I'm looking at flying to the UK with my son and have a couple of options. I can fly BA and connect in Heathrow to go to Newcastle, but the layover time there is 4+ hours and I am thinking the plane ride and jetlag may create a very grumpy child if we are stuck for that long. Or I can fly KLM and connect at Schiphol Amsterdam and fly into Teesside. However the connection time there is only 1hr 15mins, which seems a little tight though I have never flown into there before. The connecting flight is also KLM.
Will the short time in Schiphol be enough to get through immigration/passport control, whatever and to the gate to connect or is that cutting it a bit close? I am guessing it works as KLM have it scheduled that way but I don't want to end up stuck.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Schiphol Airport is very well set up for connections. So, I'd definitely choose the 2 hour layover, and then you'll be fine.
Posted by
Genesee, ID
1840 posts
An hour and fifteen minutes is enough time to make connections in Schiphol if everything is on time. We have done it Schiphol is a big airport but it is easy to get around in. Just follow the signs. We went through Heathrow on our first trip to Europe and will never do it again. That was fourteen years ago and the experience is still etched in our minds. Our usual route now is Seattle to Schiphol to either Glasgow or Cologne.
Posted by
OP
Dallas
2 posts
Yeah.. I have done gatwick several times, I just don't need that big a delay in my journey. Had a brain wave and checked and I can fly KLM into newcastle from Schiphol which gives a 2 hour layover, THAT should easily be enough even for a first timer at that airport like me I would imagine
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32329 posts
Paul, I'd suggest connecting at Schipol rather than Heathrow. Schipol is a single-terminal airport, which makes connections a bit easier. However, it's a LARGE airport, so lots of walking is often involved from one gate to another. You'll go through Passport control when you arrive, since that's your first entry to the E.U. You will probably also have to go through security again, prior to boarding your next flight. I was through there a couple of times last year, and found that they often have the security checkpoints right at the gate, so you board the flight immediately after security. If KLM listed the 1H:15M connection time for the flight to Teeside, it's probably "legal". In all likelihood, that would be adequate but that will depend on circumstances at the time (ie: if your flight from the U.S. is late). As Newcastle is your destination, flying directly there with a two hour layover at Schipol sounds like a perfect solution! Happy travels!