Airport transit visa question??

[teresavh]

First, I am excited to be able to say I have booked my air travel for upcoming Camino Portugues in May and am looking forward to walking a camino again!!!

BUT, maybe I got such good prices on my return airfares because I booked something that I didn't realize may be very difficult...
I am a US citizen and after my Camino, I booked a Ryannair flight from SdC to London. No problem. I also booked (through Skyscanner and Kiwi.com) air travel the next day from London to Amsterdam and after a 2.5 hour layover from Amsterdam to New York. Now Kiwi.com warns me that I may need an airport transit visa in Amsterdam to board my flight to New York but tells me it is my responsibility to figure it out and get the proper visa. Kiwi.com refers me to IATA travel center https://www.iatatravelcentre.com BUT I tried using the tools there and am still not sure whether I need the airport transit visa or not. I think not but want to be sure. I also went to the Netherlands embassy website and posed the question of airport transit visa there. Hopefully I will get a response soon... BUT I bet there are (US citizen) pilgrims on this forum who have had to deal with the issue of airport transit visas and I would appreciate your wisdom on this!!! Thanks so much.

 

[trecile]

First, I am excited to be able to say I have booked my air travel for upcoming Camino Portugues in May and am looking forward to walking a camino again!!!

BUT, maybe I got such good prices on my return airfares because I booked something that I didn't realize may be very difficult...
I am a US citizen and after my Camino, I booked a Ryannair flight from SdC to London. No problem. I also booked (through Skyscanner and Kiwi.com) air travel the next day from London to Amsterdam and after a 2.5 hour layover from Amsterdam to New York. Now Kiwi.com warns me that I may need an airport transit visa in Amsterdam to board my flight to New York but tells me it is my responsibility to figure it out and get the proper visa. Kiwi.com refers me to IATA travel center https://www.iatatravelcentre.com BUT I tried using the tools there and am still not sure whether I need the airport transit visa or not. I think not but want to be sure. I also went to the Netherlands embassy website and posed the question of airport transit visa there. Hopefully I will get a response soon... BUT I bet there are (US citizen) pilgrims on this forum who have had to deal with the issue of airport transit visas and I would appreciate your wisdom on this!!! Thanks so much.

No, with a US passport you won't need a visa to transit in Amsterdam. You are aware that kiwi booked you on completely separate tickets, and if you have any checked luggage you will have to collect it at each stop and check it in again. Also, you will need a printed boarding pass for your Ryanair flight which you must get stamped by Ryanair after they check your passport and before going through security. Ryanair charges a hefty fee to issue paper boarding passes at the airport.
Also, if there are any schedule changes or delays that cause you to miss any of your flights none of the airlines are contractually liable to rebook you to your final destination.

 

[teresavh]

No, with a US passport you won't need a visa to transit in Amsterdam. You are aware that kiwi booked you on completely separate tickets, and if you have any checked luggaage you will have to collect it at each stop and check it in again. Also, you will need a printed boarding pass for your Ryanair flight which you must get stamped by Ryanair after they check your passport and before going through security. Ryanair charges a hefty fee to issue paper boarding passes at the airport.
Also, if there are any schedule changes or delays that cause you to miss any of your flights none of the airlines are contractually liable to rebook you to your final destination.

Thank you for setting my mind at ease re airport visa. I do know that I could be stuck if there are schedule changes. A risk for very cheap airfare with relatively short transit time at a decent hour. I am not traveling with much luggage and it is in the cabin from London so I figured I would have to check it back through again.
I really appreciate the information about a printed boarding pass for Ryanair that I need to get stamped by Ryanair. So good to know in advance!

 

[trecile]

BTW, both Spain and the Netherlands are part of the Schengen area, and at present US citizens can travel to the area for a maximum of 90 days without a visa.
In the next year or two there is a plan to implement a visa waiver program for citizens of countries like the US that currently don't require a visa. It will be a simple online process that you will do before you travel and cost about 7€. The visa waiver will be good for three years.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

BTW, both Spain and the Netherlands are part of the Schengen area, and at present US citizens can travel to the area for a maximum of 90 days without a visa.

True, but after Brexit it may not be so true. When she travels from London, she will be traveling from outside both the Schengen countries and the EU. Nothing is for sure at the moment.

 

[Kathar1na]

True, but after Brexit it may not be so true. When she travels from London, she will be traveling from outside both the Schengen countries and the EU. Nothing is for sure at the moment.

@teresavh said in the introductory message that she is a US citizen. Brexit does not concern US travellers in the least. The only possible thing I can think of are longer queues at airports and ferry ports during the first few days (potentially now in the middle of April 2019 instead end of March).

 

[teresavh]

True, but after Brexit it may not be so true. When she travels from London, she will be traveling from outside both the Schengen countries and the EU. Nothing is for sure at the moment.

The good news is that a consular embassy officer for the Netherlands wrote back and said I do not need an Airport Transit Visa. Also, it doesn't seem Brexit will happen anytime soon...

 

[teresavh]

@teresavh said in the introductory message that she is a US citizen. Brexit does not concern US travellers in the least. The only possible thing I can think of are longer queues at airports and ferry ports during the first few days (potentially now in the middle of April 2019 instead end of March).

Is it likely there still will be longer queues in June (the 12th to be precise)? I hope that two plus hours will be enough... If not I guess I will have another adventure.

 

[trecile]

Is it likely there still will be longer queues in June (the 12th to be precise)? I hope that two plus hours will be enough... If not I guess I will have another adventure.

Cross your fingers! Will you arrive at Gatwick? I flew from Santiago to Gatwick last July and the wait was very long then. I have no idea what it will be like post Brexit. The article below talks about a Premium immigration line that you can pay extra for. I think that I'd be inclined to do it. Don't forget that you'll also have to go through security again.

London Gatwick Introduces Premium Immigration Lines

Gatwick Airport has introduced a Premium Passport Control service for anyone happy to part with $19 to skip a long line at passport control.

travelingformiles.com

 

[trecile]

Here's the official Gatwick premium passport control site

Premium | Gatwick Airport

Speed up your journey on arrival at London Gatwick with Premium Gatwick Passport Control.

www.gatwickairport.com

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

What would kiwis know about flying?

Seriously, I think the problem is that the software assumed that you were not an American because of flying between EU points and was just warning you that if (what it "thought" was true) you tried to fly to the US you could have problems.

 

[KinkyOne]

First, I am excited to be able to say I have booked my air travel for upcoming Camino Portugues in May and am looking forward to walking a camino again!!!

BUT, maybe I got such good prices on my return airfares because I booked something that I didn't realize may be very difficult...
I am a US citizen and after my Camino, I booked a Ryannair flight from SdC to London. No problem. I also booked (through Skyscanner and Kiwi.com) air travel the next day from London to Amsterdam and after a 2.5 hour layover from Amsterdam to New York. Now Kiwi.com warns me that I may need an airport transit visa in Amsterdam to board my flight to New York but tells me it is my responsibility to figure it out and get the proper visa. Kiwi.com refers me to IATA travel center https://www.iatatravelcentre.com BUT I tried using the tools there and am still not sure whether I need the airport transit visa or not. I think not but want to be sure. I also went to the Netherlands embassy website and posed the question of airport transit visa there. Hopefully I will get a response soon... BUT I bet there are (US citizen) pilgrims on this forum who have had to deal with the issue of airport transit visas and I would appreciate your wisdom on this!!! Thanks so much.

No need to worry as others have already said. Most possible you mean ETIAS protocol which is (will be) the equivalent to ESTA for us to enter USA. It was just announced but not implemented. Maybe in 2021.

 

[trecile]

No need to worry as others have already said. Most possible you mean ETIAS protocol which is (will be) the equivalent to ESTA for us to enter USA. It was just announced but not implemented. Maybe in 2021.

Actually the ticket seller Kiwi.com issues this warning because they sell separate tickets which require that passengers have the correct documents for each country that they land in as they are never considered to be "in transit" at any airport. Rick is probably correct about the Amsterdam warning as non US or Canadian citizen passengers would be required to have an ESTA or visa in order to board the flight to the US in Amsterdam

 

[KinkyOne]

Actually the ticket seller Kiwi.com issues this warning because they sell separate tickets which require that passengers have the correct documents for each country that they land in as they are never considered to be "in transit" at any airport. Rick is probably correct about the Amsterdam warning as non US or Canadian citizen passengers would be required to have an ESTA or visa in order to board the flight to the US in Amsterdam

Why would a US citizen need ESTA? Or you do need that too? I thought ESTA is for foreigners...

PS (OP is US citizen.)

 

[trecile]

Why would a US citizen need ESTA? Or you do need that too? I thought ESTA is for foreigners...

PS (OP is US citizen.)

I said "non US or Canadian citizens"
The warning from Kiwi is general advice as they don't know what passport the traveler holds.

 

[Kathar1na]

Is it likely there still will be longer queues in June (the 12th to be precise)? I hope that two plus hours will be enough... If not I guess I will have another adventure.

I'm not kidding, the 12th of June is way too far into the future to make a prognosis about the potential length of queues when you share your queue with lots of Brits whose passports may be inspected more carefully than before ... in any case, on the Dutch side at Schiphol airport they seem to have things under control, see here. The most exciting thing coming out of all this: I've just learnt that the Dutch border control has the unusual name of Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.

 

[KinkyOne]

I said "non US or Canadian citizens"
The warning from Kiwi is general advice as they don't know what passport the traveler holds.

I was only responding to the OP as US citizen in post no.12 (that's why I used the quote function) and sorry for not seeing any "general" warning. I thought it was personal info and question.
Done.

 

[trecile]

I was only responding to the OP as US citizen in post no.12 (that's why I used the quote function) and sorry for not seeing any "general" warning. I thought it was personal info and question.
Done.

Sorry, I understand your confusion. I was still waking up when I responded.

 

[teresavh]

Here's the official Gatwick premium passport control site

Premium | Gatwick Airport

Speed up your journey on arrival at London Gatwick with Premium Gatwick Passport Control.

www.gatwickairport.com

For my departure from Gatwick I will definitely get the premium passage (I looked and it can be purchased for arrivals and/or departures).

I am flying into Stansted airport 11:45 am one day on Ryanair, overnighting and flying out of Gatwick at 10:40am the next day. Currently I have booked lodging (which can be cancelled without a fee) close to:

Victoria Station which seems to have a direct 30-minute train right to Gatwick every 15 minutes starting at 5am. https://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/gatwick_rail.htm

(There is also a good train from Stansted to London Liverpool Street station that runs every 15 minutes and takes less than 50 minutes.) https://www.stanstedairport.com/getting-to-and-from/by-train/

Thanks for all your help.

 

[trecile]

For my departure from Gatwick I will definitely get the premium passage (I looked and it can be purchased for arrivals and/or departures).

I am flying into Stansted airport 11:45 am one day on Ryanair, overnighting and flying out of Gatwick at 10:40am the next day. Currently I have booked lodging (which can be cancelled without a fee) close to:

Victoria Station which seems to have a direct 30-minute train right to Gatwick every 15 minutes starting at 5am. https://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/gatwick_rail.htm

(There is also a good train from Stansted to London Liverpool Street station that runs every 15 minutes and takes less than 50 minutes.) https://www.stanstedairport.com/getting-to-and-from/by-train/

Thanks for all your help.

I just remembered that I actually flew into Stansted last year, not Gatwick. Probably on the same Ryanair flight that you are taking. I just knew that it wasn't Heathrow. I took a Stansted Express bus to Victoria Station which was very close to my accommodation, which was a university dorm room that they rent out in the summer months to tourists.

 

[trecile]

@teresavh - read this thread on TripAdvisor Air Travel forum about the most effective way of dealing with kiwi.com in regards to your Ryanair flight

Kiwi .com and Ryanair - Air Travel Forum - Tripadvisor

Answer 1 of 97: This isn't a question, it's some advice which I hope will be useful to some other people like me. If you do any searching of these forums (which I didn't) before booking, you will see that booking Ryanair flights through a third party...

www.tripadvisor.com

 

[teresavh]

@teresavh - read this thread on TripAdvisor Air Travel forum about the most effective way of dealing with kiwi.com in regards to your Ryanair flight

Kiwi .com and Ryanair - Air Travel Forum - Tripadvisor

Answer 1 of 97: This isn't a question, it's some advice which I hope will be useful to some other people like me. If you do any searching of these forums (which I didn't) before booking, you will see that booking Ryanair flights through a third party...

www.tripadvisor.com

@teresavh - read this thread on TripAdvisor Air Travel forum about the most effective way of dealing with kiwi.com in regards to your Ryanair flight

Kiwi .com and Ryanair - Air Travel Forum - Tripadvisor

Answer 1 of 97: This isn't a question, it's some advice which I hope will be useful to some other people like me. If you do any searching of these forums (which I didn't) before booking, you will see that booking Ryanair flights through a third party...

www.tripadvisor.com

Thanks for keeping me on my toes trecile! I checked out the TripAdvisor link. My situation is different because I booked Ryanair from SdC to Stansted, London directly from Ryanair and independent of my kiwi.com booking. That seems pretty straight forward.
My kiwi booking starts the next day with a British Air flight from Gatwick (and then a "connecting" Norweigan flight from Amsterdam). With a Premium Gatwick entry pass. Thank you!
My husband showed me an article about a British Air flight this past week from Gatwick that was supposed to go to Frankfurt but went to Edinburgh instead because the pilot was given all the wrong information! So mistakes happen and a sense of humor and adventure will help....
Nevertheless, I feel forewarned and am in the process of creating an account with kiwi.com using their app so I have everything on my phone. And I have hit snags and emailed kiwi. So far they have responded to my emails, even if it takes several clarifications. Fortunately, I have 6-7 weeks before I fly out. Thanks again.

 

[trecile]

. My situation is different because I booked Ryanair from SdC to Stansted, London directly from Ryanair and independent of my kiwi.com booking.

That's good!

 

[VNwalking]

What would kiwis know about flying?

Quite a lot, as it happens: they have matchsticks for wings and are surrounded by (lots of) water. So they have to fly commercial...

Nevertheless, I feel forewarned and am in the process of creating an account with kiwi.com using their app so I have everything on my phone.

Forewarned is forearmed. If it's any reassurance, I've used kiwi.com several times without incident - TripAdvisor reviews notwithstanding. (That said, I've also never had any trouble that would have requireed their help...so who knows.)