Was mentioned in the mess in amsterdam thread by KLflyerRalph
but most suitable to put here the English version,
so to inform (ir)regular users of the the VIP Centre

source in Dutch
https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/nede...dingen-privium

translated:
After the Privium priority service, the ultra-luxury VIP service at Schiphol is no longer accessible to new travelers. Those who had the money could skip the long lines at the airport in this way, but due to the great interest that route is now closed. Travelers who want to catch their flight at any cost can no longer use the VIP center. "At this time, unfortunately, we are unable to accept reservation requests from new guests," reads a message on the airport's website. Existing VIPs are still welcome. Cost

Since long queues formed at the airport this spring due to staff shortages, the VIP service has quickly gained popularity. The airport handled at least 17,500 VIP passengers in 2018 and a record number of 20,000 in 2019 (until then). That record was already broken in the first nine months this year. Until October 1, 21,500 travelers used the VIP service, a spokesperson reported to RTL Nieuws. There are so many that the airport is now putting a stop to them.

A Schiphol spokesperson confirms that for the time being, Schiphol's VIP service can only be booked by customers who have used the service before. "Due to the large amount of requests, we can only accommodate the VIP service for our regular guests."

Separate security

The crowds at the VIP service are financially attractive to Schiphol. A VIP package costs more than 600 euros for the first passenger, the rest of the travel group can enter for 278 euros per person.

For this amount, VIP travelers are received in a special VIP center at Departure Hall 3, with luxurious lounges and refined catering. Due to the presence of their own security check and even military police who come to the waiting area to check the passports, the VIP passengers avoid the long lines. When it's time to leave, they are transported by car to the plane stairs. Schiphol's VIP service was one of the last options to avoid queues at the airport, after the Privium priority service was temporarily closed to new customers in the spring. The existing 63,000 Privium members are given priority at regular security checks and are welcome in special lounges behind customs. But in the summer they also had to join the queue on extremely busy days to get into the terminal buildings at all.

VIPs cost capacity

According to FNV, it is a good thing that the VIP service is temporarily closed to new travelers, to prevent this service from claiming even more staff capacity than is already the case. "You always need a minimum number of four security guards on the VIP service," says FNV campaign manager Joost van Doesburg.

"More VIP travelers would be good for Schiphol Group's income. But the queues for normal passengers and the workload of the security guards who work at a normal security point would increase, because then security guards would probably have to be removed from there to go to the VIP center." to go."

According to Van Doesburg, there is hardly any drop-out among security guards who have to check the VIPs. "Allowing people to do their work in a normal way with a clear number of passengers per shift is therefore the key to a reliable security system. Travelers benefit from this." ministers

Most of the regular guests who are still welcome in Schiphol's VIP center are members of the cabinet. If they use a regular scheduled flight for a business trip, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, it is standard procedure for ministers to use the VIP center 'for security reasons and to ensure an efficient division of time'. This applies not only to the ministers, but also to their closest employees.

The declaration overviews show that ministers and state secretaries have declared at least 71 stays in the VIP center since the summer of 2021.

FNV member Van Doesburg calls on ministers to exchange the VIP service for the regular terminals. "It would be good if VIP travelers, including members of the cabinet, also stand in a four-hour queue once. That gives them time to think about the reason behind the long queues and in particular the too high workload and the low wages of people who work at Schiphol."