State of Schiphol for BA (to LHR) queues etc?
Jun 24, 2022, 12:41 pm
#181
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 118
I can confirm the queues are back in Schipol. I waited 90 minutes to get through security. Pretty unpleasant. BA lounge still closed. Aspire Lounge not awful but not great. 90 minute delay on the BA2763 AMS-LGW operated by Iberia Express, much to crew disgust it seemed. I suppose this is my comeuppance, given what a great flight out I had.
Jun 24, 2022, 12:48 pm
#182
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Sussex
Programs: BA; IHG; LHW; Hilton
Posts: 788
I can confirm the queues are back in Schipol. I waited 90 minutes to get through security. Pretty unpleasant. BA lounge still closed. Aspire Lounge not awful but not great. 90 minute delay on the BA2763 AMS-LGW operated by Iberia Express, much to crew disgust it seemed. I suppose this is my comeuppance, given what a great flight out I had.
Jun 25, 2022, 12:24 am
#185
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,670
A friend of my daughter had a flight out yesterday from AMS around lunchtime, she turned up 4 hours before departure time and still missed it due to the queues. Airline did not want to know, it would not give her a refund / alternative flight saying their flight was on-time and queues for security are down to the airport therefore not within their control.
Last edited by BOH; Jun 25, 2022 at 1:01 am Reason: Typos / Grammar
Jun 25, 2022, 12:56 am
#186
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,222
As soon as you get upstairs the queue splits between 'economy' to the left and 'economy + priority' to the right. To get to priority, you have to turn right and in a very un-British like fashion, jump that queue to get to the front where they will check your BP. IIRC, you then go up a further flight of stairs and the entrance to 'priority" is on the right where there is a further BP check.
Jun 25, 2022, 2:35 am
#187
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: AMS/LON
Programs: BAEC Silver, TK Gold, Eurostar CB, FB Explorer
Posts: 242
OP here - reporting back after a recent r/t and with my partner's experience too. It's nice to see this thread is still useful, and very much not nice to see it's still needed.
I have Privium, so my experience is very different to the majority at AMS for both arrivals and departures. My partner doesn't have it, and flew yesterday.
AMS-LON earlier in the week, evening flight with BA, HBO. Arrived 3 hours early, prepping for chaos. Some queues apparent but not the "snaking round the outside" there has been lately.
Priority line easy to get to up the stairs. Someone on the priority gate checking Privium cards against names manually (reportedly people have been "sharing" them to allow access to security - which doesn't check against name/ no eye-scanner) and also strictly enforcing premium access - eg no guests for FFP members.
This was causing a lot of unhappiness. Many red-faced KLM golds/ plats with partners/ kids in tow trying to bring them in to the priority line and being unhappy when declined. The security person had a matrix with acceptable cards and was following it (BA Bronze up allows access)
Reportedly, getting to this point (someone checks your access rights) can be tricky, but it was fine this week.
Then into security scanning (very easy with the excellent new scanners, which even allow 500ml liquids) and through to passports - small queue for Non EU/ no queue for Privium or EU.
"BA" (it's not operated by BA anymore, but instead it's prima vista group) Lounge still closed - but activity inside. It doesn't have the feel of being closed permanently, but equally doesn't seem to be opening any time soon.
Aspire lounge next to it still accepting BA silver and up, and allowing guests as per usual rules. I went to Privium.
Time taken - 30 mins from train to lounge.
Return LON-AMS
Flight delay due to slots at AMS - this is a slightly unreported factor atm - there are few runways in use and lots of go-slows and sickness, so it's a real lottery.
Queue to get to passport was enormous - stretching out to D Gates, and closed to new entries (being directed to one of the other passport blocks some way away) Privium shown rather optimistically to the marshall at the head of the queue, but then to my surprise, they opened a tensa barrier and I did a long walk with no-one in front of me, then downstairs and a massive queue but Privium worked and through. Time from landing to baggage claim (I had checked some oversized baggage which arrived very quickly, to my surprise) - 30 minutes.
My partner - flying with no status on KLM, non Schengen to Asia, last night - arrived >4 hours ahead, HBO, and almost missed it. Massive queues, security slow, only one passport booth - everything that could be slow, was. Time taken from train to gate - 4.5 hours.
HTH and hope it's not needed for much longer, but I expect Schiphol to be like this until Autumn at least.
My next few trips (eg booked since it started to meltdown) are either from RTM or are on the Eurostar...
Have a good weekend everyone.
Happyintheair
I have Privium, so my experience is very different to the majority at AMS for both arrivals and departures. My partner doesn't have it, and flew yesterday.
AMS-LON earlier in the week, evening flight with BA, HBO. Arrived 3 hours early, prepping for chaos. Some queues apparent but not the "snaking round the outside" there has been lately.
Priority line easy to get to up the stairs. Someone on the priority gate checking Privium cards against names manually (reportedly people have been "sharing" them to allow access to security - which doesn't check against name/ no eye-scanner) and also strictly enforcing premium access - eg no guests for FFP members.
This was causing a lot of unhappiness. Many red-faced KLM golds/ plats with partners/ kids in tow trying to bring them in to the priority line and being unhappy when declined. The security person had a matrix with acceptable cards and was following it (BA Bronze up allows access)
Reportedly, getting to this point (someone checks your access rights) can be tricky, but it was fine this week.
Then into security scanning (very easy with the excellent new scanners, which even allow 500ml liquids) and through to passports - small queue for Non EU/ no queue for Privium or EU.
"BA" (it's not operated by BA anymore, but instead it's prima vista group) Lounge still closed - but activity inside. It doesn't have the feel of being closed permanently, but equally doesn't seem to be opening any time soon.
Aspire lounge next to it still accepting BA silver and up, and allowing guests as per usual rules. I went to Privium.
Time taken - 30 mins from train to lounge.
Return LON-AMS
Flight delay due to slots at AMS - this is a slightly unreported factor atm - there are few runways in use and lots of go-slows and sickness, so it's a real lottery.
Queue to get to passport was enormous - stretching out to D Gates, and closed to new entries (being directed to one of the other passport blocks some way away) Privium shown rather optimistically to the marshall at the head of the queue, but then to my surprise, they opened a tensa barrier and I did a long walk with no-one in front of me, then downstairs and a massive queue but Privium worked and through. Time from landing to baggage claim (I had checked some oversized baggage which arrived very quickly, to my surprise) - 30 minutes.
My partner - flying with no status on KLM, non Schengen to Asia, last night - arrived >4 hours ahead, HBO, and almost missed it. Massive queues, security slow, only one passport booth - everything that could be slow, was. Time taken from train to gate - 4.5 hours.
HTH and hope it's not needed for much longer, but I expect Schiphol to be like this until Autumn at least.
My next few trips (eg booked since it started to meltdown) are either from RTM or are on the Eurostar...
Have a good weekend everyone.
Happyintheair
Last edited by happyintheair; Jun 25, 2022 at 2:45 am
Jun 25, 2022, 3:17 am
#188
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,449
RTM - took around 90 seconds to clear security on Wednesday. If you are flying point to point LCY-RTM is the dream route as both airports and Cityflyer are all fit for purpose, unlike a number of other airports and airlines.
Jun 25, 2022, 4:38 am
#189
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 118
As soon as you get upstairs the queue splits between 'economy' to the left and 'economy + priority' to the right. To get to priority, you have to turn right and in a very un-British like fashion, jump that queue to get to the front where they will check your BP. IIRC, you then go up a further flight of stairs and the entrance to 'priority" is on the right where there is a further BP check.
Jun 25, 2022, 9:29 am
#192
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,671
OP here - reporting back after a recent r/t and with my partner's experience too. It's nice to see this thread is still useful, and very much not nice to see it's still needed.
I have Privium, so my experience is very different to the majority at AMS for both arrivals and departures. My partner doesn't have it, and flew yesterday.
AMS-LON earlier in the week, evening flight with BA, HBO. Arrived 3 hours early, prepping for chaos. Some queues apparent but not the "snaking round the outside" there has been lately.
Priority line easy to get to up the stairs. Someone on the priority gate checking Privium cards against names manually (reportedly people have been "sharing" them to allow access to security - which doesn't check against name/ no eye-scanner) and also strictly enforcing premium access - eg no guests for FFP members.
This was causing a lot of unhappiness. Many red-faced KLM golds/ plats with partners/ kids in tow trying to bring them in to the priority line and being unhappy when declined. The security person had a matrix with acceptable cards and was following it (BA Bronze up allows access)
Reportedly, getting to this point (someone checks your access rights) can be tricky, but it was fine this week.
Then into security scanning (very easy with the excellent new scanners, which even allow 500ml liquids) and through to passports - small queue for Non EU/ no queue for Privium or EU.
"BA" (it's not operated by BA anymore, but instead it's prima vista group) Lounge still closed - but activity inside. It doesn't have the feel of being closed permanently, but equally doesn't seem to be opening any time soon.
Aspire lounge next to it still accepting BA silver and up, and allowing guests as per usual rules. I went to Privium.
Time taken - 30 mins from train to lounge.
Return LON-AMS
Flight delay due to slots at AMS - this is a slightly unreported factor atm - there are few runways in use and lots of go-slows and sickness, so it's a real lottery.
Queue to get to passport was enormous - stretching out to D Gates, and closed to new entries (being directed to one of the other passport blocks some way away) Privium shown rather optimistically to the marshall at the head of the queue, but then to my surprise, they opened a tensa barrier and I did a long walk with no-one in front of me, then downstairs and a massive queue but Privium worked and through. Time from landing to baggage claim (I had checked some oversized baggage which arrived very quickly, to my surprise) - 30 minutes.
My partner - flying with no status on KLM, non Schengen to Asia, last night - arrived >4 hours ahead, HBO, and almost missed it. Massive queues, security slow, only one passport booth - everything that could be slow, was. Time taken from train to gate - 4.5 hours.
HTH and hope it's not needed for much longer, but I expect Schiphol to be like this until Autumn at least.
My next few trips (eg booked since it started to meltdown) are either from RTM or are on the Eurostar...
Have a good weekend everyone.
Happyintheair
I have Privium, so my experience is very different to the majority at AMS for both arrivals and departures. My partner doesn't have it, and flew yesterday.
AMS-LON earlier in the week, evening flight with BA, HBO. Arrived 3 hours early, prepping for chaos. Some queues apparent but not the "snaking round the outside" there has been lately.
Priority line easy to get to up the stairs. Someone on the priority gate checking Privium cards against names manually (reportedly people have been "sharing" them to allow access to security - which doesn't check against name/ no eye-scanner) and also strictly enforcing premium access - eg no guests for FFP members.
This was causing a lot of unhappiness. Many red-faced KLM golds/ plats with partners/ kids in tow trying to bring them in to the priority line and being unhappy when declined. The security person had a matrix with acceptable cards and was following it (BA Bronze up allows access)
Reportedly, getting to this point (someone checks your access rights) can be tricky, but it was fine this week.
Then into security scanning (very easy with the excellent new scanners, which even allow 500ml liquids) and through to passports - small queue for Non EU/ no queue for Privium or EU.
"BA" (it's not operated by BA anymore, but instead it's prima vista group) Lounge still closed - but activity inside. It doesn't have the feel of being closed permanently, but equally doesn't seem to be opening any time soon.
Aspire lounge next to it still accepting BA silver and up, and allowing guests as per usual rules. I went to Privium.
Time taken - 30 mins from train to lounge.
Return LON-AMS
Flight delay due to slots at AMS - this is a slightly unreported factor atm - there are few runways in use and lots of go-slows and sickness, so it's a real lottery.
Queue to get to passport was enormous - stretching out to D Gates, and closed to new entries (being directed to one of the other passport blocks some way away) Privium shown rather optimistically to the marshall at the head of the queue, but then to my surprise, they opened a tensa barrier and I did a long walk with no-one in front of me, then downstairs and a massive queue but Privium worked and through. Time from landing to baggage claim (I had checked some oversized baggage which arrived very quickly, to my surprise) - 30 minutes.
My partner - flying with no status on KLM, non Schengen to Asia, last night - arrived >4 hours ahead, HBO, and almost missed it. Massive queues, security slow, only one passport booth - everything that could be slow, was. Time taken from train to gate - 4.5 hours.
HTH and hope it's not needed for much longer, but I expect Schiphol to be like this until Autumn at least.
My next few trips (eg booked since it started to meltdown) are either from RTM or are on the Eurostar...
Have a good weekend everyone.
Happyintheair
Other half is going in a couple of weeks with a 3pm departure. Guess he'll need to head out there for 11am to be safe!
I'm transiting through in a few weeks too. Non-Shengen to Shengen and v.v. a couple of days later. Outbound is early in the morning. I booked a flight that gives me 2hr20m instead of the more convenient 50m transfer. Coming back I have 1 hr transfer but that is around 6pm and not so bothered as hopefully they will reroute me onto another LON flight, but going out if I miss it, I'd have to route to Paris for a connecting flight.
Jun 25, 2022, 10:14 am
#193
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,294
It's about to get better apparently. The NL government want to cut AMS capacity by 20% to reduce noise pollution.
https://www.businesstraveller.com/bu...ise-pollution/
https://www.businesstraveller.com/bu...ise-pollution/
Jun 25, 2022, 4:06 pm
#194
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,671
It's about to get better apparently. The NL government want to cut AMS capacity by 20% to reduce noise pollution.
https://www.businesstraveller.com/bu...ise-pollution/
https://www.businesstraveller.com/bu...ise-pollution/
Not sure it's about to get better soon though - Nov 23 according to the article.
Jun 29, 2022, 1:23 am
#195
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,287
Arrivals - Egates
Arrived yesterday with the late evening service, BA442 yesterday. Arrived about 30 mins later than scheduled. I had expected the situation to be not too bad, but there was still a rather significant crowd at the passport control area. Luckily the e-gates were open, and in front of me were a few stuborn British passport holders, which insisted to use the e-gates even though it was clear that those were only for the EU and Swiss citizens. Even though one of the tried and I was standing behind, stated clearly on the decline message that the gates were only for EU citizen passport holder, he still insisted to try again.
Another one (I believe in the same group) - mentioned quite confidently that his will work because he had the biometric sign on his passport (the new blue passport)
Why o why, this only slows down those eligible to use the gates and reduce the line.
Bags were another story - they were coming out from a belt on the other side at the Schengen arrivals, and the belt was already filled with uncollected bags just going in rounds. When the bags from the flight started coming out, again lots of ignorant pax standing around - because when the belt is full, bags will not drop down. I just took the action of removing bags from the belt to create space or it would just be another eternity of waiting. After I had mine, I left - not sure how long those who stood there doing nothing was going to realize that.
I have a morning flight upcoming Sat, hopefully things will be ok at departure.
Cheers!
Another one (I believe in the same group) - mentioned quite confidently that his will work because he had the biometric sign on his passport (the new blue passport)
Why o why, this only slows down those eligible to use the gates and reduce the line.
Bags were another story - they were coming out from a belt on the other side at the Schengen arrivals, and the belt was already filled with uncollected bags just going in rounds. When the bags from the flight started coming out, again lots of ignorant pax standing around - because when the belt is full, bags will not drop down. I just took the action of removing bags from the belt to create space or it would just be another eternity of waiting. After I had mine, I left - not sure how long those who stood there doing nothing was going to realize that.
I have a morning flight upcoming Sat, hopefully things will be ok at departure.
Cheers!