BA AMS lounge permanently closed
Jul 20, 22, 12:14 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 3,962
For me, be it branded as a BA lounge or Aspire - does not matter, but from alliance point it would be a lost . My experience, both lounges are the same - just the branding was different and of course the slightly better furnishing of the BA lounge. The other difference was the staff of the BA lounge was much more pleasant compared to the Aspire staff and of course more BA specific information on boarding/delays/cancellation info.
From food and beverage point of view - both are exactly the same - mediocre food offerings and beverage. It looks like in the end, there would be just 2 main lounges in Schiphol (outside of the Privium lounge) - KLM operated or Aspire operated (which also operates the Star Alliance lounge).
Although of course I am curious why this decision was taken (if it's true) - as the OneWorld footprint at AMS is quite strong (BA, IB, CX, RJ, AA) - the BA lounge would have in some ways improve their presence and keep KLM/Skyteam on watch.
Cheers!
From food and beverage point of view - both are exactly the same - mediocre food offerings and beverage. It looks like in the end, there would be just 2 main lounges in Schiphol (outside of the Privium lounge) - KLM operated or Aspire operated (which also operates the Star Alliance lounge).
Although of course I am curious why this decision was taken (if it's true) - as the OneWorld footprint at AMS is quite strong (BA, IB, CX, RJ, AA) - the BA lounge would have in some ways improve their presence and keep KLM/Skyteam on watch.
Cheers!
Jul 20, 22, 12:50 pm
#35
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: British Airways GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond & Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,378
Originally Posted by nldogbert
For me, be it branded as a BA lounge or Aspire - does not matter, but from alliance point it would be a lost . My experience, both lounges are the same - just the branding was different and of course the slightly better furnishing of the BA lounge. The other difference was the staff of the BA lounge was much more pleasant compared to the Aspire staff and of course more BA specific information on boarding/delays/cancellation info.
From food and beverage point of view - both are exactly the same - mediocre food offerings and beverage. It looks like in the end, there would be just 2 main lounges in Schiphol (outside of the Privium lounge) - KLM operated or Aspire operated (which also operates the Star Alliance lounge).
Although of course I am curious why this decision was taken (if it's true) - as the OneWorld footprint at AMS is quite strong (BA, IB, CX, RJ, AA) - the BA lounge would have in some ways improve their presence and keep KLM/Skyteam on watch.
Cheers!
From food and beverage point of view - both are exactly the same - mediocre food offerings and beverage. It looks like in the end, there would be just 2 main lounges in Schiphol (outside of the Privium lounge) - KLM operated or Aspire operated (which also operates the Star Alliance lounge).
Although of course I am curious why this decision was taken (if it's true) - as the OneWorld footprint at AMS is quite strong (BA, IB, CX, RJ, AA) - the BA lounge would have in some ways improve their presence and keep KLM/Skyteam on watch.
Cheers!
Jul 20, 22, 12:51 pm
#36
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BAEC Gold, Flying Blue Platinum; Hilton Gold, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 728
Originally Posted by nldogbert
For me, be it branded as a BA lounge or Aspire - does not matter, but from alliance point it would be a lost . My experience, both lounges are the same - just the branding was different and of course the slightly better furnishing of the BA lounge. The other difference was the staff of the BA lounge was much more pleasant compared to the Aspire staff and of course more BA specific information on boarding/delays/cancellation info.
From food and beverage point of view - both are exactly the same - mediocre food offerings and beverage. It looks like in the end, there would be just 2 main lounges in Schiphol (outside of the Privium lounge) - KLM operated or Aspire operated (which also operates the Star Alliance lounge).
Although of course I am curious why this decision was taken (if it's true) - as the OneWorld footprint at AMS is quite strong (BA, IB, CX, RJ, AA) - the BA lounge would have in some ways improve their presence and keep KLM/Skyteam on watch.
Cheers!
From food and beverage point of view - both are exactly the same - mediocre food offerings and beverage. It looks like in the end, there would be just 2 main lounges in Schiphol (outside of the Privium lounge) - KLM operated or Aspire operated (which also operates the Star Alliance lounge).
Although of course I am curious why this decision was taken (if it's true) - as the OneWorld footprint at AMS is quite strong (BA, IB, CX, RJ, AA) - the BA lounge would have in some ways improve their presence and keep KLM/Skyteam on watch.
Cheers!
Jul 20, 22, 1:15 pm
#39
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 39,163
Originally Posted by abligh
I don’t think so. You can add at the very least JFK and SFO.
Jul 20, 22, 1:15 pm
#40
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK - South Coast & London
Programs: Mucci de Guardian des Celliers des Grands Crus 1e Classé, plus BAEC.
Posts: 2,377
Originally Posted by Mordac
The KLM lounges are terrible too.
Originally Posted by abligh
I don’t think so. You can add at the very least JFK and SFO.
Jul 20, 22, 1:26 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BAEC Gold, Flying Blue Platinum; Hilton Gold, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 728
Originally Posted by olouie
Non-EU lounge side is nicer with the open air patio seating. Drinks decent and napping area pretty good. The good is terrible.
The only good thing about them is the space and decor. They look very nice, especially the non-Schengen.
Jul 20, 22, 2:12 pm
#43
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,506
Originally Posted by EuropeanPete
The BA AMS lounge wasn't all that, but I think we'll soon miss the space when everyone is packed into Aspire/ waiting outside on a "one in one out" type arrangement. I wonder if the shift to Aspire might just be a stepping stone towards more destinations without lounge access altogether.
The AMS lounge had great views and, as a BA passenger, you were always guaranteed a welcome and specialist care from the staff. Removing the lounge is just another step along the path to zero frills and benefits from BA…
Jul 20, 22, 2:50 pm
#44
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Posts: 648
As a Netherlands based flyer, to be honest, I won't miss the BA lounge. As some already mentioned, the food and drink offerings were very limited, in combination with the bad location for other non-schengen Oneworld flights since RJ, QR, CX, RAM all depart from the F and G piers combined with departures hall 3/4 security. IB and AY are Schengen so also not really logical to use a non-schengen lounge, so I don't think the Aspire lounge will overflow from the BA passengers.
I think we might see Schiphol breaking the wall between both lounges and rebuilding it to one major lounge, however, with all major investments now halted it could still take a while.
Plus, with the current lines before check in and security, who has time for the lounge anyway 😀
I think we might see Schiphol breaking the wall between both lounges and rebuilding it to one major lounge, however, with all major investments now halted it could still take a while.
Plus, with the current lines before check in and security, who has time for the lounge anyway 😀
Jul 20, 22, 2:53 pm
#45
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, Amex Plat, Meliá Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, ITA Elite Plus
Posts: 41
I was there yesterday and the BA lounge said “closed for refurbishment” on the door.
I have to say that whilst it was not the best lounge in the world it was a perfectly nice place to work/rest/refresh/wait so if it is to close this is indeed disappointing. On the other hand the aspire lounge was horrific (and should aspire to be much much better), it was over crowded, had unhelpful staff, long queues to enter and after less than 5 minutes after failing to find a clean place to sit and trying to drink something they labelled wine I left and found a perfectly nice bar near D gates. I use to enjoy travelling through AMS but the airport is really struggling and until it is fixed I would recommend Eurostar (which given how much I love to fly I feel sad to say).
To end on a positive note, the person cleaning the clock is still going a grand job
I have to say that whilst it was not the best lounge in the world it was a perfectly nice place to work/rest/refresh/wait so if it is to close this is indeed disappointing. On the other hand the aspire lounge was horrific (and should aspire to be much much better), it was over crowded, had unhelpful staff, long queues to enter and after less than 5 minutes after failing to find a clean place to sit and trying to drink something they labelled wine I left and found a perfectly nice bar near D gates. I use to enjoy travelling through AMS but the airport is really struggling and until it is fixed I would recommend Eurostar (which given how much I love to fly I feel sad to say).
To end on a positive note, the person cleaning the clock is still going a grand job
