Some info on AMS please
 

As part of an award flight with QF I'm due to fly from AMS to HKG on CX in October. It's a bit early but I thought I'd just ask the questions now. We'll be arriving AMS at 08.45 from BLQ on KL. (No alternative so just grit teeth and bear it. It's still better than going through LHR. Just about anything is better than going through LHR.) CX270 doesn't depart until 14.00 and I'm assuming that we'll have to pick up our bags and then check in with CX. So, assuming KL doesn't lose our bags which is a big assumption from past experience, we should be through and ready to check in by 10.00 latest. What time does CX check in open at AMS and is there a CX lounge or does one have to use BA? If there's a CX lounge, is there a separate F lounge? From memory, and it's a few years since I've been in AMS, BA has a Galleries lounge without any F service although things may have changed by now.

TIA for any help you can give.

Have you had a look at the cx website under the lounge section that shows you what lounge they use there?

CX uses Ba lounge at ams. There's a small area dedicated for F lounge though nothing special. Regarding the check-in time. I really have no idea.

CX stopped using JL or the other contracted lounge? well in any case i wouldn't want to spend too much time in those lousy lounges. Go to the Rijksmuseum Schiphol...

Checkin should start 3 hours before, it's been a long while since i've gone thru that pits with CX...

So far I was always able to get my luggage checked-through when connecting KL to CX at AMS. (last time roughly 2 years ago)

CX's renovated gate at AMS~
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...52269008123602

though i aint sure about the lounge over there~

I took CX270 on 9th February. Check-in opened at 10am for a 13:05 departure. If you are in J or F you will get a pass for the BA lounge. The lounge is nothing special (snacks, soft drinks, basic liquors). At least at that time of the day the lounge is pretty quiet. If there was an F designated area it was not pointed out to me, or obvious from the lounge layout. Allow about 10 minutes to get to the gate. There is a security screening at the gate, with a fast track for J/F to your right side. Once through security, if you are in J/F move to the front as there is a holding 'pen' for premium pax next to the air bridge. That area gets full so allow some time if you want to sit. Hope this helps, and enjoy your trip!

Thanks very much for the info all.

Checked in today flying F from AMS to HKG - check in busy - someone in q trying to buy up from a Q fare. Ushered over to next Business Class check - very efficient and friendly. Skipped through passport control and up the stairs to Lounge number 40. It's 11am and the lounge is nearly full :D Toilets are outside the lounges also. Plenty of soft drinks, coffee machines and spirits and snacks. No seperate F section.

Overall not quite the First Class experience but wasn't expecting that much according the the previous posts.

As I'm typing the check in personnel has turned away three seperate parties trying to access the lounge and I presume not entitled too !

Looking forward to Row 1 onboard :D

There is no separate area in the BA lounge at AMS.

JAL's Sakura lounge at AMS closed last year.

I must have hallucinated or something (no, I didn't even get a joint in Amsterdam). If it's just a J lounge then, it already is a decent lounge :)

you must've been! that was a very basic lounge: food = (prepacked)sausage cheese and crackers...

It seems the AMS-HKG route is very full at the moment, have heard from soemone that a few days ago the KLM HKG flight was also very full. These are good loads for February!

Regarding check-in time, it may depend on the port, but I know some CX ports open 4 hours before departure, but someone wrote above that it is 3 hours for AMS, so not sure. However if your waiting around, it might be worth checking to see if they have opened at 4 hours prior to departure.

The AMS story
 

I flew through AMS last year, August, and can only say it was added to my list of airports best avoided. There is nothing wrong with it per se, it is just that I dislike any airport where I can not check in immediately, get my lounge-access card and relax. It is a major drawback that check-in only opens 3 hrs prior to departure. I think I vented somewhere in FT on the experience. Or maybe I only drafted it and then let it lie once the steam was out :p

It will not be a problem to check your luggage all the way through, assuming that there is an agreement allowing this between CX and your first carrier. For most airlines, these agreements are in existence so it should not be a problem.

That's hardly the airport's fault, though.

If CX used British Airways checkin rather than having their "own" check-in agents, then you'd be able to drop your bags off whenever.