Connection conundrum

[Mark V GTD]

Without wishing to hijack the Easyjet cancellation thread - I have been going over the following in my mind for days now and unable to reach a firm conclusion:

I have a long haul trip coming up, flying out of Amsterdam Schiphol at 18.30 on a Saturday. Theoretically I can get there by 1.00pm same day with Easyjet from Stansted (I need time to collect bags and check in to the long haul flight) but am very worried about trusting an Easyjet in this busy period as if its cancelled or late then pop goes my long haul trip completely as its (obviously) a completely separate airline and not their problem if I fail to check in.

Something tells me getting there the previous evening is the answer and staying in an over-priced hotel is the least stressful route but with hotel costs at £200 a night over there this is not a cheap solution.

Any ideas or do I need to just stop worrying or suck up the hotel cost?

[Bill]

Eurostar?

Or Airbnb somewhere more interesting than the airport?

[randlemarcus]

Treating Easyjet a bit like a public transport bus might do it. Allow at least one possible cancellation to happen, and take the 10am one, for example, so if that one is cancelled, there's always the 12 flight.

Failing that, there's a couple of choices - either get lounge access, and snooze the day with free food if you are getting there at sparrowfart, or get a hotel room in Amsterdam itself - the train trip is short, and VERY frequent.
ETA, or fly KLM from LHR or LCY, and make the connection their issue

Edited by randlemarcus on Wednesday 6th April 20:13

[bigandclever]

I can see loads of hotels within walking distance of Schipol airport for less than £100, check in Friday, check out Saturday

Eg 6/7 May

Edited by bigandclever on Wednesday 6th April 20:14

[Mark V GTD]

Pistonheads at its best - thanks everyone! My head was starting to explode (I also have to factor in a 24 hour Antigen or 72 hour PCR test for my country of final destination too). I will give all this serious thought and thanks again for the responses so far - much appreciated!

[Boringvolvodriver]

Mark V GTD said:

Pistonheads at its best - thanks everyone! My head was starting to explode (I also have to factor in a 24 hour Antigen or 72 hour PCR test for my country of final destination too). I will give all this serious thought and thanks again for the responses so far - much appreciated!

With regard to the LFT test, unless you need to have the test witnessed - Chronomics self test is very good - email results returned very quickly indeed.

[Mark V GTD]

Boringvolvodriver said:

With regard to the LFT test, unless you need to have the test witnessed - Chronomics self test is very good - email results returned very quickly indeed.

To be honest, I am not sure if a Klarity or Chronomics style self upload test is OK for where I am going. I suspect it is as someone on here said that the certificate you get does not make any reference to how the test was done, it just says you are negative. I can get one done at Schiphol airport for the sake of being sure but would be nice to do the cheapo one if its acceptable.

Update: Ordered the Chronomics video supervised test to be on the safe side.

Edited by Mark V GTD on Friday 8th April 11:27

[Carl_Manchester]

Mark V GTD said:

Without wishing to hijack the Easyjet cancellation thread - I have been going over the following in my mind for days now and unable to reach a firm conclusion:

I have a long haul trip coming up, flying out of Amsterdam Schiphol at 18.30 on a Saturday. Theoretically I can get there by 1.00pm same day with Easyjet from Stansted (I need time to collect bags and check in to the long haul flight) but am very worried about trusting an Easyjet in this busy period as if its cancelled or late then pop goes my long haul trip completely as its (obviously) a completely separate airline and not their problem if I fail to check in.

Something tells me getting there the previous evening is the answer and staying in an over-priced hotel is the least stressful route but with hotel costs at £200 a night over there this is not a cheap solution.

Any ideas or do I need to just stop worrying or suck up the hotel cost?

If its just you flying and I definatley need to be in Schiphol or Zurich then London City airport is usually my default choice via KLM/Swissair.

Regular flights to Schiphol and its a small airport that tends to not be as busy on the weekend.

[Mark V GTD]

Thanks Carl. Not been to LCY for years but I am travelling on a Saturday morning. I will look in to it!

[Mark V GTD]

OK - update - finally sorted this out and this is the plan:

Travel to LHR via train/tube on the Friday. (£17)
Stay overnight in hotel close to Terminal 5 (£60)
Take my video supervised Antigen test in the evening and complete the destinations health deceleration form on line.
BA flight to AMS (£82 including luggage), arrives 10.00am.

My thinking is that BA have at least three further flights later that morning to AMS plus there are a couple with KLM so decided that although I am flying on the day its still my best chance of getting to AMS by mid afternoon.

Edited by Mark V GTD on Wednesday 13th April 11:57