I have the apple magic keyboard as well as touchpad in a bag inside my backpack, last time in secondary I was asked if I have an ipad in my backpack and said no, then they pointed to the (closed) bag had where the keyboard and touchpad are and asked if there is no ipad in there, I said no and they simply allowed me through.... :confused:

But really every time it is something else, once my electric toothbrush, once my umbrella (you think they would know what that is in AMS :D), once my sunglasses and the list continues, that is why I just leave everything in my backpack and have just one tray go to secondary rather than multiple...

On the subject of umbrellas - two weeks ago (during an afternoon downtime), a security guard planned to confiscate my Senz storm umbrella, claiming it was "not allowed" to bring it on board as it can be used as a weapon (it deploys by pushing a button). I demanded to see the rule that prohibits umbrellas, and to speak to the manager. After waiting for a few minutes, I was told the manager was busy, handed the umbrella, and left go.

I have one of those as well and take them out (KLM branded ;)). In a silent moment I asked once why and the real reason is that within the bundle in the spikes one could conceal a weapon that could not be seen on the x-rays.

Schiphol published today, an excuse for running an airport in 'unforseen' busy times:

The CEO even adds, later in the article: "we have to take the lead in this"
He's not saying, we should have...anticipated better

NL: https://nieuws.schiphol.nl/schiphol-...edewerkers-in/

EN: https://news.schiphol.com/amsterdam-...ecurity-staff/

Naturally, I have nothing against inspection of an umbrella. But this guy tried to take away, because its rapid deployment through pushing a button allegedly makes it a potential weapon...

AMS is trying to give LHR a run for wasting our time and money in the name of "security". At LHR last week, this kind of thing was exactly what I observed for my own trip: more people waiting for the bags to be given a secondary search than there were people waiting in line to go through the metal detector/strip search machines.

understood

Yeah, you might be tempted to use it on the security check staff.

I'm happy to report tomorrow's trip just got cancelled. Next window for this meeting is in june and if the insanity persists I'm just going to say f' it! and book a last flight out and find a hotel. Daytrips to the UK are tiring enough

LGW can also be bad. I fly regularly between AMS and LGW, always take exactly the same with me, it is totally random as to whether or not I get secondary screening at either end. Last time sailed through AMS, it was LGW being awkward, to the point of rejecting my liquids bag for being a millimetre out or something, the very bag I had used there and at AMS for at least the previous 5 trips.

Considering Schiphol sees LHR as their primary competitor, perhaps they're trying to also imitate its atrocious security ;)

I'm surprised LHR isn't sending a payback cake.

I went through Shengen security at 9am today - exactly 3 hours before STD. Guess what; only 2 people in line at priority security, and on top of it my flight is delayed for an hour. Combined with the worthless lounge options in AMS even not having to queue sucks! ;)

It was crowded though; all security lanes were open and the two for priority were only allowing 1 pax at a time to fill bins - the system was too backed up with secondary screenings to allow any more.

Security - looking for some advice
 

I hope you will forgive me for hijacking this thread to ask some advice...?

I get the impression from some of the posts here (though not the one just before mine!) that having access to priority security isn't necessarily going to speed things up by much during the current "security crisis". Is that the case?

My husband has an overnight lay-over coming up shortly (NWI to JNB). He has FB Gold and also Privium. He is currently deciding whether to stay airside for the night or to do what we usually do, go landside and stay at the CitizenM. I've been recommending airside, but he still tends towards landside (despite the fact that the Mercure is 50 Euro cheaper for that night)

Is it worth staying airside to avoid the security hassles?

His flight is at 1000 or thereabouts.

I wouldn't take the risk, especially if the Mercure is cheaper. It can go perfectly fine but also horribly wrong.

KLM has demanded a solution from Schiphol within a week. Also next week meeting is scheduled between KLM, Schiphol and the secretary for infrastructure.