Tight Connection
Jun 5, 2010 | 7:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 3
Tight Connection
I'm scheduled to arrive in AMS at 8:00 AM on a Sunday morning in June and have a connecting flight to TXL that leaves at 8:50 AM. Does this seem like a reasonable connection time to negotiate the change or should I expect some delays? The airlines tell me this is a legitimate connection time so I guess it's been done before.
Jun 5, 2010 | 7:26 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
Welcome to Flyertalk!
Yes, this is indeed a legal connection - just.
Whether it's "very tight" or just "tight" depends on where you are flying in from. If it's from within the Schengen area (as your handle suggests it might be!) you shouldn't have a problem as the gates are likely to be close to each other and you won't have to re-clear security.
If it's from further afield (such as North America) things could be a bit tricky as you need to get from one end of the airport to the other AND re-clear security.
Yes, this is indeed a legal connection - just.
Whether it's "very tight" or just "tight" depends on where you are flying in from. If it's from within the Schengen area (as your handle suggests it might be!) you shouldn't have a problem as the gates are likely to be close to each other and you won't have to re-clear security.
If it's from further afield (such as North America) things could be a bit tricky as you need to get from one end of the airport to the other AND re-clear security.
Jun 5, 2010 | 8:04 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 3
Tight Connection
Thanks for the reply. I will be arriving to AMS from JFK so not a European country. Was also wondering about CDG since I'll be returning through there. I have 90 minutes to go from Terminal 2D to 2E. Haven't been there in a while so am wondering if the stories I've heard (not good) about negotiating CDG to make this connection are true?
Jun 5, 2010 | 9:29 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
Can't help with CDG, but 50 minutes non-Schengen to Schengen at AMS is extremely tight. It's not the end of the world if you don't make it, though, as they will just put you on the next flight.
The problem with Schiphol is that they have not changed the Minimum Connecting Time since at least the late 1980s... when the airport was a lot smaller and when you did not have to go through Immigration or re-clear security. 1980s MCTs just aren't realistic in 2010!
The problem with Schiphol is that they have not changed the Minimum Connecting Time since at least the late 1980s... when the airport was a lot smaller and when you did not have to go through Immigration or re-clear security. 1980s MCTs just aren't realistic in 2010!
Jun 5, 2010 | 4:41 pm
#5
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Welcome to Flyertalk.
If you don't know this already, try to get a seat as close to the front of the plane as you can. If you end up way in the back, it could take an extra ten minutes to just get off the plane.
Or more.
As to the transfer at CDG, there's lots of good information in this thread
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-f...rport-faq.html
If you search the last few pages for 2d or 2e I'm sure somebody asked about transferring between them recently.
I don't remember the terminals, but do remember a few years ago we were transferring in terminal 2 and opted for the shuttle bus instead of walking. Huge mistake, the line was very long, the buses not that frequent, and we had to wait for three buses to come and go before we were able to get on the bus. Huge mistake. On the way back we opted for the 15 minute or so walk, it was a much better choice.
This page
http://easycdg.com/pages/travel_betw...at_cdgpag.html
has some great info on walking between terminals, shuttle buses, etc.
Some connections are land side so you will need to clear security, I believe there is also an airside bus but do not know how frequent it is.
If you don't know this already, try to get a seat as close to the front of the plane as you can. If you end up way in the back, it could take an extra ten minutes to just get off the plane.
Or more.
As to the transfer at CDG, there's lots of good information in this thread
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-f...rport-faq.html
If you search the last few pages for 2d or 2e I'm sure somebody asked about transferring between them recently.
I don't remember the terminals, but do remember a few years ago we were transferring in terminal 2 and opted for the shuttle bus instead of walking. Huge mistake, the line was very long, the buses not that frequent, and we had to wait for three buses to come and go before we were able to get on the bus. Huge mistake. On the way back we opted for the 15 minute or so walk, it was a much better choice.
This page
http://easycdg.com/pages/travel_betw...at_cdgpag.html
has some great info on walking between terminals, shuttle buses, etc.
Some connections are land side so you will need to clear security, I believe there is also an airside bus but do not know how frequent it is.