport hotels within walking distance to the airport. I've stayed at Citizen M twice and it serves the purpose for a long stop over. The breakfast is expensive but good quality and convenient unless you have a very early flight (I think breakfast starts at 6:30 a.m.). Look at their room configurations before booking to make sure it works for you however (they only have king sized beds and the rooms are small).
You can check the anticipated busy-ness of the airport for your arrival to Amsterdam and the onward flight to Seattle about two weeks ahead. As you have to go through immigration to exit the airport, this can be a long line certain times of day. If you're on the 10:30 a.m. Seattle flight that can also be a very busy time at the airport especially on a weekday. You can also schedule a time slot for security if it looks like the airport will be busy. If you don't get your AMS-Seattle boarding pass when you start out in Portugal, you will need to stop at a kiosk and print one out on your way back in to the airport.
If you're checking your luggage on the way home, it will be checked through to Seattle, so be sure to pack an overnight bag for the hotel and have a quart bag for your liquids to get back through security.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7559 posts
If it is not clear yet,
When you get to the airport in Portugal, it is just like a domestic flight in the US, check-in (if not done already), go through security, then onto your gate. No immigration or passport check, other than as ID for security.
On landing in Amsterdam, if you have carry-on only, simply walk out of the airport, the train station is under and to the side of the arrivals hall.
If you check bags, then verify with your airline if they will hold them (check through to your US destination) or if you will need to pick up in Amsterdam. Sometimes, for a long, overnight layover, they require you to retrieve your bags for security reasons. If you need your bags, then let them know and they will only check to Amsterdam, otherwise carry on the items you will need.
On returning to the airport in the morning, you will need to possibly check in, but maybe not (do you have a boarding pass?), then go through security, then you can proceed to the international area, which will require you to do Schengen exit immigration, and then usually another security check, then on to your gate. You can use the Schiphol web site to check for suggested times, and even "reserve" a time for security, but generally 2.5 to 3 hours is prudent.
Depending on how early your flight is, and how late you arrived, you can stay at an airport hotel (my last choice), or stay in Amsterdam or Leiden. I would probably opt for the Sloterdijk train station area, lots of decent hotels for the night, only 15 minutes by train to the airport, the train drops you off essentially in the main hall of the airport, and you are only 5-10 minutes by train to central Amsterdam. Leiden is only 20 minutes by train, and a charming town, great for an overnight stay. I have stayed as far away as Antwerp, but that was for a later flight.