State of Schiphol for BA (to LHR) queues etc?
May 3, 2022, 4:31 am
#61
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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There are a set of bar charts on this page which gives a hint as to areas of trouble. I guess Monday's bars will get deleted shortly, but at the time that 2 FTers were having trouble, the bar for their time period was Angry Fuchsia rather than pink. It looks to me that today and tomorrow will be OK, but there may be trouble in the mill on Thursday through to and including Sunday this week.
https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/crow...at-departures/
Either way it seems they are on a 3 hour recommended arrival time here for BA departures:
https://www.schiphol.nl/en/holiday
https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/crow...at-departures/
Either way it seems they are on a 3 hour recommended arrival time here for BA departures:
https://www.schiphol.nl/en/holiday
May 3, 2022, 4:36 am
#62
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Location: Leeds, UK
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I have noticed now 
Thanks. I am not ruling it out yet. It would increase my count of airports I have stayed airside overnight to 3 
If you don’t mind roughing it then there’s a ‘quiet’ area opposite the lifts to the Aspire and old BA lounge which have chaise lounge style sleeping chairs with power sockets. Then you can go up to the Aspire lounge when it opens.
May 3, 2022, 4:41 am
#63
Join Date: Jun 2015
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We got the late flight on Monday BA443, departing 2120.
Arrived at AMS about 3h before departure. There was one couple in front of us to check in at BA, just one check in was open at that time.
Security - there was no fast track open. Privum looked closed too. However it was very quiet, just walked straight to an open lane. No need to unpack fluids or laptops either because of the scanning technology they have.
Spent nearly 2h in the Lounge 41. Not great but comfortable enough and good view of part of the airport and runway. Enough beer, spirit and wine to keep you going.
Boarding was just a free for all and delayed take off by about 20 mins.
Landing at T5 - terminal very quiet. Baggage appearing on carousel as soon as we arrived, despite us being one of the first off the flight and straight through immigration. Seemed to have offloaded priority luggage first too!
I assume AMS is just much quieter in the evening?
Arrived at AMS about 3h before departure. There was one couple in front of us to check in at BA, just one check in was open at that time.
Security - there was no fast track open. Privum looked closed too. However it was very quiet, just walked straight to an open lane. No need to unpack fluids or laptops either because of the scanning technology they have.
Spent nearly 2h in the Lounge 41. Not great but comfortable enough and good view of part of the airport and runway. Enough beer, spirit and wine to keep you going.
Boarding was just a free for all and delayed take off by about 20 mins.
Landing at T5 - terminal very quiet. Baggage appearing on carousel as soon as we arrived, despite us being one of the first off the flight and straight through immigration. Seemed to have offloaded priority luggage first too!
I assume AMS is just much quieter in the evening?
May 3, 2022, 5:25 am
#64
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: BA Gold, VS Silver
Posts: 399
How is AMS for transfer passengers at the moment? Some colleagues are flying U.K.-AMS-Germany on KLM with a very short connection.
Are all the bottlenecks at security for departing pax? Or will they have issues with the non Schengen to Schengen connection?
They’re flying from Scotland and there’s no direct flight (so clearly the right answer is to use BA with a connection at LHR!)
Are all the bottlenecks at security for departing pax? Or will they have issues with the non Schengen to Schengen connection?
They’re flying from Scotland and there’s no direct flight (so clearly the right answer is to use BA with a connection at LHR!)
May 3, 2022, 6:05 am
#65
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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How is AMS for transfer passengers at the moment? Some colleagues are flying U.K.-AMS-Germany on KLM with a very short connection.
Are all the bottlenecks at security for departing pax? Or will they have issues with the non Schengen to Schengen connection?
They’re flying from Scotland and there’s no direct flight (so clearly the right answer is to use BA with a connection at LHR!)
Are all the bottlenecks at security for departing pax? Or will they have issues with the non Schengen to Schengen connection?
They’re flying from Scotland and there’s no direct flight (so clearly the right answer is to use BA with a connection at LHR!)
May 4, 2022, 1:26 am
#67
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: AMS+IAH
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Update Wednesday 4 May 2022 at 07.55
You access T3 departures:
- via the railwaystation / arrivals
- car drop off point.
No Q to get in (escalators / lifts are working)
BA check-in at T3 counters 17 were not busy.
Bit crowded reaching the turnstil for security.
However economy security Q snaked thrice on the mezzanine level
Priority security had 1 single Q and moved at pace.
The photos:
BA checkin at T3
Mezzanine: lines for economy security
The Qs on the lower part of the photo are:
- UA check in
- AA bag drop off (machines)
Mezzanine: line for priority security
Hope to give you all piece of mind
PS:
For those that need a quick one, at T3 departures car drop off, outside at door A (close to excellence parking) is a smoking area:
T3 departures smoking area: our last nicotine stop before tackling the security Qs
- via the railwaystation / arrivals
- car drop off point.
No Q to get in (escalators / lifts are working)
BA check-in at T3 counters 17 were not busy.
Bit crowded reaching the turnstil for security.
However economy security Q snaked thrice on the mezzanine level
Priority security had 1 single Q and moved at pace.
The photos:
BA checkin at T3
Mezzanine: lines for economy security
The Qs on the lower part of the photo are:
- UA check in
- AA bag drop off (machines)
Mezzanine: line for priority security
Hope to give you all piece of mind
PS:
For those that need a quick one, at T3 departures car drop off, outside at door A (close to excellence parking) is a smoking area:
T3 departures smoking area: our last nicotine stop before tackling the security Qs
Last edited by HadesNL; May 4, 2022 at 1:57 am
May 4, 2022, 4:01 am
#68
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,774
You access T3 departures:
- via the railwaystation / arrivals
- car drop off point.
No Q to get in (escalators / lifts are working)
BA check-in at T3 counters 17 were not busy.
Bit crowded reaching the turnstil for security.
However economy security Q snaked thrice on the mezzanine level
Priority security had 1 single Q and moved at pace.
The photos:
BA checkin at T3
Mezzanine: lines for economy security
The Qs on the lower part of the photo are:
- UA check in
- AA bag drop off (machines)
Mezzanine: line for priority security
Hope to give you all piece of mind
PS:
For those that need a quick one, at T3 departures car drop off, outside at door A (close to excellence parking) is a smoking area:
T3 departures smoking area: our last nicotine stop before tackling the security Qs
- via the railwaystation / arrivals
- car drop off point.
No Q to get in (escalators / lifts are working)
BA check-in at T3 counters 17 were not busy.
Bit crowded reaching the turnstil for security.
However economy security Q snaked thrice on the mezzanine level
Priority security had 1 single Q and moved at pace.
The photos:
BA checkin at T3
Mezzanine: lines for economy security
The Qs on the lower part of the photo are:
- UA check in
- AA bag drop off (machines)
Mezzanine: line for priority security
Hope to give you all piece of mind
PS:
For those that need a quick one, at T3 departures car drop off, outside at door A (close to excellence parking) is a smoking area:
T3 departures smoking area: our last nicotine stop before tackling the security Qs
May 5, 2022, 7:58 am
#69
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Kettle Class
Posts: 798
Was able to get boarding passes today for my AM flight back to the U.S. tomorrow no problem (Verifly was not cooperating). At about 2pm today, I saw no queues before the initial set of boarding pass barriers at both Departures 3 and Departures 1 whatsoever.
Update: No lines anywhere in Departures 3 at circa 6:45am today (Friday). 30 minutes from stepping off the train to inside the Aspire Lounge, but I had BPs already and did not check bags. I did not use Priority Security and entered airside via the D gates entrance.
Update: No lines anywhere in Departures 3 at circa 6:45am today (Friday). 30 minutes from stepping off the train to inside the Aspire Lounge, but I had BPs already and did not check bags. I did not use Priority Security and entered airside via the D gates entrance.
Last edited by progapanda; May 5, 2022 at 10:55 pm
May 9, 2022, 10:21 am
#70
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC: Silver
Posts: 90
My experience from today. Queue at passport control on arrival was very long. May have got lucky but the person next to me suggested the T2 transfers to exit. Worked a treat as no queues and agent did not seem to mind even when I stated I was visiting Amsterdam.
On return, queues were huge for security. Fastrack was working but it took one hour to get there. That probably saved 45 minutes.
Currently having a well earned beer in the Aspire lounge which I much prefer to the BA lounge.
On return, queues were huge for security. Fastrack was working but it took one hour to get there. That probably saved 45 minutes.
Currently having a well earned beer in the Aspire lounge which I much prefer to the BA lounge.
May 9, 2022, 2:37 pm
#71
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,991
My experience from today. Queue at passport control on arrival was very long. May have got lucky but the person next to me suggested the T2 transfers to exit. Worked a treat as no queues and agent did not seem to mind even when I stated I was visiting Amsterdam.
On return, queues were huge for security. Fastrack was working but it took one hour to get there. That probably saved 45 minutes.
Currently having a well earned beer in the Aspire lounge which I much prefer to the BA lounge.
On return, queues were huge for security. Fastrack was working but it took one hour to get there. That probably saved 45 minutes.
Currently having a well earned beer in the Aspire lounge which I much prefer to the BA lounge.
May 9, 2022, 2:48 pm
#72
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,217
AMS has never been anywhere near as efficient since they changed from at-gate to central security. Doesn't help that it's all body scanners which process passengers at about a fifth the speed.
May 9, 2022, 3:29 pm
#73
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC: Silver
Posts: 90
May 10, 2022, 3:30 am
#75
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, BA Silver, Hertz President's Club
Posts: 486
My experience from today. Queue at passport control on arrival was very long. May have got lucky but the person next to me suggested the T2 transfers to exit. Worked a treat as no queues and agent did not seem to mind even when I stated I was visiting Amsterdam.
On return, queues were huge for security. Fastrack was working but it took one hour to get there. That probably saved 45 minutes.
Currently having a well earned beer in the Aspire lounge which I much prefer to the BA lounge.
On return, queues were huge for security. Fastrack was working but it took one hour to get there. That probably saved 45 minutes.
Currently having a well earned beer in the Aspire lounge which I much prefer to the BA lounge.