FlyingBlonde89

Arrived at Schiphol at 4.50am. Seemed quiet enough but frustratingly the priority gates (above SP check-in (Schiphol had the little desk manned) weren't activated yet (only the one for Privium) so had to go back down and across (to the alternative security enterance next to the front of the building/doors) where the Priority and non-Priority queues were merged immediately after the boarding pass scan. Apparently dedicating a member of staff to stop anyone going up the escalator (and yelling at anyone who tried to take the stairs) was of prime importance for Schiphol but manning the priority line at the top of the stairs wasn't (I slipped behind the barrier and missed the otherwise long-ish queue but no one else did the same).

I assume it'll be sorted out by later in the morning. Curious at what time.

sakedon

Just curious, anyone knows about possibly new machines stored in the arrival passport control hall under F pier at Schiphol?

Arrived at AMS last Sunday 27/11 at 7AM, I saw 10-20-ish white machines covered in plastic wrap to the left of the manned passport control booths.
Unsure if they are self check-in/transfer machine (as these have rather large monitor-like screens, but not in typical Schiphol yellow or KLM white-blue casing) or new automated gates, though I didn't see if there are parts resembling of portals or gates.

mandolino

Maybe they are extending use of the new scanners they had in Sky Priority?
the ones where you save time by not having to remove belts and laptops but lose it again in the post-scanner checks.

BA850

I must say - I do miss Johan Rebel’s regular updates in this thread!

Fabo.sk

Those scanners are now present at all security checkpoints (for baggage, body scanners are differing between the tube and two plates types).

However this question is regarding passport control not security control.

lloydje33

As they are in the passport control zone they're most likely new additions or replacements for the current e-gates at the Dutch/Schengen border. These can be operated by anyone holding an EER passport on entry and for some others (US, Canada, Australia, and a few more) on exiting the Schengen area. The reason they're white is that these machines are operated by the KMAR (Dutch Border Police)

HadesNL

BA850 : likewise,
his keen observation skills + dry humor added some illumination in Schiphol+KLM dark uncertaintes

HB-IWC

His contributions are sorely missed indeed. Someone should reach out to him and right what went wrong.

GUWonder

Doesn’t sound like those then newly-delivered machines would be CT scanners for cabin baggage. More likely they are a product of the Accenture-VisionBox collaboration for a “seamless flow” project aspect unrelated to cabin baggage scanning.

Fritz

Just adding some data points to this thread. Four times outbound thru AMS, three non Schengen and one Schengen in past 10 days.

No lines or waits at all using Privium. However Privium Lounge was noticeably busy

HadesNL

For those travelling into LCY and with delayed flights

- due to overnight snow and mass cancellations
- planes are still occupying gates / apron
- LCY restricting arrivals severely!

first hand info from pilots as i am on the BA4452 RTM-LCY service....

dkeng

For the first time since spring I had chanced on a slightly short connection of 65 minutes today. Of course it is this day that we pick up a 30 minute delay because swissport "didn't load the baggage correctly" and had to re-pack some bags to the rear hold.

I made my connection no problem but could watch the late connection luggage cart arrive without my bag on it.

Good in the sense that I could hot foot it to the luggage office and get in ahead of the dozen or so unfortunate fellow passengers in a similar situation.

So my confidence in AMS luggage handling took a little knock today. My confidence in swissport at home in BRS is already as low as it can get...

gncohen

Is 50 minute connection at AMS with SP doable for a Schenghen to non-Schenghen itinerary: MPL-AMS-LCY? Both flights are on Cityhopper E190s. The connection is scheduled from 18:40-19:30 on a Sunday if it makes a difference. (And I'm a fast walker.) Thanks for any thoughts.

malmostoso

Currently waiting for my flight to MUC. All Schiphol staff is very unfriendly, very rude, very stressed, or all of the above.

The only smiling staff member was the lady at check-in who said that "it won't get any better until February".

Non priority security for Schengen was about 20 minutes, priority was about 10.

Fabo.sk

Not great, but doable. Hopefully you have a passport that lets you use biometric gates, although you will possibly use short connection passage anyway.

Good news is that LCY will leave from D bus gates which are close to the passport control. Jury is out on whether MPL arrival via bus or on B gates will be better for you. Advantage bus is that it will drop you close to the passport control. Advantage gates is that you don't have to wait for the bus. But it is a long walk from B to D.

Good news is that while the 19:30 is (as of current schedule) the last flight to LCY, there is one more KLM departure at 20:30 and two late BA departures most nights, so you still have a decent chance of getting to London.