Xandrios

Same experience for me today around 10AM. Security had a few minutes wait, passport control line looped around a few times and started pretty much at the far right (Priority) security checkpoint. I'd say it was indeed about a 20 minutes wait, which is quite annoying as this has been going on for weeks or perhaps even months now.

Ditto

Even for EU passports? Or did they not have a dedicated queue for EU passports?
I've seen a few times where the non-EU queue was like that, while the EU queue was empty, but after passing SP security you have no way of telling that so normally there are "helpers" redirecting EU passport holders to the EU queue.

mfkne

With the current setup it's pretty much a free-for-all, and I don't remember anyone policing EU passports vs non-EU ones.

Ditto

The KMARs usually send non-EU PAX back to the end of the queue if their sign say "EU passports"

mfkne

Which doesn't stop the queue at EU passports from being long, if the sendback only happens when it's non-EU passport holders' turn.

CyBeR

There is a dedicated EU passport queue but they run in parallel. At some point in the queue there's a guy separating people. The EU queue moves slightly (but not much) faster.

nldogbert

Hi,

Does anyone know why is it at certain times at this central security check that 90% of scanned bags will go into the secondary check lanes?
I noticed it's normally during the midday hours where lines are moderate, they this happens (not sure if I can use 3-4 times of such situation as statistics).
It's just so irritating. Had a long discussion with the Team Leader at that time at the Priority line (though this was happening for all lanes). As usual gave the usual story, it's the computer and it's for our safety, blah, blah, blah.
It seems also that the person sitting behind the screen (just knew this) does not determine which bags goes secondary, but some command center that determines this.

It's just so frustrating that my same bag with the same content at 90% of the airports around the world is OK and yet at AMS gets the secondary - and it's not because of the same object, but always a different reason (umbrella (travel version), keys, cables, etc - either one of these will be mentioned to be the root cause).

I am just curious to find out what's so special about the security at AMS which is a big PITA.

In addition, not sure why is again only at AMS, they they are so reluctant to use the automated passport gates when now recently at most EU airports where these gates are installed are nearly always available (the one's at CDG are a PITA to use as it takes close to 5 mins for the whole process while normally at German, UK and Italian airports, it's not more than 2 mins to get through).

Cheers!

johan rebel

Highly unlikely, given that it is not unusual for one checkpoint to send just about every bag to secondary, while at the very same time bags at the adjacent one are all sailing right through. It's the operator what done it.

I know that Schiphol's official goal is that no more than 10% of bags should be scanned a second time.

Tell me about it. You are far from the only one to experience this at AMS, and AMS only, just about every single time. Frustrating indeed!

Johan

Ditto

I can only share my experience, where at one time the agent usually looking at the screen was chatting to the agent doing secondary for about 2 minutes, and yet trays kept on flowing, some to secondary and some not.

mfkne

I have a 100% success rate of my last 5-10 trips ex AMS of my bag not going to secondary inspection, while before I had pretty much the opposite. I have achieved this by literally removing everything that is electric or electronic and placing it in bins.

johan rebel

Maybe the agent was trying to convey the impression that he was actually doing his job.

On more than one occasion have I watched my bag come to a stop just before the point where the conveyor splits. It then sat there while the agent stared at the screen for a while, before deciding which way to send it. No prize for guessing the most frequent outcome.

Johan

Ditto

That is normally my experience as well, but it seems that this can operate even without anyone staring at the screen.
Also in that case, the trays sat in point before the split for a few seconds before a decision was made, how and by whom the decision was made I don't know...

johan rebel

Not sure which is worse: an incompetent agent or a useless algorithm. It seems as if Schiphol has opted for a combination of both, just to be on the safe side. Absolutely brilliant!

Johan

caliform

Lucky you. I went through this phase once, convinced I had nailed it, and then I got into one of 'those queues' and once again just got everything sent to secondary. I don't bother anymore. It's not worth the hassle.

Schiphol is literally the worst airport for me security-wise.

johan rebel

Just about anything will get your bag sent to secondary.

Some keys, a few coins, a puny flashlight, you name it. Je kunt het zo gek niet bedenken, as the Dutch would say.

Johan