Transferring: AMS v. CDG

As this a through booking, the airline are responsible for getting you and your luggage through to the connecting flight, or if not looking after you until they can put you on the next suitable flight.

Even if it is a through booking, I wouldn't go for either. Transatlantic flights can be 1+ hours late, plus time to get through passport control. But If I had to choose, Schiphol (AMS) is a lot better and simpler airport to change planes than Charles de Gaulle (CDG).

Last time I changed at Schiphol I had 1 hour between flights. They were both intra-EU flights, so no customs and, as an EU citizen, I just had to wave my passport at security, no stamping or checks. But the first flight was 30 minutes late (normal). Factor in taxiing, unloading etc. and the other flight was the opposite end of the terminal. They were calling my name as I rushed through the terminal and I just made it as the last passenger. No way would I do a 1½ hour transfer from an intercontinental flight.

Schiphol only has one big terminal. Charles de Gaulle is a multi-terminal airport with a reputation for being complicated. No way I would do 2h05 transfer from an intercontinental flight (unless there was a backup plan).

I'd choose 90 minutes via AMS over 2 hours at CDG. I find CDG very inefficient for connections.

Teresa,

I was able to make my short connection this year. I thought that it was short too, but as long as everything is on time, you should be good to go.

Note, that if you use AMS as your hub/gateway into Europe, they do have an "express" immigration line. There is a monitor just like the arrivals/departures that will show if youre eligible to go through the "express" lane. When i was there this past september, i had enough time and the lines were short.

Just a note, i walk fast, so "dashing" is one gear up for me.

Also, what you can do is to look at the layout of the airport where the gates are located. you can look at what gates previous flights are deboarding and see where that is in relation to where your departing gate is located.

happy trails

Schipol is considered to be the best airport in the world for flight transfers. CDG not so much. What makes AMS so efficient is that the terminal is housed in just one enormous building with a single corridor connecting the various "piers" to the gates. So it's next to impossible to get lost and a breeze to navigate. 1 hour between flights is very doable.
More info about the airport can be found via this blind hot link:

http://tinyurl.com/6fu665n

Here's a YouTube video showing the transfer process at Schiphol. It shows the "express" lane which you can (and should) use if you are running late: http://tinyurl.com/d8xlclk

Thanks for all the input and links. I was inclined to chance it at AMS anyway because CDG makes me feel like a toddler in sore need of a nap, but everyone's comments make me feel a bit better about it! :)

IMHO Schiphol is one of the best airports in Europe. DeGaulle and Heathrow are two of the worst. I go through Schiphol every year and sometimes more than that. 90 minutes is plenty. Of course if your plane is late that's different. So far I have been lucky.

The time is doable and I'd just as soon have 1:30 at AMS as 2:05 at CDG. I once had a flight plan change, giving me 45 minutes at AMS, when I believe the minimum allowed was 50, but it did work out, with help from the transfer desk (which called the luggage team to expedite transferring my checked bag).

Teresa,

My preference would be to change at AMS. It's a large airport but only a single terminal, so some walking will be necessary but it should be an easier change than at CDG.

Is your connection to the Bulgarian flight a code share booking? If that's the case, you won't have to be concerned about your checked luggage, as you won't see it until you reach your final airport.

Thanks, Ken and everyone. I went ahead and booked to fly through AMS, and I'll just try to be really on my toes when we land. I'm so glad the consensus wasn't to fly through CDG!

Bulgaria is not a Schengen country and on a non-Schengen to non-Schengen routing, you don't have to clear immigration at AMS. You're merely a transit passenger.

I've done a 90 minute USA-UK connection there, and it's actually kind of an annoying gap- not enough time to feel like you can explore the airport and get on to your next gate in a timely manner, and since they do security screening at the gate there and keep those areas locked between flights, you're left wandering around in a small area looking for the scant few places to sit vaguely near your onward flight.