I will be flying from Vienna to Seattle next month - KLM to Amsterdam and connecting Delta to Seattle. I land in Amsterdam at 8:50am, departing for Seattle at 10:10am.
Will it be necessary to clear customs with checked baggage, or just cleared through immigration? My flight times were recently changed and I'm a little concerned about having only 1 hour in Amsterdam.
Any feedback is appreciated!
It sounds like you have as much as 80 minutes, if the first flight arrives on time. The minimum suggested time is 50 minutes. I made it with 45 minutes one time when my flight was changed, but I had to run and had to ask the transfer desk to expedite my checked baggage. There is no customs procedure but the security check is more intensive than other airports. If you search above for "Amsterdam connection time," you'll find a lot of other feedback on this topic.
Thanks. The Amsterdam airport website does suggest 50 minutes for international flights. Just curious what others had experience with.
I hate connections that tight. Since it sounds like the airline made the change unilaterally, have you talked to them? It looks like there might be a second Delta flight that leaves at 12:15 or so...at least on the date I randomly checked for July. If you don't make the first flight, I think they'll put you on the second one if there's space available AND you are traveling on a single ticket.
If it were me, since I just try to avoid ever having connections that tight, I would ask to be moved to the later flight.
I've taken that AMS SEA flight a few times and they start loading very early. I have not been thru there in the last year and I think security has changed a bit but you will have to go thru exit immigration as well. You may have to clear a security checkpoint again.
I would be stressed and I would ask for the later flight
As long as your first flight is on time, you should be okay, as long as you stay inside the secured area.
You will go thru exit customs at the gate. As long as you have your baggage checked thru to your final destination, you do not have to claim it and recheck it in Amsterdam.
Happy travels!
Thank you Janet and MrsEB. That was my biggest concern - having to retrieve luggage and pass through customs. This is a Delta flight, partnered with KLM for Vienna to Amsterdam, and I should be checked through all the way to my destination in the US.
