grandgeezer Posted January 26, 2015 #1 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I'm checking for air fare, to Barcelona, for the transatlantic on the Allure in October. I've limited it down to two, one goes through Paris, and the other through Amsterdam. The cost and total travel times are close. Any opinions on which airport would be best for this trip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rancher Dave Posted January 26, 2015 #2 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I'm more impressed with AMS than CDG airports for transferring flights and even for arriving and departing a destination. Either should ultimately be fine if only there a short time on the way to Barcelona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexi731 Posted January 26, 2015 #3 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I travel to Europe a lot for work (12 times in 2014) and choose Amsterdam (AMS) nearly every time. I prefer KLM as a carrier over Air France as well for the leg to BCN. AMS is well organized, signage is in English an has interesting shops to pass the time during a layover. Any questions, feel free to ask. Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekdskier Posted January 26, 2015 #4 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Amsterdam No Contest! Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomatosauce Posted January 26, 2015 #5 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I would go with Amsterdam airport as there is something about landing somewhere that used to be a lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Needzavacation Posted January 26, 2015 #6 Share Posted January 26, 2015 One other thing to consider is the availability of later flights to Barcelona, in case you miss your initial connnection. With delays and mechanical failures, you can't always rely on arriving on time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandgeezer Posted January 26, 2015 Author #7 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Thanks for the great feedback. We are going two days early so we can spend more time in Barcelona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvtheWater117 Posted January 26, 2015 #8 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Amsterdam- very easy to get around because all signs are also in English. Also as said before they have a really neat shopping center that you could easily kill some time in. I may be biased since my in laws live in The Netherlands but it is one airport in Europe I would feel comfortable traveling alone in Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathep Posted January 26, 2015 #9 Share Posted January 26, 2015 There tend to be fewer random strikes in Amsterdam. Each time I've been to Paris, there's been some group striking that affects CDG. Paris is my favorite city in the world. CDG is way down on the list of my favorite airports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willing292 Posted January 26, 2015 #10 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Amsterdam, hands down Shirley, Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deptacon Posted January 26, 2015 #11 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Travelled to Europe with work a lot....CDG Is awful. AMS hands down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmf123 Posted January 26, 2015 #12 Share Posted January 26, 2015 grandgeezer, by chance have you obtained a quote from Royal Caribbean's ChoiceAir? Their one way airfare, when booking a transatlantic sailing, often has great rates. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandgeezer Posted January 26, 2015 Author #13 Share Posted January 26, 2015 grandgeezer, by chance have you obtained a quote from Royal Caribbean's ChoiceAir? Their one way airfare, when booking a transatlantic sailing, often has great rates. :) This will be our fifth transatlantic and we've used Choice Air on all of them. It's hard to beat $530 p.p. Phoenix to Barcelona or Barcelona to Phoenix. Thanks for looking out for me though. It looks like the winner is going through Amsterdam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Con5421 Posted January 26, 2015 #14 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I'm from The Netherlands so i now Amsterdam Airport very good. It's nice to see that the most off you say we have a great airport makes me proud. But's true we have a good airport. They all speak English and sings are also in English. We don't strike and you can shop good on the airport lot off shops. There's also a small casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxHadleyxx Posted January 26, 2015 #15 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I think it is unanimous. Amsterdam Schiphol is a really nice airport. CHG is just a mess. DH travels 40+ weeks a year and will take an extra connection if he has to to avoid that mess. It is my all time least favourite airport (and lost/delayed luggage either plagues that airport or us there---our family has had 6 issues with that at CHG out of 9 issues total in all of our travels for the last 20 years. Yet, we go through there much less than many other airports). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumisid Posted January 26, 2015 #16 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Definitely Amsterdam! Avoid CDG, it's a horrible airport. Air France is about the same as KLM, no good food, no good service, but at least KLM employees usually don't strike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grand isle joe Posted January 26, 2015 #17 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Definitely Amsterdam! Avoid CDG, it's a horrible airport. Air France is about the same as KLM, no good food, no good service, but at least KLM employees usually don't strike. I agree 1000%.......if you need your suitcase with clean clothes than avoid CDG at all costs.....if they gave me FREE airfare I would decline if I had to fly through "Pariee":eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kccrzr Posted January 26, 2015 #18 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I have been through both several times and will never elect to fly through CDG again. We missed a connecting flight for a cruise once because someone at the airport "forgot" to unlock the gangway door to our incoming flight and after customs, shuttle, security line and running through the airport towing two small kids along the way we were denied boarding the flight to BCN because they had just closed the door to the gangway for that flight. Kids got stuck in Paris for two extra days several years ago on a trip with a teacher - we suspect it was due to serious overbooking due to the French Open. We've never had a problem with AMS. It is modern, clean and has some great restaurants if you have some time to kill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minn0315 Posted January 26, 2015 #19 Share Posted January 26, 2015 CDG is a nightmare! Poor signage and security is so slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topo Gigio Posted January 26, 2015 #20 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Another vote for Schiphol. Having lived in Holland for 9 years and traveling thru most european airports, I must say that Schiphol is indeed the winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john watson Posted January 26, 2015 #21 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Amsterdam Schipol Airport is easier to use as there is a single massive terminal. Paris Charles de Gaulle has about three terminals so you may need to change terminals which adds complications plus there is more than one airport in Paris. If you need to change airports in the City thats tricky. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted January 26, 2015 #22 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Add us to the Schiphol crowd. Amsterdam's airport is one of the best in Europe for those that have to change planes. As to CDG, while we have often used it for direct flights, we avoid it like the plague if we would have to change planes at that airport. Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mskaufman Posted January 26, 2015 #23 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I haven't been to AMS but we went to Barcelona through CDG and it was not a great experience. We had to change terminals and actually go through the security line again. The terminal we were in had very few food options, which did not help during a several hour layover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rala Posted January 26, 2015 #24 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I have not personally been through the Amsterdam airport. However, my daughter has frequently and has no complaints. I HAVE been through CDG in Paris and it is the absolute worst airport experience I have ever had. No signage, very unhelpful personnel, terrible layout....JUST HORRIBLE. Can you tell I didn't like it?:D Definitely go with Amsterdam. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roothy123 Posted January 27, 2015 #25 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Agree with the votes for Schiphol. Until we flew a couple times connecting in Heathrow, CDG was our least favorite airport of the ones we had visited in Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now