First new security filter operational at AMS
Feb 28, 2018, 7:34 am
#466
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,006
I can confirm that the situation in Schiphol is not very good... It was OK at the lowcost filter, but I only passed that once. Otherwise both Schengen and non-Schengen are not very good - even worse than in VIE, which I thought hardly anyone could match... I've passed through at least 5 other airports just this year, some of them multiple times, and never it was this bad...
What seems the weirdest to me, and also fits what Johans experience is, it seems that priority lines are actually worse than regular ones!
The only redeeming feature of Schiphol security seems to be that lines themselves don't tend to be long in my experience. But then I don't usually fly in peak times...
What seems the weirdest to me, and also fits what Johans experience is, it seems that priority lines are actually worse than regular ones!
The only redeeming feature of Schiphol security seems to be that lines themselves don't tend to be long in my experience. But then I don't usually fly in peak times...
Feb 28, 2018, 9:24 am
#467
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,410
Feb 28, 2018, 2:36 pm
#469
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska MVP Gold.
Posts: 1,962
The fact that Schiphol juggles three different security contractors for this is just absurd. The abovementioned complaint to the Royal Marechaussee is great, but since it's 100% outside their purview they won't do anything about it unless it is a substantial security risk.
If they want to have a modern airport, they need to hire and train a security force of their own. They implement their own security screening systems (they take pride in all the digital nonsense they've bought and set up, which constantly breaks), now let them implement ONE task force for security that works alongside the Mareschaussee and police to streamline and optimize security processes and keep them consistent. It's an absolutely pathetic situation that Schiphol is still contracting this stuff out to 3 (or more) companies.
If they want to have a modern airport, they need to hire and train a security force of their own. They implement their own security screening systems (they take pride in all the digital nonsense they've bought and set up, which constantly breaks), now let them implement ONE task force for security that works alongside the Mareschaussee and police to streamline and optimize security processes and keep them consistent. It's an absolutely pathetic situation that Schiphol is still contracting this stuff out to 3 (or more) companies.
Mar 10, 2018, 1:46 pm
#470
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Help us optimise security screening
An e-mail just in from Privium included a link to a questionnaire:
"Together with the University of Amsterdam, Schiphol is working on new techniques to optimise security screening. Your experiences as a regular guest are very valuable in this respect! Do you have 5 to 10 minutes to answer a few questions? Your privacy is of course guaranteed."
A very peculiar survey!
"We now ask you four brief questions about the purpose of your next flight. There will be no follow-up or clarification questions. Your task is to provide answers that are detailed and convincing of your travel purpose. Imagine someone would need to make a decision based on your answers and decide whether you receive fast-lane security or not."
"Please describe the purpose of your flight to xxx in as much detail as possible.* Be as convincing as possible."
"What proof can you provide that you are flying to xxx for Holiday (and not just any other purpose)?* Be as convincing as possible. "
"What did the planning for the purpose of your trip (Holiday) look like in reverse order? (begin with what you did last and move back in time)?* Be as convincing as possible."
"What did you not tell anybody else about your Holiday trip?* Be as convincing as possible."
Anybody who thinks I will sumbit to a cross-examination to be allowed to use Fast Track needs to have his head examined.
Needless to say, the only answer they got out of me was Alt+F4.
Johan
"Together with the University of Amsterdam, Schiphol is working on new techniques to optimise security screening. Your experiences as a regular guest are very valuable in this respect! Do you have 5 to 10 minutes to answer a few questions? Your privacy is of course guaranteed."
A very peculiar survey!
"We now ask you four brief questions about the purpose of your next flight. There will be no follow-up or clarification questions. Your task is to provide answers that are detailed and convincing of your travel purpose. Imagine someone would need to make a decision based on your answers and decide whether you receive fast-lane security or not."
"Please describe the purpose of your flight to xxx in as much detail as possible.* Be as convincing as possible."
"What proof can you provide that you are flying to xxx for Holiday (and not just any other purpose)?* Be as convincing as possible. "
"What did the planning for the purpose of your trip (Holiday) look like in reverse order? (begin with what you did last and move back in time)?* Be as convincing as possible."
"What did you not tell anybody else about your Holiday trip?* Be as convincing as possible."
Anybody who thinks I will sumbit to a cross-examination to be allowed to use Fast Track needs to have his head examined.
Needless to say, the only answer they got out of me was Alt+F4.
Johan
Mar 10, 2018, 2:02 pm
#471
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AMS/RTM
Posts: 2,826
Went through the 1a checkpoint yesterday. As *G we went through the priority line, which just ended in front of the scanners without anyone policing it, so we had to cut in front of the regular line no doubt infuriating some of the other travellers. The checkpoint then is quite ridiculous, the three "preparation points" have no structure and not enough room for those enormous trays, and since you are not allowed to pile things up you have to use more than one, or just send them down the line, where you'll be barked at because you didn't follow the tray closely enough.
Every single person triggered a manual patdown, and a solid half of the trays went to secondary.
The usual AMS experience, I'm just grateful we didn't have to queue.
Every single person triggered a manual patdown, and a solid half of the trays went to secondary.
The usual AMS experience, I'm just grateful we didn't have to queue.
Mar 10, 2018, 3:09 pm
#472
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,006
For me this morning another nearly seamless security, I was surprised by it quite a bit.
OK, six ten on a Saturday morning maybe not the peakest of peaks, but it wasn't exactly quiet, lower proportion of card holders / premium class though.
As per what Johan quoted, Jesus.
If that was a verbal interview, I would be inclined to cut it in the middle of questioning. I wonder if there is going to be any response... I don't think I've ever been bored enough to type that up.
OK, six ten on a Saturday morning maybe not the peakest of peaks, but it wasn't exactly quiet, lower proportion of card holders / premium class though.
As per what Johan quoted, Jesus.
If that was a verbal interview, I would be inclined to cut it in the middle of questioning. I wonder if there is going to be any response... I don't think I've ever been bored enough to type that up.
Mar 11, 2018, 2:46 pm
#474
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
An e-mail just in from Privium included a link to a questionnaire:
"Together with the University of Amsterdam, Schiphol is working on new techniques to optimise security screening. Your experiences as a regular guest are very valuable in this respect! Do you have 5 to 10 minutes to answer a few questions? Your privacy is of course guaranteed."
A very peculiar survey!
"We now ask you four brief questions about the purpose of your next flight. There will be no follow-up or clarification questions. Your task is to provide answers that are detailed and convincing of your travel purpose. Imagine someone would need to make a decision based on your answers and decide whether you receive fast-lane security or not."
"Please describe the purpose of your flight to xxx in as much detail as possible.* Be as convincing as possible."
"What proof can you provide that you are flying to xxx for Holiday (and not just any other purpose)?* Be as convincing as possible. "
"What did the planning for the purpose of your trip (Holiday) look like in reverse order? (begin with what you did last and move back in time)?* Be as convincing as possible."
"What did you not tell anybody else about your Holiday trip?* Be as convincing as possible."
Anybody who thinks I will sumbit to a cross-examination to be allowed to use Fast Track needs to have his head examined.
Needless to say, the only answer they got out of me was Alt+F4.
Johan
"Together with the University of Amsterdam, Schiphol is working on new techniques to optimise security screening. Your experiences as a regular guest are very valuable in this respect! Do you have 5 to 10 minutes to answer a few questions? Your privacy is of course guaranteed."
A very peculiar survey!
"We now ask you four brief questions about the purpose of your next flight. There will be no follow-up or clarification questions. Your task is to provide answers that are detailed and convincing of your travel purpose. Imagine someone would need to make a decision based on your answers and decide whether you receive fast-lane security or not."
"Please describe the purpose of your flight to xxx in as much detail as possible.* Be as convincing as possible."
"What proof can you provide that you are flying to xxx for Holiday (and not just any other purpose)?* Be as convincing as possible. "
"What did the planning for the purpose of your trip (Holiday) look like in reverse order? (begin with what you did last and move back in time)?* Be as convincing as possible."
"What did you not tell anybody else about your Holiday trip?* Be as convincing as possible."
Anybody who thinks I will sumbit to a cross-examination to be allowed to use Fast Track needs to have his head examined.
Needless to say, the only answer they got out of me was Alt+F4.
Johan
I would have taken the trouble to fill out each box with "None of your business"
Mar 11, 2018, 2:59 pm
#475
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Pagus Bracbatensis, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Programs: DL SPlat, KLM Bump, Privium Plus, GOES
Posts: 2,065
Got the Privium update also.
You don't get those kind of questions when having TSA Precheck. Luckily the whole idea behind TSA Pre is that you are a trusted traveller (databases etcetera) and as such can breeze through security with no need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts and lighter outerwear AND without explain/prove it everytime to a commercial contract employee who doesn't have access to any of that intel/databases
The idea alone to show the actual proof (time consuming) to convince a random stranger and thereby giving him/her detailed and confidential emails, papers, bookings, attachements etcetera
You don't get those kind of questions when having TSA Precheck. Luckily the whole idea behind TSA Pre is that you are a trusted traveller (databases etcetera) and as such can breeze through security with no need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts and lighter outerwear AND without explain/prove it everytime to a commercial contract employee who doesn't have access to any of that intel/databases
The idea alone to show the actual proof (time consuming) to convince a random stranger and thereby giving him/her detailed and confidential emails, papers, bookings, attachements etcetera
Mar 11, 2018, 10:46 pm
#476
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,006
Mar 12, 2018, 11:16 am
#477
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
Sorry if this isn't the right thread, but I have a couple of trips with connections in AMS and in one case an originating departure from AMS coming up so want to prepare for what sounds like a security gantlet as best I can.
It sounds like proactively removing electronics, and perhaps other metal items, from one's bag is at least marginally helpful in reducing the likelihood of secondary screening.
Does AMS have any particular fetish for liquids? In the US, even in non-Precheck lanes, the liquids ban is all but gone, as long as you don't try to bring in any large single containers of liquid (i.e. you can bring multiple bags of 100mL containers, or have your 100mL containers all over the place in your luggage and not confined to a single baggie, as long as no single container is too much bigger than 100mL, and needing to put your baggie of liquids in a separate tray is extremely rarely enforced in the US these days). But I do find that at LHR they are still extremely thorough about liquids and my bag frequently gets pulled aside for extra screening if there is even a single extra liquid container anywhere in it. Is that also the case at AMS (which would affect my packing strategy)? Or is AMS's aggressiveness less specific than that?
It sounds like proactively removing electronics, and perhaps other metal items, from one's bag is at least marginally helpful in reducing the likelihood of secondary screening.
Does AMS have any particular fetish for liquids? In the US, even in non-Precheck lanes, the liquids ban is all but gone, as long as you don't try to bring in any large single containers of liquid (i.e. you can bring multiple bags of 100mL containers, or have your 100mL containers all over the place in your luggage and not confined to a single baggie, as long as no single container is too much bigger than 100mL, and needing to put your baggie of liquids in a separate tray is extremely rarely enforced in the US these days). But I do find that at LHR they are still extremely thorough about liquids and my bag frequently gets pulled aside for extra screening if there is even a single extra liquid container anywhere in it. Is that also the case at AMS (which would affect my packing strategy)? Or is AMS's aggressiveness less specific than that?
Mar 12, 2018, 12:02 pm
#479
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska MVP Gold.
Posts: 1,962
Haha, *might* end up in secondary. That's a good one. A reflection of an errant coin off the glass of a duty free shop 20 meters down from security can send you to secondary
Mar 12, 2018, 1:24 pm
#480
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,006
Yeah, but I have as well passed without taking the baggie off before, so... 
I guess it depends either on mood/skill of the operator, or otherwise what and where you have packed nearby that could obscure.
I guess it depends either on mood/skill of the operator, or otherwise what and where you have packed nearby that could obscure.
