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Flying Intra-Schengen (AMS to OPO/OPO to AMS)

Posted by (The Hague, NL (AMS) ) on

This week we flew from Amsterdam to Porto, our first intra-Schengen flight in many months. Currently, traveling by air is confusing, so we over-prepared. We traveled with USA Passports, long-term Dutch Visas, our Dutch-issued Vaccination Cards, and the "new" QR Digital Code App installed on our phones (we received our vaccinations at a local Dutch hospital so we have the QR code everyone wants). In addition, after reading the Portugal Embassy website, we completed a "Portugal Required Entry Form," submitted it online, and then printed out this form so we could carry it with us - as instructed.

We were ready for anything at the Amsterdam airport. Turns out we needed none of this to depart from AMS. The Schiphol airport has been panned for their enforcement of COVID restrictions and frankly, we've seen far better COVID handling in other airports.

We checked in online before leaving home, dropped our boarding passes on our phones, and when we got to the airport, we went to drop off our bag at the TRANSAVIA counter. Turns out it was a self-check-in option where you scan your boarding pass, tag your luggage, and then off it goes. We spoke with NO ONE, simply scanned our boarding pass to "send" our bag.

From there we walked to the entry area to the secure AIRSIDE Terminal area. Again, no one greeted us and we scanned our barcode and entered the secured area. We headed to security - no one asked to see our passports, our QR code, our proof of vaccination, or even our boarding passes. We then headed for a lounge but all were closed due to COVID.

At the departure gate, we again scanned our boarding passes and walked on the plane. (No Agent monitoring as part of their COVID strategy to protect their employees) S. Thus, from the time we left the house...even on the train... no one asked for any COVID documentation, took our temperatures, or even asked to see our passports. We sat down on the plane and commented, "This was no different than any intra-Schengen flight we've taken in the last few years in and out of AMS."

That changed when we got to Portugal as they take their COVID standards far more seriously - and enforcement is key. Upon exiting the plane we were greeted by numerous police and airport officials. We then had to show our QR CODE and passports. They used special scanners to read the QR Codes - which brought up our names, DOB, vaccination dates, etc. After comparing this to our passport photo & info, we were then allowed to enter the Terminal.

In Portugal, masks were required - pretty much everyone wears them everywhere. That's FAR different from our current NL experience.

When we arrived at the hotel to check in, we both had to show our QR Codes, again matched to our passports. All of this information was entered into the hotel computer. I asked the receptionist what happens if you don't have an EU QR Code - like an American visitor would not - and their reply was pretty straightforward, "We don't have any Americans visiting." We did go to a Porto restaurant tonight with very reduced seating that asked to see our QR code, but that was the exception (so far).

So among my many unanswered questions - How would Americans get through the gauntlet at the Porto Airport? Or check into a Portugal hotel without a QR Code? On August 8, the rules will change again for those of us who live in the NL. It's not just hard to get a straight answer, but as you can see at AMS, the COVID rules are inconsistently applied.

Posted by
2207 posts

DEPARTING PORTUGAL: Four days later, we headed back to AMS from Porto. Whereas we needed NO INFO when departing AMS, getting home was an entirely different story.

The first indicator of a "different standard" was that we were not allowed to check-in online. Having flown TRANSAVIA often, this was unusual. So we adjusted our schedule to get to the airport earlier.

At check-in, we had to present our passports, and being USA passports, the counter person went through EVERY page (no doubt looking for our Schengen entry stamp). We were surprised that at this small airport she was checking our passports to see if we were violating Schengen timeframes. She then asked for our VISAs so we pulled out our Dutch visas and handed them over. Next, she asked for our proof of vaccination, so we whipped out our phones and opened the QR App. We were surprised when she said, "We do not have a QR Code reader, we need your ACTUAL proof of Vaccination Cards. Wow.... thankfully, I had brought these just in case.

Meanwhile, at the counter next to us, the man checking in DID NOT have his paper certificate. He was also trying to use his EU QR Code. In order to get his QR Code scanned, the TRANSAVIA staff sent him over to the adjoining Easyjet counter (Wonder what that cost them?) We handed them over our vaccination cards, further adding to the stack of our documentation on her counter. Then, when she tried to read them... she realized they were in Dutch! She told us she had to get a supervisor "to see if these would be acceptable."

After a few minutes, probably accessing Google Translator, she came back and our check-in adventure continued. Finally, going through security, we were required to show our vaccination QR Code and boarding pass jointly.

So, every airport is different. Some smaller airlines may not have the up-to-date equipment... and rules seem to vary by airport. I would suggest telling travelers to CARRY EVERYTHING THEY HAVE to prove they are vaccinated or have the required test if necessary.

Once we landed at AMS airport, we walked off the plane, to baggage claim, grabbed our bags, and headed for the lower level train station. Soon, we were on a train headed for The Hague. At NO TIME (once again at AMS), did we show our proof of vaccination, our QR Codes, had our temperature taken, etc. in fact, we never encountered anyone. We did - before we left Portugal - complete and carry the "required" NL entry health declaration - but NO ONE asked to see it.

During these COVID times, where the NL has had some of the most restrictions for locals, AMS has never done thorough checks. We had the same experience when returning from Demark a few months ago.

Posted by
3951 posts

Wow that is inconsistent and a bit disconcerting for NL residents. Thank you so much for reporting your experience. We are transiting through CPH later this month so we trying to keep up with requirements for that as well as our final destination. We already know that we can’t use any of the online documentation storing SAS offers. We will probably be “over prepared“ too but eventually it seems that you needed every single piece of documentation you brought, good job!

Posted by
32740 posts

So lax in the Netherlands... surprising.

Well... even with all that laid back you still managed to beat the pants off Great Britain in the hockey didn't you?? They couldn't have been too sick.

Did pretty well in the Show Jumping too..

Posted by
99 posts

Hi RnR, I found your post very interesting. What a difference a few weeks makes. We flew into Lisbon August 12th- originated in Minneapolis, connected JFK in New York to Lisbon. The Americans have arrived full force in Portugal- you missed all of us by a few weeks it seems. All kinds of flights from the US have resumed (TAP, Delta airlines, etc.). SFO, Boston, JFK, and other airports with direct flights to Lisbon. By the time we got there, all the local tour companies we booked with said they are seeing lots of Americans coming (along with French and a few Brits). We heard from other American tourists that apparently TAP airlines is running incredibly good deals from US to Lisbon, and those flights are filling up with last minute travelers. I have to wonder if they didn't help a lot in the gauntlet you referenced for Americans. Simply put- there really wasn't one.

In the US check in, all the airlines cared about with the negative Covid test. Can't check in online anymore. Other paperwork was simply glanced at but not necessary (Passenger Locator Form). Same coming into Portugal, only cared about the negative test. They were super well staffed at immigration. 12 people working to process passengers to move everything very efficiently. We were through in 10 minutes (I know, I couldn't believe it either). You never get through that fast normally! Others we talked to later did run into some problems due to striking workers in Lisbon, and lines were longer. It was a mixed bag.

Same experience with masks- everyone wearing in Lisbon, a little less in Porto.

We flew back on August 21st. On the way home from Porto, same thing- they looked very closely at the negative test, to make sure it was in the timeframe necessary to go to the US and carefully checked the passport. Honestly, Porto was easy and straightforward. You just really had to be there 3 hours before the flight as the lines were very very long. I imagine it's very complicated to check so many different tests from so many providers, etc. We definitely saw people have problems if they didn't do tests in the right timeframe, etc. For us it was pretty easy- just had the test results on our phone and our passports ready, and it was a reasonably easy process, just takes twice as long as before.

Now, Our connection in AMS was interesting. I was a bit nervous about needing to fill out some form for the Netherlands since we were only connecting through there. Technically, it was supposed to be a requirement. I couldn't do online, and couldn't find the paper form anywhere. So I was bit nervous in AMS. They only checked the passport and waived us through to our connection. Didn't check any Covid testing, etc. Super efficient here too taking less than 10 minutes (but we flew early in the morning which I think helped). They were so fast I even had time to stop and pick up my Belgian chocolate and Stroopwafels before boarding the next flight!

When we went to board the plane, then our negative Covid test was again checked very carefully and we had to sign a waiver attesting we didn't have Covid (some standard thing we all had to fill out for coming to the US). Right before we were ready to go, they disembarked a few passengers due to some paperwork issue, but that was it.

I think we are all running into different levels of enforcements and checks along the way. For example, not once were we asked for our CDC cards to prove our vaccination status by anyone (AirBnb hosts, airlines, restaurants, tour companies, etc.) We did have to do a rapid PCR test on the weekends for restaurants, which was easy and straightforward. That negative Covid test was everything to everyone every step of the way. We thought that was quite interesting. We were definitely ready for anything, and I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth all the processes were.

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