Assuming we miss our 55 min connect from ams to berlin.....

Of course I meant immigration, my bad.

55 minutes should be enough time if you hurry. There are people movers in the concourses. Get on them and walk fast. Remember the booking counter in the center of the terminal. They will help you. Don't worry.

More... An option might be a train. In the lower level of Schiphol is a train station. I don't know how long a train ride from Amsterdam to Berlin would be but you might get a straight shot that wouldn't be too long.

55 minutes is close but a few things. 1. Your flight from the US is likely to be early (east bound transatlantic flights often are). 2. There are special lanes for travelers with short connect times at customs in AMS.
3. If you DO miss your flight, you will almost certainly be on another one shortly after that. Intraeurope flights don't typically completely sell out so you'll be fine. In short, don't worry about it, you'll get there.

Are you talking about flights from AMS to Berlin with a connection somewhere? Where? For that short a flight, it shouldn't be terribly late, 55 min is probably plenty of time. OTOH, if you are talking about the US to Berlin with a change in Amsterdam, then there is a good likelihood of the flight being much later. If you have book a through flight with one airline (or their associates), they should accommodate you if you're late. ETA: Now I see your earlier post that you are coming from Detroit and changing flights in Amsterdam. David: Don't you mean immigration (pass port control) in Amsterdam? If his luggage is checked through to Berlin he shouldn't be retrieving it in Amsterdam or going through customs with it, but since he is entering the Schengen zone, he would go through immigration there. And, also, in eight flights, I've been one hour late getting to Germany from the US at least twice.

To understand this question - ? - you need to read this first http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/69114/detroit-to-amsand-then-to-berlin.html Mark put his response to his original question in the form of new question so it has become disassociated and doesn't make a lot of sense. Some of the above responses are overlapping his original question. I know it is confusing.

Flights to Europe from the US do usually arrive early, sometimes up to an hour early, due to the winds. It isn't something you should count on though. If flights are late, it has more to do with the airport you are are departing from and the weather there, more than anything else. Have a look at the arrival schedule for Amsterdam and your flight number. It will be the same for other days. Is it on time, is it early, or late. See how it averages out. Simply check it ever day for a while to see how it does.

Thanks for all the help....sorry about the confusion. We have carry on luggage only. mark

You could always try letting the flight you are on know about your connection time in AMS. Sometimes they make exceptions to let you off early, though not a guarantee. If you miss your next flight, and no flights, you could look into easy jet, they fly AMS-Berlin, or a train. Is the AMS-Berlin on the same airline, or different? You could always inquire with checking in if they could bump you to the next flight? At least in America, I had a short connection in CHI from SEA time since our flight out was delayed a bit in SEA. The Chicago Aer Lingus staff walked with us from one terminal to the next,we go to skip the security line to make sure we got on in time!!!

"We have carry on luggage only." Your carry-on that you had no problem with internationally, may not be allowed within Europe. For instance, if you are flying USAir to AMS and then Lufthansa to Berlin, they will hold you to a single item and it needs to be pretty light to qualify (I think under 11 or 12 kilos, but don't quote me on the amount).

"If you miss your next flight, and no flights, you could look into easy jet, they fly AMS-Berlin, or a train." I'm not sure this would be a good idea if your flights are booked on one ticket (Detroit>Berlin with connect in AMS). The way I understand it, if you fail to take the last leg of your inbound flight, you could invalidate your return ticket home.

Assuming it is a single booking (e.g., a single ticket that you booked at once US - Berlin via Amsterdam), should anything happen, they will relocate you in another flight. Maybe they will put you on another Amsterdam-Frankfurt-Berlin connecting flight, but likely on another direct flight.