AMS security question
 

We are flying on DL143 AMS-SEA this Sunday. I looked on the AMS map and saw that we will be checking in at Departures 2. If we go through security there, that will put us in the Schengen area and we will have to go through passport control to get to the non-Schengen side. Are we better off walking to Departures 3 after check in and going through security there? From my reading of the map, that should put us directly into the non-Schengen area and we wouldn't have to go through passport control. Am I correct about this?

Also, would you recommend that we make a reservation on the AMS website to go through security? We'll be there around 7 am.

Security at AMS for USA flights depends on whether you have Sky Priority or not. If you have Sky Priority, you check in at a dedicated group of counters (as I recall, it was area 11-12), and, after you check in, you don't go back out into the common areas to head for the security entrance; instead, you proceed to a dedicated security line, where you put your boarding pass on a scanner on the gate, and it decides whether to let you in. You then go through the security scanners, and then you go through passport control (which was semi-automated in that you scanned your passport, but then you had to be authorized to leave the area by a member of the Marechausee (Dutch customs police). After that, you were in the non-Schengen area. If you have lounge access, your lounge is called "Crown Lounge 52", which is near the entrance to the F concourse. This is one of my favorite lounges in the Delta/AF/KLM system.

The non-Sky Priority passengers had their own line and group of check-in counters to use. I think they ended up coming out of the process in about the same location as I did when I was there most recently in May.

After check-in you follow the signs to your relevant gate (D or E most likely) it will get you to the correct passport check (non-Schengen).

If you can use the sky priority check-in, I would not mess with making an appointment. Even if you do make an appointment, remember it is just for check in. Passport control is a bottleneck where it is first come first serve. No priority lanes (but US passports can use the automated gates if they work)

Departure 2 will get you to passport control/non-schengen just fine, the signs are very clear even I haven't messed it up... yet. And if you're Sky Priority it's even quicker. There's no skipping passport control if you're leaving Europe I'm afraid, but it's very quick. Longest I've waited was 30min.

I've never even heard of a security reservation, and I think doing it will probably just make things more confusing. After last year's fiasco a lot of improvements have been made, even though you're just getting into peak travel season this weekend I expect lines to be pretty quick. You just drop off your carry-on in the first open lane after checking in your bags, walk through the scanner and pick it up on the other side. Really quick compared to TSA.

Anyway, expat living in Amsterdam so I get it how confusing this place can seem. But it's super easy.

Thanks everyone for your advice. That's very helpful. We are in C+ and my husband is SM (I don't have status). I don't think either of those gives us Sky Priority, though. I checked our outbound BPs from a couple of weeks ago and they did not say Sky Priority.

Unless it’s changed recently, skyteam elite (delta silver) can use Skypiority checkin at Schiphol. If you are one separate reservations, there is a chance they may not let you both in. During the Schiphol meltdown last year they had people checking BP to see who was trying to sneak into the priority lanes.

Great! We are on the same PNR, so we both should be able to use Sky Priority.

I would add that when you get near the check-in counters, there are roped off lines that you pass through before you enter the area where the counters are. There are uniformed KLM agents that will greet you as you enter the lines and let you know whether you are eligible to use the Sky Priority check-in. If not, there is another roped off line to enter the regular check-in area. You will be checked-in by KLM employees, even though your flight will be on Delta metal.

Do they still have that extra security check for US flights? They had a separate check outside of the lounge at 52 as I recall, otherwise it was as you entered the E Pier. I haven't flown through AMS since 2019, so I was wondering if that US extra check has changed.

Just show your app/ticket with sky priority printed at the big arch that says KLM/Sky Priority right in front of the departures 2 main entrance, or your Sky Team Elite/Silver Medallion status. I'd strongly suggest getting a taxi from someone like TCA vs taking the train, it's just so much easier and you'll get dropped right off by the sky priority entrance. Then just find the shortest (usually that means nobody at this time) line for check-in and baggage drop-off. If you have odd-sized bags, once tagged, you take them to the right past the priority entrance/stairs to security. If not just take the stairs on the right for priority security where they will check your eligibility before sending up. There's also an elevator which you can use to cheese the line a bit if it's coming down the stairs.

Once through security passport control is either straight ahead or left depending on how you were routed. It's a lot different than TSA and actually makes sense once you see how they do it. But pro tip, if passport control is really long you may be able to walk to the right and down to the other filter if they opened it so don't freak out if the line is stretching waay out to the right. But since OP isn't flying with children they can use the automated passport check so I wouldn't worry about any extra walking.

Then go get a croissant from the bakery down the escalators because you'll be stuck eating some crummy Delta breakfast sandwich otherwise.

At the risk of saying something stupid, isn't the security centralised these days?

Ex-schengen gets filterd to the left, intra schengen to the right, but after security the people on the right can still acces pasport control and the people on the left can walk down to intra schengen departures.

Klm uses departure hall 2, but it ultimately wouldnt matter? Even if you end on the schengen side, you could simple walk to the left after security to end up in the right part.

Allowes star alliance ex-schengen pax acces to the lounge if they start in amsterdam

Correct, you could go through schengen security and then walk to the passport control to exit schengen on the otehr side. Theoretically you could even use the passport control for transfering passengers if you end up in the schengen area by accident or see a line that is way too long. Alternative is indeed departures 3, but a skyteam elite will only be able to use priority security in departures 2 if walking through the skypriority checkin area and take the escalator up to security

You can use priority security at any departure hall. The specific branding of SP is only because inly ST airlines have checkin at that area.

I frequently use Dep 3 when overnight and stay at Sheraton. No issues with KLM/DL BP using Priority.

If she has SP, there is indeed zero problems, but OP mentioned that she is SM and her husband does not have status, that makes it more complicated to go through security in departure hall 3 where a person inspects the boarding pass before allowing to go through priority security toegether. There was a whole discussion about whether silver members have access last year on the klm forum (see for example the confusing sign in the first post where skyteam elites have access, but only Delta GM and higher with no mention of Delta silver), while guests were, at least last year, not allowed. Going through the departures 2 SP area there is no in person check, only to access the checkin area where ST elites and guests can also go, so a safer bet in my opinion. Glad to hear if things are different though and SM can use dept 3 as well with guests potentially, have always had this as my assumption but happy to be corrected on this if wrong.

Sounds like one STE - not STE+ - which means Sky Prio check-in but not security. Regardless, no need to go to Departures 3 - just head left after going through security to find border control (don’t go down any stairs/escalator if you’re off to the right hand side of the security area).