I'm going to be in AMS this weekend, what is the best lounge to use (Sky Team)? Pro/Cons?

Sorry if this has been covered before but i did a search and found nothing.

Dom.

Well, that would depend where you are coming from and where you are going to.
There are 3 lounges to choose from, 2 on the non-Schengen side and 1 on the Schengen side.
The Schengen lounge really beats all the other lounges.

The Schengen lounge is the nicest lounge as far as 'looks' and facilities are concerned. However, at EU flight peek times (7~9am and 6~8pm more or less) it can be quite crowded. This goes for all lounges as the non-Schengen lounges can also be crowded at times (last week was standing room only!).

A nice advantage of either of the two non-Schengen lounges is that you have a very good view of the tarmac.

Thanks for the replies I'm flying to BHX so where does that put in non-Schengen?
can you access all areas of the airport or do I have to have a relevent boarding pass for the area.

Dom.

If you are going from AMS to BHX that means going from Schengen to a non-Schengen area, as UK and Ireland are not within Schengen.

You can access any lounge. You only need a same day ticket with a Sky Team partner.

Jerene
(posting from Norway, definitely within Schengen )

Just wondering if you are flying non-schengen to non-schengen is there any way security/passport control will not allow you to visit the schengen area [within europe though] (say to go to a lounge )?

I haven't tried this yet but I'd be interested in knowing if anybody has been successful with this.

You are not going from a Schengen to the non-Schengen side.
As your trip originates in the NL, you will have enter the non-Schengen departure area.

I am not too sure if they will let you over, as they might point out that KLM has 2 other lounges to use.

I wonder how BMI passengers get to their lounge, as that is in the Schengen area.

You mean he can only go through the initial passport control if he enters the non-Schengen area? And from there, some nitwit might tell him that he isn't to proceed to Schengen?

I don't think so. At least I never had any problem with entering at Departure 1 and crossing over. Or the other way. Who's to tell me what crossings I'm allowed to take? Am I supposed to justify that I want to cross?

I thought a passport was sufficient - and for an airport, a boarding pass for being there - anywhere.

P.S. OK, I acknowledge that he would probably be herded towards passport control in a non-Schengen area. But after that, I don't follow -

Jerene
(maybe there is special privilege for us Privium members - but I sort of doubt that)

If you have a passport which doesn't allow you to enter the Netherlands (or the Schengen countries), I'm fairly sure that you won't be able to cross from non-Schengen into Schengen territory without a visum. Otherwise you are free to enter and leave the Netherlands at will (but beware of outstanding Dutch speeding tickets )

Thanks for all the replies, I let you guys know if I can cross over to Schengen side as I would like to check out the new-ish lounge.

I was meant to fly BHX - AMS this afternoon but after leaving my car keys at the office and my passport inside the car i had to change my ticket till tomorrow morning. Top marks for staff at BHX, my ticket was non changeable (2nd lowest take-off fare) but they happily changed it with no fee!

Dom.

Security can be long at peak time I believe, so add some extra time so get through.

Everytime I tried to access departure 1 after checkin (and heading to LHR) is was told my the man/woman at the "check-point" I should enter through departure 2.

Greetings,

Gajan

They can be quite sticky about entering at the Schengen side of the departure hall (hall 1) if you are travelling to a non-Schengen destination, they meaning the Schiphol security staff checking the boarding cards.
Sometimes you get away with saying that the queue at Non-Schengen is too long and they oblige.
But beware, the queue on the airside for going from Schengen to non-Schengen or vice versa can also be long!
Additional disadvantage is that on the Schengen side there is still a handluggage security check before you get to airside.
So travelling to BHX and entering at Schengen side and then going to non-Schengen will mean you have two checks, before entering airside and at the gate.

Another tip is for non-Schengen flights to use the immigration facilities in Departure hall 3 instead of 2. Unless there are many (Martinair) charters, this side is usually less busy than hall 2.

But back to the original topic: I have given up on the KL non-Schengen lounges. They are just too full too often.
I prefer to use the Globe Ground lounge with Priority Pass.
This is a great lounge, small but cosy and friendly and great mixed nuts!

Not exactly on topic, but I sailed through various Schengen checkpoints three times earlier today. On the first occasion the adjacent line for ordinary pax was being held up by an elderly gentleman who had just had a big hunting knife taken off him. The gent apparently wanted it back, and decided to argue his case in Spanish. Some people are just unbelievable!

Johan

After reading this thread I suspect that not being herded into zones is an unpublished Privium advantage. On occasion I'll get patted down, like everyone else, but nobody will tell me where I should go.

Jerene
(just ordered a ticket to MIA in November )

Isn't there still an Air France lounge that provides an additional choice on the Schengen side?

As for crossing air-side, I've not (yet) encountered problems with the passport folks, other than their lines. But in my experience the lounge ladies on either side tend not to let you use their lounge if you have a boarding pass showing a departure from the "other" side.