Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

I used to like flying through Schiphol but I've completely gone off the place. Best part of an hour to get through immigration on arrival flying back from there you can't go through security screening and then relax with a drink or meal because you're on tenterhooks all the time waiting to be called forward for screening from the lounge area. When you finally do struggle through screening there are very few facilities; what you do have is a long walk and shuffling forward in a queue on a flight of stairs to board your plane. Even Heathrow is a more comfortable experience these days.

If Airports were judged solely by the cleanliness of the toilets them Amsterdam Schiphol would come out best. They are spotless. Often there are very long queues for passport control when entering NL from outside a Schengen area. Schiphol is getting very big and one has to look carefully for the way out signs and signs to baggage reclaim due to adverts everywhere.

AMS is generally a pretty good airport but the dreadful system of herding passengers into small gate lounges on F pier is annoying. Why can't security screening be done just before/after immigration and then there will be no need for the gate lounges (shouldn't the whole airside be "sterile" anyway?). Passengers would then actually be able to use toilets have a coffee go shopping etc for longer rather than being locked up.

A pleasant and efficient airport for both short and long haul as well as flying with budget airlines. Immigration queues are short or non-existent. Security check usually have a bit longer queues but even then the line keeps moving quickly. Plenty of shops and restaurants on both air side and land side. A great airport.

A clean well planned and user-friendly airport with efficient and courteous staff minimal queues at security and short waits at baggage reclaim. Only let down on a recent trip was the poor business class lounge used by KLM for their inter Schengen flights.

This airport is a decent place to make a connection. I have only used it 2 or 3 times as a terminal or originating airport but I have used it 2 or 3 dozen times for connections. The negative is that it can take a very long time to get from one gate to another which can be very difficult if you have a short connection. However if your time is sufficient it is a good airport with good facilities. The KLM Lounge is fabulous after its most recent upgrade. But the general facilities are also good as there are several shopping and food options available to occupy your time. The coffee shops are especially good. This airport is configured such that security checks are performed at each gate on a flight-by-flight basis. The process is reasonably efficient. The immigration checks can get backed up but things usually move at a reasonable pace and the staff are polite and fairly efficient. Signage in the airport is relatively good and flight boards are not too difficult to find. The personnel at the transfer desks are relatively helpful if information is required. There are areas to lounge comfortably on the second level if you have a longer period of time. In all this is a very convenient airport for transit.

My first time through this airport as a transit passenger. Well sign-posted but does not have a friendly feel about it. Food and drink expensive. I would use the airport again to avoid Dubai when flying to Australia/Far East.

I like travelling through AMS. I find the spacious airport well stocked with restaurants bars shops etc. Most of the staff are friendly and cheery. Most of the immigration officers are grumpy. I have never encountered a long line at immigration or security.

Transited from non-Schengen to Schengen area flight with little difficulty about a 10 minute wait to have my passport checked and maybe 3 minutes at security. The facilities are excellent plenty of seating with views over the airport and many different food outlets and shops (though they are not cheap). I had a quite complicated question about my return journey (which was not through Schiphol) and the staff were very helpful and efficient in finding the answer. A good experience.

Had a transfer here on my way to and from Africa from NYC this month. Overall the airport is new clean and has a variety of shops and dining options. Dining options are a bit expensive. I can't say anything about the passport control as I was only passing through and didn't have to deal with that but the individual security lines at each gate seem inefficient. I had to wait 45 minutes to board the plane because there are only 2 x- ray machines even for the huge 747 I was on. The other issue with having it at the gate is that you aren't allowed to bring any liquids including duty free alcohol or a bottle of water to drink on the plane. An 8 hour flight is pretty dehydrating. I think this may be a US rule only so check before you try to buy anything to bring anything onto the plane.