BA AMS lounge permanently closed

Old Jul 20, 2022, 12:06 pm
  #31  
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Originally Posted by cheshirepete
So, are BA PAX being accepted into Aspire just like when it was in refurb?
yes
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 12:14 pm
  #32  
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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!
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 12:16 pm
  #33  
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I always liked the AMS lounge so this is supremely disappointing news
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 12:39 pm
  #34  
 
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Originally Posted by nldogbert
the OneWorld footprint at AMS is quite strong (BA, IB, CX, RJ, AA)
Schiphol was even ever so briefly a IAG base. From april 2019 to Covid it was a Level Europe base.
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 12:50 pm
  #35  
 
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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!
Ripe then for a OneWorld branded lounge.
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 12:51 pm
  #36  
 
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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!
The KLM lounges are terrible too.
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 1:07 pm
  #37  
 
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The question now must be: when do the leases expire for GVA, LIN and FCO?
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 1:11 pm
  #38  
 
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Originally Posted by ajamieson
Lol.

So the only BA lounges left outside LHR and LGW are now BHD, EDI, GLA, GVA, LIN and FCO?
I dont think so. You can add at the very least JFK and SFO.
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 1:15 pm
  #39  
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Originally Posted by abligh
I dont think so. You can add at the very least JFK and SFO.
Yes, although I assumed the question was in relation to short haul routes rather than long haul I guess.
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 1:15 pm
  #40  
 
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Originally Posted by Mordac
The KLM lounges are terrible too.
I was last in the KLM Crown lounge in 2018 and it was deeply disappointing. Pleasant enough space but woeful catering. I scraped together a meal of crackers, processed cheese and salami slices and some cornichon. The only other option was soup.

Originally Posted by abligh
I dont think so. You can add at the very least JFK and SFO.
I wondered if anyone would remember JFK .
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 1:20 pm
  #41  
 
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Originally Posted by Mordac
The KLM lounges are terrible too.
Non-EU lounge side is nicer with the open air patio seating. Drinks decent and napping area pretty good. The food is terrible.
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Last edited by olouie; Jul 20, 2022 at 4:02 pm
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 1:26 pm
  #42  
 
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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.
I thought the drink offering was the worst side (although the food wasn't much better). Only beer is Heineken, wine wasn't anything to write home about, and all the spirits are behind the bar, also totally unremarkable. At least Air France, while making questionable choices like offering French Single Malt (!) only, at least vaguely tries to be premium.

The only good thing about them is the space and decor. They look very nice, especially the non-Schengen.
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 2:12 pm
  #43  
 
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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.
This. Totally.

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
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 2:50 pm
  #44  
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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 😀
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Old Jul 20, 2022, 2:53 pm
  #45  
 
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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
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