Extra Thorough Immigration at Schiphol now?
Jan 17, 2005, 6:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AMS (SEA, JNB)
Programs: Mucci Reperateur des Coeurs Brises
Posts: 4,107
Extra Thorough Immigration at Schiphol now?
I arrived at AMS with BA at the D-pier, and waited for almost an hour in line for immigration. The queue stretched up past the escalators into the departure hall, and area below was packed with people. I have always been able to get through immigration/customs at AMS in a flash, so this came as something of a surprise.
Is there some specific threat immigration is looking for, or are immigration officials in the Netherlands simply becoming more strict?
Is there some specific threat immigration is looking for, or are immigration officials in the Netherlands simply becoming more strict?
Jan 18, 2005, 4:42 am
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
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Originally Posted by RD1280
Do you have to wait in immigration if you're catching a connecting flight?
Flying KLM next week from ABZ-AMS with only an hour to spare before catching the connecting flight to dubai.
Flying KLM next week from ABZ-AMS with only an hour to spare before catching the connecting flight to dubai.
I assume the OP checked what the Schengen lines were like, but an alternative may have been to a) queue up as a transit pax then just exist to landside from there, or b) walk along to the F pier & see what the queues were like there. Option a for handbaggage only, but I believe all the belts are in a connected customs hall so option B is ok if you've got bags in check.
Jan 18, 2005, 4:48 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Programs: Amex Centurion - BA Silver - IHG Diamond Elite - HHonors Diamond - M&M
Posts: 2,013
Originally Posted by RD1280
Do you have to wait in immigration if you're catching a connecting flight?
Flying KLM next week from ABZ-AMS with only an hour to spare before catching the connecting flight to dubai.
Flying KLM next week from ABZ-AMS with only an hour to spare before catching the connecting flight to dubai.
Sounds like you will be leaving ABZ on the 10:50 arriving AMS at 13:25 then leaving on the KL427 for Dubai at 14:30.
You will arrive from ABZ at the D non shenghen gates and will leave probably from the F gates for Dubai. You do not have to clear any immigration but if you have any sort of delay it could cause a problem as you have a long walk.
pmcg
Jan 18, 2005, 4:54 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Norway
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by simonsmith
Same at manchester the other day: took 45 mins which I have never expoerienced before. They were computer reading every passport.
http://www.schiphol.nl/privium/
Jan 18, 2005, 7:06 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AMS (SEA, JNB)
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Posts: 4,107
Originally Posted by Swiss Tony
No need for immigration clearance on that itin, but if you're going to a Schengen country you will need to go through passport checks on arrival.
I assume the OP checked what the Schengen lines were like, but an alternative may have been to a) queue up as a transit pax then just exist to landside from there, or b) walk along to the F pier & see what the queues were like there. Option a for handbaggage only, but I believe all the belts are in a connected customs hall so option B is ok if you've got bags in check.
I assume the OP checked what the Schengen lines were like, but an alternative may have been to a) queue up as a transit pax then just exist to landside from there, or b) walk along to the F pier & see what the queues were like there. Option a for handbaggage only, but I believe all the belts are in a connected customs hall so option B is ok if you've got bags in check.
The baggage halls (3 of them) are not actually connected, or passengers are not supposed to be able to walk between them.
Jan 18, 2005, 3:06 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
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Posts: 6,174
When the transit queue streched all over the terminal, I've sometimes simply gone out via baggage claim and gotten back in like an AMS originating pax. You can easily see the lines at the security check before you decide on doing that - which can save you lots of time.
Jan 18, 2005, 11:11 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Programs: KL Gold, SQ KF Gold, CX Green
Posts: 9,404
Originally Posted by SchmeckFlyer
The problem is I had hold luggage to collect, which means I had no choice but to go through immigration at the D pier in order to access the baggage hall 1. Otherwise I would have gone through another immigration point.
The baggage halls (3 of them) are not actually connected, or passengers are not supposed to be able to walk between them.
The baggage halls (3 of them) are not actually connected, or passengers are not supposed to be able to walk between them.
For hall 3, you can clear immigration either at the end of Pier F OR Pier G.
Leaving AMS to a non-Schnegen destination, you have the option of using passport control / Security in Hall 1, 2 OR 3. I often walk over to another hall when queues are too long.
