HadesNL

I didn't even know RTM had a lounge before!

You are right though, late arrivals means the airport is like a ghosttown.
Surprisingly they don't ask the last passenger to turn off the lightswitch and lock up the doors

HadesNL

Just received an answer from the PrimaVista lounge,
they confirmed that BA business class (Club Europe) will enjoy FREE access to their lounge.

source:

StanStorby

Thanks for this heads-up!
Looking forward to your review.
Even from Belgium I do try to catch a BA flight from Zestienhoven instead of AMS (IF the flight is not cancelled ...)
Pre-covid: Thalys to Rotterdam-Centraal and then bus 33 if I remember correctly. Those were the days :-)

Stan

HadesNL

StanStorby : You're welcome!
Your memory serves you well,
bus33 is still in the timetable to Rotterdam Centraal station but also operates now as a direct link to the metro "Meijersplein/airport"
(of where can reach Rotterdam Centraal / City Centre / Den Haag Centraal by metro:
https://www.ret.nl/en/home/travel-pr...e-airport.html )

HadesNL

Official mention on Oneworld loungefinder:
https://www.oneworld.com/airport-lounges?location=RTM

Access confirmed for Sapphire and Emeralds:

HadesNL

As promised my exploration of the new lounge at RTM airport.
Plus + a step by step guide of the BA departure experience for its daily flights to London City

This will be a photo intensive post as to benefit the reader and to have expectations set accordingly.
It might come handy as future reference for those wishing to evade the madness at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
For those travelling from Amsterdam, always consult the supportive thread : Mess in AMS today - April 2022 onwards for the latest updates.

To start with, this is the situation for our BA 4452 flight to LCY departing at 10.05 mornings.
All other departures at RTM:

(departing during the clusterconcentration of morning 7H or afternoon 17H Transavia HV flights -each 737 capacity- will have more people everywhere)


Departures today




Not busy at the departures hall at 8 morning




BA checkin has two counters:
- only opens 2hrs before flight
- always to the utterleft side of the terminal building
- no seperate priority checkin desk offered
- only status passengers will get priority luggage tags

About BA seatselection fees for Club Europe on RTM-LCY route:

€37 any other seat then bulkhead
€41 bulkhead seat 1AB & 2CD (no overhead space due to equipment)
per flight sector on this route
always operated by E190 aircraft






Above the BA checkin counters is the lounge


Then you proceed to security, located in the middle of the terminal:



This was the line for economy security
Priority security for BA Club Europe enters from the right
Staff will be checking boarding pass



After security (easy peasy thanks to the solaribed scan)
All items can be left in your bags

Go left,
Head past the restaurant to the left again

And find this sign:


Go up the elevator or stairs to the upper floor




You will be dropped here, continue on to the right




Past the prayer room




Past the toilet block,
The lounge has no own restrooms so you'll be using these




Entry to lounge




Reception, they will scan your boarding pass




We accept these customers also




Looking right inside




Facing reception




Newspapers




Reading material




Mints are for customers only




Rotterdam books




QE2 : jubilee hip hip hurray, hear hear!



English magazines



Looking towards all the seats




Seating area




Looking towards the buffet and reception




Very low but comfy seats




Every seat block shares these power outlets




Drinks





Food on carbs




Food





Food




Toastier




Coffeemachine





Its brand of coffeemachine





Teas




Waterdispenser





Seating area





Wines





Bubbly




Adult beverages




Views


Hope this will give you all an insight in what to expect.

Conclusion:
A clean and quiet place to wait.
Internet was fast.
Toilets are just outside the lounge.
The amount of gin seems to cater to British tastes
An added value if it comes inclusive (ticket/status/prioritypass etc)
but for €25 access fee you need to see if you can make it worthwile by chucking away the gin!

PS: Rotterdam airport is such a delight to use, no Qs here !
Although beware morning departures around 7H and 17H afternoon can get busier.....


Bonus:
As you may have known, RTM airport has done some refurbs.
This is the actual situation now for those departing on the BA service to LCY

All usual services and the restaurant are in the secure area after security check and before passport control.

1)BA gates will always be no.10 / 11 (non schengen dedicated)
These can be reached after Kmar passport control.
They will have 2 counters open: 1 EU and 1 all passports
There is no priority here

After formalities are done, the following is available:
1) vending machines
2) toilets (ladies & gents)
3) outdoorsy waiting area

If the BA flight is fully booked,
If the bus is being used to get passengers to the aircraft (instead of walking across the apron)
Then there will be 2 busses deployed.
Caution: the first one is a zoo, rather take the second one.....
There is no priority boarding here

Boarding the aircraft will be using 2 set of stairs at the front and at the back

To illustrate:


After passport control




This is the waiting area for gates 10/11 (non schengen)





There is an outdoors area for much needed "fresh air"
It serves as an overflow area for the gate holdroom



Busses can be used to ferry passengers to the plane





Vending machines are the only concessions at gates 10/11
Toilets are also available for a last minute go




Boarding the aircraft is always via the front




And always also boarding via the back

delpiero223

We had quite a different experience in mid-May 2022 on the 7 am flight:

Security line was packed due to all the Transavia flights departing in the morning. We looked for a fast track at security, but couldn't find any. Staff told us that this is not offered any more. Despite holding a business ticket we had to queue up for 15 to 20 min.

Lounge was closed "due to staff shortage". Instead, we were offered a voucher, redeemable for any 3 breakfast items from the cafe. When we got to pay, the cashier insisted that it was only valid for a maximum of €15 (don't remember the exact amount, maybe it was only €13). Therefore we had to pay an additional €3 each for a juice and two sandwiches.

Sandwiches were good, though. Looked way better than the lounge food above. But you don't get to choose lounge or voucher anyway.

Service on-board was lovely with a hot English breakfast offered.

nldogbert

This was indeed what happened to my a few years ago, when vouchers were the norm - I was told and I believe it was also written on the voucher any 3 items with no max monetary value - and at the cashier, I had the same discussion. As I wanted to make my stand, (not trying to be a DYKWIA) - but just because it did seem like the cashier was making her own rules - I did create a small scene as I pointed to the printed voucher to ask her politely to point me to where this max value is printed- requested for a supervisor (who never materialized) - and in the end, she just waived me through. I did write a complain to BA after that incident to just make them aware of the situation.
I don't know why this happens - I suspect it could be a confusion between maybe voucher provided by airlines when there's significant delay to these vouchers for premium pax. Or the company running the business and collecting the fees from BA trying to max their profit.

As for me I would not mind using RTM airport more often, however getting there via public transportation for me is much more messy compared to getting to Schiphol especially with luggage.

Cheers!

HadesNL

delpiero223 & nldogbert How dissapointing concerning the vouchers.
From the past i remember cashing them in as 1 voucher equals = 3 beers, no problems there...

Indeed the morning and afternoon bank of Transavia creates a huge influx of holiday travellers departing.
Now up to 12 aircraft can park at RTM airport for departures/arrivals.
Usually 737 types.

HadesNL

Slightly off-topic....

For those interested this post will show you the arrivals procedure at Rotterdam.


Arrival flight BA4453 at 14.40H on Monday 6th June 2022
Aircraft after landing will reach a parking position on the apron.



Disembarking the aircraft will be via (uncovered) stairs,
(There are covered stairs but these were in use by a Transavia flight who arrived just before us)





If the aircraft is parked away from the terminal and/or other aircraft are on the apron,
Busses will be used,
In case of a full flight, 2 busses will be deployed



Disembarking via the front stairs




Disembarking via the back stairs




In some cases you are allowed to walk to the arrival hall if the aircraft is parked closeby


After reaching the arrivals hall,
you will be herded towards Kmar passport control
(because of non-schengen point of orgin)
in a zigzag Q.

Of the 6 counters available,
they will have 2 booths open if no other non-schengen flight arrives at the same time.
The left one for EU, the right one for all passports.
No E-gates or priority here.
Wheelchair passengers pushed by ground staff will skip the Q to the front.

In the baggage claim area are two belts for arriving luggage.
A desk from ground services Aviapartner is manned for luggage inquiries.

Baggage claim area




Luggage identification sheet at Aviapartner counter




You will find here:
- toilets M/F/disabled impaired.
- Vending machines selling OV-chipkaart (= Dutch style Oyster Travel card) for all public transport services
- An ATM for €


Vending machines for OV-chipcard : contactless public transport payment card like London's Oyster card




Customs operates 2 dedicated lanes with officals standing at the exit door when leaving the secure area into the main public arrivals hall.

Exit the terminal building to the left and you will find:
- the busstop taking you to Rotterdam Centraal railway station / City Centre or Metrostation Meijersplein (towards Den Haag Centraal)
- taxi stand
- several airport hotels
(Ibis Budget / Fletcher / Fletcher Wings)
avoid the Fletcher ones:
read about the group and their hotels https://www.trustpilot.com/review/fletcher.nl : switch to Dutch for more despair)



Bus stop left of the terminal building





There is also a Best Western Plus airport hotel if you walk out from the terminal right,
past the smoking zone,
and follow the road bend "Rotterdam Airport baan" towards the highway/petrol station.


Hope this helps provide some clarity.
RTM arrivals can be a good alternative vs AMS airport arrivals during the ungoing chaos of upcoming summer holidays.

Globaliser

Thanks for the updates.

From the photos, it looks like the shed has already completely gone - is that right? I know that it was only temporary, but I actually rather liked it.

HadesNL

Yes indeed,
the wooden shed was a temp untill they built the modern hall.
The shed did give a familiair Epping forest feeling and throw back to early aviation days.
Mighty drafty in the shed always then...especially in the winter when bloomers were essential...

BOH

A bit OT but is RTM on either a mainline train or tram stop? Or is it a bus to somewhere first?

Tim

Jordi14

Unfortunately not, bus first.

flatlander

How is the security and ground handling situation there, particularly vis-a-vis Schiphol? Is RTM working OK and not all screwed up ?