A lot of flights returning to the US from Switzerland have 55 minute layovers in Amsterdam. My question is... Is this doable? I guess they wouldn't offer it so much if it was impossible, but wouldn't you have to do that thing where you pick up your luggage and go through security again since you're going to the US? If so how is that remotely possible?

I've even found some 50 minute ones. Lots of them. So I guess it's pretty common.

You generally don't have to claim and recheck your luggage when connecting in Europe onward to the US. Arriving into the US and connecting from international onto a domestic flight, then yes luggage recheck is required.

We did a similar quick transfer at AMS a few weeks ago and they had streamlined the process a lot from when I had flown through about a decade before.

They had a general immigration line where most people went, then had priority announced for flights within the next hour in an express line. On the way out we waited maybe 10 minutes, and in the way back we walked right through.

Thanks!

It is doable but obviously if there is an issue with inbound flight you are pretty much screwed. Like you say, they won't schedule connecting flights that aren't achievable. Main issue will be checked bags. I would hazard a guess there is probably a 30% chance your checked bags make the connecting flight.

I travel through LHR or AMS on every single business trip I am on, I NEVER check baggage anymore. Just this week my wife made a trip back to Houston through AMS, none of her 3 checked bags made the 1.5 hour transfer.

FYI I am literally typing this at the gate at AMS….with no checked bags

Where will your flight be originating from? It's been a while since I flew through AMS, but I recently connected through Milan. Both trips had a flight originating in Italy (Florence and Catania).

The problem on both trips was, when we arrived at the larger airport (AMS and MXP), we did not land at the main terminal. In both cases, we were bused from the area where we landed to the main terminal (which took time) AND we had to go through security AGAIN. As others have mentioned, in AMS we also had to have our passports checked. We were also unlucky enough to have our bags searched. I believe we had a 2 hour layover in AMS and we almost missed our flight.

MXP was a little different because we ALSO had to check in with an agent at the United counter. Along with every other passenger on our flight, at the same time. We had to do this even though we only had carry on bags and already had our boarding passes.

The United counter was clear on the other side of the airport from security, passport control, and our gate. They would not let us check in at the counter until noon and we had a 315 pm flight. We were planning to get something to eat at a restaurant/cafe once we got to our gate but the process took long enough that we didn't really have time.

I was working with a TA on this last trip and she refuses to book anything international with only an hour layover. Her preference was 2 hours, but she said, depending on the airport, 1.5 can be enough.

It seems like part of the issue is flights arriving at very large airports from smaller regional ones. A lot of regional flights over there board and deplane on the tarmac, not at a jetway, and the big airports don't always have terminals that are connected - hence the bus ride and extra trip though security. Our bus ride at MXP was quite long (and had multiple stops at hotels and parking areas along the way). There were also way more passengers needing the bus than there was room.

Tormentos said:

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It is doable but obviously if there is an issue with inbound flight you are pretty much screwed. Like you say, they won't schedule connecting flights that aren't achievable. Main issue will be checked bags. I would hazard a guess there is probably a 30% chance your checked bags make the connecting flight.

I travel through LHR or AMS on every single business trip I am on, I NEVER check baggage anymore. Just this week my wife made a trip back to Houston through AMS, none of her 3 checked bags made the 1.5 hour transfer.

FYI I am literally typing this at the gate at AMS….with no checked bags

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Dang! It's crazy awesome to get advice about the AMS airport on Texags...from someone AT the AMS airport.

TXTransplant said:

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Where will your flight be originating from?

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Basel Switzerland to AMS to IAH.

Counterpoint said:

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TXTransplant said:

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Where will your flight be originating from?

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Basel Switzerland to AMS to IAH.

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I'd look and see where (what gate and terminal) flights from Basel to AMS typically land. Flight Aware will tell you this. Then determine if you will have to take a bus to get to the next flight.

If he is coming in from Switzerland he will land in the Schengen (EU) side of the airport and need to go though passport control to international side of the airport. If you have no idea what I am talking about Google Schengen AMS.

FYI, when you get to passport control from Schengen to international be an ******* and tell the guys you have a tight layover, they will move you to the front of the line.

It is better to be aware of this before you land, take your piss before you land and not before you get through passport checks. I have seen countless Americans flying though AMS who screw this up.

One more edit. YES, a majority of the smaller regional planes will de board on the tarmac and then bus transfer to terminal. When you come off of the bus you are literally right at the immigration check. Once again, it is doable as long as you are aware of what lies ahead. Get on bus, go to terminal, get to passport control, tell them you have tight connection and get to front of line, and then go directly to gate. It is confusing first time as this is different than US airports.

Worst case you miss your flight and you are in Amsterdam city centre in about 20 minutes having a beer