KLM Flying Dutchman - Sky Priority D Gates AMS

So.... Can you cut into the queue as signed by the gates, or do you join the long snake?

I tried to join the queue front yesterday and was bounced by the security guard who said "You can only join at the front if the rest of the passengers agree"

Why have the signs at the entrance if you can't cut the lines?

If there is a cordoned line with the SP sign that cuts through the front of the line, yes you can use it.
But of course, there are misinformed (or just uncooperative) agents. :mad:

At AMS when they try this, they quickly back down when you show your CARD with your silver or higher status on it. Not your boarding pass. Your physical card. I've had 'em try it many a time but they have never actually forced me to return to the back of the line once I politely showed them the evidence. AMS is the only airport where I have this issue but it comes up semi-frequently. Could be bad training?

If there is a cordoned line with the SP sign that cuts through the front of the line, yes you can use it.
But of course, there are misinformed (or just uncooperative) agents. :mad:

I've had the issue more when boarding schengen flights where there is the sign, but also resentment. It's still relatively new, but I would insist as this is part of what one is paying for--or has paid for, while earning status.

You have had problems with the KLM gate agents? :eek:
I would assume they'd be aware of SP!!!
Security officers, I can understand a bit...

At AMS when they try this, they quickly back down when you show your CARD with your silver or higher status on it. Not your boarding pass. Your physical card. I've had 'em try it many a time but they have never actually forced me to return to the back of the line once I politely showed them the evidence. AMS is the only airport where I have this issue but it comes up semi-frequently. Could be bad training?

I have lost my Delta card, I hope I'm not sent to the back when I fly next week.

Are all "D" gates now operated with SP?
Are TLV flights always from "D" gates?

I assume the OP refers to those D-gates with their own security scanning system. In this case, the Sky Priority 'skip to the front' signs are only (IIRC) shown once you're through security, going through the BP check. I don't remember seeing anything at the pre-boarding security scan queue.

-- Henry

There was a time when all non-airline lines at AMS (passport control, customs, security) were strictly democratic with no special elite lines. I'm glad that this has changed.

At AMS when they try this, they quickly back down when you show your CARD with your silver or higher status on it. Not your boarding pass. Your physical card.

I don't see why this should make any difference. If you are entitled to Sky Priority (as the signs say), then it should be printed on your boarding pass. In fact, if anything the boarding pass should therefore be more persuasive than showing a card - as the cards do not (yet!) contain the legend "Sky Priority" that appears on the signs.

I assume the OP refers to those D-gates with their own security scanning system. In this case, the Sky Priority 'skip to the front' signs are only (IIRC) shown once you're through security, going through the BP check. I don't remember seeing anything at the pre-boarding security scan queue.


In the non-Schengen D gates, there are indeed signs displayed just outside the security check informing SkyPriority customers (and FB Silver and Skyteam Elite members) that they can proceed directly to the head of the queue.

In the non-Schengen D gates, there are indeed signs displayed just outside the security check informing SkyPriority customers (and FB Silver and Skyteam Elite members) that they can proceed directly to the head of the queue.

I too have had similar experiences where the security guard has sent me to the back of the queue.
After a few of these experiences I do not not normally cut in line here as it "seems too much bother". Not good for selling the SkyPriority product though.

PS. On the other hand, at the gates where they have a dedicated line (some C/D gates, most E/F(/G?) gates) my experience is normally quite different and it works fairly well.

Gajan

Been away and offline for the weekend.

This was at D57 in AMS - with most of the D Gates they now have the Sky Priority "Join the Front of the Line" signs up by the entrance to the gate, near the X-Ray machine.

I was bounced by the security guard - even showing my BP with SP on it and my card.

Doubly unhappy as I was bounced from my flight as my luggage "was late and I couldn't fly without it". This was 25 mins out from departure.

Could this all be an act of "passive aggression" by security personnel? Could it be that Security staff have decided they're not going to follow orders from KLM?

Those who have been sent to the back of the queue may want to consider submitting a complaint via the Schiphol web site. I've done this twice in the last few months, once about Security, once about Immigration. On both occasions Schiphol was pretty quick to respond, by phone. (Don't know if anything has changed as a result of my complaints, though!)

I don't see why this should make any difference. If you are entitled to Sky Priority (as the signs say), then it should be printed on your boarding pass. In fact, if anything the boarding pass should therefore be more persuasive than showing a card - as the cards do not (yet!) contain the legend "Sky Priority" that appears on the signs.



In the non-Schengen D gates, there are indeed signs displayed just outside the security check informing SkyPriority customers (and FB Silver and Skyteam Elite members) that they can proceed directly to the head of the queue.

You're correct that it shouldn't make any difference but for some reason, in some instances, it does. It recently happened to me when trying to enter the priority security line for Schengen departures. Got a long spiel about how I had an economy ticket so wasn't allowed to use the line. I pointed out the platinum on the boarding pass and he didn't budge. I then fished out my card and he fed me some rubbish about how it was new policy to have to show the card.

I too have had similar experiences where the security guard has sent me to the back of the queue.
After a few of these experiences I do not not normally cut in line here as it "seems too much bother". Not good for selling the SkyPriority product though.

PS. On the other hand, at the gates where they have a dedicated line (some C/D gates, most E/F(/G?) gates) my experience is normally quite different and it works fairly well.

Gajan

It certainly seems more appropriate to allow people to bypass the queue when there is an actual divider at the top of the line to separate the passengers into two lines, rather than just providing a sign inviting you to chance your arm and cut directly in front of others who may already have been queueing for a considerable amount of time.

When flying to London last week, I didn't fancy trying to cut in - particularly as there is really no-one there to manage the "merging" of the queues - so I just went back to the end of the (very long) line. Some others arrived much later, perhaps a group of 6 to 8 people, but I was too far back to see if there was really any discussion with the security guards and/or the queueing passengers, and whether they had to insist on being allowed through. They had to wait quite a while before anyone in the existing queue was seemingly willing to make room for them, though. But it's a bit of a paradox - if it's just one or two people, they are probably not going to insist on being allowed in (unless they are total DYKWIAs), but if it's a larger group they have strength in numbers and are more likely to insist, as a group, on being let through, but the larger group is far more likely to annoy those already in the queue.

The real problem is that most of those D gates are designed for a single queue only, and it just doesn't seem "right" to allow people to cut in at the head, even if there is a mobile sign right there saying it should be allowed.

Since when does security control the beginning of the line? There job is some 15 meters further.
And if they check, who would they let through? If the line is not for SP pax, why have a separate queue at all? Close it or let the eligible pax through without nonsense story or stupidity fuss.

Since when does security control the beginning of the line? There job is some 15 meters further.

I think what you call the "beginning", I'd call the "end".

But regardless, if someone tries to join the head of the queue and can't negotiate with the passengers already there, it is inevitable that someone will appeal to the security guard standing outside the metal detector to intervene, if they haven't already involved themselves at that point.

And it seems that the security guard is just as likely to send the Sky Priority passenger back to the end of the queue, as to allow them through, judging from the comments here. Which means KLM may just as well remove those stupid signs at these gates.

Even then; their job is to control pax and luggage of hazardous items. Not to police the queue and obstruct people who have the benefit to use a separate line.
Again KLM fails to implement priority at the gate at their hub. :td:

Even then; their job is to control pax and luggage of hazardous items. Not to police the queue and obstruct people who have the benefit to use a separate line.

Indeed! The security agents don't seem to have a problem allowing crew to jump to the head of the queue, so what's the big deal with folks who have the clearly-visible "Sky Priority" logo on their BPs?

Again KLM fails to implement priority at the gate at their hub. :td:

Actually, I'm not sure one can entirely blame KLM - I presume they don't have managerial control over security staff.

On the issue of a single queue with an invitation to "proceed directly to the front," I have reservations. Some folks are just too 'decent' or 'shy' to jump the line.* In fact, sometimes this happens at passport control going from outside to the non-Schengen zone: the "Priority Lane" is just a separate gate that leads into the head of the main (often quite long) queue; I've witnessed, on several occasions, folks in front of me with biz-class BPs that seem unwilling to step out in front of the line coming in from their left - but they shouldn't have to face this dilemma: priority is a paid-for (biz) or earned (elite) privilege, after all.

-- Henry

* I used to be, myself, in the early days of my Elite status; but I've becpome used to it, now, and just treat disdainful glances from those pax I step in front of with a nonchalant shrug of the shoulders.

but they shouldn't have to face this dilemma: priority is a paid-for (biz) or earned (elite) privilege, after all.

-- Henry


Agree!

But sure KLM has to have some influence at their hub as by far the biggest carrier and customer! Otherwise they'll have to have a good talk with Schiphol!

With these ridiculous happenings (apparently, reports are quite a lot and very recent so will it have to do with SP?) it's almost absurd to have a separate line at all.

If this happens again, I'd advice to keep complaining to KLM and Schiphol. It must not be that hard for a gate agent to have a sight at the queue or brief security (which of course should be his/her primarily task but circumstances demand so). Time for KLM to step up. The concept seems nice but it would be a true shame if KLM/ST wants to improve and stupid security ruins everything.