Synopsis
Return home: an early morning flight from Zurich to Schiphol followed by a non-stop back to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Hoping for uneventful travel as we’ll likely be tired, drained, and brain-dead.
Commentary
Tired, yes; brain-dead, no; ready to go home, maybe. Despite any wishes to continue, I’m running out of clean unmentionables and am not paying the exorbitant fees so we’re going home. We’re going home.
Our 7am Zurich for Schiphol requires a 3am alarm and a 4:15 Uber. After a slight delay wandering around looking for the KLM check-in desks, we’re checked-in with our bags tagged for Minneapolis-St. Paul. We’re cautiously optimistic that a two-hour layover in Schiphol is long enough for ground staff to transfer our bags between planes but it really doesn’t matter: we’re going home where an abundance of clothes and charging cables await.
The layover is long enough for a little shopping and a brunch/lunch, though unfortunately the Priority Pass lounge at capacity with a long queue of passengers hoping to get it. The time goes quickly and soon we’re off to our departure gate!
A well-known hack is for a couple to book the aisle and window seats and hope the middle seat stays empty, as middle seats are (obviously) the least desirable – especially on an international flight – and therefore assigned to the unfortunate. And it almost worked. despite a announced full plane.
Delta canceled their flight to MSP, so KLM swapped planes to accommodate passengers on the canceled flight. Just before the aircraft doors closed – and after our selfie was taken – a woman claimed her seat. Her Sofia to Schiphol landed late, after our scheduled departure time, but KLM held the plane for her and a few others. Bummer. I scooted over to the middle and our row partner got the aisle.
An uneventful flight, other than my constant cough from a cold/tickle/allergie/whatever caught during the trip, with much improved food compared to Delta’s recent offering. We arrive, cleared immigrations quickly (thanks, Global Entry), and awaited our bags. Happily, not only did our bags arrive, they were among the first to appear on the carousel. Through customs and time to schedule our Uber!
A short 50 minutes between wheels down to Uber dropping us at our front door, and that concluded our Great Swiss Railway tour.
Image Credits
- photos © 2025 Scott C Sosna, all rights reserved
