Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by A Andriessen

13 May 2008   Customer Rating :

The service that it provides does not merit the costs I make for its use, as a high frequency of use does not grow any privilege whatsoever. It is a cashcow for Amsterdam and the Dutch government. The groundstaff at check-in is in need of a course on hospitality. A few years ago I went from being a regular traveler with luggage at the check-in to someone who only uses carry-on as my luggage got either lost or stolen at a frequency of about once every 3 months. The only thing that Schiphol does provide which is great and that one has to pay for anyway is its Privium service. It also has a golfcart type Caddy-service for disabled people. Collecting passengers by car is often obstructed by taxis and busses. The train even first-class has the same drawback. When there is bad weather I usually take a clean but overrated hotel nearby the day before leaving, as Schiphol cannot be reached by car any time before 10 in the morning on a working day. Maybe I have seen this airport way too often. I don't praise nor bury.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Jake van Kaam

13 May 2008   Customer Rating :

It's really easy to get around. All signs are in Dutch and in English. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and shops. Checking in and security is easy. Everybody who works in the airport speaks English. Two negative things: one of the runways is very far away from the terminal (Taxiing takes about 15 minutes min.) and it takes a long time to get your luggage back. But if you are connecting in Amsterdam your luggage should not get lost.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by N Sutherland

23 April 2008   Customer Rating :

The worst part of AMS are the gate areas, where seating is limited and departure security is jammed in wherever. That said, given that the position and spacing of gates can't easily be changed, the staff do a pretty good job. Remembering it's age the remainder of the airport is very good, and regularly being upgraded and refurbished. It's well laid out but with often lengthy walks, (what airport of it's size and capacity in a single terminal configuration isn't spread out?). There are plenty of places to eat, drink, rest or shop - it's always very clean and certainly a better airport than any of the other European hubs of comparable size. The runway expansions in recent years and excellent transport links have kept AMS ahead of the UK competition and is certainly my favourite European airport.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Benji Silverberg

15 April 2008   Customer Rating :

This is not a 4 star airport! The distances between gates (especially transferring from international to European Union) is very long, with no assistance for mobility-impaired passengers. Lines for security at the gates wind out into the main corridors and help desks for the individual airlines are extremely poorly organized. (My KLM flight from JFK was delayed such that I missed my connection to MAD, and instead of being able to just go to the next flight to MAD and ask if there was space, I had to wait "on line" - it was really just a disorganized sea of people - for the agents to even start seeing customers, and even then had to push my way to the desk.) On my trip to AMS proper, the security lines were also just suggestions, as people cut with impunity. I will try to avoid AMS in the future! LHR has been a much easier airport for me.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by David Lloyd

3 April 2008   Customer Rating :

I frequently transit through Schiphol when flying from the UK. It's spacious, clean, well signposted and hassle free. My luggage has always made it across from one flight to the next even when the connection time was just 40 minutes. There can be a lot of hanging around at gates.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by David Passmore

25 February 2008   Customer Rating :

Although arguably not as good as Changi or Hong Kong, this airport is user friendly with decent facilities, with the only down side being the long taxiway and the remote parking of equipment used for regional flights. Signage is good, there are plenty of washrooms and the quiet areas are handy during transit. Duty free shops are not good value however, but this may be mainly due to unfavourable currency exchange rates. The smoking ban in the airport is also a welcome improvement.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by R Brook

24 January 2008   Customer Rating :

I've lost count how many times I've flown through here over the years. Schiphol is one of the best airports in the world. Always clean, easy to get around, lots of places to eat, smoke, and shop. Offers a nap area for people who are not business class and can't access the 'club rooms'. Has little indoor play grounds for the little kids. Because it is a hub and many people who will be 'jumping the pond' have long layovers, they even have a special tour desk for visitors with layovers of 6 hours plus. Tired of airports, go see a windmill.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by D Tetteroo

17 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Everything is clean and spacious, staff friendly. Keep in mind this is a huge airport so moving around can take some time. However, as a EU citizen, it took me only 15 minutes from deboarding the plane (gate B12) to entering my train (although only carrying hand luggage). It's true that there is one runway which is situated exceptionally far away from the terminal.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Vincent Dubois

15 January 2008   Customer Rating :

I have had to transfer through Amsterdam around 6 times in the past years, and half of the time I have had serious luggage delay at my destination. From 3 to 5 days delay in the past, this has reached a peak of 15 days during my last trip at the end of last year! I am flying from Taiwan to France, often for short family visits, and this type of delay is a serious pain! Christmas presents for my family actually never reached France and were eventually sent back to my permanent address in Taiwan! I have only one advice for frequent travelers: if Schiphol seems to be a nice airport otherwise, avoid absolutely to have any luggage transfer!

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by B O'Rourke

10 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Join Privium (about €99 a year) and this really is the best airport going. From getting out of my cab, through the Privium security lane and into the Klm lounge takes about 15 mins. If you have to go through passport then there is also a Privium lane with iris scan that has always worked for me and I have never had to queue to go through. Please note that the whole airport is now no smoking. Apart from that possibly the best airport in Europe.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Luis Enrique Oliveros

8 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Excellent transfer facilities, One-single terminal concept. Excellent Duty-free, staff friendliness and lack of congestion.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by S Luthi

16 December 2007   Customer Rating :

As many reviewers mentioned Schiphol airport is in general well organized and efficient. The only major downside, however, is a rather serious one: baggage handling. it can easily take 45 minutes after arriving at the belt (which can be in excess of one hour after landing!) until your baggage finally arrives at the airport. Flying first or business class does not help one bit, it all arrives at the same time, apparently there is no priority handling. What a contrast to the major airports in the Far East, which I frequently travel to. Perhaps Schiphol management should pay a visit there.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by G Lee

28 November 2007   Customer Rating :

Coming in to Amsterdam as a NW/KLM international transit passenger makes this facility a pleasant, convenient, hassle free experience, but certainly not cheap with the ever falling US dollar. The facilities are modern, clean, well lit, functional. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, hotel, showers available at the airport. Shower facilities are available through Mercure Hotel for €15 if you feel the need to scrub up and a change of clothing. There are no free wi-fi, though for a fee wi-fi or using one of their pc's are available ie. €9 for 60 minutes of use. Smoke is still an issue, as Casino facilities are full of smoke and where ever areas diners are still allowed to smoke. Foie Gras D'Oie (goose liver) 210gr €24.95 or Foie Gras with Truffles around €30, Lindt chocolates, underwear are available at duty free shops. We looked at the prices for one place to consider for dining but it looked fairly pricey, and so decided to go for McDonald's for the expected cheaper pricing even though it's not our first choice. As we head towards McDonald's, another eatery Paul's with it's bread and sandwich offerings right next to McDonald's caught our eye and we detoured next door and bought their freshly made bread sandwich, croissant, and apple dessert. There's small half bottle of red wine for around €9 which the cashier will open for you. I use my Capital One mileage reward credit card to charge the purchase (no foreign exchange fee imposed unlike all the other U.S. credit card companies.) You need be cleared of security and at your designated boarding gate (which can change more than once as the time gets closer) at least 45 minutes of departure time. Allow sufficient time to clear through security at the boarding gate as passengers and baggage may be subject to scrutiny through questioning of the passengers and searching of baggage for your onward connection.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Kasper Hettinga

21 November 2007   Customer Rating :

Schiphol is a very nice airport (4-5 star) when flying with anything else than KLM, especially to another Schengen country: all procedures are nice and quick and there is a lot of entertainment on the passenger-side of the terminal. However, check-in for KLM is a disaster: internet check-in doesn't help at all, as the queue for luggage drop-off is taking about 30-45 mins. on average. The subsequent security procedures also take a lot of time. On average, it takes me 2 hours from train to gate when flying KLM. 45-60 minutes on other airlines, which is more acceptable.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by D Bilbija

1 November 2007   Customer Rating :

Schipol is becoming one of the airports that is better to avoid. Queues for checking in for KLM or KLM operated flights are very long and sometimes (if flying before school holidays for example) 2 hours is not enough to complete all the formalities. Especially this is the case if you have to go through passport control. Half of the available desks are empty and only few immigration officers are available for assistance. Other facilities on the airport are at very high level, however airport does not provide many possibilities for entertainment - no cinema or similar which could be used if longer waiting is required at the airport.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Wouter Wynants

1 November 2007   Customer Rating :

I arrived from Brussels only 1h 10min before my departure - went to departure hall 2, did self check- in in two minutes, through passport control and arrived at the gate as people were still queuing for security screening. Security screening at each gate means the plane will not leave without you as you are not being stuck at a general security check point somewhere else in the airport. Helpful, very friendly airport and cosy bars. Arriving by plane from SFO as smooth as my departure. It only took 20-25 min to get from gate F5 to the train station (with checked-in luggage). Next time I'll make sure I arrive a few hours in advance before my flight.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by W de Werd

18 October 2007   Customer Rating :

It takes at least 1 hour from landing till picking up baggage and passing customs. This is much too long. Problems are immigration and handling luggage. Same problem by departure, half of the immigration booths are staffed so every time long queues.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by M Boughen

25 August 2007   Customer Rating :

As airports go Schiphol is the best in the EU. It's clean, modern, spacious with plenty of seating areas and places to eat, efficient, friendly and welcoming. The underground train system is a breeze.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Richard Warren

27 July 2007   Customer Rating :

A word of warning about liquids at Schipol. Because all the gates have the security x-ray machines at the gate, the limit on taking liquids through applies there. So if you buy a bottle of water from a shop, you have to tell them if you wish to drink it then, or on the plane. If its on the plane they put it in a tamper proof bag to carry with you, and that will be OK at security. Very frustrating if you don't realise until too late, as most of the gates don't have any vending machines.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Geoffrey Wyndham-Jones

11 July 2007   Customer Rating :

As a transit airport, Schiphol works very well: signs are plentiful and clear, departure boards give details of flights up to 8 hours ahead, facilities are well laid out, with retail outlets on the main concourse and food outlets on the first floor. Best of all (please note, Heathrow) no tacky carpets - all circulation areas are either tiled or boarded. When combined with high ceilings and good air-conditioning, this gives the airport a clean, spacious and comfortable feeling. Why go to Heathrow to transit, especially as KLM now offer a product which compares well with the BA product.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Lee Sylvester

24 May 2007   Customer Rating :

AMS-LGW on BA Club Europe - leaving from the H-Pier. Never again. The BA lounge is a long hike from the check-in area through faceless corridors, and the queue for security at the entrance to the H-Pier was horrendous - our flight was announced in the lounge 40 minutes before departure and it took some mad dashing, lots of queuing and a bit of pushing past people to make it on to the plane 50 minutes later (cabin crew seemed only too aware of this sort of delay) There were only two security scanners open and a queue stretching back as far as the eye could see. I've often thought LHR security was bad, not now. Oh, and the Polderbaan runway which is located somewhere near Belgium I think.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Wouter Mitt

22 May 2007   Customer Rating :

The ludicrous delays caused by the new scanners at Schipol are no joke, they held everyone up, often people had to go through twice. There was no choice given to me, nor anyone else that I saw, to go through the older scanners as reported elsewhere. Previously I'd found Schipol to be speedy and the staff helpful. It is probably the best airport in Europe, it's a shame that the new security measures do not fit in so well.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Jerry Icban

14 May 2007   Customer Rating :

I like this airport, and think it's one of the best in continental Europe. Both departure and arrival areas have many different shops, even a small version of the Rijksmuseum as well as a Holland Casino. You can even have a chair back massage in the departure area as well. It's a very busy airport so the queues at passport control will be long. I figured out a trick, and although it doesn't always work, it might save you some time. From international flights (non-Schengen) when arriving in Schiphol, if you see that many passengers will be going through passport control, try going to the other side of the terminal, where there is another passport control area. The line there will sometimes be a lot shorter. Since I had lived in the Netherlands for a few years, and have been through Schiphol many times, I figured this out long ago. But I can understand how many passengers would be frustrated at this, because indeed the queues do get long, and it's especially irritating when you see 6-10 open booths at passport control but only two officers working. Even worse when you see all the EU citizens getting through quickly while you see all the non-EU citizens waiting in the queue for so long, sometimes rather slowly. But I suppose it's fair; after all, the same thing happens in most other countries, like the USA.It's very user-friendly, with the signs clearly stating where everything is, and how to get there. Getting to the city centre by train is quite easy, since the station is right underneath the airport, and will take around 15 minutes. If you need to get to The Hague, that'll take between 30-45 minutes with the "sneltrein" (fast train) and longer with the "stoptrein" (the train that stops at every single stop along the way).

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by J van der Meer

5 May 2007   Customer Rating :

I have seen a lot of airports in the world last couple of years, but a few can match with Schiphol. Although it is my home country’s airport and you are not so quick in criticizing on something of your own country it surprised and irritated me on the last trip home. When you have to go through immigration they have long lines. That can happen, but if you are in the line for European passports and they still leave people out of the EU in this line, you wonder why the make those different signs. A other thing which was happening, they checked longer on EU citizens than they did on people outside the EU. So the line for non EU passport holders was quicker. Even in the USA immigration is going quicker.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by L Wiesenfeld

25 April 2007   Customer Rating :

I transit through Schiphol many times a year, coming from Lyon and going to the USA. This airport is extremely pleasant usually, with lots of open space, very clean environments. To my great surprise last time (March 26), the border checks (from USA to Schengen) were a total mess, with several large airplanes having arrived and many people making intra-European connections: only two lanes open, more than one hour waiting time. This is not the type of things we are accustomed to in Amsterdam. I hope it was only some type of mishap.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Daren Stubbs

12 April 2007   Customer Rating :

This was an excellent airport terminal only marred by the long journey from the terminal to the runway. It must have taken 15 minutes on the ground before we reached our runway. The terminal was excellent, loads of good shops, good eating places and staff were friendly, particularly at the security checks. I was spoilt for choice with food and their communal paying area for all restaurants means that you do not have to wait in queues once you have selected a meal and want to pay. Easily found an exchange desk and toilets clean and lots of them. Was on transfer so not sure how quick they handle luggage but mine did arrived at its destination. All in all a great airport only slightly marred by the long drive to the runway.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Daniël Smit

20 March 2007   Customer Rating :

The H-pier (arranged for low-cost carriers) is a disaster to all arriving there. It's a very long walk (about 10 mns) to meet the first opportunity to visit any toilet! In case you're so unlucky to have your landing on 36/18 R ("Polderbaan") you must add 15 mns for a touristic cruise through real Dutch landscape! It's unfair to treat low-cost carriers and their passengers in that way. Mind you: all (high) airport charges count equally for both low-coast carriers as for regular main airlines like KLM. By the way: low-cost carrier Transavia (KLM daughter!) is allowed to use the convenient B & C piers!

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by D Visser

26 February 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

With regards to the comment made by Z Stefan - I have to agree that the immigration desks are often understaffed. This is no fault of the airport but of the Dutch border patrol - it's called budget cutbacks. Please note that with regards to the security at the gates - that's a European law and the checking for liquids/fluids is something that was determined by Brussels, with the push from the US. It is frustrating, yes, but it's nothing compared to other European airports. My gripe is that there are far too few security areas at the gates, meaning that you stand in line a long time now-a-days just to get through security. That is indeed poorly organised. Other than that Amsterdam remains, in my point of view, one of the best airports in the world.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Z Stefan
19 February 2007

Arrived around 10pm and only four immigration officers available. Absolutely enormous queue to get into the country even with EU passport. Poor, chaotic, very confusing signposting at the immigration desks. Staff pleasant. On the return similar situation with the passport control and than the best part! Security check just before the gate - so no chance taking a bottle of water with you! No vending machines, no warning. If you happen to pass the security and decide to wait at the gate you are stuck! I don’t understand absence of vending machines? Are they so hard to install? Or maybe Schipol runs a business venture with no frills airlines so I have to buy water!

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Jonas Willemsen
13 February 2007

I depart from and arrive at AMS at least once a month and find it to be an extremely pleasant airport. While it is a very large airport by any standard I have never found it to be too crowded. A great atmosphere, lovely shops and restaurants and clean facilities make Schiphol a pleasure to stay at. If it's your first time there you're in for a very relaxing experience.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Jim Faulks
1 January 2007

Recently we got a KLM flight from London City to Schiphol. The flight was delayed and left us with some 10 minutes to catch the connecting KLM flight to Clermont-Ferrand. We rushed across the airport and caught the flight thinking that our booked through luggage would never make it. We were most agreeably surprised and delighted to find our luggage had come with us to Clermont. Full marks to Schiphol staff!

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Gavin Stewart
11 December 2006

Just transited through Schiphol and couldn't have been easier. Clean, slick design. Very relaxing, uniform and consistent layout and signage wherever you happen to be. More screens than any other airport. Each screen gives you a live "walk time" from the gates - this time value changes depending where you are in the airport (classy touch). Just get off your first flight, and wander over to the gate for your second, as easy as that. My only gripe is actual boarding. Schiphol waits until the boarding gate to scan hand luggage. No wonder they called boarding an hour before dep time! 300 pax taking belts off, laptops out etc., all at the gate. Big bus station style crush barriers to cope with the queue. Not quite so transit-friendly. Also, watch out, you'll have to surrender that bottle of water you just bought airside at your origin (caught me out). But staff good humoured, and also posted an extra guy to really work the line, checking pax for forbidden articles BEFORE they reached the scanner, if only more airports did that!

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by R Meyer
5 November 2006

Heaven on Earth for travellers with a visual handicap. Good fonts one can read, with big capitals black on yellow. The high contrast solution! For the rest good, but as on every airport try to ask one of the employees, you'll never find and 'see' one. The integration airfield and trains is very good. One thing: Dutch people are blunt and not very polite. National habit! This concerns employees and fellow-travellers.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Andrew Bristow
19 October 2006

I have been using Schipol for more than 20 years and it remains my transit airport of choice for Europe. I have recently started to use a Privium card to get through the Schengen passport control (which I need to do on almost every transit) and this has made the Schipol experience even better - reliable, no queue at passport control and a dedicated security lane (contrast with the UK's IRIS system which broke down the first time I tried to use it.)

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Anna Coleman
15 October 2006

Having arrived at Schipol airport on a TAP flight from Lisbon nearly 2 hours late we were already stressed out and counting on missing our connecting flight so it was with great surprise and pleasure that we were met off our flight by a charming airport staff lady with transport, who took us right to the boarding gate (passport control on the move!), just in time to catch our plane. We're not VIP's but were very grateful for the VIP treatment, and thankful we didn't have to walk what seemed like miles through the huge airport as we would never had made it on time. As far as we're concerned Schipol deserves 5 stars.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Steve Ward
16 September 2006

Efficient and clean airport. EasyJet checkin desks and gates seem to be a long way away, so expect a long walk if using this airline. Taxi-ing times can be long. Otherwise good, with good shops and food outlets. However, final departure Gates are grim with very limited facilities.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by C Macdonald
30 July 2006

Having transited through Schiphol almost weekly for the past 5 years, it is still by far the best option from NCL (other options being LHR, CDG, BRU and DUS). My only real complaint now is the number of bus boarding flights and in particular the disgrace that is gate D6. It seems that most of the UK flights depart from one of its many doors; there are no facilities, it is the wrong side of security and it is woefully undersized. Still it's a whole lot better than Heathrow.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Eric Simpson
24 July 2006

As a first time transfer passenger I initially I found Schiphol to be a little confusing, everyone seemed to be walking in the opposite direction to me! After orientating myself I found it very easy to locate departure gates and retail facilities. I was surprised to hear the vast majority of announcements in English and particularly having flown in from a “smoke free” Scotland to be advised that smoking was permitted in the various food courts and bar areas. The airport was busy and in some areas seating was at a premium. The staff I encountered were pleasant and helpful. I enjoyed the views of the apron The process of undertaking security screening at the gate seemed to work well. Returning through Schiphol was a similarly easy and pleasant experience and I would not hesitate to consider using it as an alternative transit point to Heathrow for future long haul flights.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Ed Kaflinski
5 July 2006

You know you're at Schiphol when you spend more time taxiing than you spent in the air from London. However, Schiphol Airport ranks top on the list of airports I've visited. Excellent layout, (though sometimes one has to walk very far if the moving sidewalks aren't working) great shops, superb tarmac views and good signposting. There are some down sides though. On a recent flight from London it took me exactly 3 minutes to get from the plane, through immigration (Dutch passport) and to baggage reclaim. Despite my bags being priority checked it took 45 minutes to get them back. (the same amount of time spent in from pushback to landing). Maybe if I flew KLM this would be better as they have their 'own' dedicated terminal. Too bad such a bad airline is stationed at such a good airport.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Andrew Baxter
24 June 2006

First time to Schipol and very impressive. Clean, spacious, efficient. Definitely one of the better airports.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Moises Menendez
1 June 2006

Schiphol Airport is the best airport in Europe when it comes to comfort, shopping areas, friendly, and helpful people, clean, and very quiet. The people working at the airport were very cordial, friendly and helpful. At the end is the people that counts! I will return to Amsterdam again!

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Laurie Dalton
18 May 2006

One unique thing about this airport that I have greatly appreciated is the 2nd floor 'quiet' areas. I'm usually traveling to an unfrequented country (Georgia) and tend to have long layovers. Spending 8 or more hours at an airport that actually provides free, comfortable lounge chairs in a quiet, darkened area, is a godsend.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Ray Laing
20 April 2006

I usually fly with KLM and so arrive in the main terminal area. The Passport Controls are usually fast and painless. Last night, however, I came in on BMI Baby which meant a totally different arrivals area. The queue at Passport Control was horrendous with just 2 desks open and I expected to be standing there for at least an hour. Give them their due though, within a couple of minutes there were another three desks opened and I was out of there within about 10 minutes. Certainly better than Cardiff!

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Nick Biskinis
30 March 2006

Clean and relaxed with polite multi-lingual staff. There is a good variety of shops, yet the layout means that the airport terminal isn't over cluttered. For spectators the viewing terrace offers quite close views of parked aircraft. Information about departures is clear - though there should be more public announcements as not everyone reads the boards for information. It's a very efficient airport: much better than Paris CDG or London Heathrow. Indeed it's airports like Schiphol that make you realise just how out of date and run down London LHR currently is.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Tim Trinam
26 February 2006

I commute LGW-AMS nearly every week so am well aquainted with Schiphol - agree with the ranking that puts the airport ahead of LHR so, I guess 4 stars is about right. It is a huge airport, well run but the staff don't really respond that well to problems and/or requests outside the norm. Plus points include the overall efficiency, clean presentation and lots of facilities. Downpoints include the use of the remote runway (20 minute taxi to terminal - crazy for a 45 min hop from UK); staff can seem a bit brusque at times but it is probably no worse than anywhere else; the security scanners seem to be turned up to the maximum (I got caught with a 20c coin last week). Watch your bags (esp laptops) and watch for pick-pockets around the rail station and on the trains to Amsterdam / The Hague / Rotterdam.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by S Dowideit
19 February 2006

I am frequently flying in and out of AMS and I wonder how they managed to get a 4-star ranking. The queue at the security check is usually long, it sometimes took me nearly half an hour to get through. The staff is quite rude and seems to me well unorganised. In the meantime I guess they got a few complaints and the security check set-up was changed. The situation improved to the better but the rudeness remains. Same is valid for ground staff, they are usually quite unfriendly. Especially how some of them deal with their costumers because of the constantly delayed flights is annoying. The KLM-Lounge (Schengen area) became really nice, but it can get crowded at times.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Jonathan Ellis
11 February 2006

Schiphol in my opinion is pretty good. There are loads of shops, a good deal of bars, coffee shops and restaurants, and a lot of places to sit. It has wireless networking (for a small fee). It's large, cool and easy to get around. My flight is delayed today and I have spent my time here looking at the excellent, if a little small, Rijks museum paintings on display, and I had a little flutter in the casino which is also on site (only in Holland!) - airlines continue to disappoint, but at least being delayed in Schiphol is just about bearable.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Kay Kintzing
7 February 2006

I was on a delayed return flight from Schiphol to London Stansted, and thus had to spend about 7-8 hours waiting in Terminal 3. The terminal was big and airy, at least where I spent a lot of my time. I was pleased to find smoking bars and cafes, and an array of other travellers with time to spare. I was most pleased to find a food and wine store (near Burger King), and promptly wasted time filling up my bags with more Dutch food that I could only previously find at the Albert Heijn. Ladies, however, may be surprised by male cleaning staff in the female toilets, as I was. It was fairly late during the day, and although it didn't bother me, others should take note. I was 16 at the time of this trip, too. Overall, Schiphol seems clean, staff are friendly and it's haven for meeting other travellers from all over the world.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport review by Jamie Carr
6 February 2006

I would say AMS is an excellent airport - I travel there once every two weeks or so from LGW, and the contrast between the two is amazing. Never had any problems with security staff or immigration, however I would like to know why you have to go through passport control between gates A/B/C and D/E/F/G, when you have just been through passport control already ? Nice to see they have abandoned the 2 hand luggage checks, now just one at the gate itself.

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