Privium - does it really speed up things?
 

I’m considering to register forPrivium, but first wanted to check whether it really provides material gain in efficiency/ time spent in lines.

Most (60%) of my travel through Amsterdam is connecting flights, I have a EU passport, and sky priority.

With that in mind: where does Privium provide shortcuts?

at security control and passport control you can insert your privium card to get fast track access. (but with skyTeam priority you have security fast track anyways).
however cutting the line at passport control can be a big plus when there are long lines.

I travel 4-5 times a month, usually via Departures/Arrivals 3. Security is the same priority line, Privium might give you a slight advantage if there is a line.
Passport control is 20 seconds, always.
If your shortest departure route or your shortest arrival route is closed, it’s due to lines at immigration. With Privium you can proceed.
I’ve not a lot of experience with the Schengen non-Schengen transit, but should be smooth as well.
Privium West lounge in non-Schengen (airside) is most of the times quit, I’m not sure about the other two lounges.

Hope it helps!

I decided not to get a Privium card. With my travel patterns I find it exceptionally rare that there is a meaningful queue at transit passport control. Only the relatively rare case where the NS->S e-gates aren't open in the morning. Of course with Privium the queue is always zero, so if your experience is different to mine it may be worth it for you.

If you have SkyPriority, then Privium doesn't save you much time at security in general. That said, at transfer security, sometimes there can be a lineup and they don't prioritize SP customers, but if you show your Privium card and say you have a very short connection, they will send you to the shortest queue. This has come in handy a few times for me because I like living on the edge and typically aim for 1hr connections at AMS.

Also because I like to live on the edge, the Privium passport control has been a godsend many times. I can consistently make connections within 15 mins from F-pier to the last gates of B-pier. Yes, it involves brisk walking, but I know that I will never have a wait at passport control. Even if the automated check fails, for some reason, you are the first person to be seen by the KMar.

For several years I maintained the Privium Plus membership too, because I prefer their lounges to the KLM ones. Only since they have the Ulti space, I started using the KLM lounges again. So to me, the Privium membership has been worth it.

If you're a Dutch Amex Platinum customer, I think you even get a discounted membership.

Dutch Amex Platinum, Privium is free, including lounge access.

I would not do Schiphol without it. Security control you have the same priority as anyone else but when going NS, the card can save hours (well, usually not at once, but it’s not rare that even EU lines are 30+ minutes).
and the lounges are nicer than others. Even if the Schengen airside one doesn’t have much F+B, it’s at least nice and calm.

It's just a matter of certainty - especially when things go sideways at AMS. Also worth considering is that they may limit/stop membership if Schiphol is experiencing very heavy crowds for a prolonged period of time.

Thank you everybody for the very useful insights. I guess I’ll get it just to have a good backup at immigration.

Pity though they only have a “downgraded” lounge in Schengen departures. Would have been a good alternative to KL (even with the ULTI room I am not a fan)

Even a "downgraded" lounge as it might be compared to the other 2 it's still much better than the KL lounge (no clue about the ULTI room).
That being said there are few subscription options, I'm not sure I would pay the extra for the lounge access if you already have it on all your flights going through AMS, especially as I usually prefer short connections anyway.

Hands down the best lounge at Schiphol.

Good food selection and hot meals generally cooked well, good enough to substitute any paid meal at a restaurant. Drinks and nibbles of good quality too. Always space, workspaces available as well.

Landside lounge and airside non schengen lounge are the best ones, with food slightly better in the non schengen one. Express lounge good for a quick coffee.

Massive time saver when entering or leaving Schengen. Can save you hours on one trip only, especially at busy periods such as christmas or first weekend of holidays.

Designated parking close to the terminal is also a good perk.

I had privium for 2 years, but I was also working part-time in the NL. I have sky priority. In my experience:

• The lounges were the nicest part.
• Passport control: 50% of times the privium gate was not operative OR (this happened at least 3 times) I was sent to a secondary screening to check my purse or handbag and swipe my belt etc after crossing from S->NS through the privium gate, so I would have been better off with regular EU passport machines.
• security: pretty much same as with sky priority. Be careful with getting sent to the line used by crews and passengers on wheelchairs or with babies.

If i had a car, I would have had the greatest advantage of the parking, but coming on train the difference was not that noticeable, mainly the lounge.

There's a new Privium lounge coming in Schengen, if I recall correctly. Read it somewhere discussing the recent renovations.

I had Privium for the lounges mainly (as I almost always got to Schiphol on a Skyteam flight and thus already had security priority, and I typically only go outside Schengen 2-3 times a year).

After the x'th price increase of Privium, it just wasn't worth it any longer for me - I shifted some of my travels to more direct routes (now that SAS is Skyteam) and where layovers are needed, I'm trying to go via CDG these days.

2F-2F or even 2F-2G is a much more relaxed layover compared to Schiphol's B-C-D gates within Schengen, especially because 50% of my flights involve the fokker farm and a bunch of broken escalators (aka stairs) with cabin trolley.

Furthermore, AF 2F/2G lounges beat the KLM lounges in every possible way, and while I know I should probably stop, CDG still has smoking areas, whereas in AMS I need to go outside and pass security each time I feel the urge for some nicotine.