AMS / Amsterdam Schiphol AA Check-in and lounges
May 29, 2018, 12:22 pm
#16
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I checked the OneWorld lounge finder for AMS on my biz ticket back to the US on AA metal and it said I could use the Aspire lounge and that this lounge was on the non-secure side.
Is is this true? That would seem to mean I might have to leave the lounge an hour before boarding depending on security.
Is is this true? That would seem to mean I might have to leave the lounge an hour before boarding depending on security.
Moderator
Jun 20, 2018, 12:30 pm
#17
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: BNA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 766
Took the flight AMS-DFW yesterday and was surprised that we were shuttled to load the plane via steps, no jetway. Passengers are told if they're not at the gate 30 mins prior to departure they are not obligated to fly.
We arrived 2 hrs early and took that long to get thru check-in, security and make it to the bus. Aspire Lounge is after security, but we didn't stop in.
The flight departed right on time, was a nice haul in J on the 772. We had four sAAvers that we scored right after the new flight/schedule was loaded, made for a happy family.
We arrived 2 hrs early and took that long to get thru check-in, security and make it to the bus. Aspire Lounge is after security, but we didn't stop in.
The flight departed right on time, was a nice haul in J on the 772. We had four sAAvers that we scored right after the new flight/schedule was loaded, made for a happy family.
Jun 30, 2018, 5:13 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite for Life, AA Platinum, United Gold
Posts: 23
AA biz AMS-DFW
I am flying AMS-DFW next Sunday in biz class. I have been to both the Aspire and BA lounge and will try both if I have time. I am staying at the Hampton by the airport so I don’t have to rush.
Jun 30, 2018, 6:19 am
#19
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,417
My conclusions from being in both lounges earlier this year:
- BA: in the morning, it’s a very thin food spread. Yoghurt, a small plate of cold meat and cheese, some breads/pastries. No hot foods. Smaller lounge, but more quiet. Moderately easy to find space to sit/relax.
-Aspire: similar food options as BA with the addition of a hot soup and a hot egg item from a chafing dish. Heineken on tap. More often crowded, harder to find a place to sit in morning, dishes all over the place as staff just can’t keep up with the traffic.
Jul 8, 2018, 2:22 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite for Life, AA Platinum, United Gold
Posts: 23
Aspire Lounge 41
Well it was pretty full this morning and PriorityPass members were not allowed until 11:00. They had a person stationed outside the entrance to check.
Lounge was pretty full but clean and stocked. I had a few rolls, coffee and water. They did have a couple of hot items.
I did not have time to go to the BA lounge.
Sep 15, 2018, 2:00 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047
Hideous auto check in at AMS
just experienced my worse business check in ever!
I ended up checking on 4 times
no deficated line for business travellers
all have to check in again using machine
try to use auto bag check after being manually checked in again at a podium with further passport chrck
bag doesn't fit on auto check in platform
wait for help like at a supermaket auto check out
told to wait in long queue for manual check in
other irate business passengers
finally told one of the queues was business but no signage
finally checked in for the 4th time
told the lady It was the worst buisinesscheck in I-had ever experienced, she initially ignored me. on repeating she said she doesnt work for the airline
she directed me to the AA rep who just said its the way things are going!
totally hideous and doesnt work
Took about half an hour and very high stress levels
I ended up checking on 4 times
no deficated line for business travellers
all have to check in again using machine
try to use auto bag check after being manually checked in again at a podium with further passport chrck
bag doesn't fit on auto check in platform
wait for help like at a supermaket auto check out
told to wait in long queue for manual check in
other irate business passengers
finally told one of the queues was business but no signage
finally checked in for the 4th time
told the lady It was the worst buisinesscheck in I-had ever experienced, she initially ignored me. on repeating she said she doesnt work for the airline
she directed me to the AA rep who just said its the way things are going!
totally hideous and doesnt work
Took about half an hour and very high stress levels
Sep 15, 2018, 4:26 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 153
Welcome to Dougie's HP/US-style of running an airline!
But unfortunately the AA-representative is right - that's the way things are nowadays. Everybody is trying to reduce costs; even the ME3 had significant changes in the last 2-3 years.
Pax want it cheap - cheap as a booze-filled all-nighter in Bulgaria. And that's what the airlines are offering.
But unfortunately the AA-representative is right - that's the way things are nowadays. Everybody is trying to reduce costs; even the ME3 had significant changes in the last 2-3 years.
Pax want it cheap - cheap as a booze-filled all-nighter in Bulgaria. And that's what the airlines are offering.
Sep 15, 2018, 9:28 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Sep 15, 2018, 10:37 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Sep 15, 2018, 2:14 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
AMS as an airport is just an awful experience all around as a traveler, in my experience. Check-in, security, passport control, lounges, miles long hike to the gates, baggage reclaim on inbound, it's all terrible.
Sep 15, 2018, 5:36 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Pricing out a r/t between AMS and PHL, most viable dates for business travel price out at around $3k to $5k. I'm not sure what they charged for business back in the 1980s, but that's hardly cheap.
Sep 15, 2018, 5:42 pm
#30
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Bay Area
Programs: WN A-List, AA good-riddance, Safeway Club Card Extraordinaire
Posts: 3,851
Aside: here's a nice rundown of how "business class" became a thing
