Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

We flew from our national airport to Istanbul Atatürk on Turkish Airlines. We checked in online. That was an excellent choice since the waiting queue for Turkish's check-in desks (only 3 open) was the longest I've seen at Schiphol (about 300m). We dropped our bags at the business class counter. This all went really fast. The queue for passport control however was very long. Only one desk was open. We dropped our bags 2 hours prior departure but after passport control we just had time for a quick cup off coffee before the final boarding call so we rushed to the gate which was a 20 minute walk. When we arrived at the gate boarding hadn't even started however the screens already said 'gate closed'. The boarding queue was just as long as the passport control line and it took us 35 minutes to reach the jetway. We had to clear security and just another passport control before entering the plane. Again only one (of two) lines were in operation. We left the gate 10 min. late and we were in a long queue for takeoff (approx. 9 planes) for runway 09. We took off exactly an hour late but nonetheless arrived 2 minutes early at Atatürk where an even more unpleasant experience awaited us.

The best in the world. Clean clear instructions and tons of facilities prompt service train connection and ticket service from inside the airport no hidden charges and most importantly missing in many airports a cash machine!

Check in kiosks worked well and there were plenty of them. Only problem was that as well as our own boarding passes it gave us someone else's as well. It just churned it out after ours. Queues for the automated bag drop machines were horrendous and would have been cut by maybe 75% if there had been more than one staff member allocated to help those who had not done this before. Weird system of going through security at the gate meant that people were having to abandon soft drinks they had purchased after clearing passport control and because the process of doing security at the gate is obviously time consuming people were at the gate with no access to drinks or toilets for up to an hour before they were boarded onto the aircraft and there were too few seats for the amount of passengers.

I didn't like anything about my layover in AMS. Moreover the terminals were under construction. At night it was chilly there because of A/Cs working all the way. Crowded everywhere. Cars carrying disabled and seniors go very fast and almost run over people walking on foot making them step aside all the time. Not many seating areas. Duty free shops are ok. Security checks should be passed right by the boarding gate. Staff do not seem to be efficient. Add weird navigation to that and you will get a bad airport for a long stop-over.

How crazy is it to have security checks at the boarding gates. Things are crazy enough when 300 plus people are lining up to board. And talk about rude security people. Coming in from Manchester and connecting to Portland OR we had to pass security again at the boarding gate. We put our things on the x-ray conveyor and proceeded to the whole body scanner. When I exited the scanner I was met by a young man who begins by saying "Did you not hear my colleague tell you to empty your pockets." And from then on he was sarcastic and demeaning about my ability to follow "orders." I admit that I had items in my pockets (wallet passport pen and my mobile). In all the chaos of the boarding gate I had neglected to remove them for the scanner. If I had had the time I would have sought out his supervisor. Schiphol Airport has advanced to the top of my list of airports to avoid at all costs.

I had to pass through Schiphol yesterday evening I would like to reiterate the nightmare organisation of this airport firstly I came from Edinburgh and on the TV it marked gate M for my next flight to Geneva no signs anywhere marked M I asked 3 officials before they explained I have to go out of the arrivals after a 20 min walk then re enter turn right still no M marked. Finally I saw an M when I entered the departures this is the first airport who doesn't seem to want to make things clear for transfers. At gate M after turning my head for a minute to buy some water the Geneva flight disappeared no explanation nothing we had to ask the security what had happened he had to check on his Iphone and said there was probably a gate change we had to exit the gate and walk for another 20 mins and I walk fast to D my bag had passed with no problem the security at M however this time at D gate they stopped my bag and made me leave some things I had bought (which had also passed the security in Edinburgh also). A rude security officer wouldn't listen to the fact that we had come from another gate and seemed indifferent to our requests. Why was it necessary for us to come out of security and re enter most airports you enter and that's it even if gate changes. I would advise people to transfer through another airport if possible Edinburgh is very nice and well organised.

Chaotic security many staff are just plain rude and this is a dismal airport to transfer through. The walking distances are ridiculous. My transfer airside from G gates to a D gate highlights the poor standards here at Schiphol and then the usual 15 mins trek to find a distant runway that seems like it's in Belgium. This is definitely an airport to avoid if you can. Dirty overcrowded facilities and just generally unpleasant.

I am amazed this airport often gets high ratings. Shops are alright but much too expensive. Immigration is red tape at the top. Baggage handling for incoming passengers is a horror movie come true. This is an airport to be avoided.

Schipol terminal 3. Gate H constructed of corrugated steel most effective in letting in the heat. No sign of air conditioning - stay away if you can help it. Immigration quick so are security checks friendly too unlike the dead faced staff at Gatwick. Three Euro for 1/2L of water at the airport 25 cents worth from the Supermarket.

Easy to find your way having all amenities you need.