Privium Rip Off
Feb 9, 2005 | 11:53 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
I wonder how much control Schiphol airport has over immigration procedures. Securing the country's borders is the responsibility of the Dutch government, and it seems to me that the government has final say on how to discharge that responsibility. If, for example, priority is given to having two dozen or more officers check each and every passenger coming off a flight from the Dutch Antilles, that presumably leaves less personnel to man the checkpoints in the arrivals hall.
johan
johan
Feb 9, 2005 | 11:56 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KLM FB plat / Hertz Pres Circle / AB EB Gold
Posts: 409
Privium promo euro 20 saving
Some large Business Travel agencies were offering last year a promo: Buy Privium standard for euro 99,- and ang get Privium PLUS ( 20 euro savings).
Perhaps if you are client of TQ3 or Carlsson Wagon Lit or any other big one, you could ask them if this promo is still valid!
Perhaps if you are client of TQ3 or Carlsson Wagon Lit or any other big one, you could ask them if this promo is still valid!
Feb 9, 2005 | 1:44 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Programs: KL Gold, SQ KF Gold, CX Green
Posts: 9,524
I am surprised that so many people here complain about long immigration lines at Schiphol. Even when the lines seem long (more than 50 people in front of me), it has never taken me more than 10 minutes to reach the front of the queue. And of course you can always walk over to another immigration checkpoint when queues are long. In my experience, queues have recently been relatively long at the D pier immigration. If you find yourself in a long line there, just walk over to E where most of the time you will be almost alone.
I have been to 64 countries, and longest waiting times for immigration for me have been the USA and Taiwan. (both longer than one hour)
I have been to 64 countries, and longest waiting times for immigration for me have been the USA and Taiwan. (both longer than one hour)
Feb 9, 2005 | 3:15 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: DUB/ORD/SIN/PVG
Programs: EI AerClub Concierge, EK Gold, BA Gold, BD Gold (Retired), HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 2,925
Originally Posted by Sjoerd
I am surprised that so many people here complain about long immigration lines at Schiphol. Even when the lines seem long (more than 50 people in front of me), it has never taken me more than 10 minutes to reach the front of the queue. And of course you can always walk over to another immigration checkpoint when queues are long. In my experience, queues have recently been relatively long at the D pier immigration. If you find yourself in a long line there, just walk over to E where most of the time you will be almost alone.
I have been to 64 countries, and longest waiting times for immigration for me have been the USA and Taiwan. (both longer than one hour)
I have been to 64 countries, and longest waiting times for immigration for me have been the USA and Taiwan. (both longer than one hour)
^ ^ I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes to clear immigration at AMS, even at pier D (>300 incoming flights over the last 8 years). AMS is IMHO one of the top 3 airports on the planet. Privium is a "nice to have" but not essential (sorry Johan!)
Last edited by Dambus; Feb 9, 2005 at 3:21 pm
Feb 15, 2005 | 3:24 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 11
Privium really is worth it. My partner and I both took the card as we will be travelling extensively this year and it is very convenient. Yes, the lines at immigration have been long lately, but you have to control everything now-a-days. With more and more people travelling each year the risk of fraud is immense.
And as others have said, have you ever been to the US? That's a horrific immigration "service"....and New Delhi airport at 1:00 am is no joke either.
Now we hear that more countries want to implement a service similar to Privium, which will be nice if the systems are indeed linked to one another. That is what they claim, so we shall see.....
And as others have said, have you ever been to the US? That's a horrific immigration "service"....and New Delhi airport at 1:00 am is no joke either.
Now we hear that more countries want to implement a service similar to Privium, which will be nice if the systems are indeed linked to one another. That is what they claim, so we shall see.....
Feb 15, 2005 | 7:23 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
I used Privium a couple of hours ago, and there were four people ahead of me! Longest line ever, but nothing compared to the queues at the Koninklijke Marechaussee booths. I won't even mention the zoo at the KL luggage drop-off desks. Instead of waiting once in an orderly line at at check-in desk, pax now have to look for a free self-service check-in machine in the maze that KL has set up, then line up to get rid of their luggage (which they may never seen again, or at least not at the place and time expected, or in the condition expected). Today I even saw staff members directing pax to the ordinary check-in desks.
johan
johan
Feb 15, 2005 | 10:19 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Commuting between AMS, CDG and IAH
Programs: FB LTPE, hhonors diamond, hertz 5*, Thalysthecard Platinium, A-club Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 521
On a related issue, what is the succes rate people have been getting with the retina scans?
So far I have 3 failures in the last 3 years, or approx 100 attempts, all after trans atlantic overnights. I guess they're called red-eyes for a reason.
So far I have 3 failures in the last 3 years, or approx 100 attempts, all after trans atlantic overnights. I guess they're called red-eyes for a reason.
Feb 15, 2005 | 2:03 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NYC & MST
Programs: KLM PE
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by johan rebel
I used Privium a couple of hours ago, and there were four people ahead of me! Longest line ever, but nothing compared to the queues at the Koninklijke Marechaussee booths. I won't even mention the zoo at the KL luggage drop-off desks. Instead of waiting once in an orderly line at at check-in desk, pax now have to look for a free self-service check-in machine in the maze that KL has set up, then line up to get rid of their luggage (which they may never seen again, or at least not at the place and time expected, or in the condition expected). Today I even saw staff members directing pax to the ordinary check-in desks.
johan
johan
Fortunately I rarely check-in at Schiphol with luggage anymore, but if I did I'd definitely just go to the check-in desk. Have never had to wait in line at the WBC/Elite desks.
Originally Posted by COFF-Platinum
On a related issue, what is the succes rate people have been getting with the retina scans?
Mar 29, 2005 | 2:21 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: Qantas Gold; BA Silver; Virgin Australia Platinum; Virgin Atlantic Gold
Posts: 351
It is interesting to see that the UK immigration authority have no plans to charge for their automated iris recognition facility. See www.iris.gov.uk
Mar 29, 2005 | 2:36 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: MUC
Posts: 412
It is also free of charge in FRA.
However, I am not sure about the status of the Iris Scanning booths in Terminal B, as it was supposed to be a test phase for a year or so. Today, after more than one year, the facilities are still there, but weren't working for me a couple of weeks ago.
However, I am not sure about the status of the Iris Scanning booths in Terminal B, as it was supposed to be a test phase for a year or so. Today, after more than one year, the facilities are still there, but weren't working for me a couple of weeks ago.