Antwerp (ZWE) digital boarding card/train ticket
Nov 2, 2023, 4:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: AMS
Programs: BA Silver/KL Silver/SQ Silver/AZ Premium
Posts: 57
Antwerp (ZWE) digital boarding card/train ticket
Has anyone recently been travelling between Antwerp (ZWE) and AMS with the Eurostar (former Thalys)? I'm asking because I see on the KLM website that you don't have to collect a ticket anymore at ZWE but you can check in online and get your train ticket and boarding pass(es) (https://campaigns.klm.be/en/travel-b...ssels-schiphol).
Doest this mean you don't have to travel to Antwerp anymore (at your own risk, I understand)? Or do you still have to collect a stamp in the train? If there is still the need to collect a stamp, what would stop me from entering the train in Rotterdam and ask for a stamp then?
Doest this mean you don't have to travel to Antwerp anymore (at your own risk, I understand)? Or do you still have to collect a stamp in the train? If there is still the need to collect a stamp, what would stop me from entering the train in Rotterdam and ask for a stamp then?
Nov 3, 2023, 3:59 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CW
Programs: Marriott titanium, KL/AF FB Ulti
Posts: 644
Has anyone recently been travelling between Antwerp (ZWE) and AMS with the Eurostar (former Thalys)? I'm asking because I see on the KLM website that you don't have to collect a ticket anymore at ZWE but you can check in online and get your train ticket and boarding pass(es) (https://campaigns.klm.be/en/travel-b...ssels-schiphol).
Doest this mean you don't have to travel to Antwerp anymore (at your own risk, I understand)? Or do you still have to collect a stamp in the train? If there is still the need to collect a stamp, what would stop me from entering the train in Rotterdam and ask for a stamp then?
Doest this mean you don't have to travel to Antwerp anymore (at your own risk, I understand)? Or do you still have to collect a stamp in the train? If there is still the need to collect a stamp, what would stop me from entering the train in Rotterdam and ask for a stamp then?
I once had a discussion with a check-in agent at AMS about whether I took the Thalys or not and I can tell you one thing, those are not a good start of your flights. Super annoying and it's extremely hard to proof you're right in some cases. My ticket at the time had not been stamped by a train supervisor. I didn't even see a train supevisor on board. I recalled taking some pictures in the train, which I've showed, and I could show the time I received the "welcome in the Netherlands" SMS from my phone provider which corresponded with the time the train entered NL. Super super annoying discussions and you can't just accept and get your boarding pass, because the new fare they wanted to charge me was over 900 euro's extra (basically a new flight ticket issued on the spot).
Nov 3, 2023, 5:07 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 205
Wow, that story is what I am always thinking about and fearing on these trains. Having to debate on the veracity of something you complied with, with anyone because of flaws in the transporter's own process is unacceptable and ridiculous.
Nov 3, 2023, 10:33 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2020
Programs: FlyingBlue
Posts: 2,424
Any idea what triggered the suspicion in the first place?
Nov 4, 2023, 4:14 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CW
Programs: Marriott titanium, KL/AF FB Ulti
Posts: 644
"To avoid any problems at the airport check-in, make sure that your ticket has been validated by the Train Manager when you have a connecting flight"
And my ticket was not stamped. The rule is not hidden somewhere small, it is printed on the ticket right under the train and seat number. Impossible to miss, so the ticket I showed them was at the same time the proof I didn't comply with their rules.
Obviously when it was clear that I took the train, there were no further issues.
Nov 5, 2023, 1:51 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 7
The flight schedule from AMS seems to be posted for up to october but availability from ANR after march is not. Anyone know when availability for tickets with trains from brussels midi and/or zwe after 18th of march coming?
Would love go get myself to hold one of those digital boarding cards for the (Thalys) eurostar leg.
Would love go get myself to hold one of those digital boarding cards for the (Thalys) eurostar leg.
Nov 6, 2023, 7:04 am
#8
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,342
So whenever the first reports come on from people traveling on an eticket we'll know if not picking up the ticket anywhere, and potentially not having it scanned on board, is enough to keep the itinerary alive. The big question is what happens if you don't scan the eticket during boarding at one of the station gates (Presumably). I'm guessing we won't find out until somebody actually tries (Risking losing the rest of the ticket).
Nov 14, 2023, 2:54 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AF/KL PLAT
Posts: 29
Well. I took the ZWE-AMS train coded KL212 yesterday, so let me share the experience.
New procedure indeed. I was able to get a digital boarding card for this Eurostar leg. It looks exactly like a normal flight boarding pass, but mentions the Eurostar carriage # and seat # - and mentions explicitly to hold on to your luggage.
I did not have to go to the railway station ticket counter anymore like we had to do before (I had to do that as recently as Oct 10 - not sure when they changed over). There was still with a glitch in the procedure for getting the boarding card through the KLM mobile app - but I was able to get it OK through the website.
The Train Manager was very diligent about checking the tickets for the KL passengers. He did not scan though, but put the traditional 'round stamp' on the paper ticket. So no electronic validation (the Antwerp railway station also does not have any electronic gate where you could scan).
At Schiphol luggage drop / checkin this was not really checked though - but I would not take that as a data point as I can imagine I am not raising any suspicion as a Belgian citizen with an Antwerp home address. It might be different for someone with a Dutch passport.
Would love to hear others experiences on this new process.
New procedure indeed. I was able to get a digital boarding card for this Eurostar leg. It looks exactly like a normal flight boarding pass, but mentions the Eurostar carriage # and seat # - and mentions explicitly to hold on to your luggage.
I did not have to go to the railway station ticket counter anymore like we had to do before (I had to do that as recently as Oct 10 - not sure when they changed over). There was still with a glitch in the procedure for getting the boarding card through the KLM mobile app - but I was able to get it OK through the website.
The Train Manager was very diligent about checking the tickets for the KL passengers. He did not scan though, but put the traditional 'round stamp' on the paper ticket. So no electronic validation (the Antwerp railway station also does not have any electronic gate where you could scan).
At Schiphol luggage drop / checkin this was not really checked though - but I would not take that as a data point as I can imagine I am not raising any suspicion as a Belgian citizen with an Antwerp home address. It might be different for someone with a Dutch passport.
Would love to hear others experiences on this new process.
Nov 14, 2023, 8:15 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: KL-AF FB Elite Plus, LH M&M, BA, SQ, HHonors, etc.
Posts: 270
Well. I took the ZWE-AMS train coded KL212 yesterday, so let me share the experience.
New procedure indeed. I was able to get a digital boarding card for this Eurostar leg. It looks exactly like a normal flight boarding pass, but mentions the Eurostar carriage # and seat # - and mentions explicitly to hold on to your luggage.
I did not have to go to the railway station ticket counter anymore like we had to do before (I had to do that as recently as Oct 10 - not sure when they changed over). There was still with a glitch in the procedure for getting the boarding card through the KLM mobile app - but I was able to get it OK through the website.
The Train Manager was very diligent about checking the tickets for the KL passengers. He did not scan though, but put the traditional 'round stamp' on the paper ticket. So no electronic validation (the Antwerp railway station also does not have any electronic gate where you could scan).
At Schiphol luggage drop / checkin this was not really checked though - but I would not take that as a data point as I can imagine I am not raising any suspicion as a Belgian citizen with an Antwerp home address. It might be different for someone with a Dutch passport.
Would love to hear others experiences on this new process.
New procedure indeed. I was able to get a digital boarding card for this Eurostar leg. It looks exactly like a normal flight boarding pass, but mentions the Eurostar carriage # and seat # - and mentions explicitly to hold on to your luggage.
I did not have to go to the railway station ticket counter anymore like we had to do before (I had to do that as recently as Oct 10 - not sure when they changed over). There was still with a glitch in the procedure for getting the boarding card through the KLM mobile app - but I was able to get it OK through the website.
The Train Manager was very diligent about checking the tickets for the KL passengers. He did not scan though, but put the traditional 'round stamp' on the paper ticket. So no electronic validation (the Antwerp railway station also does not have any electronic gate where you could scan).
At Schiphol luggage drop / checkin this was not really checked though - but I would not take that as a data point as I can imagine I am not raising any suspicion as a Belgian citizen with an Antwerp home address. It might be different for someone with a Dutch passport.
Would love to hear others experiences on this new process.
For the way back to Belgium did you visit Schiphol NS ticket office to collect train ticket or were able download during online chk.in / did KL credit XP? Many thx.
Nov 15, 2023, 2:11 am
#12
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,064
Well. I took the ZWE-AMS train coded KL212 yesterday, so let me share the experience.
New procedure indeed. I was able to get a digital boarding card for this Eurostar leg. It looks exactly like a normal flight boarding pass, but mentions the Eurostar carriage # and seat # - and mentions explicitly to hold on to your luggage.
I did not have to go to the railway station ticket counter anymore like we had to do before (I had to do that as recently as Oct 10 - not sure when they changed over). There was still with a glitch in the procedure for getting the boarding card through the KLM mobile app - but I was able to get it OK through the website.
The Train Manager was very diligent about checking the tickets for the KL passengers. He did not scan though, but put the traditional 'round stamp' on the paper ticket. So no electronic validation (the Antwerp railway station also does not have any electronic gate where you could scan).
At Schiphol luggage drop / checkin this was not really checked though - but I would not take that as a data point as I can imagine I am not raising any suspicion as a Belgian citizen with an Antwerp home address. It might be different for someone with a Dutch passport.
Would love to hear others experiences on this new process.
New procedure indeed. I was able to get a digital boarding card for this Eurostar leg. It looks exactly like a normal flight boarding pass, but mentions the Eurostar carriage # and seat # - and mentions explicitly to hold on to your luggage.
I did not have to go to the railway station ticket counter anymore like we had to do before (I had to do that as recently as Oct 10 - not sure when they changed over). There was still with a glitch in the procedure for getting the boarding card through the KLM mobile app - but I was able to get it OK through the website.
The Train Manager was very diligent about checking the tickets for the KL passengers. He did not scan though, but put the traditional 'round stamp' on the paper ticket. So no electronic validation (the Antwerp railway station also does not have any electronic gate where you could scan).
At Schiphol luggage drop / checkin this was not really checked though - but I would not take that as a data point as I can imagine I am not raising any suspicion as a Belgian citizen with an Antwerp home address. It might be different for someone with a Dutch passport.
Would love to hear others experiences on this new process.
Nov 15, 2023, 5:43 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: KL-AF FB Elite Plus, LH M&M, BA, SQ, HHonors, etc.
Posts: 270
As the way things are with NS, Thalys (aka Eurostar), what happens to your onward ticket validity when train is disrupted at last moment and pax travels via alternative mode or boards train from elsewhere?
Last edited by LH757; Nov 15, 2023 at 7:26 am
Nov 19, 2023, 4:52 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: VLC
Programs: FB Plat (Y3), All Accor Gold (Y2)
Posts: 644
I missed my connecting flight and KL rebooked me (as they should) on the next one out.