I've posted the peak days calender under : post #1024
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34345309-post1024.html

Chosing the Sheraton the day before is a wise choice as even i have resorted to this tactic for my 13th July flight.
You at least evade the A4 highway Schiphol exit congestion and the backedup terminals car drop off lanes.
Could make a decent chance to be first at the checkin counters :)

After clearing D1 security you can take a hard left and end up (airside) to D2 security. There you can go through passport control like you normally would when going through D2 security.

In fact, theoretically, even a transit passenger could do this when doing a Schengen-non Schengen transfer. Just walk past the back of the security checkpoints and use the passport control as if you just came in through security at D2..

Quick SP question. Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids under 5) I have SP, rest of family doesn't, will book under same PNR.

Since kids cant use e-gates, will my whole family be able to use SP security at AMS?

Flying AMS-ZRH in Y on either KLM or LX, thanks!

Slightly OT but I was pleasantly surprised to see that BHX is offering a Schiphol experience special.

Huuge queue to get to security. Queue to get to the first floor where the queue is. Police at regular intervals. No way to skip to priority until you arrive at security entrance. All this at 4.30 in the morning!!!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7d4ca3e6d4.jpg

If you are flying KLM, all on the same PNR, you can all use SP check in and SP/Priority security. Did this myself last August with my own kids. For priority security age of kids is irrelevant.
You probably mean passport automated gates when you talk about E-gates? If so then yes the automated passport gates can't be used by young kids. However Zurich is within the Schengen zone, so you do not need to clear passport control at AMS.

If you are flying LX I don't know if you will have access to SP / priority security, as Swiss Airlines is not part of Skyteam.

Continuing the euro queue tour at CDG now. From 2L to 2F went smooth like butter. Hardly any queue at passport control.

However on the other side (2F to 2L) the queue was so huge that it continued to the floor below via escalators.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7ae6a9dae7.jpg

EU Queue Tour:D

Hopefully no queues at the Champagne booth at 2F for you after putting such a hard shift in:)

I arrived in the plaza this morning at 9:58am. 4 hour protocol was not enforced, no staff at the escalators.
Bags checked in at KL SP desk at 10:02am.
Went upstairs to departures 2 Privium went straight in the priority line. Not all too busy for priority, non priority was quite busy but I believe well doable. From what I could see only half the scanners we manned. All the backpacks and carry-ons went to secondary only jackets did not. So exited security at 10:28.
Privium passport check was of cause a breeze.
Privium west lounge was half full, sitting here now for 30 minutes and tabels are not being cleared.

I’m surprised to see how many people try to enter the Privium lounge, the lady at the desk is constantly sending people away. Probably also happens at the Crown Lounge but I never sit near the entrance.

I asked the man at the desk when I was there a few days ago: over 95% are not eligible. The banner by the entrance probably doesn't help. The lounge does accept cash customers (€60) if it is not busy. Not sure how they define that.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f2f68ba702.jpg

Johan

Netherlines there was actually no champagne out at F lounge (around 10AM) only hard liquor :eek:

But when I asked the guy at the bar downstairs he very kindly grabbed me a glass from behind the scenes!

The champagne eventually made it out around 10.45 :)

Next stop Amsterdam!! Thankfully connecting within Schengen but will check out the passport queue to see what I missed

Last Thursday i was siting naar the entrance as the Lounge was full due to Tbe SQ flight taking off @11ish as you stated correctly.To my surprise 6 pax paid at the desk the 60EUR fee to enter in the relative short period i was there and they were let in despite the Lounge being full.Catering was terrific,however the tables were not cleaned quickly(really slow)which made the Lounge look like a cheap take-away restaurant.

Thanks for this data point Brendan. I fly this evening to Oslo and if even this morning things are doable (time most vulnerable for clogging if pax show up hours early, doubling or tripling the usual numbers), this evening things should at least not be worse as you saw it. Of course I have to use dep 1 and have 'just' Sky priority instead of Privium but it seems there won't be a repeat of my London nightmare earlier this week.

Back on topic: Landed at AMS

Would love to step inside and check the state of the queues, but our airplane is currently on hold between pier C and D as "our gate is still occupied by the previous airplane".

Not just humans who are queuing!

Privium only gave me an advantage at the passport check, which is not the main problem. Security you and I would be no different. So if this evening is the same as this morning you should only take 5 minutes longer than I did.

Disappointment, the queue from S to NS is practically empty!

Lounge 26 is full to almost capacity though 😫


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3710716187.jpg
(Guess its that time of the day where most TATL are now gone)