I just saw this on the Facebook page for the Netherlands-
Book a security time slot for free online then you don’t need to wait at all 😀 https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/timeslots/
I don't remember seeing this before, of if I have, my brain is on overload from researching this trip. For those that have been on the ground, does this really work for US citizens?
Thanks so much !
The airport in Berlin offers this service. I've used it. The hardest thing was finding where the line was in the airport. I went right through, easy peasy, much faster than the regular security line.
It's a relatively new feature. I booked a slot last October but ended up not using it due to the fact there was no line at security (!!!) when I arrived a little bit before my scheduled time. I got an email not too long after asking if I had actually missed my scheduled time and if so what happened. Having suffered through horrible lines there I wouldn't hesitate to book a time slot again just in case.
And in case you're not aware of the day planner feature, you can check the anticipated busy-ness of the airport on your arrival and departure days, just put in your flight info. You can check about 14 days ahead. https://www.schiphol.nl/en/my-travel-day/today
Pat---This is a great tip; thank you!
Everyone, regardless of their citizenship, has to go thru the same security at Schiphol. So the timeslots system works the same for everyone, including US citizens; you book a timeslot and report yourself at the entrance to the security queue at your chosen time. You choose the line that says something like booked time slots, show your booking, scan your boarding pass and on you go.
I guess I am just trying to think through the logistics of this. You go online, tell them you want to go through security on this day and time. On the day, you leave your hotel, you know you need to be at security at X time, so you allow enough time to account for small issues, meaning you likely arrive early to the security area...so instead of getting in line and waiting your turn, you stand around in a "non-line" until your appointed time, then head into the line for reserved timeslots, and you go through the normal screening process.
I feel this must be a reaction, or fix, in response to a couple years ago when security lines at Schiphol were hours long for a period. At Schiphol, and most all airports I have been to, including Heathrow, while yes, a line, it doesn't ruin my day, I get through in plenty of time, from what I recall less than what time I might allow to "be there on time for my appointment". So maybe, if I hear or by using the planner, see that the wait is a couple hours, this might be handy, but most of the time? Another example of a solution in search of a problem.
Paul, I wish the problems of Schiphol were years in the past. Unfortunately they are very much still here at the moment. I flew out of Schiphol to Oslo last week on February 1, a regular Thursday, no holiday no peak season. Despite that we had to wait more than 30 minutes in line for the security check. I knew about this time slot system, but forgot to make a booking. While standing in line waiting for our turn, we saw those with a booking show up and proceed immediately to the security scanners. If I had thought of making a booking, I could make one quite precisely, because I usually travel to Schiphol by train and therefore know the exact time I’ll arrive at the airport.
So to me this definitely doesn’t feel like a solution in search of a problem.
Another sign of things not being back to normal at Schiphol, was the absolute crazy line for airside immigration from the Schengen Zone of the airport to the Non-Schengen Zone. We remained within the Schengen Zone, so this didn’t effect us, but on our way to our gate we walked past the entire length of the line and it was easily more than 100 meters, snaking thru the terminal. It was madness. We saw a lot of anxious passengers fearing they would miss their connecting flight. Luckily we also saw staff to direct those with short connections to the front of the line. I hope everyone we saw made their flight!
Dutch Traveler, thanks, and since we will be leaving from Schiphol to Heathrow, we will be leaving a Schengen country for a non-Schengen country on our return to LAX. I will note this.
We will be leaving Sunday morning on a 10:30am flight, but I'm not sure Sundays guarantee a quiet , uncrowded airport.
Thanks.
Oh wow, it sounds like we dodged a bit of a bullet then! We flew out of AMS yesterday afternoon and security was super fast. No lines at all. We walked right up, put our stuff on the belt and walked through. I didn't realize how fortunate we were.
