Mess in AMS today - April 2022 onwards
#2356
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AMS/RTM
Posts: 2,827
Another option is to buy a fully refundable ticket on another airline that includes some sort of fast track (economy flex on KLM or business), use that BP to gain access to security, and then cancel prior to departure.
#2357
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,453
I've been following this thread for a while and this summer I thought things at AMS would be better by the time of my flight in mid Sept (next week) and so I wouldn't have much to worry about. Based on the last few days post I'm not so sure. I am only transiting (SFO-AMS-HAJ) so my only potential queuing issue might be passport control from non-Schengen to Schengen. I am not very familiar with AMS at all. Are there multiple passport control areas such that if one is crazy busy, the savvy traveler will know to walk to another, rather than follow the herd? We are flying J so are there priority lines for passport control (I tend to doubt this)? Barring any delays on our inbound, we should have 2 hrs 40 min, so not too worried, but it can't hurt to be prepared.
#2358
Join Date: Jun 2021
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 538
I've been following this thread for a while and this summer I thought things at AMS would be better by the time of my flight in mid Sept (next week) and so I wouldn't have much to worry about. Based on the last few days post I'm not so sure. I am only transiting (SFO-AMS-HAJ) so my only potential queuing issue might be passport control from non-Schengen to Schengen. I am not very familiar with AMS at all. Are there multiple passport control areas such that if one is crazy busy, the savvy traveler will know to walk to another, rather than follow the herd? We are flying J so are there priority lines for passport control (I tend to doubt this)? Barring any delays on our inbound, we should have 2 hrs 40 min, so not too worried, but it can't hurt to be prepared.
I transited Schiphol (Non-Schengen to Schengen) at the end of August on a British Passport, arriving from North America and queued for around 40 minutes. My inbound was delayed by around an hour.
On which note, I’ve checked FlightAware for you and it looks like both KLM departures from SFO are delayed today (one by an hour, the other by two hours), and in recent days a delay of at least an hour hasn’t been unusual.
The one saving grace is that there should be a short connections queue. Airport staff also tend to call out for passengers “with departures before XX:XX”.
Apologies that this post isn’t more reassuring.
#2359
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: FB, M&B, UA, AA
Posts: 2,487
Data point today, Wed 14.09: arrived almost 4 hours before my 18:30 flight to LCY. Used the Skypriority entrance behind the KLM desks in departures 1. Some 20-25 priority guests in front of me, the whole thing took 20-25 minutes (yes that is slow. Compare that with London City for instance where the snakes move really quick). No one before me for passport control so through in 2 minutes. Train to lounge around 30-35 minutes. The non-prio's was a long, long snake though and probably would have added 1 hour at least. No queue outside.
In the lounge, I even managed to have me rebooked to an earlier KLM flight without change fee. After a period before Summer where 3 out of 4 flights ended with an extra night somewhere in Europe, finally a relaxed trip.
In the lounge, I even managed to have me rebooked to an earlier KLM flight without change fee. After a period before Summer where 3 out of 4 flights ended with an extra night somewhere in Europe, finally a relaxed trip.
#2360
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
It used to be that most of the time anybody could wander up those stairs, and then go through the access scanners, which do not check priority eligibility.
Now the downstairs access point is almost always supervised, and eligibility is strictly enforced. I figure that's as it should be, but it's to the detriment of those who just sneaked in or are traveling with a non-eligible partner or companion.
Johan
#2361
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,339
Same time this morning (6:45h) was much busier compared to Thursday. Line at Departures 2 was closed and priority lane at Departures 1 had about 60 pax in front of me. Standard single line on the left hand side but at some point they ‘took’ another scanner from the regular queue. All-in all it took 25-30 minutes. Skyprio back entrance was enforced this time.
Colleague who passed around half an hour earlier had only a small wait.
Colleague who passed around half an hour earlier had only a small wait.
#2362
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Which priority lane at Departures 1 are you referring to here? I think that most people are unaware of any priority lane being open besides the one at the back of Skypriority (departures 2). Did I misunderstand or are you saying that the 'regular' entrance to security now once again has a (or multiple) priority lanes? Are those also enforced when you get upstairs?
Johan
#2363
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: FB, M&B, UA, AA
Posts: 2,487
Did they just allow doing this because of the fact that you arrived too early at the airport due to the potential crowds? I'm flying on the 09:30AM AF flight next week but there is another 06:45AM one that I may, or may not, be able to catch if security happens to be fast and if they'd be able to rebook me rather quickly. Planning to be at the airport at 05:15 so it may, potentially, be possible.
#2364
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: FB, M&B, UA, AA
Posts: 2,487
Which priority lane at Departures 1 are you referring to here? I think that most people are unaware of any priority lane being open besides the one at the back of Skypriority (departures 2). Did I misunderstand or are you saying that the 'regular' entrance to security now once again has a (or multiple) priority lanes? Are those also enforced when you get upstairs?
#2365
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: the Netherlands
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 37
How many hours before departure can you cancel a Flex ticket? Can you actually cancel it if you are already checked in with it, and used it to to get through Security? It would be a great solution and one that I would seriously consider... as long as I can cancel it after I passed security with it..
#2366
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
How many hours before departure can you cancel a Flex ticket? Can you actually cancel it if you are already checked in with it, and used it to to get through Security? It would be a great solution and one that I would seriously consider... as long as I can cancel it after I passed security with it..
Canceling check-in and/or canceling the ticket may take variable amounts of time. I’ve known the refunds to work out even for cancellations made within minutes before flight departure. I’ve also known of refunds to work for ticket cancellations even after scheduled flight departure as long as the ticket was not marked as having been used to fly.
#2367
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: the Netherlands
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 37
Fully-refundable premium cabin tickets may be cancelled even after having checked in on the ticket. Using the boarding pass to clear security or even access a lounge doesn’t invalidate the fare rules being used to cancel a ticket which hasn’t been used by the booked passenger to fly.
Canceling check-in and/or canceling the ticket may take variable amounts of time. I’ve known the refunds to work out even for cancellations made within minutes before flight departure. I’ve also known of refunds to work for ticket cancellations even after scheduled flight departure as long as the ticket was not marked as having been used to fly.
Canceling check-in and/or canceling the ticket may take variable amounts of time. I’ve known the refunds to work out even for cancellations made within minutes before flight departure. I’ve also known of refunds to work for ticket cancellations even after scheduled flight departure as long as the ticket was not marked as having been used to fly.
#2368
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,340
Did they just allow doing this because of the fact that you arrived too early at the airport due to the potential crowds? I'm flying on the 09:30AM AF flight next week but there is another 06:45AM one that I may, or may not, be able to catch if security happens to be fast and if they'd be able to rebook me rather quickly. Planning to be at the airport at 05:15 so it may, potentially, be possible.
#2369
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,381
Finally there is a chance for this to get fixed - Dick Benschop is resigning: https://nos.nl/artikel/2444692-dick-...n-nieuwe-start
#2370
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 39000ft
Posts: 955
Data point from today: Arrived by train at 1214 flying on LX (*A gold with priority). No checking from Plaza to Departures but also no queues in or outside the airport. Priority checkpoint (behind AFKL SP checkin) also no queues but manned. Upstairs, no queues at the normal lines as well. Security was fast. Many bags in secondary (the bag belt was full), not mine. Was through by 1222. By 1225 I was in the *A lounge. New record for me (I think).