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Amsterdam is a zoo this morning & the Budapest airport is busy too.

enter code here10 immigration windows, 4 open
A solid 1 to 2 hour wait if they let you stay in line.

They "encourage" you from the line if you planned for the problems and had more than a 2 hour layover.
They move you to the front if your departure time is within 30 minutes .... odds are, for many, they still miss their flight as 30 min prior to departure is after boarding has begun ... an it took me 10 min to walk to my gate ....

Posted by
6306 posts

We flew into Amsterdam 5 days ago, and had a similar experience. Luckily, it was our final destination. We didn’t have to worry about missing our flight (that had already happened at Heathrow that morning,) but we were very late, very tired, and missed our dinner reservation.

Posted by
3858 posts

Doesn't sound like AMS is working out its staffing problems.

Posted by
9627 posts

Jane, was that your anniversary dinner you had planned?? I am so sorry you missed it !!

Posted by
13986 posts

Good to know from both Mister E who was transiting and Jane who was arriving. I'll make sure I make a comfort stop before get to the border control kiosks, lol!

Posted by
6306 posts

Kim, no, it wasn't our anniversary, but it was Valentine's day!

By the time we got to Amsterdam, got through passport control, got into town and checked into our hotel, it was really too late to find much. We ended up splitting a doner kebab, fries, and a bottle of water. And were glad to get it!

We did manage to have a very nice dinner the next night, though, which combined with seeing the Vermeer exhibit, made up for everything.

Pam, when we walked into passport control at AMS and saw the length of that line, we were so discouraged. It did move more quickly than we thought it would, but that was not good start to our trip.

Posted by
13986 posts

Thanks, Jane! Better to know ahead of time!

And glad your delayed Valentine's dinner along with your terrific experience with Vermeer made up for it!

Posted by
520 posts

BostonPhil, there are winter school breaks in various European countries right now.

Posted by
1565 posts

Mister E... lol, my biggest laugh of the day. Looks like you enjoyed the wine bar!!!

Posted by
1565 posts

I am with you, in spirit. Or is that spirits?

Posted by
520 posts

BostonPhil, France and other countries have slightly more frequent but shorter school breaks compared to us in Canada/US. My cousin’s daughters in Norway are on their one week winter break right now and then will have a one week Easter break in April.