Solevita

Will the upstairs bar also go back to free service (can't remember, was everything free there when it opened?).

maalloc

IIRC after inauguration only basic drinks were free (same beer/spirits/wine as in Lounge 25), and the outside terrace could be used by anyone.
Higher-grade drinks were also sold.

KLflyerRalph

Now they can create a reserved space for Ultimates!

Thysk

Just let them do it like they do it in Lyon/LYS. 2 chairs and a red cord :P.

When they were still building parts of the lounge downstairs, the upstairs bar was open with free service (basic drinks, you could pay for premium drinks, ie. rum cola was available, bacardi cola was available if you paid extra).
After the downstairs section was "completed" they shut off the entire upstairs part for non-paying pax, meaning the restaurant had more staff than visitors (which was already the case) and the bar itself became a ghost-town as well, safe it for one or 2 persons who reluctlanty paid 5euro for a coffee (made from a regular machine) to at least work in peace and avoid the Zoo downstairs.
The loungedragons (when on duty upstairs) made it their sole purpose to direct anyone downstairs the escalators immediately, saying "this is a paid only section, please go back downstairs". They closed down the top of the stairs of the "Dutch Mountain" part as well with some red cord to avoid people sneaking in.

Digicola

Hello people, does anyone know if there are printers in the non-schengen lounge and of they are available during the current situation ?

maalloc

10 days ago the lounge 25 printer had an "out of order" sticker.
Sorry, read too fast. Your message is about lounge 52.

Digicola

My bad I wrote too fast, I was indeed referring to lounge 25.

Lounge 52 can work for me too though.
Are immigration staff back to asking all sorts of questions to people who just want to go to the lounge despite being on a schengen-schengen connection ?

maalloc

When mistakes cancel out each other...
That said I don't know the situation in lounge 52, didn't check it there. If you are in lounge 25 already, it might be worth asking the desk before going through the hassle of crossing customs. Or maybe a fellow FTer on transit there will jump in!

It's been getting better lately. I've not heard bulls***/intimidation not to go to lounge 52 for a few months now.

Digicola

Not there at the moment, but I like to plan these things ahead.

I usually get the whole speech about how I shouldn't be crossing without a ticket etc etc. AFAIK there are no rules against it and they would make us scan out tickets if there were.

Lately the biggest pain point hasn't been leaving the schengen area but getting back in as there are usually just 1 or 2 agent that are asking tons of questions checking visas etc. I don't blame them, they're doing their job but opening an e-gate for EU citizens would make it a lot easier for everyone....

maalloc

Are you subject to this experience with a EU passport? Or just find the queue on the way back slow?

Going from NS->S areas has been a breeze for me lately, never had more than 2 or 3 pax in front of me at any time, and the conversation with the border officer seldom lasted more than 15 seconds.

Digicola

Just asking me where I'm coming from. It's mostly waiting in the queue behind people who sometimes end up having to line up at the counter on the side. Once again, I don't blame them, they're protecting our borders, it just makes things slow.

When the schengen lounge used to close at 12 saying "I'm going to the KLM lounge" used to be like a magic password, agents would just say "oh" and hand back my passport instantly.

Ditto

When returning to AMS recently I made the mistake of queuing the the non-EU passport lane, there was just the one PAX already at the counter and maybe 5-6 at the EU passport lane so it seemed to make sense, fast-forward to the 6 PAX that cleared the EU line and about 3 or 4 more and I cleared immigration at the EU passport line, the PAX at the non-EU counter was still there, between the KMAR asking questions and PAX papers falling on the floor I can only imagine it took quite a while for him to clear.

Goldorak

I have been 4 times to NS lounge recently while the S lounge was closed (during a S to S connection). Each time when reaching the agent booth and giving my passport, I said upfront "I am just going to/coming from the KL lounge" and showing my Schengen connection BP. Never had any remark except "make sure you schedule enough time to come back". They are obviously very used to this.

mlin32

I did it once, I think I mentioned that the frontier contrôle is used to this but they did ask to see my residence permit and stamped entry/exit in my passport each time, and I had to go thru security on the way to Lounge 52.

Ditto

Yes, you are entering/exiting Schengen and all relevant formalities apply, for non-EU passport holders that will include stamping the passport and having to prove you are allowed to enter Schengen.