flights originating from AMS

[honey lamb]

As above I have a flight to HK starting in AMS. I need to book the flight over to pick my flight up. If I leave my bag in storage at Heathrow how long should I give myself in AMS. Is under 2 hours too risky. What is the BA lounge like at AMS.

Any help much appreciated

Under 2 hours is FAR too risky even if the outbound plane is the one scheduled for the return flight. Remember you still have to check in for your return flight and by the time you have trekked from the arrival gate (and in AMS you are talking about a long walk), cleared immigration which as a non-Schengen arrival you will have to do and then checked in and walked back to the self same gate that will have cut severely into that two hours. The only way around it might be to have printed off the boarding pass to the AMS-LHR flight but there is the separation of arriving and departing passengers to consider so it's not just a question of getting off the plane and then getting back on again.

The BA lounge is very small with a limited amount of self-service beverages and snacks. It's a long walk from check-in and also a long walk to the gate

As above I have a flight to HK starting in AMS. I need to book the flight over to pick my flight up. If I leave my bag in storage at Heathrow how long should I give myself in AMS. Is under 2 hours too risky. What is the BA lounge like at AMS.

Any help much appreciated

Under 2 hours is FAR too risky even if the outbound plane is the one scheduled for the return flight. Remember you still have to check in for your return flight and by the time you have trekked from the arrival gate (and in AMS you are talking about a long walk), cleared immigration which as a non-Schengen arrival you will have to do and then checked in and walked back to the self same gate that will have cut severely into that two hours. The only way around it might be to have printed off the boarding pass to the AMS-LHR flight but there is the separation of arriving and departing passengers to consider so it's not just a question of getting off the plane and then getting back on again.

The BA lounge is very small with a limited amount of self-service beverages and snacks. It's a long walk from check-in and also a long walk to the gate

Has been a little while since I've actually been there so memory may be a bit sketchy or it may have changed.. but are arriving and departing passengers actually separated at AMS? Thought you could just walk off the plane and pretty much just get back on when it boarded again (assuming you have a BP already and no checked bags)

virginlondon - your question highlights the weakness of the ex-AMS trick: a problem getting to AMS might cause you to miss your first AMS-LHR leg and then you lose your whole trip. For that reason I would book a flight out to AMS that makes you absolutely sure you will make your connection. (personally I would go the day before.) two hours would not be enough to make me feel happy, but obviously people differ on these matters . Have a good trip.

Has been a little while since I've actually been there so memory may be a bit sketchy or it may have changed.. but are arriving and departing passengers actually separated at AMS? Thought you could just walk off the plane and pretty much just get back on when it boarded again (assuming you have a BP already and no checked bags)

Yes you can, and since at AMS there is security scanning at every gate, you still pass back through security. You can also get to the BA lounge without going landside - provided you are checked in and have a BP.

Thanks for all your replies - much appreciated. Going to play it safe and have 3.5 hours - I can't miss the flight back and its either that or 1 hour 50.