2026 layover guide
Amsterdam (AMS) connection time
At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, plan on at least 1 h 15 min for a same-terminal connection. Here's why, step by step.
Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction
Comfortable: 1 h 45 min
No terminal changes
Quick answer
Plan on at least 1 h 15 min for a same-terminal connection at AMS. You stay inside security for domestic connections.
- Same terminal
- 1 h 15 min (comfortable: 1 h 45 min)
- Hub airlines
- KLM
How long a layover do I need?
- Get off the plane and walk to your next gate25 min
- Transfer security screening20 min
- Be at the gate before boarding closes15 min
- Buffer for a small delay15 min
Our estimate, rounded up, not the airline's official minimum connection time. If both flights are on one ticket, the airline will rebook you if a delay makes you miss the second one. How we calculate this
Recommended layovers at AMS
Our estimates for common connections, rounded up. Comfortable times leave room for a late arrival.
| Connection | MinimumRecommended minimum |
|---|---|
Same terminal, no passport control Transfer security where required | 1 h 15 min Comfortable: 1 h 45 min |
Crossing passport control For example a U.S. flight to a Schengen flight | 1 h 50 min Comfortable: 2 h 45 min |
Separate tickets with checked bags No protection if you miss it | 2 h 15 min Comfortable: 3 h |
Airlines' official minimum connection times can be shorter: if you booked both flights on one ticket, the airline has already checked that the connection is legal and will rebook you if a delay makes you miss it.
Getting around AMS
Terminals
One terminal with piers B through H and M.
Changing terminals
Everything is under one roof and connected airside, but walking between piers can take 15–20 minutes.
Passport control and transfers
Moving between Schengen and non-Schengen piers means passport control; U.S.-bound flights add security checks at the gate.
Tips for connecting at AMS
- •KLM's long-haul flights mostly use the non-Schengen E, F and G piers.
Plan your trip through AMS
The airport guide, and the bag rules for the airlines you're likely to connect on here.
AMS connection FAQ
Airlines set their own official minimums at AMS and only sell connections that meet them, so a one-ticket itinerary is always "legal". In practice we recommend at least 1 h 15 min for a same-terminal connection.
Other airports
Sources
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Terminals and connection rules change, so check your airline's connection instructions before a tight layover.
Read how we collect and check this data, or tell us if something's out of date.
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